Alberta History 1801-1802

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1801

Fort Augustus (NWC) and Fort Edmonton (HBC) are relocated from Fort Saskatchewan (Alberta) to the Rossdale Flats (Edmonton, Alberta) this year.

At the junction of the Miette and Athabasca Rivers is Fitzhugh Place that was in 1813 renamed Jaspers, Place (Alberta) after a North West Company supply post. This post was for the mountain trade across Athabasca pass (where there are reeds), that is established about this time. It is noteworthy that after more than ten years of use by others, David Thompson, in 1811, would claim discovery of the Athabasca pass.

The Gros Ventres invited a passing brigade of 75 Iroquois traders into their camp. They engaged in a heated form of gambling, a quarrel broke out. When the dust cleared, 25 Iroquois of the N.W.C. lay dead. The survivors reached Fort Augustus (Alberta).

William Tomison of the H.B.C. claimed the North West Company and XY Company had over 300 Iroquois on the Saskatchewan River this summer alone. This is not counting the hundreds who are still in the region from the 1790's.

Rocky Mountain House, aka Poste de la Montagne de Roches, birth (II)-Fanny Thompson Metis daughter (I)-David Thompson (1770-1857) and Charlotte Small b-1785 .

(I)-David Thompson (1770-1857) and James Hughes search for a pass to the west of Rocky Mountain House, aka Poste de la Montagne de Roches, but failed.

Grouard (Slave Lake) is established and by 1898 would replace Dunvegan as the center of trade for the Peace River District.



1802

Patrick (Pichina) Finlay (1802-1879) born Rocky Mountain House, aka Poste de la Montagne de Roches, son Jacques Raphael (Jacko) Finlay, (1768-1828) and Indian woman. This is likely one of the 4 adopted Lussier children.

The Rocky Mountain House Echo newspaper in 1911 attributes the establishment of Rocky Mountain House at the mouth of the Clearwater River into the Saskatchewan River to John MacDonald of Garth Scotland for the North West Fur Company of Montreal. They claim Alexander Henry succeed him and David Thompson succeed Henry. This is obviously in error as Rocky Mountain House has been used as a trading post since 1751.

Old Man Monroe (Hugh Monroe), born 1784 Montreal, died 1892, arrived Fort Edmonton in 1802 in the employ of The Hudson Bay Company. He married a Piegan woman and their son, William Monroe (b-1851), would serve with the Pallisar Expedition (1872). It is possible that the legends of old man Monroe represent two or more different people. Some place his birth date at 1898 or 1899. He is said to have been indentured for three years in 1815 to the Hudson Bay Company and posted to Edmonton House. It is alleged he departed a Hudson Bay Company warehouse in Montreal in 1815, traveling to Edmonton House via York Factory. It is highly likely he didn't depart until after 1821, when the North West Company merged with the Hudson Bay Company. This assumption is based on the fact that his first child was born in 1825, Rocky Mountain House aka Poste de la Montagne de Roches; suggesting a departure after 1821.

The North West Company established Bow River Fort, fifty miles west of Fort La Jonquiere (Calgary). Bow River is named as the place for making bows.

Patrick Pichina Finlay, b-1802 Fort Edmonton area, died January 1879 Montana son Jacques Raphael (Jacko) Finlay, (1768-1828); married Margaret.

Some suggest the Battle River Settlement was first noted about this time and was located south of Camrose. The Cree called this location No-tin-to-si-pi whereas the Blackfoot called it Ke-chi-sab-wap-ta and was noted as a good crossing place and was the location of a number of clashes between the Cree and Blackfoot.

Simon Fraser (1776-1862) built Fort Laird at Fort Vermilion, (Alberta).

Saskadjiwan a.k.a. Saskatchewan, means the running of the thaw or swift current. Both Fort Saskatchewan, the North West Company and Fort Augustus, Hudson Bay Company, moved to Edmonton on the Rosedale Flats, where the Edmonton power plant now stands. The 'XY' Company also built in this location. Chesterfield house, at this time, lies abandoned.

The N.W.C. built Pierre au Calumet on the east bank of the Athabasca River, 55 miles from Fort McMurray.

March 3: The North West Company sent a 12 man party to Fort Chesterfield, near present day Empress, Alberta , and the Gros Ventre killed the two Canadians (Metis) and ten Iroquois traders. Others suggest it was 14 Iroquois and 2 Canadians of the N.W.C., and that they were killed on the Bow River, southern Alberta .

Jasper Alberta's History