The Canadian North West Company merged with the British Hudson Bay Company
04/20/2006METIS HISTORY 1824-1835
METIS HISTORY Return to METIS 1800-1849 index
The Canadian North West Company merged with the British Hudson Bay Company
04/20/2006
1821
Francois Borbonna, Metis, b-1817, arrived 1821 Sault Ste Marie son of a British Indian, listed March 28, 1836 treaty. Rejected as descended from British Indians.
Fort George, West Coast, birth Isabelle Boucher Metis died 1860, daughter Jean Baptiste Boucher, interpreter on assignment with the N.W.C. and Josephte Kanhopitsa; She married 1839 Joseph Barnabe.
Alfred Cadotte, Ojibwa Metis b-1821, arrived Saulte Ste Marie 1831 son Hines and Angelique Cadotte, Ojibwa Metis, b-1798, listed March 28, 1836 treaty.
Charles Cadotte, Ojibwa Metis, b-1821, living 1836 Sault Ste Marie, listed March 28, 1836 treaty. Rejected as descendent of a Canadian tribe.
Jean Baptiste Charette, in 1846, claimed to have occupied the same spot on the North Bank of St. Mary's River (Sault Ste Marie) from 1821 to 1846.
Amable Constin, Ottawa Metis, b-1821 Mackinac, son Pierre Constin, deceased, listed March 28, 1836 treaty.
Sault Ste. Marie, birth, Francois Default Jr., Ojibwa Metis, son Francois Default, Ojibwa Metis, b-1796, Sault Ste Marie, listed March 28, 1836 treaty.
Norway House, marriage Peter Fidler (1769-1822) to Mary Cree, the country marriage likely took place 1794.
John Gornow (Gornor), Ojibwa Metis b-1821 Sault Ste Marie son Louis Gornow (Gornor), Ojibwa Metis b-1790 and Archangel Gornow (Gornor) aka Cadotte, Ojibwa Metis, b-1798, listed March 28, 1836 treaty. Mother is likely Say-shaw-ne-nie, see marriage 1815.
Maximilien Genthon arrived at Red River from Lanoraie, Quebec. He married Marie Louise Jerome, daughter Martin Jerome and an Indian woman. They had a daughter Marguerite Genthon who married William Dease.
George Gesson, Ottawa Metis, b-1821, arrived 1835, Mackinac, son Angelique McGulpin, Ottawa Metis b-1786, listed March 28, 1836 treaty.
Augustus Laroche, in 1846, claimed to have occupied the same spot on the North Bank of St. Mary's River (Sault Ste Marie) from 1821 to 1846.
Mary Ann Lasaw, Ojibwa Metis, b-1821, arrived 1834 Mackinac, listed March 28, 1836 treaty. Rejected as Whiskey says they are not relatives to these Indians.
Liset Le May, Metis, b-1796, arrived 1821 Sault Ste Marie wife John D. Le May, listed March 28, 1836 treaty. Rejected as descended from Indians of the North end of Lake Superior.
Charlotte Lovay, Ojibwa Metis b-1816, settled 1821 Sault Ste Marie, married John Baptiste Lovay, listed March 28, 1836 treaty.
John McBean d-1854 of the HBC is made chief factor of the Lake Huron district.
(II)-William McGillivray, Metis (1764-1825) was a bigamist, having two wives, Susan who gave him (III)-Joseph McGillivray, Metis, (III)-Simon McGillivray, Metis and (III)-Elizabeth McGillivray, Metis, and second wife Magdeline who gave him two daughters. The Hudson Bay Company looked down on Metis wives and along with the clergy gave them the status of concubines or prostitutes thereby encouraging them to take a second white wife.
Amiable Morris, Ojibwa Metis, b-1821 Sault Ste Marie son Nicolas Morris, Pawnee Metis, b-1802 Sault Ste Marie and Josette Morris, Ojibwa Metis b-1803 Sault Ste Marie, listed March 28, 1836 treaty.
John Nichols, Ojibwa Metis, b-1821, arrived 1835, Mackinac, listed March 28, 1836. Rejected as father is of Green Bay.
Daniel Rodd, Ojibwa Metis, b-1821, arrived 1830 Mackinac, listed March 28, 1836 treaty. Rejected as mother a Saginaw Indian.
Harriet Romaine, Ojibwa Metis, b-1821, arrived 1827 Mackinac, listed, March 28, 1836 treaty. Rejected as mother a British Indian
Joseph Rondo (Rondeau), born 1797 Montreal, joined the Hudson Bay Company, wintered at the Fraser River, Great Slave Lake and Fort Edmonton and settled at Red River where he married Josephine Boileau, a Kutenai Metis.
Mary Shaw, Ojibwa Metis b-1806, arrived 1821 Sault Ste Marie, related to one of the sub-chiefs and wife of Thomas Shaw b-1803 Sault Ste Marie a near relative of the chief Ste. Marie, listed March 28, 1836 treaty.
Mary Sulyer, Ojibwa Metis, b-1821 Mackinac, a servant to Jas. Stevens, listed March 28, 1836 treaty.
Sikas Tillamook aka Marie Catherine, (1821-1871) daughter Tillamook (Salishan) father and Clatsop mother; married Alexandre Latte b-1802 Scotland and drowned 1849. Sikas spent her life near the mouth of the Columbia River.
Red River Valley contained 500 Metis relocated from Pembina to Red River: 133 French speaking at Red River, likely Metis, with a few French; 65 De Meurons mercenaries, mainly Swiss and German, having arrived this year; and 221 Scots, Irish and English. Simpson recommended to the Selkirk Estate that recruitment of European immigrants virtually cease and the Red River be peopled from the West itself, not from abroad.
The Eskimo or Husky dogs were summered in a dog kennel at Red River. Garry reports that 100 dogs were kept by a man who received two dollars per day for each dog. They were located at a excellent fishing place in order to feed the dogs. In winter the dogs were used by the Metis on dog sleds like the Inuit (Eskimo). It is noteworthy that the Metis stopped every five miles for a pipe (smoke) to rest the dogs, and they measured distance by the number of pipes.
The Presbyterian Minister promised by Thomas Douglas had still not appeared, and applications to Governor Alexander MacDonnell, a Roman Catholic or more properly, the Scotch thought, a nothing Aryan, was to no avail.
The dreaded Irish Orange Order began arriving in Canada, being brought in by Protestant Irish. The order vowed to make Canada Protestant, British and Conservative. The Orange men would have a profound negative impact on the Metis and Canadian Culture. The British Hudson Bay Company Post at Fort Waterloo was distributing its quota of three hundred and sixty nine gallons of gin per trading season. Exasperated by the continuing violence between the British Company and the Canadian Company, the British Government urged a compromise solution. But Thomas Douglas of Selkirk would not negotiate with the Canadians. Thomas Douglas was now becoming a liability to the British Hudson Bay Company. Thomas Douglas, a harassed and broken man, died April of this year, and few mourned his passing. Many Scottish descendants, however, were thankful for his tenacity in carving a place for their clans. Chief Peguis of the Red River Ojibwa aided the people of Red River. In times of famine, he provided food. When asked for land, he granted it. During the Seven Oaks conflict, he harbored a Scottish mother and her children. The English reported the Cree still considered the Ojibwa as advancing on their lands. An evil thought planted by the English, but these rumors were unable to break the alliance and family ties with the Red River Metis.
The annual meeting at Fort William made the usual arrangements between the Nor'wester and Montreal agents but reached no decision on the future of the Company. The current agreement was to expire in 1822, and merger with the British Hudson Bay Company was still a possibility as the ongoing war was very destructive to both sides.
A party of Hudson Bay Company voyagers portaging a load of trade goods at a supply post
along the route of the Grande Portage and the North West fur country.
Meanwhile, two thousand Scots settled in the Rideau district, south of present day Ottawa. They were unemployed weavers, uprooted by the land enclosure system in Scotland. Three thousand Scots also settled in the Peterborough area.
John Holliday of the American Fur Company was trading six thousand annually in Lake Superior. Sault Ste Marie, on the American side, consisted of fifteen to twenty buildings, occupied by five or six French and English families. (I)-John Johnson (1762?-1828 or 1742-1830?), an Irishman, was in charge, and he married Susan or Angelice Oshawousgodaywaygua (Oshahgushkadawaquay), Woman of the Great Meadowthe, died 1843 daughter of Chippewa (Ojibwa) Chief Waubjeeg (white Fisher). Henry R. Schoolcraft was visiting there and would later (1823) marry Johnson's daughter, Jane Obahbahmwawagezhegoquay Johnson, Metis.
There are about 200 Chippewa (Ojibwa) settled about
the establishment. The population of Michigan is 9,048, having doubled
in the past decade.
Some of these new Hudson Bay Company men were: Donald MacKenzie and Alexander
Christie, who would both become Governor of Assiniboine; John Roland, Chief
Factor at Fort Edmonton; Colin Robertson; Dr. John McLoughlin (1784-1857), father of
Oregon;
John Stuart of the Fraser exploration group; James Leith; and William Connolly.
William Williams became Governor of the Southern Department and George
Simpson Governor of the Northern District. George Simpson (1787-1860),
an illegitimate child from Northern Ireland, dominated the fir trade for
the next 40 years. Some called him the little emperor because of
his small size.
(I)-Samel Black (1780-1841), formally of the XY Company, now of the North West
Company, is one of the few rejected by the new H.B.C. While he was with
the NWC he was ruthless opposition to HBC intrusions in the Athabasca.
George Simpson considered him "the strangest man" he ever knew. Later in 1823 he was
admitted as a clerk and in 1824 became a chief trader. He was noted
to be "a man of notorious bad character" and was eventually killed by
the natives in 1841..
Dr Bigsby, physician and secretary to the British Commission, with his party of Metis, began surveying the boundary between Frand Portage to the Lake of the Woods. Some of those involved in the survey are Long, Garry, McKenny, Kane, Kennicott and Franklin.
Fort Alexandria in the interior of British Columbia is built by the North
West Company and grew wheat this year.
There are surplus forts and personnel. The North West Company had
97 forts, and the Hudson Bay Company had 76 forts. This resulted in twice
as many clerks as needed. Senior officers retired under generous
terms. Unsatisfactory or newly hired personnel were discharged. A strategic
shift of trade routes would take place from Montreal to the Hudson Bay,
from canoe to York boat. The merger eliminated the historic Great
Lakes and St. Lawrence trade networks. The French, pork eating Voyager
became redundant; being replaced by the English York men to serve the North
West Territories. The displaced peoples became independent traders
at Red River and Sault Ste Marie. The Hudson Bay established itself at Sault Ste Marie
in an attempt to displace the free traders, but considered their Michipicoten Post as more
strategic. Others joined the American Fur Company or faded into the Canadian or American
main stream. These
Coureurs des Bois, being attached to their native women, rarely returned to
native Quebec but, rather, migrated to the Red River, Dakota territories,
Red Lake, and the shores of Lake Superior to become hunters, trappers,
and free traders. A small number sustained themselves on fishing, the production of maple sugar and
on farming. The natural flow of Canadians to
the Territories now became an English flow through the Hudson Bay. The
Hudson Bay Company gave preference to British subjects to ensure that the western
expansion was English. At this time practically all officers and many
lower ranked employees had women according to the custom of the country.
Church sanctioned or recorded marriages were few. The company had
a practice of not bringing churchmen into the fur trade country until Thomas Douglas of Selkirk
opened the door. Some English veterans of the Hudson Bay Company
with their Metis families settled on the left bank of the Red River.
These include: William H. Cook, Thomas Thomas, James Bird, Alexander Ross,
John Pritchard, Donald Gunn, Thomas Bunn and others. The English
had a policy to limit the Metis to higher positions in the fur business.
A few Metis who attained the higher accounting positions were: John McNab
(b-1806) son Thomas McNab (b-1782) North West, Charles Thomas, Charles
Bird, James Hodgson and (II)-Thomas Fidler, who are sons of superior officers
and mostly Anglo Saxon Half-breed rather than French Metis.
George Simpson wrote to Andrew Colvile concerning John Pritchard and his Buffalo Wool Company of Red River
which failed, as he hated incompetence. A Tallow Company and another company
which grew flax and hemp, also failed. The Hayfield Experimental Farm also collapsed. Pritchard was attempting different ventures, as the Selkirk settlers were poor farmers, mostly accustomed to raising sheep. It is
worth keeping in mind that every gentlemen in the service was unfriendly to the Selkirk Colony and they were not provided with proper tools, nor tools to make tools. It wasn't until 1824 that the settlers managed to acquire primitive
implements such as ploughs and sickles.
Louis Gornoe (1790-1863) is alleged by his descendants to be an officer
at Sault Ste Marie of the North West Company. It would appear that
he is working out of Fort La Pointe (Madeleine Island, Lake Superior), which
is under the control of Sault Ste Marie. Fort La Pointe is listed
as a North West Company Fort. His forced retirement from the North
West Company resulted in his moving his family to Sault Ste Marie on the
American side. More accurately, it is at Bay Mills which is about ten
miles south west of Sault Ste Marie on the Saint Mary River. Maps
of this period indicate few choices for unemployed traders with families
to feed. Sault Ste Marie is the North West Company establishment
on the north shore of Lake Saint George that is east of the Saint Mary
river. Excluding the American Sault Ste Marie and Bay Mills, only
two other locations, namely Fort Michilimackinac and a colony called 'New
Settlement' not far from present Bay City, offer options.
George Simpson (1787-1860) at Fort Wedderburn, Mackenzie River, complained
of ink freezing in his pen when within four feet of a large fire, while
trying to write his report; so cold was this winter. He also wrote
that the Company Gentlemen immediately form a relationship with the wives
or daughters to secure alliances in trade. This is a complete reversal
of previous H.B.C. policy. After the demise of the Canadian North
West Company, there are no more summer voyages from Montreal. The
only agreements made are for three year contracts. These longer absences
resulted in a greater likelihood of definitive emigration into the Metis
Nation. Red River, the Hudson Bay Company believed, still had
potentialities as a place of retirement, a source of food supply for the
fur trade but, more important, a barrier against American encroachment.
The Hudson Bay Company continued to attempt to enforce segregation between
Protestant and Catholic Metis, through religion, language and location.
A new class of free trading Metis at Red River was emerging, who could not
align with the Hudson Bay Company thinking.
The priests used the excuse of the threatening Sioux to persuade five
hundred Metis to relocate from Pembina to St. Boniface where other French
Metis from St. Lawrence River settled, using the excuse to better protect
themselves and Red River. After Thomas Douglas of Selkirk's death, Edward Ellice of
the North West Company assumed a leadership role in the Red River Metis
Nation.
We should keep in mind that the south west trade from the Great Lakes
didn't stop over night, and most people in this region paid little, if any,
attention to boundaries, especially in Chippewa Territories- which was most
of the west. Truman Abraham Warren and Lyman Marcus Warren both joined
the American Fur Company and married Cadotte's daughters.
The reorganized Hudson Bay Company consisted of 53 officers or- as they liked
to call themselves- commissioned gentlemen. There were twenty five Chief
Factors and
28 Chief Traders. Two thirds of this number represented the old North West
Company men. Nicholas Garry, committee member of the new Hudson Bay
Company, noted:
MONTREAL CANOE
The Hudson Bay Company had recruited 165 Swiss for the Red River
Colony. They entered into contract with the H.B.C. with an understanding
that they
were going to the Red River of the South. They arrived just before winter
with none of the promised food or tools, and discovered the best land along the
river was already occupied. Some immediately headed south, with most
abandoning Red River by 1826 for the south. They said the Hudson Bay
Company had failed to live up
to their contract. Many went to Fort St. Anthony, a.k.a. Fort Snelling, and St. Peters,
a.k.a. Mendota, at the
junction of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers. Others went to Venay, Indiana. The
Superintendent of Farming, from the Selkirk's ill-fated colony at Pembina, arrived
at Fort St. Anthony (Fort Snelling), on their way to Prairie du Chien, for supplies. The
American Fur Company drove a herd of cattle into Fort St. Anthony (Fort Snelling),
and brought five Swiss families. These are likely the Swiss from the Red River
of the north. The Metis and Swiss would later be driven from Fort St.
Anthony to relocate to Saint Paul, a few miles down the Mississippi River.
Mexico becomes independent from Spain.
Kentucky abolished the English debtor prison.
January 23: Cahokia, marriage, (V)-Joseph Lepage, Metis son (IV)-Joseph
Lepage, Metis, and Therese Gaudin: married Marie Louise St. Germain
February 24: Mexico declared its independence from Spain and took over
control of Spanish California.
March 11: Rupert's House, birth, George O'Conner, son Richard
Stevens,b-1793, married 1820, likely Rupert's House, Mary O'Conner, b-1792;
married Sarah Stevens.
June 11: Sault Ste Marie, marriage (I)-John Palmer Bourke born January 1791
Sligo, Lightford, County Mayo, Ireland, died 1851 St. James, Red River; married
Nancy Campbell, Metis born about 1800, Sault Ste Marie, died July 8, 1887 St.
James, Winnipeg, Manitoba, daughter John A. Campbell born 1775 and
Wahpeton. Nancy is sister to Mrs Hercules Dousman, Colin, Duncan and Scott
Campbell.
July 28: John Franklin, (1786-1847) an Englishman led a party to map
the Northern coast of Canada. Of the 20 man party, 9 staved and froze to
death. They ate lichen scraped off rocks and finally resorted to eating strips of leather from their boots! Even with such delicacies, half the crew died.
One man was executed for alleged cannibalism.
August
12: Francois Cadot born yesterday baptized August 13 son Augustin Cadot and L'Amainbile Otchipwas as recorded
Michilimackinac.
This Augustin Cadot is probably a son or brother of Joseph Cadot interpreter
Fort St. Joseph about 1808, lieutenant during 1812-15 war. Joseph
Cadot settled on Drummond Island.
August Joseph Gueret witnessed a baptism Mackinac in August.
August 21: Mackinac baptism Francois Cadot son Augustin Cadot and L'Amainbile
an Otchipwas woman (probable son or brother Joseph Cadot).
August 29: Chicago, in the State of Illinois, Treaty with the Ottawa,
Chippewa and Pottawatamie Nations.
Land grants:
John Burnet, Metis, 2 sections of land.
November 17: Catherine Govreau and Francois Baudoin baptized at Mackinac a Theotis born 1805 and Pierre born 1818.
1822
The Americans issued the Trade and Intercourse Act of 1822. Foreign traders (Canadians) were excluded from dealing with Indian tribes on American territory.
Joseph Bailly, Ottawa/Ojibwa Metis, b-1822 Grand River, son Francis Bailly
Ottawa Metis, b-1805 and Ojibwa squaw (iskwao) whom the chief Ka-she-way says is his
cousin, listed March 28, 1836 treaty. (Squaw is a very insulting English
word.)
Charles Boureseau, Ottawa Metis, b-1822, Mackinac, son Louis Boureseau but
does not live with him, listed March 28, 1836 treaty.
Vital Boureseau, Ottawa Metis, b-1822 Mackinac, son Louis Boureseau Sr. but
not living with him, listed March 28, 1836 treaty.
Nersis Brisbois, Ojibwa Metis, b-1820, arrived 1822 Sault Ste Marie, son
Joseph Brisbois and Ojibwa Woman, listed March 28, 1836 treaty.
Therese Broadwine, Ojibwa Metis, b-1822 Sault Ste Marie daughter of Broadwine
who died and Lisette Ojibwa Woman, listed March 28, 1836 treaty.
William Campbell, Ojibwa Metis, born 1822 Mackinac son John Campbell,
Ojibwa Metis and White Woman, listed March 28, 1836 treaty.
Charlotte Cantwa, Ojibwa Metis, b-1822 daughter Alphonse Cantwa, Pawnee
Metis, b-1786 Saulte Ste Marie and Ojibwa Woman, listed March 28, 1836
treaty.
Angelique Carow, Ottawa/Ojibwa Metis, b-1822, arrived 1831, St. Ignace,
daughter Joseph Carow, Ojibwa Metis, and Ottawa Metis Woman, b-1782 St. Ignace,
listed March 28, 1836 treaty. It is noteworthy that woman's tribal origin
is listed first.
Elizabeth Chapman, Ojibwa Metis, b-1822, arrived 1826 Mackinac, daughter
Bela Chapman Sr. and Mary Chapman Ojibwa Metis b-1806, listed March 28, 1836,
treaty.
Sault Ste. Marie, birth, Mary Anne Default, Ojibwa Metis, daughter
Francis Default. Ojibwa Metis, b-1796, listed March 28, 1836 treaty.
Josette Dauphiny, Ojibwa Metis, b-1800, arrived 1822 Mackinac, wife Francois
Dauphiny, and sister Angelique Belonger b-1816, listed March 28, 1836
treaty. Rejected as from Leech Lake Indians.
Glorianna Folsome, Ojibwa Metis, b-1822, arrived 1828 Mackinac, listed March
28, 1836 treaty. Rejected mother a La Point Indian.
Louisa Johnson, Ojibwa Metis, b-1822 Sault Ste. Marie, daughter George
Johnson listed March 28, 1836 treaty.
Edward Lasley, Ojibwa Metis, b-1822, Mackinac son Samuel Lasley Jr. and his
squaw (iskwao) wife, who is sister to Shaw-en-e-ge-sick, chief of the Bay de Noque Band,
listed March 28, 1836 treaty. (Squaw is a very insulting English word.)
Pierre Lozon, Ottawa Metis, b-1822 Mackinac, son Joseph Lozon, Ottawa Metis,
and Nancy Ottawa Metis, b-1806, Mackinac, listed March 28, 1836 treaty.
Clement Nowlin (Nolin), Ojibwa Metis, b-1822 Sault Ste Marie, son Michael
Nowlin (Nolin) a Pawnee Metis, b-1795, and Ojibwa woman, listed March 28,
1836 treaty. Lac
du Flambeau (Wisconsin), birth Abraham Hudon (1822-1844) Metis son Bazil
Hudon de Beaulieu (1785-1838) and Margaret O-ge-mau-gee-zhi-go-qua (Ogemaugeeeshigoquay) (Queen of the Skies) born
1790; married Angelica Lacombe.
(III)-Alexander Kennedy Isbister, Metis, born Cumberland House (Saskatchewan)
died May 28, 1883 London, grand son of (I)-Joseph Isbister a bigamist and an
Indian Woman. He willed a personal fortune and 5,000 books to the
University of Manitoba.
Angelick La Branche, Ojibwa Metis, b-1822 Sault Ste Marie daughter Francois
La Branche and sister of Lisette Broadwine Ojibwa, listed March 28, 1836 treaty.
James Kipp (1788-1865+) of Montreal, working for the Columbia Fur Company,
built a trading post amongst the Mandans.
Abraham Leduce born 1822 Canada married Sally Ann b-1831 Canada, living Sault
Ste. Marie, Michigan 1850 census.
John McDonald is stationed at Brandon (Manitoba)for the 1822/23 season, and reports
ten lodges of Ojibwa are in his district.
Charles Nolin (1823-1907) was born Cavanagh, North Dakota. Herion Nowlin (Nolin),
Ojibwa Metis, b-1822, arrived 1826 Sault Ste Marie, son Louis Nowlin (Nolin),
Ojibwa Metis, b-1788 arrived 1812 Sault Ste Marie, and Mary Ojibwa Metis b-1802
Sault Ste Marie, listed March 28., 1836 treaty. Joseph Piquette Jr. Ojibwa
Metis, b-1822 Sault Ste Marie son Joseph Piquette Sr. a Canadian who ran away
and Angeliick Ojibway, Ojibwa Metis, b-1800 Sault Ste Marie, epouse Gitsheo
Ojibway an Indian, listed March 28, 1836 treaty.
Sault Ste. Marie, birth, Jean Baptiste Piquette, Ojibwa Metis, son Francois
Piquette b-1800 Sault Ste Marie, listed March 28, 1836 treaty.
Louisa Piquette, Ojibwa Metis, b-1822, arrived 1832 Mackinac, listed March
28, 1836 treaty. Her father is a drunkard and mother is dead.
Josette Poissen, Ojibwa Metis b-1814, arrived 1822 Sault Ste Marie, wife
Louis Poisson of Red River and Ojibwa Woman, listed March 28, 1836 treaty.
Rejected as not of Michigan. Dakota,
birth Michel Renville Metis (1822-1899) son Joseph (Akipa) Renville (1779-1846)
Metis and Marie (Tonkanne) Little Crow (daughter of the sister of Chief Little
Crow); married 1848 Margaret a Wahpaton woman.
Mary Tanner, Ottawa Metis, b-1822 Mackinac daughter of Tanner who cannot be
trusted, listed March 28, 1836 treaty.
Margaret Terdiff, Cree Metis, b-1799, arrived 1822 Sault Ste Marie, wife
Pierre Terdiff, listed March 28, 1836 treaty. Rejected as a Cree.
Jean Baptiste Terrien, Ottawa Metis, b-1822 St. Ignace, son Isaac Terrien and
Ottawa Woman (Angelique), this is second husband, listed March 28, 1836
treaty.
Geneviere Trotier, Ottawa Metis, b-1822 St. Ignace daughter Francois Trotier,
Metis and Ottawa Metis Woman, listed March 28, 1836 treaty.
Fort Gibraltar of the North West Company is
renamed Fort Garry and became known as the upper Fort. The Hudson
Bay Company decided to replace the canoe with boats and ,therefore, the Metis
with Orkney men. Complaints followed, but the argument was that the
Orkney men were cheaper. Racism would become completely entrenched
in the Hudson Bay Company systems this decade with no opposition. Governor
Simpson wrote that even the Half Breeds of the Country, who have been educated
in Canada, are blackguards of the very worst description. This systemic
discrimination would invade most business and Government Institutions and
would continue in Canada for the next one hundred and sixty years.
The Company policy was not to employ Natural Canadians in any supervisory
position. This policy, designed to ensured the evolution of an English
only Hudson Bay Company, would remain systemic into the twentieth century.
The Hudson Bay Company wished to take action against petty traders like
the Metis (IV)-Joseph Cadotte (b-1788) who are extended into the Rainy
Lake Region. Cadotte had been expelled from the Hudson Bay Company
in 1821. He still commanded much authority among the Indians and
Metis.
The American Fur Company out of Sault Ste Marie established a trading
post on Lake Temagami, between Lake Nipissing and Lake Timiskaming, Ontario.
The North West Company schooners completed the removal of material from
Fort William to Sault Ste Marie. The schooners became redundant.
Andrew Henry (1775-1833) and William H. Ashley created the Rocky Mountain Fur
Company and advertised for Enterprising Young Men to ascend the Missouri to its
source.
Donald MacKenzie, John Rowand and Edward Harriot, with 108 men, 14 women and 21 children,
again established Chesterfield House. It is noteworthy that they are surrounded by over
15,000 natives who are not pleased with a fort in their territory. This venture, like
those of the past, failed and the Fort is again abandoned in April 27, 1823.
It is noted that 136 Ojibwa are in the Fort Alexander District.
The Saskatchewan brigade as it was called was it York Factory. They
were a boisterous bunch with the likes of Blaireaux or Badgers and a bully named
Michel who taunted the Taureaux by luring their women with presents and promises
of what younger bulls could do. This resulted in numerous fights.
The English brought ashore their strongest sailor to prove to the Halfbreed
Rivermen that hardened sailors could best them. Blaireaux and the
Englishman prepared themselves as betting resumed. The Englishman was the
first to score hits upon the Metis standing tall and proud. He got little
out of it. The Riverman hunched low and charged the Englishman. One
swift movement, he jerked the the Sailor's foot up and knocked him flat with his
shoulder. The Englishman had a broken bone of his collar being broken in
half and the contest was over.
The Governer of York Factory considered these Canadian Halfbreed (Metis) as living
and died like dogs. The Metis considered themselves as kings, superior in
their freedom to all mankind. The Bow River Expedition, consisting
of mostly Red River Metis, was created to reestablish Chesterfield House for
the Hudson Bay Company. The South Saskatchewan was called the Bow River at
this time. Donald MacKenzie led the expedition, with John Rowland and
Edward Harriot and another 105 men, 14 women and 21 children. They were
surrounded by some 15,000 natives. This Fort was abandoned again on April
27, 1823. The Red River Metis only hired on for one season, then returned
to Red River. Ted Harriott, married to Margaret Pruden, Metis and three
Metis families from Fort Carlton joined the Bow River expedition. Pruden
Uncle of Harriott, was commandant at Fort Carllton. Translator Hugh
Monroe, an Irish officer named Francis Heron, John Rowand, and a trader named Henry Fisher
were on this expedition to build Chesterfield House. The men were near mutiny
as arrogant Donald MacKenzie treated the men like dogs, with cruelty, kicking
and lashing them if they didn't work hard enough., John McLean reported that the Indians at the Lake of Two Mountains at the mouth
of the Ottawa River, cultivated the soil, and they engage as voyageurs. The
mission de Saint-Sulpice attempted to establish Indians as farmers. However,
they were not allowed to own their own land. They were given the use of it
within certain rigid bounds. If they left the mission to live at other
posts where there was no missionary and did not return the third year at sowing
time, they would lose the right to their land and
meadows. Any Indian
harvesting more than he needed for his family could not use his profit to buy
the use of more land. Any trader paying an Indian in drink, voided his
contract. If these conditions were imposed on the European people there
would have been a revolution. California officially
became part of Mexico.
July 1: Cahokia, marriage (V)-Pierre Vaudry son (IV)-Antoine Vaudry
born May 17, 1747 and (IV)-Anne Agnes Bourassa et Brassard, b-1757; married
Julie Touchet.
July 9: Red River, birth (II)-Harriett Fidler daughter (I)-Peter Fidler
(1769-1822) and Mary Cree Indian. It is noteworthy that Peter died
this year leaving 14 children and a wife.
December 12: The US officially recognized Mexico as an independent
nation.
1823
Edward Ashman, Ojibwa Metis, b-1823, arrived 1830 Sault Ste Marie son Samual
Ashman, Mo-ga-son-a-qua of St. Marie, mother is his cousin, listed March 28,
1836 treaty.
Josette Boadivine, Ojibwa Metis b-1823, Sault Ste Marie, deserted by
parents, listed March 28, 1936 treaty.
Louis Cadotte, Ojibwa Metis, b-1823, living 1836 Sault Ste Marie, listed
March 28, 1836 treaty. Rejected as descendent of a Canadian tribe. George Calder, Metis, b-1823, York Factory, Hudson Bay, son James Calder
and Nancy native; married Charlotte Lyons, b-1827, Red River daughter John Lyons
and Margaret Kipling (1790-1870). Margaret Calder, Metis, b-1823 Fort Alexander, N.W. daughter Marcus Calder
and Maggie Cree; married William Dennett, Metis b-1827, Red River son William
Dennett and Sophia Ballantyne Cree. Jenny Campbell, Metis born about 1823/24 Upper Mississippi District daughter
Duncan Campbell born 1802 and Dakota woman; married Oliver Cratte
Scott Campbell, Metis born 1790's in Upper Mississippi District, died 1851
son John Archibald (1761-1818) and married about 1823 Dakota woman.
William Campbell, Metis born about 1823/25 died 1855 Upper Mississippi
District son Duncan Campbell born 1802 and Dakota woman; married Oliver Cratte.
John Clemont, Ojibwa Metis, b-1823, arrived 1828 Mackinac, listed March 28,
1836 treaty. Rejected as father resides in Chicago and children are at
school in the district. Angelique
Dauphiny, Ojibwa Metis, b-1823, arrived 1833 Mackinac, daughter Francois
Dauphiny, and Josette Ojibwa Metis, b-1800, listed March 28, 1836 treaty.
Rejected as from Leech Lake Indians.
Jennet Gornow (Gornor), Ojibwa Metis b-1823 Sault Ste Marie daughter Louis
Gornow (Gornor), Ojibwa Metis b-1790 and Archangel Gornow (Gornor) aka
Cadotte, Ojibwa Metis, b-1798, listed March 28, 1836 treaty. Mother
is likely Say-shaw-ne-nie, see marriage 1815. Maria A. Gravereat, Ojibwa Metis,
b-1823 Mackinac, daughter Henry Gravereat and Charlotte Ojibwa Metis b-1790,
listed March 28, 1836.
Angelique La Fond, Ojibwa Metis b-1823 Sault Ste Marie, abandoned by father,
living with mother, listed March 28, 1836 treaty.
Andrew Henry (1775-1833) of the Rocky Mountain Fur Company led a trading
party across Nebraska and the Dakotas into the central Rockies.
Patrick McGulpin, Ojibwa Metis, b-1823, Mackinac son George McGulpin Sr.,
Ojibwa Metis, b-1762, Mackinac and Ojibwa Woman, listed March 28, 1836 treaty. Nancy Robinson, Metis, b-1823, arrived 1828, Mackinac, daughter Robinson,
listed March 28, 1836 treaty. Abandoned by parents. Margaritta Stevens, Ojibwa Metis,
b-1823 Mackinac wife James Stevens b-1800 and Metis Woman, Marg is neice of
Jugusha of Gd, Island, listed March 28, 1836 treaty.. Toussaint Terdiff, Cree Metis, b-1823
Sault Ste Marie, daughter Pierre Terdiff and Margaret Terdiff, Cree Metis,
b-1799, arrived 1822 Sault Ste Marie, listed March 28, 1836 treaty.
Rejected as a Cree as reported by John Holiday.
(III)-Alexander Thomas born 1823 Red River
claimed himself to be the son of (I)-Thomas Thomas born 1792 however the
Charles D. Denney papers suggest he was the son (II)-Richard Thomas born
1800 who was the son of (I)-Thomas Thomas. Alexander would have a
daughter (IV)-Eleanor Thomas who would marry Lawrence Garneau at Red
River.
Elizabeth Thornton?, Ojibwa Metis, b-1823, arrived 1828 Mackinac, listed
March 28, 1836 treaty. Rejected as of North Western descent.
Margaritta Trotier, Ottawa Metis, b-1823 St. Ignace daughter Francois Trotier,
Metis and Ottawa Metis Woman, listed March 28, 1836 treaty.
William Keating noted that a Miami chief, some of the time, dressed like a trader
(Metis) and some times assumed the Indian costume, but always a capote rather
than a blanket. At Red River the first Bois-Brules he encountered
had blue capote with a hood; only used in bad weather. The capote is secured
around their waist by a military sash. They wear a shirt of calico or
painted muslin, moccasins and leather leggings which are fastened round the leg by
garters,
ornamented with beads, etc.
General Cuthbert Grant d-1854 married Marie McGillis a halfbreed this year;
the first in a church. His first wife was Elisabeth MacKay sister of John
Richard McKay of HBC, Brandon post, then her sister Betsy MacKay leaving one son
James born 1815, then Dakota woman who produced a daughter named Nancy,
then Madeline Desmarois and a daughter named Maria who married Pascal Breland.
Some suggest he bedded both McGillis sisters Margaret and Marie at the same
time. Margaret had one child and Marie nine children. The next year
Grant and the McGillis, Potts, Bolinot, Inkster and others settled on White
Horse Plains to engage in agriculture being manipulated by the HBC and the
Church. About 100 hundred families followed Grant to White Horse Plains
the following year. Grant proved to be a better buffalo hunter than farmer
and was often elected as chief captain of the hunt.
Sault Ste. Marie, arrived this year, Calento Mero (Meron), Ojibwa Metis,
b-1810, wife Louis Mero (Meron), listed March 28, 1836 treaty. Dakota, birth Madeline Renville Metis daughter Joseph (Akipa) Renville
(1779-1846) Metis and Marie (Tonkanne) Little Crow (daughter of the sister of
Chief Little Crow). Dakota, birth Rosalie Renville Metis daughter Joseph (Akipa)
Renville (1779-1846) Metis and Marie (Tonkanne) Little Crow (daughter of the
sister of Chief Little Crow).
(I)-Peter (Patrick) Quinn (1787-1862) departed Red River for Fort Snelling.
He married about 1827 1st Marie Louise Finley, 2nd Louise Boucher. He was
pressed into the British Navy, and arrived York Factory, Hudson Bay at a young
age.
Many Pembina Metis are encouraged to relocate to St. Boniface, Red River
before the Americans occupy the land.
At Alkali Creek (Billings, Montana) 400 Blackfoot attacked 29 traders of the
American Fur Company. The stolen furs were traded to the Hudson Bay Company
and later appeared on the London market. An American recognized the stolen
pelts.
Benjamin Gervais born 1786 Riviere du Loop who arrived Metis Red River Colony
in 1803 married Red River Genevieve Larans born Berthierville (Boucherville??),
died 1885 likely St. Paul, Minnesota.
The Parkland Assiniboine, Cree and Metis, near Fort Edmonton, numbered 20 tents,
and the Strong Wood Assiniboine numbered 40 tents. This is interesting in
that Metis are not usually noted separate from the Indians, although they often
traveled with them.
Meanwhile, John Bigsby visited the Canadian village of Sault (Sault Ste
Marie) to assess the situation after the Hudson Bay Company merger.
He reported the Sault consisted of a straggling line of fifteen log huts
on marshy ground and a dwelling of a Charles Ermatinger with a windmill.
Charles Ermatinger was attempting to encourage the Natives to grow grain.
The old North West Company Post consisted of a good resident house, large
storehouse, stables, laborer dwellings, garden, fields and jetty for their
schooner. The cattle were in remarkably good condition. The
American village at Sault Ste Marie, called Fort Brady, headed by a Mr. John
Johnson (1742-1830), an Irishman, who is stationed with troops, is the main establishment.
St. Mary's village (Bay Mills), ten miles down river, sustains itself by
fishing. There were ninety scattered shacks and wigwams, housing several
hundred voyageurs, Mixed Blood and Chippewa. Most had Chippewa wives,
raising as many children as they could afford to feed. Land claims
at the village of Pauwayayteeg are heard at the Sault where brother in
law (IV)-Joseph Cadotte (b-1788) swore that Marie Janette Piquette, widow
of (IV)-Jean Baptiste Cadotte (1797-1818), had lived upon her lot since
1807 and had never, at any time, removed from the same. She, during
this time, had cultivated and improved the front of said lot, and has a considerable
portion of it fenced in. He also affirmed her loyalty to the United
States throughout a period when loyalties at the Sault were very much divided.
Judge Doty notes that the house appears very old and stands on the western boundary
of her lot. The widow Cadotte's claim is recognized and her name
appears on the first county tax rolls of 1823 and 1825.
Steamboats were coming up the Mississippi River as far as St. Paul,
Minnesota.
Stephen H. Long at Red River said that the Metis observed his Black Man, Andrew and immediately nick
name him wapishka; meaning white. Such is their humor.
Dr. John McLoughlin (1784-1857) is at the Rainy Lake Post.
James P. Beckworth, who was traveling with William Henry Ashley, was adopted
into the Crow confederacy, married an Indian woman and settled in the Absaroka
region east of Yellowstone.
Fort Assiniboine is established at the confluence of the Freeman and
Athabasca Rivers.
The Men of the Snake River Expedition, battled the Piegan Indians in Lemhi
Valley, Idaho.
King Ferdinand VII of Spain rewarded one of his subjects with the title of
Don Luis Maria Babeza de Vaca and granted him a few hundred thousand acres of
land in America. He had legal ownership to tie City of Los Vegas and much
of New Mexico. Eventually the family was deprived of Los Vegas but in
return received 400 thousand acres extending into Colorado. June 20: Drummond Island, death (I)-Robert Dickson (Mascotapah (Red Hair Man)) (1768-1823) who was married to
Helen Totowin. He was a very influential trader in both the old and new
North West. August 1: Mackinac, marriage Augustin Hamilin son Louis
Hamlin and Josephte; married to Angelique Kiminitchawgan daughter of Kiminitchaw
and SichigikSA. August 16: York Factory, the Reverend David Jones
b-1798, an Anglican priest arrived for his trip to Red River (1823-1838),
Reverend John West the first minister of Red River departed for England. October
14: Red River Settlement, Reverend David Jones (1798-1844), an Anglican
priest arrived to start his missionary work. He resided with Robert Parker
Pelly until his house was made ready. November: Red River Settlement,
Reverend David Jones (1798-1844), an Anglican priest moved into the house built
by Reverend John West in 1822. The day he moved in Chief Pigwys (Peguis)
arrived to get rum. Jones said he wanted boys for his school. Peguis
said "I have listened very much to what you say, and they are fine
promises; we want out children to become like white people, to get plenty of
Indian corn, wheat, and potatoes; for since you white people have got our lands,
we are very poor. Before that we had plenty -- our rivers were full of
fish, and we always conquered our enemies; but now the white people promise much
and give nothing. And now you come and want our children""
1823
RED RIVER, SAINT ANDREWS, NORTH WEST TERRITORIES
Richard Thomas (1) (ID # 4676) born 1800 (some records say 1806) Albany
District of Hudson Bay Company baptized November 13, 1837 St. John Anglican
Church, Red River. He moved to Red River 1820, and died, July 8,
1860, Little Britain, Red River son Thomas Thomas-(4) born 1781
Richard Thomas (2) born 1806 Hudson Bay Post Albant River, North West
Territories died July 7, 1860 Little Britain, North West Territories son
Thomas Thomas; married about 1828 Eleanor
Married: about 1820 Eleanor Thomas at Grand Rapids, Red River
Married: 2nd marriage December 24, 1837 Indian Village, Grand
Rapids (marriage blessed by William Cochran of H.B.C.) to (II)-Eleanor
(Ellen) Thomas born September 1805, baptized, November 13, 1837, St. John
Anglican Church, Red River, died, June 22, 1878 Jack Fish Creek as recorded
St. Andrews Church, daughter (I)-John George Thomas alias Thomas
1835 census lists
1M-16 1F-15
ELEVEN CHILDREN ARE RECORDED; likely represents two Richards
Alexander Thomas (2) born 1823 Little Britain, Red River, died, April
23, 1869, son Eleanor. Its highly possible that Alexander is the
son of Peter Foy? 1835 census tends to support this assumption.
Family baptism of November 13, 1837 does not include this Alexander.
(*2)Charles Thomas Thomas born 1828 Little Britain, Red River, baptized,
November 13, 1837, St. John Anglican Church Red River, died September 18,
1843 son Eleanor. Its highly possible that Charles is the son of
Peter Foy? 1835 census tends to support this assumption.
(*1)Matilda Thomas born 1829 Little Britain, Red River, baptized, November
13, 1837, baptized St. John Anglican Church Red River, died November 2,
1843 St. Andrews, Red River, living Red River Settlement.
(*3)Richard William Thomas (ID # 4677) born, May 7, 1834, Little Britain,
Red River, baptized, November 13, 1837, St. John Anglican Church Red River,
son Eleanor Thomas, married (II)-Mary Thomas born, September 29,
1834, daughter (I)-John George Thomas and Mary Cree. (II)-Mary Thomas
second marriage Richo Aouiad. Script issued to Richard May 22, 1876.
Victorine Thomas born February 25, 1837 claims Richard Thomas as her
father but no other records verify this claim. Could be his child
by a different woman. 1838 census tends to support this claim?
Victorine is not included in the family baptism of November 13, 1837.
She is likely not the daughter of this Eleanor.
(*4)Alexander Thomas (3) born 1835 (ID # 4668) baptized November 27,
1837 St. John Anglican Church, Red River married 1851 Victoria Taylor.
(*5)Louise (Louisa) Thomas born 1828 Little Britain, Red River,
baptized, November 27, 1837, baptized St. John Anglican Church Red River,
daughter Eleanor; married, July 25, 1866, a William Smith (ID # 3507) widower
born 1830 son John James Smith.
(*6)Margaret Thomas born 1837 baptized March 22, 1839 St. John Anglican
Church, Red River daughter Richard Thomas and Eleanor; married Peter Hourie
born 1849 (ID # 2247), marriage source is Genealogy of First Metis
Nation and appears to be an error?
(*7)John George Thomas baptized St. John Anglican Church December 2,
1841 son Eleanor, received land script January 28, 1879.
Catherine Thomas born about 1842 died before 1877 and land script denied
indicating possible death after 1870.
Anne Thomas baptized June 24, 1845 St. John's Anglican Church, Red River
daughter Eleanor.
Nancy Thomas born 1846 Red River daughter Richard Thomas (2) (ID # 4676)
born 1800 married John Favel (ID# 1519) born 1843 Red River, source Genealogy
of First Metis Nation.
Henry Thomas (ID # 4678) born February 9, 1848 St. Andrews North West
son Richard Thomas a metis and Ellenor a metis; married April 15,
1869 St. Peters, Red River a Charlotte Pausien born October 1852, 1875
script suggests he married Charlotte Parisien born October 1848 St. Peters,
Manitoba daughter Jean Baptiste Parisien. Script issued May 22, 1876.
There were a number of Chippewa camps and a number of Metis settled at La Pointe,
Madeline Island, Red Lake and Pembina. The advantage of Bay
Mills over other locations was the availability of fish. (7)-Francis
S. Gurnoe is born 1821 Bay Mills, Michigan son (6)-Louis Gurnoe born 1790
and Se-Ranze (Say Shaw Ne Nie) born 1800.
This painting by Mrs. Hopkin's (1858-1870) of Lachine Quebec represents the glory of the past.
It is a Canot de Maitre (Montreal Canoe), 35-40 feet long, with a 16 man crew of Voyagers
and was used
to run the Ottawa River and on the Great Lakes. The takeover of trade by the British
Hudson Bay Company diverted the trade route to the Hudson Bay, effectively destroying the
Canadian supply lines. Canadian French Voyagers were no longer required. It is not clear if
they realized that they were dividing a natural nation and alienating the French.
James Burnt, Abraham Burnet, Rebecca Burnet and Nancy Burnet, Metis children
of Kawkeeme, sister of Topnibe, of the Potawatamie Nation, a section of land
each on the north bank of the river St. Joseph, about two miles from the
mouth.
John B. La Lime, Metis, son of Nokenoqua, 1/2 section above the previous
grant.
Jean Baptiste Chandonai, Metis, son of Chippewaqua, one section of land
adjoing the tract granted to John B. La Lime.
Joseph Daze, Metis, son Chippewaqua, a section of land above and adjoing the
tract granted to Jean Baptiste Chadonai, Metis
Monguago 1/2 section at Mishshewakokink
Pierre Moran or Peeresh, Metis, a Potawatamie Chief, a section of land and to
his children two sections of land at the mouth of the Elkland River.
Pierre Le Clerc, Metis, son Moiqua a section of land on the Elkheart River
above and adjoing the Moran grant above.
The section of land granted by Treaty of St. Mary's in 1818 to Peeresh or
Perig shall be granted to Jean Baptiste Cicot, Metis, son of Pesayquot, sister
of said Peerish.
Osheakkebe or Benac, Metis 1/2 section land north side Elkheart River where
the road from Chicago to Fort Wayne first crosses the said river.
Menawche a Potawatamine woman 1/2 section on the east bank of the St. Joseph
River where the road from Chicago to Fort Wayne first crosses the said river.
Theresa Chandler or Toeakqui, Metis a Potawatamine woman and her daughter
Betsey Fisher, Metis, a section of land on the south side of the Grand River,
opposite the Spruce Swamp.
Charles Beaubien, Metis, and Medart Beaubien, Metis, sons Mannabenaqua, each
1/3 section near the Village Kewigoshkeem on the Washtenaw River.
Antoine Roland, Metis, son of Igatpatawatamiequa 1/2 section adjoing and below
grant to Pierre Moran, Metis.
William Knaggs or Waseskukson, Metis son Chesqua 1/2 section adjoining and
below the grant to Antoine Roland, Metis.
Madeline Bertrand, Metis, wife Joseph Bertrand, a Potawatamie woman, section
land at the Parc and Vaches, on the north side of the St. Joseph River.
Joseph Bertrand, junior, Benjamin Bertrand, Laurent Bertrand, Theresa Bertrand
and Amable Bertrand, Metis children of Madeline Bertrand, each 1/2 section
land at portage of the Kankakee River.
John Riley, Metis, son Menawcumegoquoi a section of land at the mouth of the
river Au Foin on the Grand River and extending up the said river.
Peter Riley, Metis, son Menawcumegoquoi a section of land at the mouth of the
river Au Foin on the Grand River and extending down the said river.
Jean Baptiste Le Clerc, Metis, son Moiqua 1/2 section land above and
adjoining the grant to Pierre Le Clerc.
Joseph La Framboise, Metis, son Shawwenoqua section land on the south side of
river St. Joseph and adjoining on the upper side of the land cede to the
United States.
Justina Piquette, Ojibwa
Metis b-1823 Sault Ste Marie child Jean Baptiste Piquette, Ojibwa Metis b-1804
Sault Ste Marie and Geneviene Piquette, Ojibwa Metis b-1786, arrived 1796 Sault
Ste Marie, listed March 28, 1836 treaty.
Thomas-(2) born 1766 and Mienish Cree born 1781. Script land
claimed by widow Eleanor Thomas. Eleanor Thomas 1st marriage Peter
Foy.
1838 census lists
3M-16 2F-15
1840 census lists born 1800 native with 3M-16,
3F-15
1843 census lists born 1800 native with 4M-16, 1F+15, 3F-15
1847 census lists
1M+16, 2M-16, 1F+15, 2F-15
The St. John Anglican Church records lists the children in the following
order: (*1)
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