88
PETITION FOR CHEAP POSTAGE.
To THE Senate AND House OF Representatives OF THE United States, IN Congress ASSEMBLED: The undersigned, citizens of North Chelsea Mass.respectfully petition Congress to pass a law, establishing
1. A uniform rate of Two Cents postage on letters weighing half an ounce, and two cents for every additional half
ounce, prepaid, and double that rate if not prepaid. Drop letters one cent,
2. Newspapers, periodicals, and all printed matter, one cent per sheet; but newspapers
of the smaller size half a cent., to be prepaid, except newspapers and periodicals sent from the office of publication.
3. To reduce the postage on letters and newspapers by mail packets and steamers, to
a rate which will bring it within the means of every class of citizens to maintain
frequent intercourse with their friends in other countries, without feeling the postage
to be a burdensome tax.
4. To adopt measures that in all large towns and cities there shall be a free delivery
of letters and newspapers, and also for the reception and conveyance of letters to
the post-office for the mails free of any expense.
5. To abolish the franking privilege entirely, that postage may be paid on every thing
sent by the mails. Postage of members of Congress to be paid as their other expenses,
and postmasters to be remunerated for the loss of the franking privilege and the temporary
diminution of their income, by an increase of their commissions.
| NAMES. | PLACE OF RESIDENCE. | |
| Norwood Damon. | Eliza L Pratt | |
| Nathan Pratt | John Magee | |
| Rebecca F Pratt | ||
| Saml Gandall | Eleanor M Magee | |
| Rebecca C Gandall | John Green | |
| Thomas Green | Phebe Green | |
| Joseph G Pratt | Martha Green | |
| Mary A Davis | James Pratt | |
| Robert Calder | ||
| Emily H Pratt | Jane McClure | |
| Abby P Woods | Abner Gay | |
| George P Woods | Carpenter Staniels. | |
| Lydia A Woods | John S. Staniels. | |
| Thomas Y Woods | Susan A Staniels. | |
| Stephen A Davis | Charlotte G. Staniels. | |
| Samuel Pratt | Mary H Staniels. | |
| Joseph [Stomers?] | Benjamin Shurtleff | |
| E Elisa M Pratt. | W. A. Houghton | |
| L. J. Hastings | Abigail Houghton | |
| Mary J Houghton | ||
| Louise Ellis | John Peirce | |
| F. W Franz | Martha H Peirce | |
| [?] | ||
| Josephine H Ellis | Ephraim Peirce | |
| S. J. Ellis | Cynthia Shurtleff | |
| Mary Hayes | Elizabeth Shurtleff | |
| Sarah Hayes | Mary A Cary | |
| Jane Hayes. | John F Stevenson | |
| Susan Smith. | William Kendall | |
| Adelaide Smith. | Mary Kendall | |
| Edward K Smith. | William Kendall Jr | |
| Susan Smith. | Lucas Fendley | |
| Angeline Smith. | Mary Fendley | |
| John Tewksbury | Catharine Whelan | |
| Sarah Tewksbury | Nathl Cooledge | |
| Nancy S Tewksbury | [?] Cooledge | |
| Willard Badger | Elmira Cooledge | |
| Sophia A. Badger | Lucy Cooledge | |
| Vincent Pinkham | Eliza Clock | |
| Lois Pinkham | Geo. H. Cooledge | |
| Charlotte F. Pinkham | Daniel T Fuller | |
| Augusta L Pinkham | J. Wethrell | |
| Henry V. Pinkham | Abel G Wright | |
| Meanassah K C[?] | David Floyd Jr | |
| Thomas Davis | Sally T Floyd | |
| Mary E Davis | Susannah S Floyd | |
| Hannah Bates | Lucius Floyd | |
| Ephraim Sale | ||
| Martha Bates | Frederick Williams | |
| Lois Spavin | Willard Badger Jr. | |
| Sarah Eaton | Franklin Badger | |
| Robert Spavin | Horace Badger | |
| John Harrington | Amelia Badger | |
| Lydia Harrington | Sophia Badger | |
| Hatch Crooker | J. H. Badger | |
| J H Whitaker | Charles E. Abbot | |
| Jane Whitaker | ||
| Elizabeth W Slade | ||
| David Slade | ||
| Samuel S Stowers | ||
| Olive F. Stowers. | ||
| Amos T. Stowers | ||
| Nancy Stowers | 59 | |
| Maj L Hall | ||
| Sarah K Hall | ||
| Maria Hall | ||
| Dougal Anderson | ||
| Timothy Gay | ||
| Almira Caswell | ||
| Abner Gay Jr | ||
| Lydia L Gay | ||
| Josiah S. Houghton | ||
| Catherine W. Houghton | ||
| George S. Houghton | ||
| Mary J. Houghton | ||
| Samuel H Spaulding | ||
| Charles Bird jr | ||
| Benjamin C G Fuller | ||
| Thomas Harris | ||
| Oliver Gay | ||
| Sarah S Fuller | ||
| Nathaniel Berry | ||
| Eliza J. Berry. | ||
| Mary B. Berry. | ||
| Clara Hohman | ||
| Kiah B Somes | ||
| Cindarella [L?] Somes | ||
| Harriet L Bean | ||
| [Josep?] Champion | ||
| James P Sale | ||
| Mary L Sale | 89 | |
| Lydia Gay |
[ docketing
]
| 89 | |
| 54 | |
| 143 | total |
[ docketing
]
| 54 |
| 88 |
| 142 |
[ docketing
]
| 16 |
| 38 |
| 54 |
<Page 2>
[ docketing
]
Petition of Norwood Damon & 143 others of N Chelsea for cheap postage & abolition
of franking privilege
[ docketing
]
Com. on Post Off. & P. Roads
[ docketing
]
Feby 26, 1849 Referred to the Committee on the Post office & Post Roads
[ docketing
]
√
[ docketing
]
by D P King
Partially Printed Document Signed, 2 page(s), RG 233, Entry 367: Records of the U.S. House of Representatives, Thirtieth Congress, 1847-1849, Records of Legislative Proceedings, Petitions and Memorials, Resolutions of State Legislatures, and Related Documents Which Were Referred to Committees, 1847-1849, NAB,