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First Canadian Mailman

Pedro da Silva, Canada's First Courier

Pedro da Silva arrived in New France before 1673 and worked as a common carrier. When he moved to Sault-au-Matelot in Québec City's lower town he became involved in the shipping of goods. In the summer he traveled by boat, and in the winter, he braved the freezing temperatures to deliver mail with a horse drawn cart. In July 1693, documentation shows that da Silva was paid 20 sols (roughly the equivalent of a French livre) to take a package of letters from Montréal to Québec City. In 1705, he received a letter of commission signed by the Intendant of New France, Jacques Raudot, bestowing on him the duty of "first courier" in New France.