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From:
Subject: Re: [GM-L] Re: The Olde Boston Post Road
Date: Sun, 2 Oct 2005 11:07:53 EDT

In a message dated 10/2/2005 10:26:46 AM Eastern Standard Time,
writes:

> the roadway I was thinking of was the "Old Boston Post Road."


The Boston Post Road

On January 22, 1673, the first postrider galloped off from New York on his
way to Boston and established the first major overland route in the American
colonies. His name is lost to us; however, the instructions issued to him by
Francis Lovelace, governor of New York, remain:
>
> > You are to comport yourself with all sobriety and civility to those that
> shall entrust you...You are principally to ally yourselfe to the Governors,
> especially Gov. Winthrop, from whom you shall receave the best direction to form
> ye best Post Roade & ldots; You shall do well to provide yourself to a Spare
> Horse, good Port Mantels soe neither letter nor Paquetts receave any damage
> under your hands&ldots;

The rider’s route from New York passed through New Haven, Hartford,
Springfield, Brookfield, Worcester, Cambridge, and into Boston. The first trip lasted
between two and three weeks and the courier traversed 250 miles, most of which
led through wilderness. Soon two additional routes to the south of the
original formed and followed their own paths to New Haven where the three strands
merged back into a common path to New York. The first postrider’s route—the
Upper Road—became the most active and important of the thoroughfares until the
introduction of railroad in the 1830s. It is this route that to date has been
traced for the concert series. (much more at website below)

http://mysite.verizon.net/vze1k22h/road.htm

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