Post Office

The postal business in early years was quite dangerous. There are several accounts of the post and postal workers being attacked and robbed.  Here is an account of one of these incidents in the vicinity:

Finn’s Leinster Journal, 13 June 1801:

The mail cart was attacked yesterday morning between Navan and Dunshaughlin by a banditti, who firing on the guard killed a dragoon and also his horse.  The driver however by dexterous exertions drove the cart into safety with its contents.

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Navan Post Office

Post Office Savings Banks

The (London) Times, 25 Jan 1862:

The following money order offices will be opened as Post-office Savings Banks on Monday 3 of February 1862......Navan.

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The (London) Times, 12 May 1882:

A man was shot dead near Navan last night.  The following are the particulars:  The mail car from Navan arrived several hours late in Drogheda this morning in charge of an escort of two policemen.  A statement was then made that last night the mail car, after leaving Navan, was attacked by a strange man, who hung onto it by the back panel and threatened the driver.  Being afraid to proceed alone, the driver returned to Navan and informed the postmaster, Mr. Boylan, of the occurrence.  Having provided himself with a revolver, Mr. Boylan took a seat upon the car, which again set out for Drogheda.  When in the country the same man again attacked it, whereupon the postmaster shot him dead.

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Navan Post Office was the subject of questions in the House of Commons on
5 March 1908

Mr. Patrick White (Meath):

I beg to ask the Postmaster-General what is the cause of the delay in erecting a new post office at Navan; and if he will see that the work is commenced forthwith.

Mr. Sydney Buxton:

I have received a copy of the resolution of the Navan Urban District Council referred to by the Hon. Member.  The guarantee for the establishment of a call office and its connection with the trunk wire system was given in September.  The survey of the route from Drogheda and the preparation of the working estimates necessarily occupied a considerable time; but the work will be completed as rapidly as possible.  A local exchange is also being established.  It is desirable that the labourers employed on works of this kind should, as far as possible, have continuous employment.  To engage them in every case locally for each extension of the trunk system would involve constant changes in the staff and would seriously limit its efficiency.

Source:

Hansard (printed transcripts of parliamentary debates in the Westminster system of government.  It is named after Thomas Curson Hansard, an early printer and publisher of these transcripts.)

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See also Postmasters in Navan