We possess an autograph of his, in a letter he marked "free."

JOHN WILLATT (1768-1772). His ancestors date back a long way in local records. Thomas Willatt was the son and heir of Thomas Willatt, the elder, who came from Fenny Stratford, co. Bucks, and settled in Manchester about 1556, and was living there in 1561. Thomas Willatt, the younger, married Ellen, fifth and youngest daughter of Sir Edmund Trafford, of Trafford (vol. i., 190 n). He was borough reeve in 1562-3, and afferator and juror in 1569 (p. 127-8). John Willatt was born in 1731, and married Sarah Benson, April 25th, 1754, who was of his age. An entry in the Constable's Accounts

runs:

Octbr. 17th, 1770: To Postage of 62 Hue and Cry warrants paid Mr Willatt, 1. 17. 2.

He had a family of nine children, of which he lost two in 1763, and two in 1772. His tombstone in St. Ann's

Church reads:

Here was interred

John Willatt, late Post Master of the Town,

Who departed this life July 24, 1772, aged 41 years.

The Mercury, July 28th, 1772, alludes to his death as follows:

On Friday last died Mr. John Willatt, Postmaster in this town, second to none in this part of the Kingdom in the knowledge of his profession; he discharged it with a diligence and impartiality which rendered him beloved and respected by all; benevolent and sociable in his disposition, he was esteemed by those who knew him, as a sincere friend and an honest man, and as a kind husband and a tender parent, his death is much lamented by a wife and four children.

The public were much concerned, and general sympathy was extended to his afflicted widow. Prompt steps were

taken to secure to her the succession of the office; we read, therefore, August 4th, 1772 (Mercury):

His Majesty's Postmaster General has been pleased to appoint Mrs. Sarah Willatt, widow of the late Mr. Willatt, to be Deputy Post Mistress of this Town,"

and on the 11th (Mercury):

Mrs. Willatt, now Post Mistress of Manchester, begs leave to return her sincere thanks to the Gentlemen of the Town and Neighbourhood thereof for their kind petition to the Postmaster General in her favour, and she hopes that by a regular discharge of her duties she will meet with the approbation of the Publick.

Mrs. SARAH WILLATT (1772-1793). She was appointed on July 28th. This explains the otherwise bewildering entry in Mrs. Raffald's Directory of Manchester, which is given thus:

1772. Willet, John, Master of Post Office, St Ann's Square. Willet John, Deputy Post Master, St Ann's Square.

1773. Willet, Sarah, Mistress of the Post Office, 12, St Ann's Square.

The address is rendered in

1781. Willet Sarah, Post Mis., Post Office, Queen Street.

1788. Mrs. Willatt, Keeper of the Post Office, facing Queen Street, St Ann's.

The brave old postmistress was relieved of her duties on April 5th, 1793, and rewarded with a pension of £120 for her useful and strenuous services, with a reversion of one-third of that amount to her daughter,* who, with the exception of a single letter-carrier (James Barkeley, residing at New Cross), had conducted the whole of the

* See Joyce, pp. 292 and 301. Mercury, 1792: Married July 3, at the Collegiate Church, Mr. Duxbury to Miss Willatt, daughter of Mrs. Willatt at the Post Office.

post-office business with her mother. Henceforth she lived in and is described as—

1794. Mrs. Sarah Willat, 9, Back Square, close by the office.

1797. Willat Sarah, 62, Water Street.

1800. Willat Sarah, 62, Water Street.

She died December 25th, 1801, and was buried by the side of her husband.

The Mercury dedicates a few words to her memory:

December 29th, 1801: Friday, died at an advanced age (70), Mrs. Willatt, formerly Postmistress of this Town, a situation she filled to the entire satisfaction of this populous place; she lived respected, and her death is much lamented.

JAMES HARROP (1793-1806). The newly elected postmaster was a popular man. Joseph, his father, memorable as the founder and proprietor of the Manchester Mercury (1752-1809), a newspaper existing for fifty-seven years, retired from it in favour of his son James. The latter is described in the directory as "printer of the Mercury, stamp distributor, postmaster, bookseller, stationer, and medicine vendor, in 1794, at 40, Market Place." His salary was £300.* Four clerks were at the same time appointed, at salaries ranging from £50 to £100, and five additional letter-carriers, at wages of 12s. a week. “Thus,” remarks Joyce, "Manchester suddenly found itself in possession of a post-office establishment with which, outside London, that of no other town in the kingdom could compare." As a sequel a penny post was opened in July, 1793. On his resignation he was succeeded by

The Rev. RICHARD HUTCHINS WHITELOCK (18061828). He resided at Chorlton-cum-Hardy, of which place he was incumbent. He resigned the office of postmaster in 1828, and died in 1835.

*See Joyce, p. 301.

+ See Reminiscences of Manchester, J. T. Slugg, 1881, p. 203.

Robert PeelL WILLOCK (1828-1860), a cousin of Sir Robert Peel. In 1829 there were eight clerks, twelve letter-carriers, and three country messengers; in 1839 the letter-carriers were increased to twenty-three, and the number of subscribers to letter boxes at the post amounted to one thousand at one guinea per annum. Of him Mr. F. E. Baines* writes: "He was an excellent officer, if at last rather a choleric old gentleman. One of his very intelligible dislikes was being plagued with official papers after four o'clock, when his brougham was in waiting at the door."

JOHN ST. LAWRENCE BEAUFORT (1860-1887). In 1879 the staff of clerks had risen to 244.

ROBERT WILSON JOHNSTON.

HENRY OSBORNE HARLEY.

JOHN PHILIPS, nominated 1901.

I have not touched upon Foreign and Colonial mails, as being outside my scope. My aim has been to try and trace the small beginnings of the Manchester Post-office, and to follow it from its source; it is but a picture, and fragmentary at the best. We gain a passing glimpse here and there, mere dim outlines; the inner working, with its many wheels, and the romance connected with it; the worries and toils in severe seasons, the dangers and adventures of the riding post, often enough forced to fight for sheer life and the retention of his precious trust, waylaid, as he was, on the road by daring foot-pad and

* On the Track of the Mail Coach, F. E. Baines, London, 1896, p. 207.

armed highwayman, will ever remain a sealed chapter. I have brought it up to the dawn of the past century, and here I must stop. Finally, I trust our esteemed and genial postmaster may continue the incomplete tale, for there is none who knows so intimately the intricate ins and outs of its marvellous modern structure.

I must express my best thanks to the Record Committee, General Post-office, London, for the list of Manchester postmasters; to Mr. John Philips, the Manchester postmaster, for having directed me to it; to Mr. C. W. Sutton, the city chief librarian, for procuring for me the inspection of some packets of Clowes letters, and to Messrs. Francis and Albert Nicholson for permission to make notes of the postmarks occurring in the Nicholson family letters of the eighteenth century; to Mr. Ernest Axon for some dates and references; and to Mr. Mullen for transcription of the post regulations of 1721.