Pedro da Silva – New France’s First Post Courier

Pedro da Silva immigrated to New France in the 1600s and played an important role as the first post courier in the nascent colony. He’s also one of my ancestors. My mother’s side of the family has a couple of connections to him and his wife. Learn more about Pedro da Silva, his family and his life in New France:

Pedro da Silva’s Early Life 

Silva was born in Saint-Julien, Lisbon, Portugal, around 1647 to Jose da Silva and Marie François. Not much else is known about his early life in Portugal.

Arrival in New France 

Pedro da Silva reportedly arrived in New France in 1673. His name was first recorded in the colony on December 28, 1673, in a notarial deed in Quebec. Pedo da Silva was also known as Pierre da Sylva and the Portuguese. 

Pedro da Silva’s Marriage

On May 16, 1673, da Silva, who was 30 years old, consented to a marriage contract with 16-year-old Jeanne Greslon. They settled in Beauport, Quebec, and reportedly had 14 children together; however, only 10 are listed: Marie Louise da Silva, Marie Madeleine da Silva, Marie Élisabeth da Silva, Pierre Dassylva, Jean Baptiste da Silva dit le Portugais, Marie Anne da Silva, Nicolas da Silva, Dominique da Silva dit Portugais, Jean Marie da Silva and Jean Marie da Silva.

According to the 1681 census of New France, Pedro da Silva and Jeanne Greslon were living in Sault-au-Matelot, which is located in Quebec City’s lower town.

Career as a Post Courier

In July 1693, Pierre da Silva received 20 sols (about a pound) for delivering a package from Montreal to Quebec. On December 23, 1705, he received a commission letter from Jacques Raudot, the co-intendant of New France, that made him the first post courier of Canada. Because da Silva was punctual, diligent and loyal, he became the regular messenger for transporting goods, royal dispatches, as well as messages and dispatches from the governor-general of New France. His route covered the areas between Quebec, Trois-Rivières, and Montreal.

Da Silva delivered mail in all seasons. During the winter, he would use a dog sled and travel across the frozen Saint Lawrence River and in the summer he would travel by canoe. When the wind was bad, it could take an entire month for da Silva to deliver the mail between Quebec and Montreal. 

Following Pedro da Silva’s move to Sault-au-Matelot, he became involved in merchandise shipping. Being close to the St. Lawrence River meant that he had easy access to the ships that were off-loading goods for delivery within Quebec City and the rest of New France.

His Commemorative Stamp

In 2003, Canada Post honoured Pedro da Silva and the 50th anniversary of Portuguese immigration to Canada with a stamp designed by Clermont Malenfant. It includes an image of Quebec City, a red wax seal and da Silva’s signature on it.  

On June 3rd, 2009, the Canadian government approved Bill C-406, officially recognizing da Silva as Canada’s first commissioned letter carrier. There is also a commemorative plaque in Montreal, Quebec, on St. Jacques Street. It reads: “From 1693 couriers, the first known of whom was Pierre DaSilva, called the Portuguese, carried the mail between Quebec and Montreal. In 1763, Benjamin Franklin, then Deputy Postmaster General in North America, established the first organized postal service in Canada. A.D. 1938.”

My Relation to Pedro da Silva

I am related in two different ways to Pedro da Silva through my maternal grandmother, Mary Catherine Higgins, and they look the same:

1. Pedro da Silva (1647 – 1717) and Jeanne Greslon (1663 – 1731)
2. Marie Madeleine Dasilva (1682 – 1756) and Jacques Gervais (1676 – 1754)
3. Marie Madeleine Gervais (1710 – 1760) and Thomas Pageot (1707 – 1777) 
4. Joseph Thomas Pageot (1736 – 1814) and Marie Louisa Villers (1754 – 1814)
5. Charles Pouget (1764 – 1776) and Marie Anne Pageot (1776 – 1864)
6. Florence Pouget (1804 – 1857) and Etienne Meloche (1799 – 1839) 
7. Olive Meloche (1828 – 1916) and Patrice Barron (1822 – 1898)
8. Catherine Barron (1854 – 1939) and Antoine Solomon Renaud (1853 – 1926)
9. Mary Zoé Renaud (1878 – 1935) and Abraham Joseph Higgins (1875 – 1950) 
10. Mary Catherine Higgins (1908 – 1983) and Walter Grondin (1910 – 1998)
11. Martha Grondin (born 1950) and Gary Willis (born 1946) – my parents

Are you related to Pedro Da Silva? Let me know!

Do you want to know more about the earliest settlers in New France? Check out New France’s Founding Families and Their Fascinating Stories.