Jasper Alberta Index
Alberta Basic History
1784
Pierre Bonneau guided the Edward Umfreville party to Sturgeon Lake. Edward Umfreville, Venance St. Germain, Jean Roy, Dubay and Raymond established Umfreville house on the Saskatchewan River, that remained in operation until 1787.
The Iroquois fur traders were penetrating into Alberta in small numbers working for the North West Company and by the 1790's they arrived by their 100's. Most of the Iroquois were from Caughnawaga, Quebec.
1785
Jacques Beauliev and his family on the Salt River, N.W. journeyed the Peace River. James Gaddy wintered with the Piegan in Southern Alberta and spent the next three winters in the field taking others with him including (I)-David Thompson (1770-1857) in 1787, a lad of seventeen.
1787
Fort Carlton, west of Duck Lake on the North Saskatchewan River, is established by the Hudson Bay Company. It is also known as the Crossing Place and Fort DuMonte.
The Hudson Bay Company began establishing posts up the Saskatchewan River, often setting down cheek-by-jowl with the North West Posts. The Hudson Bay had forty- four men in the field, compared to the one hundred and eighty of the North West Company. Peter Pond (1740-1807), back in the Athabasca country, got involved in another killing, a John Ross (d-1787) of the Gregory and MacLeod Trading Company. Pond's associate is charged with murder but not convicted.
This winter season (I)- Alexander MacKenzie (1764-1820) was under the tutorage of Peter Pond (1739/40-1807) and was greatly influenced by Pond's conception of the region's geography.
1788
(I)-James Bird Sr., aka James Curtis (d-1856), arrived in York Factory with the Hudson Bay Company from Middlesex County, England. He worked here until 1792. It would appear this was his second tour of duty, as children attributed to him were born 1781 and 1785, or there was another James Bird in the employ of HBC. It is known that he had at least two Indian wives. He would spend most of his assignment in the Saskatchewan River District, mostly Fort Edmonton and neighboring posts.
Roderick MacKenzie, of the North West Company and cousin of Alexander Mackenzie, built Fort Chipewyan on the south shore of Lake Athabasca. They traveled and traded five hundred miles up the Peace River. Red River Fort (Fort De La Riviere Rouge) is built by a Free Trader. This fort is built at the junction of the Peace River and Mikna River (Little Red).
Peter Pangman (1744-1819) wintered near Fort Augustus (Edmonton). He was considered short-tempered, vigorous, and cantankerous.
Charles Boyer's Trading Post for the N.W.C. is established on the mouth of the Boyer River to Peace River at north of present day Fort Vermillion. Boyer grew turnips, carrots and parsnips. This fort was relocated in 1831 by the Hudson Bay Company to its present site. Fort Vermillion is named after the red ochre deposits nearby that the natives used. Fort Chipewyan was also establish this year by the North West Company's Roderick MacKenzie, a cousin of (II)-Alexander MacKenzie (1764-1820). It was located at the hub of the Athabasca, Peace, and Slave Rivers. This was the scene of a fierce struggle between the dominate North West Company, the XL Company and the Hudson Bay Company for this strategic trading location.
1789
Alexander MacKenzie with 12 men and their wives, guided by English Chief crossed the Great Slave Lake. The Little Ice Age impeded their progress. This global cooling period lasted until about 1850 but was especially severe this year.
Fort Lac d'Original (Moose Lake Fort) is established by the North West Company at the southwest end of Moose Lake, (Alberta). The North West Company builds a La Martre (Martins Lake) north of Great Slave Lake.
Edward Umfreville, an ex-Hudson Bay Company man, joined the North West Company and is working the Saskatchewan River. He noted the Orkney are trading among the natives in small numbers.
1790
Jean Baptiste (Nechokapow) Desjarlais, Lac La Biche, (Alberta) died 1871, Little Fork, Qu'Appelle Lakes, Saskatchewan son Joseph Desjarlais Sr., b-1754, Quebec and Okemakwe; married about 1805 Lac La Biche des Metis, (Alberta) Lisette Cardinal, 2nd married 1825 Red River Charlotte Cardinal, b-1810.
Rocky Mountain House, aka Poste de la Montagne de Roches, (Alberta), birth, Lizzette Laval (Duval), who died February 12, 1861 Sault au Recollet, Quebec daughter Paul Laval (Duval) and Snare Shuswap woman; she married August 19, 1819 Fort William, Ontario, Daniel William Harmon born February 19, 1778, Bennington, Vermont, died April 1843 Sault au Recollet, Quebec.
Peter Pangman (1744-1819) wintered near Rocky Mountain House, aka Poste de la Montagne de Roches, where he carved his name and date in a spruce tree.
Frank Oliver in 1930 believes the first fort in Edmonton, Alberta was built by the XY company before 1792.
Some believe Alexander MacKenzie is the first Europen to describe the Athabasca Tar Sands. It is noteworthy the natives used the tar sands to patch their canoe for years.
June 9, (I)-David Thompson (1770-1857) departed Cumberland House to survey the Saskatchewan River system. He had learned surveying and mapmaking while recovering from a broken leg. Some time between 1789 to 1792 Cumberland House was relocated about a mile and a quarter to its present location. The North West Company also maintained a post nearby.
McCleod's Fort is built on the Peace River by the North West Company.
A severe drought occurred in southern Alberta this decade according to tree ring analysis.
1791
Isaac Batt, a free trader, is killed by the Blackfoot while hunting buffalo but his companion John Thompson was not harmed.
John Finlay, of the North West Company, built Fort de Tremble forty miles north of Fort Vermilion and Archibald MacLeod built a fort at Whitemud Creek, thirty miles south of the Peace River Town site.
(I)-Peter Fidler (1769-1822) lived among the Chipewyans January to April. He then journeyed from Buckingham House (near Lindberg, Alberta) to the Rocky Mountains on the North Saskatchewan River.
(I)-William Tomison in the field (1760-1811), an Orkney, Factor, constructed Buckingham House a short distance from the earlier constructed Canadian House Fort George, approximately 100 miles downstream from what was, later, Edmonton House (13 km southeast of Elk Point. The following spring it is nearly lost by fire.). (I)-William Tomison claimed it was ordered set by Angus Shaw, the trader in charge of Fort George. These forts remained side by side until 1800.
The North West Company built Fort Chesterfield 12 miles below present Empress, Alberta on the north bank of the South Saskatchewan River.
The Hudson Bay Company reported reaching the Athabasca to see for themselves the resources of the region and the extent of the North Western Company activities. They are in awe when they reach Fort Chipewyan on Lake Athabasca. They discovered that the fort had supplies of trade goods to last two seasons. The essence of this report appears to support the contention that earlier reports of Hudson Bay Company exploration maybe based on second hand Native reports and not first hand English reports. The Hudson Bay Company also reported that 900 employees of the North West Company owed the Company more than the wages of 10-15 years employment. This however could be propaganda, designed to discourage Hudson Bay men from entering the field.
August 31: Fort Carleton, North Saskatchewan River, marriage Aratha Michel L'Iroquois daughter Louis Kwarakwentha Callihoo L;Iroquoise, born October 17, 1782 Chaugawaga, Montreal, Quebec and Marie Sekanaise Katis (Montagnals Nation); married Bazil Larence, B-1789, Quebec.
1792
John Finlay built the New Establishment, replacing Boyer's Post (The Old Establishment) and it was called Finlay's Post, Old Aspin Fort, and Fort Du Tremble north of Fort Vermilion (Alberta).
Jacques L'Hyrondelle married, 1792, Lesser Slave Lake (Alberta) Josephte Pilon.
The North West Company built Fort Fork on the Peace River 10 miles upriver from present day Peace River town.. The Hudson Bay Company built a fort at Peace River.
The NWC abandoned Fort Lac d'orignal just north of the Saskatchewan river near Bonnyville to build Fort George.
Angus Shaw employed sixty men in the spring, for the North West Company, to build Fort George on the North Saskatchewan River, near Elk Point on highway 41, on the north bank of the river in Eastern Alberta. Archaeological evidence suggests that free traders had already previously established a trading post at this location.
Later in the summer, the Hudson Bay Company built Buckingham House, with mostly Orkney men, within three hundred yards of Fort George. That both forts are built a quarter mile from the river is still puzzling. The traders fanned out from these posts to live with the natives in their home territories. Peter Fiddler, a surveyor and mapmaker, joined the Piegan at their homeland south of Calgary and met with the Kootenay peoples.
Mackenzie wintered at the Fort of the Forks, 6 miles up the Peace River from the mouth of the Smoky River. At this time he was told of the Slave Lake 120 miles away.
1793
Peter Fidler observed coal near Drumheller.
Jacques Raphael (Jacko & Jocko) Finlay, (1768-1828) son James Finlay and Chippewa Woman married Alberta, a Chippewa? Cree? named St. Germain?
Catherine L'Hyrondelle is born 1793, Lesser Slave Lake (Alberta), daughter of Jacques L'Hyrondelle (L'Hirondelle) and Josephine Pilon; married in1808, a Joseph Belcourt Sr. d-1863.
(I)-Duncan McGillivray (1770-1808), brother (I)-William McGillivray (1764-1825), and nephew to (I)-Simon McTavish (1750-1804), spent most of his career (1793-1802) working the North Saskatchewan River.
Frank Oliver believed George Sutherland and John Pruden of Edmonton, England built the first Edmonton trading post so named by Proden on the North Bank of the Saskatchewan River in 1793 near the present Fort Edmonton location. This was a major misunderstanding as this Fort Edmonton was not built until 1819. He also believed Fort Augustus was built on the south side of the river across from the Edmonton post. He also contends the XY company built a fort in the general area before either the HBC or the NWC. Edmonton was not considered an important trading location by the Hudson Bay Company. Oliver contends the XY Company fort in Edmonton was the first in that location. He suggests it was located on the south side below the high level bridge being better situated to the buffalo plains of the south. Maybe he is confusing the XY Fort Meadows with the NWC Fort Augustus as others suggest the XY Fort Meadows was on the meadows where the parliament building are located. At this time Fort Augustus was across the Saskatchewan River from Fort Saskatchewan. Frank Oliver agrees there is much confusion in the establishment of Edmonton.
Battle River Settlement, alias Crossing alias Nonteen A Quee was named some time before this date.
May 9: In Peace River(Alberta) (I)-Alexander Mackenzie (1764-1820), of the North West Company, expressed his determination to follow Peter Pond's (1739-1807) second great river to the Pacific. He expected to trade with the Russians who had a string of trading posts from Alaska to California. Alexander McKay and six Metis, Jacques Beauchamp, Francois Beaulieux, Baptiste Bisson, Francois Courtois, Charles Ducette, Joseph Landry, two natives as guides, interpreters, and hunters and a large dog left for the Pacific. The Parsnip and Sekani helped direct (I)-Alexander Mackenzie (1764-1820) to the great river and stinking lake, the Pacific, where white-men arrived in ships. The Sekani drew a map that suggested the stinking lake was a moon's journey away. They met the Carrier and Bella Coola Natives. (I)-Alexander Mackenzie (1764-1820) appears more fascinated with the native culture, their honesty, and architecture than with finding the Pacific Ocean. It is noteworthy that at Bella Coola (before July 20) they encountered Natives with metal spearhead and European beads. Had those Metis reached the Pacific before him? They arrived near King Island, at the top of Fitz Hugh Sound, on July 23. These Nor'westers returned to Fort Chipewyan having covered two thousand eight hundred and eleven miles. It is worth noting that these Metis, Indians, and Mackenzie officially crossed the continent twelve years before Lewis and Clark.
May 11: (I)-Alexander Mackenzie (1764-1820), of the North West Company, at Dunvegan (Alberta) is accosted by the Beaver Indians.
1794
A large group of Ottawa/Ojibwa traders are in the Red River colony visiting their relatives before trading on the Saskatchewan.
Joseph Cardinal, b-1756 St. Laurent, Quebec, died September 1, 1854, Lac La Biche (Alberta), 1st married 1794 Rose Cree, N.W.; 2nd married 1798, Lizette Maskegan most likely Lac La Biche, (Alberta); 3rd marriage to unknown. Joseph Cardinal may have had two wives at same time, maybe more? Joseph was in Alberta and British Columbia in the 1790's.
Jacques Raphael (Jacko & Jocko) Finlay, (1768-1828) is at Gardepui's crossing near Duck Lake, Alberta.
Jacques Raphael (Jacko & Jocko) Finlay, (1768-1828) is the chief factor of the Upper Bow Fort for the North West Company on the south fork of the Saskatchewan River. The Hudson Bay Company had a fort nearby called the South Branch House.
James Finley (1794-1853/54), was born the Fort of the Upper Bow, Saskatchewan River, Alberta son Jacques Raphael (Jacko & Jocko) Finlay, (1768-1828) and Indian woman. James married May 7, 1844 Porte d'Enfer (Hell Gate) Montana a Susanna Matilda.
Duncan McGillivray reported three Iroquois traders are on the Saskatchewan near Prince Albert.
June: About 150 Indians, likely Gros Ventres or Dakota Sioux attacked the H.B.C. South Branch House killing 8-9 men. Those killed included Magnus Annel, Hugh Brough, William Fea, a woman and two Metis children. Two women were carried off as slaves. Jacques Raphael (Jacko & Jocko) Finlay, (1768-1828), John McDonald of Garth and Cree Beau Parlez killed or wounded 14 Indians and escaped into the night having saved one H.B.C. Man named Vandereil. They escaped down river to Chesterfield House at the Red Deer River.
1795
Betsy Ballindine is born in Cumberland House, daughter John Ballindine and Jani Indian, She would marry in1812, William Rowand.
Antoine Cardinal, b-1795 son Joseph Cardinal, (1756-1854) and Rose Cree; married Marie (Godin) Demontigny Comptois b-1795 daughter Comptois man and Suzette Godin.
Gabriel Dumont, b-1795 to 1801, Alberta son Jean Baptiste Dumont and Josette a Sarcee Native; married Suzanne Lussieur, daughter Francois Lussier and Cree or Metisse (Metis).
Marie Godin Demontigny Comptois, b-1795, daughter, a man called Comptois and Suzerre Godin; 1st married 1815 B.C. Peter Hogden; 2nd marriage 1820, Jasper house (Alberta), Antoine Cardinal, b-1795 son Joseph Cardinal, b-1756, Quebec and Rose Cree.; 3rd marriage 1855, Fort Edmonton (Alberta) Joseph Allard.
Thornburn Finlay b-1795 Fort Edmonton region son Jacques Raphael (Jacko & Jocko) Finlay, (1768-1828) and Indian woman.
Bonhomme Finlay, b-1795-1821) Fort Edmonton region son Jacques Raphael (Jacko & Jocko) Finlay, (1768-1828) and Indian woman. He maybe same person as Thornburn or a different mother or the son of brother Xavier??
Duncan M'Gillivray, of the N.W.C., is stationed at Fort George on the North Saskatchewan River.
(I)-David Thompson (1770-1857) HBC reports the Piegan Indians, who live near the source of the Saskatchewan River, made a 1,500 mile journey on foot in a direct line, stole horses and mules from the Spaniards, then rode back.
In the spring, the NWC built Fort Augustus at the mouth of the Sturgeon River on the North Saskatchewan River. This site was called Birch Hills as it was a traditional manufacturing site for canoes.
Angus Shaw of the North West Company chose the Fort Saskatchewan location hoping to attract the Cree and Assiniboine. He assumed the Blackfoot, Piegan, Blood, and Gros Ventre would continue to trade at Fort George. (I)-Duncan McGillivray (1770-1808), brother of William and Simon of the North West Company, reported John MacDonald, James Hughes and twenty men built Fort Augustus on the west bank, two miles north of Fort Saskatchewan this summer. This later would become Fort Edmonton, which means happy helmet. (I)-William Tomison of South Ronaldsay, Orkney Island, working for the Hudson Bay Company, is away at York Factor and couldn't respond to the move until the fall. Tomison, the Orkneyman, is the Inland Chief who constructed the original Edmonton House. The 'XY' Company and Ogilvie Company also built Forts in the Fort Saskatchewan area. The Indians abandoned Fort George for the closer Fort Augustus. Twenty miles east of Edmonton was a place called Beaver Hills and it was loaded with beavers.
A band of Ottawa/Ojibwa traders are reported near Fort Augustus. These likely represent some Metis free traders who are known to travel with the people.
May: Beaubien, a long time free-trader, brought three canoes to the Saskatchewan River, got 9 packs of furs at Nipawin and 3 at Fort Augustus/Edmonton House, facing opposition from the two large companies as well as from Peter Grant's men at both places. It is noteworthy that two other independent trading posts where built in this area within a stones throw of the N.W.C. and Hudson Bay trading posts.
August: A group of Ottawa (likely from among the Lake Superior Ojibwa) traders is reported at Edmonton House at Birch Hills and many more came to Red River Settlement last year with the new Company.
October 5: William Tomison built Edmonton House near the mouth of the Sturgeon River (Alberta), within a musket shot of the the North West Company's, Fort Augustus. This location would later be called Fort Saskatchewan. As a teenage the author used to ride our bikes out to this area to hunt gophers and search for Indian arrow-heads. Most arrow-heads were traded with friends for other articles of interest.
1796
Paul Niyawekanis Durand, b-1796, Rocky Mountain House, aka Poste de la Montagne de Roches, son Paulette Durand and Sosephte (Josephte) a Sarces Indian; `married 1816, Fort Edmonton, Marie Ahskekahmuahtaht; 2nd marriage 1846 Fort Pitt, Saskatchewan, Kewtchit.
The Lethargic Hudson Bay Company moved next to Fort Saskatchewan this year having been previously located one hundred and twenty five miles down river and called their post Edmonton House. Some believe Edmonton was named by Tomison in honor of Edmonton Estates, ancestral home of the Deputy Governor of the Hudson Bay Company, James Winter Lake. George Sutherland of Wick, Caltness, Orkney became Inland Chief at Edmonton House. Lodgepole, of the Northwest Company, built Boggy Hill and Hudson Bay built Pembina House at Wabamum Creek mouth. The North West Company built Whitemud and Hudson Bay built Nelson House.
Jacques Raphael (Jacko & Jocko) Finlay, (1768-1828) was chief factor Fort des Prairies at Edmonton, (Alberta). He was the highest paid man of the Northwest Company. Some suggest this was the reason that (I)-David Thompson (1770-1857) took a dislike towards him. At this time Finlay built a number of trading posts east of the Rocky Mountains. It is believed he discovered Finley Pass a.k.a. Howse Pass and the headwaters of the Columbia River and maybe even the Pacific Ocean over the next 4 years. He was also in Montana where there is a Jocko River, Jocko Valley and Jacko Mountain Range.
Emelie Finlay, (1796-1847) was born Fort des Prairies (Edmonton, Alberta) daughter Jacques Raphael (Jacko & Jocko) Finlay, (1768-1828) and Indian Woman (may not be same mother or maybe brothers child?); she married Alberta 1st Pierre Antoine Bercier (1778-1833) and married 2nd April 8, 1839 Cowlitz Prairie, Washington, Simon Plpmondeau (1801-1900).
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1797
Peter Fidler at Buckingham House reported the Iroquois traders are coming and going.
Francois Gladu, born December 25, 1763 married about 1797, N.W.T., Josephte Cartrand, b-1773.
Louis Lacerte Sr. born December 27, 1782, NWT, son Louis Lacerte dit Vacher, b-1752, Quebec and Francoise Dienne Lacerte; married, February 19, 1927 Drummond Island, Michigan, Josette Marie Martin, born December 25, 1797, Athabasca District daughter Simon Martin and Lisette a Native.
Simon Martin, b-1775, married 1797 Athabasca District, Lisette a Native.
Fort La Montee, three miles upstream from Fort Carlton, Alberta is established by the North West Company.
Fort Vermillion, (Alberta), birth, Mary Spencer, born 1797, Fort Vermillion (Alberta), died 1877, Victoria, (Alberta) located 90 km NE Fort Edmonton, (Alberta) daughter Magnus Spense Sr. and Christiana Cree; married 1820, Red River, James Whitford, b-1792 son James Peter Whitford, b-1771 and Sarah Native.
December 25: Athabasca District, birth, Marie Josette Martin, daughter Simon Martin, b-1775, married 1797 Athabasca District, Lisette a Native; married February 19, 1827 Drummond Island, Michigan, Louis Lacerte, born, December 27, 1782 N.W.
1798
Joseph Cardinal, b-1756 St. Laurent, Quebec, died September 1, 1854, Lac La Biche (Alberta) 1st married 1794 Rose Cree, 2nd married 1798 Lizette Maskegan both most likely Lac La Biche, (Alberta). Joseph Cardinal had two wives at same time, maybe more?
Jacques Cardinal, b-1798, Moose Mountain, Pitt (Saskatchewan), son, Joseph Cardinal (1756-1854), born Quebec and Rose Cree; married, 1814, Lac La Biche, (Alberta), Josephte Tcikak, b-1780.
Louison Gladu, b-1798, N.W.T. son Francois Gladu, born December 25, 1763 married about 1797, N.W.T., Josephte Cartrand, b-1773.
Jean Baptiste La Fleur on the N.W.C. built La Fleur's Post to trade with the Beaver Indians up river from N.W.C. Fort Vermilion. Native people powdered the red vermilion stone, mixed it with fish oil, and used it to decorate and dye deerskin cloths and snowshoes.
David Thompson married Charlotte Small, a Metis daughter of an Irish trader and native woman. He took his wife on most of his trips with such children as had arrived. William Thomison, while working at Fort Edmonton, got stabbed in the leg and returned to England for three years to recover.
(I)-David Thompson (1770-1857) N.W.C. noted a large group of Iroquois Indians engaged in the fur trade, at least half of them Iroquois from Quebec. Part of them went up the Red River and about 250 of them came up the Saskatchewan, in company with the canoes of the Fur traders, to the upper post called Fort Augustus (Edmonton, Alberta) of the North West Company. He completely mapped the fur trading territories east of the Rocky Mountains. In 1806 he would commence the surveying of lands, west of the Rocky Mountains.
(I)-David Thompson (1770-1857) of the North West Company built a fort at Lac La Biche (Alberta). The fur companies built and abandoned a number of trading posts in this area but the Metis built community, starting pre 1790. This location was a traditional meeting place for the People to connect between the Saskatchewan and Athabasca river systems.
James Hughes of the North West Company built Upper Fort des Prairies aka Fort Augustus on the site of the future Fort Edmonton (Alberta) but wasn't a fort it was more of a trading post. Only the XY Company fort was considered a Fort the others were just out-posts.
The North West Territories at this time was more populated than we realize. The following is a list of North West Company forts and trading posts operating this year:
Athabasca: (Alberta) commanded by John Finlay and clerks Simon Fraser, (1776-1862), James MacKenzie, Duncan Livingston, John Stewart, James Porter, John Thompson, James Macdougall, G.F. Wintzel and John Heinbrucks.
Peace River:(Alberta)
Beaver River: (Alberta)
Isle a la Coors:
Lac la Ronge: (Saskatchewan)
Lac du Carriboux:
Fort Augustus: (Alberta) see Upper Fort des Prairies aka Fort Edmonton
Fort George:
Fort Dauphin: (Manitoba) commanded by A.N. McLeod, and clerks Hugh McGillis, Michel Allary, Alexander Farguson, Edward Harrison, Joseph Grenon, Francois Nolin, and Nicholas Montour.
River Qu Appelle: (Saskatchewan)
River La Souris: (Saskatchewan)night
River au Pembina: (Manitoba)
Micabanishi:
Lac le Biche: (Alberta)
Upper English River: (Ontario) commanded by Angus Shaw, and Donald MacTavish and clerks Alexander MacKay, Antoine Tourangeau, Joseph Cartier and Simon Reaume.
Lower English River: (Ontario) commanded by Alexander Fraser, and clerks John Macgillivray, Robert Henry, Louis Versailles, Charles Messier, and Pierre Hurteau.
Rat River: (Mackenzie Delta, NWT)
Lower Fort des Prairies: (Saskatchewan River) clerks Pierre Belleau, Baptiste Roy, J.B. Filande and Baptiste Larose.
Upper Fort des Prairies and Rocky Mountains: (Alberta) commanded by Daniel Mackenzie, and commanded by John McDonald, and clerks James Hughes, Louis Chatellian, James King, Francois Decoigne, Pierre Charette, Pierre Jerome, Baptiste Bruno, David Thompson, J. Duncan Campbell, Alexander Stewart, Jacques Raphael and Francois Deschamps.
Swan River:
Fort Winipic: (Manitoba) commanded by William MsKay and clerks John Cameron, Donald Macintosh, Benj. Frobisher, Jac Dupont, Joseph Laurent, Gabriel Attina, and Francois Amoit. no problem
Upper Red River: (Manitoba) commanded by John MacDonell and clerks George MacKay, J. Macdonell. Jr., Joseph Auger, Pierre Falcon, Francois Mallette, William Munro and Andre Poitvin.
Lower Red River: (Manitoba) commanded by Charles Chaboillez, and clerks Alexander Henry, J.B. Desmaris, Francois Coleret, Antoine Dejarlet and Louis Giboche
Lac La Pluie: (Ontario) commanded by Peter Grant, and clerks Arch. MacLellan, Charles Latour and Michel Machard.
Nipigon: (Ontario) commanded by Duncan Cameron and clerks Ronald Cameron, Dugald Cameron, Jac. Adhemar, Jean Baptiste Chevalier, Allen MacFarliane, Jean Baptiste Pominville and Fred Shults.
Pic & L. River: clerks Jean Baptiste Perrault and Augustin Roy.
Francois Roy, L'Anse:
Fond Du Lac: (Wisconsin) commanded by John Sayer and clerks Jean Baptiste Cadotte, Charles Bousquet, Jean Coton, Ignace Chenier, Joseph Reaume, Eustache Roussin and Vincent Roy.
M & M Cadotts:
Michepicotton and the Bay: clerks Lemaire St-Germain, Baptiste St-Germain and Leon Chnier
Batchewoinan Bay:
Grande Portage: (Ontario) clerks Doctor Munro, Charles Hesse, Zacharie Clouthier, Antoine Colin, Jacques Vandreil, Francois Boileau, and Bruce.
Sault and Sloop "Otter", clerks John Burns and John Bennet
South of Lake Superior: (USA) partner Michel Cadotte, partner Michel Cadotte, and clerks Simon Charrette, Charles Gauthier and Pierre Bejarge (Baillarge)
Other Companies with posts in the North West are:
1778 Forest Oaks
1778 Charles Chaboillez
1778 Ezekil Solomon
1778 John Askin
1784 John Askin and Thomas Wilkson and Company
1778 Perinault
1796 Todd & McGill
1786 Askin
1810 Michilimackinac Company
1795 John Sayers and Company Fon du Lac.
1798 Forsyth Richardson and Co.
1799 John Askin
The lands north of Great Slave Lake and Lake Athabasca was called 'The Land of Little Sticks'.
1799
The North West Company built Upper Fort Terra Blanche at White Mud Creek in Edmonton. David Thompson of the North West Company re-established Rocky Mountain House, aka Poste de la Montagne de Roches, having been previously established years before by Metis free traders. Others suggest Jacques Raphael (Jacko & Jocko) Finlay, (1768-1828) chief factor Fort des Prairies (Edmonton, Alberta), had built Fort Rocky Mountain House, aka Poste de la Montagne de Roches, that was used to stage his trips to the Columbia River system. The Hudson Bay Company built a temporary Action House and by 1819 only the North West Company remained. Rocky Mountain House, aka Poste de la Montagne de Roches, was located at the confines of the Clearwater River and Saskatchewan River because it had been in longtime use by the free traders. Most of the supplies came from Fort Benton on the Missouri River, 400 miles south overland. Fort Edmonton was only 100 miles down river but the numerous rapids made it impractical. Round trip to Fort Benton by red river cart took 60 Days.
Marie Godin Demontigny Comptois, b-1795, daughter of a man named Comptois who 1st, married Josephte Flagnant, b-1799; 2nd married Suzette Godin (Mother Marie); Marie married 1st. 1815 (British Columbia) Peter Hogden; 2nd married 1820, Jasper House (Alberta) Antoine Cardinal, b-1795 son Joseph Cardinal, b-1756, Quebec and Rose Cardinal a Cree.
(II)-James Curtis Bird (1773-1856), son (I)-James Bird aka James Curtis and Elizabeth Curtis, married Cumberland House Elizabeth Oo-menahomisk, is appointed to the Hudson Bay Company Edmonton shack 1799 to 1816. Curtis Bird would retire to Red River in 1824. Some suggest he was the one who gave 'Edmonton House' its name.
(I)-Peter Fidler (1769-1822) of the HBC is unable to persuade any Indian around Bolsover House at Meadow Lake to guide him to Lac La Biche (Alberta) because all the Indians in this quarter are frightened of the Bungees (Ojibwa) there. The Ojibwa are trading medicines from Lake Superior to the Cree and Assiniboine. However he eventually established Greenwich House near the NWC Lac La Biche (Alberta) post.
H Duncan McGillivray (1770-1808) is placed in charge of Fort Rocky Mountain (house), aka Poste de la Montagne de Roches (Alberta).
Some attribute the discovery of Grouard's Lake (Lesser Slave Lake (Alberta)) to (I)-David Thompson (1770-1857), but this is a ridicules claim as the Metis were farming this area by 1771 or earlier. The Lesser Slave Lake Town was formally called Sawridge. It is noteworthy that there is no evidence the Slavey Indians occupied the area. The Chipewyan, Beaver and Cree however did occupy the area. Some claim Laderoute was in Lac La Biche before 1798 and Desjarlais before 1790.
The North West Company built a fort on Lesser Slave Lake.
April: At Fort Augustus (Edmonton, Alberta) David Thompson, for the NWC, three men and 5 horses of the North West Company journeyed to Lesser Slave Lake, a long standing Indian and Metis settlement called Sawridge. Others suggest there were 11 Ottaways and 5 Bungees who built the fort called Mirror Landing and wintered there. The Indians and likely Metis build canoes for the expedition and stashed them at 54° 15' 4" N. They followed the Peace River Trail also called the Slave Lake Trail. Francois Decoigne was in this expedition to build the fort in May, at the mouth of the Slave River (Smith, Alberta).
June: (I)-David Thompson (1770-1857) married (II)-Charlotte Small, b-1785 (age 14), daughter Patrick Small and Cree Woman. It is noteworthy that (I)-Patrick Small had abandoned his family when he returned to England.
November 12: Peter Pond (1740-1807) built Greenwich House at Lac La Biche (Alberta).