The voyagers from the Old Northwest are trading into B.C.
01/27/2008
B.C. HISTORY 1850 - 1899
B.C. HISTORY Return to MAIN B.C. index
The Pacific Northwest (Oregon Territory) began by development in Oregon, and Washington. The real development of British Columbia didn't begin until 1843
1830
Martin Bonanfant, Metis (1830-1858) son Antoni Bonanfant son Antoni Bonanfant and Marie Pepin 1st married Maguerite Indian aka Marie Spokane also Mary Ann Pend d'Oreille, 2nd marriage 1841 Francoise Deparitti, north west Pacific Coast. Living Oregon 1842.
(I)-Alexander Caulfield Anderson, of India, (1814-1884) is posted to B.C. and he married Elizabeth (Betsy) Birnie in 1837 at Fort Alexandria, Washington, daughter James Birnie and Charlot Beaulieu metisse.. They had 13 kids.
James Douglas (1803-1877) a Metis (mixed blood) (Scottish and a colored woman) because of his violent nature that caused trouble with the Carrier People, is transferred to Fort Vancouver (Portland Oregon) under command of Dr. John McLoughlin (1784-1857) a Irish Canadian.
Antoine Felix of Montreal, working Colville, Washington married Marguerite (Betsy) Colville Des Chaudieres (1815-1848) a Salishan Flathead, they retired to French Prairie, Oregon Territory in 1843.
James Goudie b-1810 Orkney worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1830-1851), is living 1881 in Victoria, B.C.
James Johnstone of Orkney worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1830-1837) as 2nd mate then returned to British Isles.
Emelie Metis, (1796-1848) daughter Francois Finlay and Josephte Cree, 1st married Pierre Bercier, 2nd married 1830 Simon Plamondan a Cowlitz Prairie north of Fort Vancouver (Portland Oregon).
William Norquay of Orkney, drowned August 5, 1830, Columbia River, worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1830) as middleman
Simon Bonaparte Plamondon Sr. b-Sorel, Quebec, drown about 1850 likely Washington was at Fort Langley about this time,son Jean Baptiste Plamondon and Catherine Gill, married 1st Thas-e-muth aka Veronica Scanewah, they had 4 kids one of who was Simon Baptiste Plamondon, Metis, married Mary Farron, Metis daughter Dominique Farron and Josephte of the Makah nation; 2nd wife Emilie Marie Finlay Bercier, Metis, widow Pierre Bercier daughter Francois Finlay and Josephte Cree, they had 5 kids, one of who was Henriette Plamondon, Metis: 3rd marriage Kitty Tiukish, they had 1 child.
James Rendall b-1792 Orkney worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1830-1846) as cooper returned to British Isles.
William Walls of Orkney worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1830-1834) as servant returned to British Isles.
Henry Wards of Orkney worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1830-1834) as shipbuilder
During the 1830's more French Canadians arrived Willamette Valley, Oregon, giving up trapping for farming, married Indian girl called 'infidel women' by the priests who had established missions at nearby St. Louis and St. Paul, Oregon
Some suggest the Genocidal Wars of the Pacific Northwest began in the east with the Indian Removal Act creating the Permanent Indian Frontier west of the Mississippi which wasn't permanent but continued to move westward..
April: John Kennedy, d-1830, a middleman and interpreter, who was unwell but still able to work, dropped dead from an apparent heart attack at Fort Langley.
August: Pierre Therien was accidentally shot by a gun on a sailing ship out on the Frazer River near Fort Langley.
October 28: birth (II)-Alexander McDonald, Metis, died July 7, 1875 Moose Factory son (I)-Archibald McDonald (1790-1853) and Jane Klyne daughter Michael Klyne of Jasper House, Alberta.
1831
Rose Aucent born 1828 Red River, died 1901 West Coast, family arrived Fort Vancouver (Portland Oregon) 1831, and Aucent shortly departed for California on Laframboise expedition.
Louis Aucent married 1831 West Coast, Catherine Cayuse (1813-1848)
William Brown b-1810, Orkney worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1831-1843) as a laborer at Fort Vancouver (Portland Oregon).
George Burger b-1806 Orkney worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1831-1837) as a sailor, departed East or returned to British Isles.
Archibald McDonald is chief trader at Fort Langley.
Antoine Bonanfant, Metis (1831-1848) son Antoni Bonanfant son Antoni Bonanfant and Marie Pepin 1st married Maguerite Indian aka Marie Spokane also Mary Ann Pend d'Oreille, 2nd marriage 1841 Francoise Deparitti, north west Pacific Coast. Living Oregon 1842.
Laurent Quintal, Metis, married, 1831, Fort Vancouver (Portland Oregon), Marie Anne Nipissing, b-1819 daughter, Louis Nipissing, Metis and Chinook woman. The marriage was formalized at Fort Vancouver (Portland Oregon) in 1839.
Pierre Leblanc trading at Rocky Mountain House, Alberta and the Oregon Territory since 1800 married Nancy Matooski the abandoned wife of John G. McTavish. This appears to be Pierre's second wife as he took a wife to Oregon Territory in 1800.
John More b-1796, Orkney worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1831-1834) as labourer
Samuel Norn b-1807 Orkney worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1831-1844) as labourer, settled Victoria.
(I)-James Rendall, b-1794, a cooper from Evie, Orkney, arrived Fort Langley in 1831 but had to quit due to ill health. Others suggest he arrived 1833.
David Robertson b-1813 Orkney working west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1831-1839) as labourer returned to British Isles.
John Taylor of Orkney, died May 12, 1839 Fort Vancouver (Portland Oregon), worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1831-1838) as seaman who returned to British Isles.
John Williams b-1812 Orkney worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1831-1839) as labourer
Mt. St. Helens (in Washington near the Columbia River) erupted this year. John Adams witnessed the event as did Dr Gassner.
1832
Fort Vancouver is located on the north bank of the Columbia River in the Oregon Territory. Some say it is upriver about 90 miles from the ocean?
Nathaniel Wyeth, a young American businessman, and a small party came to Oregon this year to scout business prospects. While Wyeth's supply ship was lost at sea and the enterprise abandoned this year
May 19: birth (II)-Allen McDonald, Metis, died November 28, 1891 Winnipeg, Manitoba, son (I)-Archibald McDonald (1790-1853) and Jane Klyne daughter Michael Klyne of Jasper House, Alberta.
November: (I)-Alexander Caulfield Anderson, of India, (1814-1884) arrived Fort Vancouver
1833
(I)-Alexander Caulfield Anderson, of India, (1814-1884) is at Fort McLoughlin, near Bella Bella and left in December.
Robert Anderson of Orkney worked for H.B.C west of the Rockies (1833-1838) as a middleman and returned to east of the Rockies in 1838.
William Johnston of Orkney drowned July 7, 1835 Fort George, worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1833-1835) as trapper
First recorded instance of Japanese shipwreck off the west coast of British Columbia.
February 20: Archibald McDonald (1790-1853) left Fort Langley so his growing family could attend school at Fort Vancouver (Portland Oregon). He, soon afterwards, founded Nisqually House on the south end of Puget Sound. The following year he was put in charge of Fort Colville. He retired from the service in 1844 and died in St. Andrews, near Cornwall, Ontario, in 1853.
1834
(I)-Alexander Caulfield Anderson, of India, (1814-1884) is posted to Stikine and was at Fort Simpson this year. He wintered at Fort Vancouver.
Birth Amable Arquette, Metis son Amable Arquette (Arcouet, Arcoueite) born September 1, 1797 Montreal, son Michel Arquette and Marie Louis Gaudry; married 1839 Vancouver (Portland Oregon), Marguerite Waponte died October 1870.
Thomas Balfour of Orkney worked H.B.C. west Rockies (1834-1836) as a labourer returned to Saskatchewan
Malcolm Davie of Orkney, worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1834-1840) as middleman, returned to British Isles.
William Davie of Orkney, worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1834-1838) as middleman, returned to British Isles.
Thomas Flett b-1814 Orkney worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1834-1851) as labourer, believed settled in Colvile, Washington.
Malcolm Groat of Orkney worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1834-1839) as labourer, returned to British Isles.
John Johnston of Orkney, died 1853 at Fort Vancouver (Portland Oregon), worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1834-1853)
Robert Johnson b-1812 Orkney worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1834-1849) as labourer moved to California or British Isles.
Thomas Linklater of Orkney worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1834-1851) as interpreter and likely settled Washington.
William Merryman b-1813 Orkney worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1834-1838) as labourer returned to British Isles.
William Morwick b-1813, Orkney, killed January 15, 1843 at Fort Babine, working west of Rockies H.B.C. (1834-1843) as servant
Henry Mowatt b-1814 Orkney, worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1834-1841) as labourer, returned to British Isles.
William Glen Rae b-1809 Orkney, suicided January 9, 1845 in Yerba Buena, San Francisco, working west Rockies for H.B.C. (1834-1835) as clerk
James Taylor of Orkney worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1834-1850) as dairyman went to California gold rush.
(I)-John Tod (1794-1882) married England Elizabeth Waugh and had one daughter Emmeline Jane Tod born December 3, 1835.
(III)-Francois Xavier Vautrin dit Bienvenne, Metis, born May 10, 1815, St. Philippe, Quebec, son (II)-Pierre Vautrin dit Bienvenne and Agathe Baudin (Baubin) a Miami Indian of the Detroit River region. Francois arrived Fort Vancouver 1834.
(III)-Jean Baptiste Vautrin dit Bienvenne, Metis, born February 1, 1813, St. Philippe, Quebec, son (II)-Pierre Vautrin dit Bienvenne and Agathe Baudin (Baubin) a Miami Indian of the Detroit River region. Jean with brother Francois arrived Fort Vancouver 1834. Jean 1st. married Elizabeth Songhee aka Marie Quantlen, d-1857; 2nd marriage 1860, Marie Brule, widow Joseph Brule, they moved to Grande Ronde, Oregon, Marie;s home area.
The Jason Lee party founded a mission upriver from the Willamette Falls near to the claim of Joseph Gervais on French Prairie. French Canadians already settled on French Prairie helped to build the mission with supplies from both Wyeth and Dr. John McLoughlin (1784-1857).
The company reckoned that inter-marriage between the whites and Indians would lessen hostile relations. James Murry Yale (1776-1871) set a good example for his men and taught the natives that bigamy was ok for Hudson Bay Company men. He married three Indian women within his first three years at the fort, and they each bore his offspring. His first wife was the daughter of Chief Whattlekainum of the Kwantlen, his second the daughter of the Katzie Chief, and the third the daughter of Pal-hal-lak, the religious head of the Thompson Indians above the Fraser Canyon. A daughter from the third wife married (II)-George Simpson Junior, the son of the Governor (I)- George Simpson (1787/1792-1860) a Scot. James Murry Yale (1776-1871) still later married a relative of Chief T'soschia, of the Cowichan Confederacy.
By this time labourers, at Forty Langley had also intermingled with the Indians and began raising families. The Kanakas were not permitted to bring their women into the fort so instead built homes across the river from the fort. Each morning these men paddled across the river to work and in the evening paddled back again to be with their wives and children.
James Murray Yale (1776-1871) from a friend, Mary Julia Mechtler. On page 2, she writes:
"Continue to keep your good resolutions of not taking an Indian wife, on account of yourself as well as of the dreadful fate that generally awaits the Bois Brule offspring of such a connection. Reflect what every man owes himself. What apology can a white man make to his children for mixing and polluting his pure blood with that of a savage. How dare such a person pretend to principle and feeling! Fie upon him for a selfish monster! I hope, my dear James, you will never have such a reproach to make to your conscience."
July 15: Fort Hall (1834-1855) built at the "The Bottoms" of the Snake River. In the early 1830's a young businessman of New England named Nathaniel Jarvis Wyeth become interested in the trade possibilities of the Pacific Northwest.
February 7: The Hojun-Maru, a Japanese ship from Toba, Japan, disabled in a typhoon, drifted to America and was washed up on Point Greenville, south of Cape Flattery on the Olympic Peninsula, Washington. Of the 14 man crew three survived. These were Iwakichi age 28, Kyukichi age 15 and Otokichi age 11. The survivors were taken as slaves by the locals until Captain McNeil rescued them taking them to Fort Nisqually of the H.B.C. as recorded by Dr. John McLoughlin (1784-1857).
1835
(I)-James Goudie, (1809-1887) married a girl from the village of Schwenetekoo [“Keep Sounding Water” or Kettle Falls] Catherine, Schwayips [Kettle Falls] (c.1819-53).
(II)-Margaret Goudie, Metis b-1835, daughter (I)-James Goudie, (1809-1887) and Catherine, Schwayips [Kettle Falls] (c.1819-53).
William Gullion of Orkney worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1835-1839) as labourer, returned to British Isles.
John Linniard of Orkney worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1835-1861) as farmer likely settled B.C.
John Logie b-1814, Orkney, died March 24, 1854 on Sauve Island, Washington, worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1835-1849) as dairyman
Marie Pepen, Metis, b-1835 Fort Langley daughter Etienne Pepen alias Maille and Magice (1799-1874) and Uiskiwin Woman: the son of Michel May and Marguerite Pepin of Yamaska, Quebec; married Simon Gill.
William Pottinger b-1814 Orkney working west of Rockies for H.B.C. ((1835-1854) as labourer
William Fraser Tolmis, a young Glaswegian, reported the presence of coal deposits on Vancouver Island. A blacksmith had told him who learned of it by a visiting Kwakiutl Indian.
Eight United States men, one with a family, journeyed from northern California to Oregon. Four of the travelers were killed in an attack at the Rogue River and the survivors arrived wounded and destitute.
Fort Langley was moved up-stream because the Fraser River flooded the origin site.
Mt. St. Helens erupted this year.
1836
(II)-John Goudie, Metis (1836-1914), son (I)-James Goudie, (1809-1887) and Catherine, Schwayips [Kettle Falls] (c.1819-53).
William Campbell of Orkney, died March 22, 1887 at Hillside, Washington, worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1836-1839) as laborer, returned to British Isles.
Hugh Cormack of Orkney worked west of Rockies (1836-1842) as steward returned to British Isles 1842.
James Craige b-1813 Orkney, died September 29, 1895 Yaquina Bay, Oregon, worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1836-1852) as interpreter
James Dickson of Orkney, worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1836-1838) as blacksmith, returned to British Isles.
(II)-Cecilia Douglas, Metis, b-1834 Fort Vancouver d-1865 daughter (I)-James Souglas, Metis (1803-1877) and Amelia Connolly, Metis, (1812-1890): married December 1852, Fort Victoria Dr. John Sebastian Helmcken; they had 7 children.
David Flett of Orkney, drowned May 31, 1842 at Okanagan Falls, worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1836-1842) as servant
(II)-James Goudie Jr.Metis, (1836-1864), son (I)-James Goudie, (1809-1887) and his wife from the village of Schwenetekoo [“Keep Sounding Water” or Kettle Falls]
(II)-John Goudie, Metis, b-1836, Round Butte, Oregon, d-1914, Victoria, B.C. son (I)-James Goudie, b-1808, Orkney, d-1887, Victoria, B.C. and Catherine Prevost Island aka Catherine Jane Schwayips: married Mary Anne Vautrin, b-1867, Sidney, B.C., d-1943, Victoria, B.C. daughter Jean Baptiste Vautrin, b-1813, Quebec, d-1893 and Leolo, bied November 9, 1846, Fort Alexandria.
Adam Gunn of Orkney worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1836-1839) as laborer, sent to London hospital.
John Jackson b-1836 B.C. and wife Sadie b-1826 B.C. are living Skeena in 1901 census
William Johnston b-1819 Orkney worked west of Rockies for H.B.C, (1836-1851) as laborer retired to Idaho.
John Low Sr. of Orkney worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1836-1840) as seaman/cook, returned to British Isles (see 1836)
John Low Jr. of Orkney worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1836-1839) as seaman/cook, returned to British Isles
James Peace of Orkney working west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1836-1838) as seaman, deserted June 10, 1838 in Monterey, California.
Thomas Sinclair b-1791 Orkney worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1836-1834) as ship's master returned to British Isles.
Dr. Marcus Whitman (1802-1847) married Narcissa Prentiss sight unseen and departed for Oregon in a Red River River cart on the Oregon trail. The cart had to be abandoned at Fort Boise. Some claim this was the first cart used on the Oregon trail and Narcissa Prentiss the first white woman.
Settlers built the first Catholic Church in Oregon at St. Paul (on French Prairie). Without a priest, the church was not blessed and dedicated until 1839.
The London built Beaver a paddle wheeler that looked like a man-of-war had 4 brass cannon, muskets and cutlasses in racks arrived Fort Vancouver (Portland, Oregon). The Beaver was designed for the Hudson Bay Company to control the Pacific Northwest fur trade. United States sailing ships were no match for her as she could steam up to 8.5 knots and enter coves and inlets not accessible to sailing ships. She operated until July 1888 when she ran onto rocks at the entrance to Vancouver harbor. The Coastal Indians believed it carried a fire devil.
March 22: The following families reside at French Prairies, (St. Paul), Oregon Territory
Peare Belleck, 3 children
Charlo Chata
Joseph Delar, 5 children
Pear Depo, 1 child
Joseph Desport, 3 children
John Bt Desportes, 8 children
Lamab Erquet, 3 children
Luey Fourcy, 3 children
Joseph Jarvay, 7 children
William Johnson, 2 children
Louis Labonte
Xaviar Laderout, 1 child
Etienne Laferte
Andrey Longten, 4 children
Eken Luceay, 6 children
William McCarty
Andrey Pecor, 4 children
Jean Bt Perrault, 2 children
Charles Plant, 4 children
Charles Rondo, 3 children
1837
(I)-Alexander Caulfield Anderson, of India, (1814-1884) married Fort Alexandria Elizabeth Birnie.
(II)-James Goudie, Metis (1837-1864), son (I)-James Goudie, (1809-1887) and Catherine, Schwayips [Kettle Falls] (c.1819-53).
Joseph Irvin of Orkney worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1837-1839) as steward discharged in 1839 in Oahu.
Edward Julins Muench (1837-1882) married Kathleen Flathead Indian. They had one recorded daughter Emily Elizabeth Muench, Metis, who married Christopher Moses.
(III)-Francois Xavier Vautrin dit Bienvenne, Metis born May 10, 1815, St. Philippe, Quebec, son (II)-Pierre Vautrin dit Bienvenne and Agathe Baudin (Baubin) a Miami Indian of the Detroit River region: married 1837 Emilie Quantlen woman. Francois arrived Fort Vancouver 1834. He eventually retired to Cowichan Valley.
James Murray Yale (1776-1871) received word that the Yuculta from Quadra Island planned an attack on the Indian village near the Fort Langley. He felt an attack on these friendly Indians was the same as an attack on the fort. When the attackers did eventually come around the bend in the river within view of the fort the odds were unbelievable. The 25 men of the fort faced an enemy of 600. When word came to open fire the carnage was incredible. Canoes were blasted right out of the water. The muddy river turned red as the dead and dying fell from their wrecked crafts. Any that escaped the initial onslaught of heavy firing were soon dispatched by Kwantlen warriors who had hidden across the river from the fort. As their hereditary enemies swam to shore they ran out and cracked them over the heads with stone hammers. It was never ascertained how many Yuculta warriors died in that brief encounter. The raiders never recovered from the defeat.
In 1837, Captain McNeill was sent in the Company's steamship Beaver to scout the southern tip of Vancouver's Island, with a view to establishing such a post, and in 1842 his preliminary scouting was followed by a meticulous examination of the area from Ten-Mile Point to Sooke, carried out by young Chief Factor James Douglas (1803-1877). There were three possible harbors in this area. James Douglas (1803-1877) rejected the most westerly of these, called Sooke (from the Tsoke Indians who lived there), and the large central harbor, called Esquimault (from the Indian name Is-Whoy-Maulth, or "place of the shoaling waters"). In his opinion, the entrance to the former was too narrow and unprotected in rough weather, and the latter did not have sufficiently accessible fresh water. He finally settled on the easterly harbor, called by the Indians Camosun, or Camosack, from the profusion of Camas lilies which grew along its shores and were used by them as food in winter. Although rather shallow and muddy, it did have a protected entrance and adequate fresh water, with plenty of reasonably level ground on which a fort could be raised.
March: settlers at
Willammeth, (St. Paul) Oregon Territory
Pear Belleck [Pierre Beleque]
Charlow Chayta
Joseph Delor
Peare Depo [Pierre depot]
Joseph Desportes
Lamab Erquert [Amable Arcouet]
Louey Foursey [Louis Fourcier]
Joseph Jarvay [Joseph Gervais]
Louey Labounty [Louis Labonte]
Jonva Ladroute [Xavier Laderoute]
Atoain Lafourty [Etienne Laferte]
Andrey Long[tain]
Etien Luceay [EtienneLucier]
John Bt Desportes McK[ay]
John Bt Pearone [Perrault]
Charls Plant
Charls Rondo
1838
Narcisse Falardeau (1818-1888) married 1838 Fort Langley, B.C., Helen (Elin) Tiheoartenate Quantlen.
Josephte Kanhopitsa b-1802, is living Fort Colvile, Oregon Territory, 1st married John Clarke, 2nd married Jean Baptiste Boucher; 3rd married 1825 Joachim Hubert
Josephte Laframboise (1838-1879) daughter Michel Laframboise interpreter, scout and brigade leader to California of Astoria and Emelie Picard; married Louis Labonte II son Louis Labonte and Marguerite Kil-a-ko-tah Clatsop (1800-1873)
Pierre Leblanc of the Oregon Territory since 1800 married Nancy Matooski the abandoned wife of John G. McTavish. This appears to be Pierre's second wife as he took a wife to Oregon Territory in 1800. Pierre died this year along with 4 of their children but no mention is made of the fait of his wife.
Francois Pepen, Metis, b-1838 Fort Langley son Etienne Pepen alias Maille and Magice (1799-1874), Uiskimin Woman; the son of Michel May and Marguerite Pepin of Yamaska, Quebec; married Country style Indian woman.
John Spence of Orkney worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1838-1863) as ship's carpenter settled Victoria
(I)-John Tod b-1794, Scotland is posted Fort Vancouver (Portland Oregon).
(IV)-Florance Vautrin, Metis, b-1838, Fort Langley, died February 18, 1893, Grande Runde, Oregon, daughter (III)-Francois Xavier Vautrin, Metis, b-1815 and Emilie Quantlen (Kwoithe)
Other settlers in St. Paul, Oregon Territory, includes # children and year
settled
Amable Arcouet * 3 * 1833
Pierre Beleque * 3 * 1833
Charlo Chata * ? ? ? ? ? ?
Joseph Delard * 5 * 1832
Pierre Depot * 1 * 1833
Joseph Desport * ? ?
John Bt Desportes * 3 ? ?
Louis Fourcier * 3 * 1835
Joseph Gervais * 7 * 1832
William Johnson * 2 * 1834
Louis Labonte * ? ?
Xavier Laderoute * 1 * 1834
Etienne Laferte * ? ?
Andre Longtain * 4 * 1835
Etienne Lucier * 6 * 1832
William McCarty * ? ?
Jean Baptiste McRoy * 1831
Jean Bt Perrault * 2 * 1832
Andre Picard * ? ?
Charles Plante * 4 * 1835
Charles Rondo * 3 * 1836
The Roman Catholic priests Francois Blanchet and Modestre Demers visited Edmonton on their way to Fort Vancouver (Portland Oregon).
The Hudson Bay Beaver was the first steamboat to travel up the Fraser River to Fort Langley.
Fathers Demers and Blanchet, went up the Saskatchewan, to Fort Edmonton, to become the first Catholic Priests in Alberta. They erected a large cross above Fort Edmonton on the hill that now houses the Alberta Legislative Buildings. They then proceeded to Jasper and on to the Columbia River, to the Oregon Territories. At Jasper they encountered Colin Fraser one of the traders.
The Hudsons Bay Company's second in command at Ft. Vancouver (Portland Oregon), James Douglas (1803-1877), took a census of the Willamette Valley and counted a total of 51 non-native males. United States settlers numbered 18 and Canadians 23 (the other ten were presumably missionaries and priest)
October 2: Father Blanchet reached Fort Jasper, named after Jasper Hawes a Hudson Bay Company trader, and reported that he baptized thirty-five Metis children. Three being the Metis daughters of Colin Fraser. Blanchet would become the first bishop of Oregon City and his companion, Demurs, became the first bishop of Vancouver Island.
October 14: James Murray Yale (1776-1871) of Fort Langley wrote Chief Factor James Douglas, Mulatto Metis (1803-1877), Dr John McLoughlin's (1784-1857), right hand man on the Columbia, that "we have abandoned the old fort which was in a dilapidated condition and removed into a new fort a few miles up the river."
November 24: Reverend F.N. Blancet and Modeste Demers, catholic priests arrived Fort Vancouver, Oregon Territory.
1839
Birth Lisette Arquette, Metis daughter Amable Arquette (Arcouet, Arcoueite) born September 1, 1797 Montreal, son Michel Arquette and Marie Louis Gaudry; married 1839 Vancouver (Portland Oregon), . Marguerite Waponte (Chinook), died October 1870.
Joseph Barnable married 1839 likely Fort Colvile, aka Kettle Falls Oregan Territory (Oregon/Washington), Isabelle Boucher Metis, b-1821 likely Fort George, (British Columbia), d-1860, daughter Jean Baptiste Boucher an interpreter at Fort George for the N.W.C. and Josephte Kanhopitsa
Pascal Bisscornet d-1854 St. Paul, Oregon, Married 1839 Louise Cowitchin, living Donald, Oregon 1842.
Bazil Brosseau dit LaFleur (1796-1858) arrived Fort Langley this year his wife in Quebec having died. His second wife he married 1835-1836 was a Cowitchen and they had a son Basil Brosseau, Metis born 1835-1837, died 1906 who married Sarah Pierre (1842-1889) of the Katzie band. They had three Metis children, Frisidine who married Williams, Lucy who married George Moody and Mary who married Koanne Peterson.
Pierre Depot a HBC man and wife Marguerite Klamak (1819-1850) are at Willamette, Oregon Territory.
(II)-Jane Douglas, Metis, b-1839 Fort Vancouver d-1909 daughter (I)-James Souglas, Metis (1803-1877) and Amelia Connolly, Metis, (1812-1890): married March 1858, Fort Victoria A.G. Dallas.
Jean Baptiste Dubreuil was part of the Umpqua, Snake and Bonaventura brigades, he married Marguerite Yougleta b-1814 of the Nootkan tribe.
Harriet Falardeuil, Metis, b-1839, Langley, d-1918, Washington, daughter Narcisse Falardeau (1818-1888), and Helen (Elin) Tiheoartenate Quantlen: married 1860 Fort Langley, B.C. Daniel Kilcup born Fort Langley. They had 11 children in Washington.
John Flett of Orkney, worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1939-1854) as blacksmith.
James Garson of Orkney worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1839-1843) returned to British Isles.
James Millar of Orkney worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1839-1843) as labourer returned to British Isles.
Peter Skene Ogden (1794-1854), living at Fort Calvile and later retired to Oregon City with companion (wife?) Julia Flathead (1800-1886) a Spokane Salishan
John Stensgair b-1817 Orkney worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1939-1851) as labourer
Thomas Stengair b-1819 Orkney worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1839-1852) as labourer settled likely Fort Colvile, Washington.
(I)-John Tod b-1794, Scotland is posted 1839-1842 to Fort Alexandria.
Magnus Yorston of Orkney worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1839-1840) as carpenter then worked in Saskatchewan.
The Hudson Bay Company is giving the exclusive trading rights to Vancouver Island.
Garry Oak or Oregon White Oak, Quercus Garryana, its 1839 name honoring Nicholas Garry (1781 - 1856), an officer of the Hudson's Bay Company. It is the only oak native to B.C.
At Fort Hall on the Snake River, (Idaho) Oregon Territories of Canada, the Hudson Bay Company is encouraging United States settlers to go to California instead of Oregon to delay its settlement and protect the fur trade. Small parties of settlers, however, are reaching Oregon, and the Hudson Bay Company attempts to encourage Metis settlers to go from Red River to Oregon proved fruitless. The fears are that Fort George (Astoria) on the mouth of the Columbia River, Fort Nez Perces (Walla Walla), Fort Covile on the upper Columbia, Fort Vancouver (Portland Oregon) on the Columbia and Fort Nisqually on Puget Sound would be lost.
James Murray Yale's (1776-1871) Fort Langley work force was reduced to 15 men. They were:--Ovid Allard b-1817, Basil Brousseau, Pierre Charles a beaver hunter and guide, Louis Delonie, Narcisse Fallardeau, Angus McPhail, Fredereque Minie, Joseph Peaennau, Etienne Pepin, James Rendall, Louis Satakarata, I Ta, Xavier Vautrin, Wivicari, and Zahowbalow.
January 28: Vancouver (Portland Oregon), marriage, Amable Arquette (Arcouet, Arcoueite) born September 1, 1797 Montreal, son Michel Arquette and Marie Louis Gaudry; married Marguerite Waponte died October 1870. Oregon census 1842.
The Cayuse of Oregon say the Christian God is stingy, since baptism there has been no improvement in the prowess in the hunt, in war, or in love. The Missionaries description of the torments of hell led them to believe that these laws are from man not God and we do not honor these laws. Finally they witness the antagonism between the Protestants and Catholics and concluded the Christians do not believe or practice brotherly love.
1840
Birth, Vancouver (Portland Oregon), Amable Arquoitte, Metis son Amable Arquette (Arcouet, Arcoueite) b-1797 and Marguerite Waponte d-1870.
Charles Humphrey, of Orkney worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1840-1846) as ship's master retired to British Isles.
Pierre Legrace Jr. born August 4, 1840, Fort Simpson, B.C., d-1865, married H.B.C. Amelie Vautrin, Metis, b-1840, Fort Langley, B.C., died December 7, 1891, Mill Bay, Vancouver Island daughter Francois Xavier Ventrin, born May 10, 1815, Quebec, died Vancouver Island 1st married Emily Kwoithe, 2nd married December 11, 1852, Victoria Marie of the Quytten (Kwantlen) tribe.
Andrew Louttit of Orkney worked west Rockies for H.B.C (1840-1844) as blacksmith then then returned to British Isles
Chief Nanak b-1840 B.C. married Shutin b-1840 B.C., living Skeena in 1901 census
(IV)-Amelie Vautrin, Metis, b-1840, Fort Langley, d-1891, Mill Bay, Vancouver Island, daughter (III)-Francois Xavier Vautrin, Metis b-1815 and Agathe Baudin (Baubin) a Miami Indian: 1st married Pierre Legace, Metis b-1840 son Pierre Legace, Metis and Lisette Tshimsian Indian, 2nd. married January 15, 1866, New Westminister Samuel Wesley Handy,
There were fifty families on the 'French Prairie' most of them near Champoeg, Oregon. All were French Canadians with Calapooia or Nez Perce wives but later Protestant, particularly Methodists, mingled with the Catholics. There was little friction.
It is estimated that between 1840 to 1860 between 315,000 to 320,000 settlers traveled the Oregon and Mormon Trails to the west and Northwest.
This year less than 100 United States fur traders and missionaries lived in the Canadian Oregon Territory (British Columbia, Washington, Oregon) and it was dominated by the Canadian Metis. It is noteworthy that this region was claimed by the Spanish, Russians, British, Canadians and United States. This region was not part of the alleged Louisiana Purchase of 1803. The United States believed they had a Manifest Destiny of the Republic to occupy the whole continent. The next century would see this European thinking resulting in two major world wars. This evil thinking is based on the simple belief that might is right. Most citizens of the United States still believe in the principle of Manifest Destiny for themselves but not for others.
There were fifty families on the 'French Prairie' most of them near Champoeg, Oregon. All were French Canadians with Calapooia or Nez Perce wives but later Protestant, particularly Methodists, mingled with the Catholics. There was little friction.
April 11: The second Fort Langley burned to the ground due to carelessness with a fire and they were forced to rebuild and it continued operations until 1896.
1841
George Aiken (Aitken), of Orkney worked for H.B.C. as a blacksmith west of the Rockies (1841-42) and settled in Willamette Valley, Oregon.
Bazil Brosseau dit LaFleur (1796-1858) married Fort Langley his 3rd wife Rose Kwantlen (Quytlan) who likely died 1856.
Catherine Falardeuil, Metis, b-1841, Langley, died December,1874, Fort Langley, daughter Narcisse Falardeau (1818-1888), and Helen (Elin) Tiheoartenate Quantlen: married July 26, 1858 Fort Langley, B.C. James Taylor They had 7 children.
Father Modeste Demers, an Oblate at Fort Langley reported that "about 20 men were engaged in agricultural activies, of whom 8 are Canadians, one a Iroquois and the others Kanakas, inhabitants of the Sandwich Islands; all having wives and children after the fashion of the country."
Louise Humperville, Metis, b-1831 likely Red River, daughter, French Metis and Swamp Cree father and Marguerite Michina, family moved to French Prairie, Ogden Territory this year, Louise later married Adolphe Chamberland. See next
Canote Humpherville. Metis, d-1841 a canoeman, married, Marie Marguerite (1798-1868) a Coeur d'Alene Salishan. They had eight children some baptized Colvile, Oregon Territory in 1839. Marie retired to French Prairie, Oregon Territory in 1841.
The great lone land (Prairies) named by the Government, Canada West, was not a popular name, and the name North West or Indian Territories still held popular support. By this time, five hundred and sixty thousand English had immigrated to Canada.
By this year the United States, by their scores, are entering the Hudson Bay Company region of Oregon Territory.
Governor (I)- George Simpson (1787/1792-1860) a Scot reports 120 farms are located along the Willamette River, which flows into the Columbia River in the Canadian Oregon Territory. He reports that these include 55 Canadians and 65 United States farms which produced 35,000 bushels of wheat and equal quantities of oats, peas, barley and potatoes. He also noted the presence of 3,000 cattle, 2,500 horses and a multitude of hogs. Their only customer was the Hudson Bay Company. Fort Vancouver (Portland Oregon) had 1,200 acres under cultivation and produced 4,000 bushels of wheat. Other farming communities included Cowlitz River and Fort Nisqually on Puget Sound at the mouth of the Nisqually River.
1841 Governor (I)-George Simpson (1787-1860) is claimed to be the first to record a visit to Radium Hot Springs, followed a few weeks later by James Sinclair on his way to Oregon Territory.
Until his death in February 1841, Ewing Young was the most prosperous homesteader in Oregon; his land claim, brickyard, and mills were near Chehalem Creek and the site of present day Newburg. Except for Dr John McLoughlin's (1784-1857), mill at the Willamette Falls, the Clackamas County area was without white settlements.
May 11: The U.S. ship Porpoise under lieutenant Charles Wilkes (1798-1877) anchored near Fort Nisqually, Puget Sound and was visited by (I)-Alecander Caulfield Anderson of India (1814-1884), chief trader and William Henry McNeill (1803-1875) captain of the beaver. Wilkes was sent to chart the west coast and like the English renamed everything to his liking. Upon his return he was nearly court-martialed for his brutal treatment of his crew.
August: Father Modeste Demers reached the Hudson's Bay Company farm via the portage crossed by the fort's discoverers in 1824. James Murry Yale (1776-1871) immediately sent for the priest to come to Fort Langley. Six hundred Indians greeted the 'man dressed in black women's clothing' at the fort. On one occasion the priest preached to 1,500 - 1,600 Indians just outside the gates of the fort. The visit from the Catholic missionary boosted the company's trading with the Indians. This was the opposite opinion of Fort Edmonton's commanders.
September 3: Peeohpeeoh (Pionpion) and Kwoithe woman of Sandwich Isles had a daughter baptised this day.
1842
Father J. B. Z. Bolduc in Honolulu reported that more than 500 Sandwich Islanders were in service of the Company (HBC). Almost 1/4 of employees at Fort Vancouver (Washington) were Kanakas. Most Kanakas stayed on in the Pacific Northwest because they had families by local women. Growing discrimination in the Oregon Territory would drive most north into British Columbia.
Mary Brosseau, Metis b-1842 Fort Langley, daughter Bazil Brosseau dit LaFleur (1796-1858) and Rose Kwantlen (Quytlan) d-1856; married Peter Baker.
Large posters in railway stations read: To homeseekers in British Columbia. For sale cheap. town lots in Kilowna. Beautifully situated on the shore of Lake O'Kanagan, near to Lord Aberdeen's fruit farm. Also blocks of 5 to 50 acres each, suitable for fruit and hop culture, and 19,000 acres choise farm lands, in quantities to suit purchasers. Apply to O'Kanagan Land and Colonization Co., Kilowna.
John H. Couch, b-1811 made his second trip to Oregon this year and opened a merchandise store in Oregon City.
James Douglas, Mulatto Metis (1803-1877), of the Hudson Bay Company and five men, in the schooner from Fort Nisqually selected Port Camosack to build Fort Victoria aka Fort Albert aka Fort Adelaide in the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
James Douglas (1803-1877) a mixed blood (Scottish and a colored Creole Woman) accompanied (I)- George Simpson (1787/1792-1860) a Scot to Alaska to negotiate with the Russian American Company.
(I)-John Tod b-1794, Scotland is posted Fort Kamploops, Fort Nisqually on Puget Sound. He took Sophia Lolo, Metis (1826-1883) while still married to Elizabeth Waugh. Their daughter Mary Tod, Metis was born 1843 and they had 6 other Metis children. He formally married her in 1863. It is noteworthy that Todd believed the Metis could not be made into gentlemen, due to their mental inferiority. On the plus side he disapproved of the H.B.C. executing people without a fair trial.
The Ashburton Treaty settled the Canadian United States boundary from the headwaters of the Ste Croix River to the Lake of the Woods.
The United States consider this the end of a permanent Indian Country, as one hundred settlers in eighteen covered wagons took off across the "The Great American Desert" (Plains), marking out a road that would become known as the Oregon Trail.
Kit Carson ( Christopher Houston) (1809-1868) joined the Fremont expedition as guide/hunter up the Platte River to the Wind River Range in Wyoming. He also signed on with Fremont expedition to Oregon and a 3rd trip to California.
Large posters in railway stations read: To homeseekers in British Columbia. For sale cheap. town lots in Kilowna. Beautifully situated on the shore of Lake O'Kanagan, near to Lord Aberdeen's fruit farm. Also blocks of 5 to 50 acres each, suitable for fruit and hop culture, and 19,000 acres choise farm lands, in quantities to suit purchasers. Apply to O'Kanagan Land and Colonization Co., Kilowna.
There are over 310 Kanakas (Hawaiian) on the Hudson's Bay Company's payroll.
January 9: Birth, Angeligue Marguerite Bonanfant, Metis daughter Antoni Bonanfant son Antoni Bonanfant and Marie Pepin 1st married Maguerite Indian aka Marie Spokane also Mary Ann Pend d'Oreille, 2nd marriage 1841 Francoise Deparitti, north west Pacific Coast. Living Oregon 1842
September: Two catholic priests, A. Langlois and J.B. Bolduc, arrived Fort Vancouver, Oregon Territory
November 22: Mt. St. Helens (a volcano in Washington just across the Columbia River but visible in the Willamette Valley) erupted spewing a large amount of ash. Members of the Methodist Mission witnessed the event namely Rev. Jason Lee, Dr Badcock and Rev. Gustavis. Rev. Josiah l. Parrish south of Gervais also witnessed the event. Intermittent, small eruptions continued through 1857.
1843
Birth, Vancouver (Portland Oregon), Michael Arquoitte, Metis son Amable Arquette (Arcouet, Arcoueite) b- 1797 and Marguerite Waponte d- 1870.
(I)-William Cromarty (1843-1875) came to the Fort Langley as Chief Cooper
John McLoughlin Jr. Metis son of Dr. John McLoughlin (1784-1857), the patriarch of 'Old Oregon' refused to allow his men to make evening visits to the neighboring Indian camps for romantic encounters. In the ensuing encounter the Iroquois and Metis shot John McLoughlin Jr. Metis, dead. (I)- George Simpson (1787-1860) a Scot refused to investigate the matter causing a riff with Dr. John McLoughlin (1784-1857).
Dr. John McLoughlin (1784-1857) the 'Father of Oregon' and First Governor of the Pacific Northwest was disillusioned with the settlers who were constantly lying and discriminating against his person.
(I)-Samuel Robertson (1819-1897), of Orkney, come to Fort Langley as a cabinet maker and boat builder in 1843. He had come out directly from Scotland in the employ of the company to Fort Victoria where he met Julia Sanich, (1834-1884), the daughter of a Cowichan Chief. She had accompanied him to Fort Langley. He became the first white settler on the north side of the Fraser River settling in Maple Ridge. His second wife was Harriet Mighton.
Mary Tod born 1843 in B.C. died Abt. 1914 in California daughter John Tod and Sophia Lolo: married John Sylvester Bowker May 24, 1864 in Oak Bay, B.C., Canada
Nine hundred United States settlers arrived Fort Vancouver (Washington/Oregon), bringing the population to 1,200 people. They brought their prejudice fostered by the Manifest Destiny by threatening to drive out any white man with an Indian or half-breed (Metis) wife. The settlers talked of attacking Fort Vancouver (Portland Oregon) and driving out Dr. John McLoughlin (1784-1857) an Irish Canadian, who married Marguerite McKay an Ojibwa Metis. She was a widow with 2 children and they had 4 more kids. John had a son previously by another country girl. This man who was proclaimed the 'Father of Oregon' was persecuted by the settlers until his death, despite the fact he had bent over backwards to help their emigration, supplying food and shelter, against the orders of the H.B.C.
Mt. Baker in northern Washington, named "White Steep Mountain" by the natives erupted. They said it killed many salmon. It continued to erupt (1845-1847).
March 13: James Douglas, Creole Metis (1803-1877), Chief Factor of the Hudson Bay Company in the Beaver anchored off clover point and selected the site for Fort Albert (Victoria), Vancouver Island. Father J.B.Z. Bolduc was with James Douglas, Creole Metis (1803-1877). Old Fort Vancouver (Portland Oregon) was dismantled and moved to this site that the Indians called Camosack meaning 'Rush of Water'.
March 14: Father Baptiste Bolduc, a Catholic priest said the first mass at Fort Victoria. He arrived with James Douglas, Creole Metis (1803-1877).
James Douglas, Creole Metis (1803-1877) wrote: Put six men to dig a well, and six others to square building timber. Spoke to the Samose today, and informed them of our intention of building in this place, which appeared to please them very much, and they immediately offered their services in procuring pickets for the establishment, an offer which I gladly accepted, and promised to pay them a blanket for every 40 pickets which they bring. Five days later, more than 1,200 aboriginal people showed up at the site.
James Douglas, Creole Metis (1803-1877) begins construction of Fort Camosun (Victoria, B.C.).
James Douglas (1803-1877) a mixed blood (Scottish and a colored Creole Woman) began construction of Fort Victoria on the southern tip of Vancouver Island.
June: Chief Factor Charles Ross and 15 men began construction of Fort Albert aka Fort Camosun (Victoria), Vancouver Island. Camosack meaning 'Rush of Water' was the Indian name for Fort Victoria, B.C.
June 10: Fort Albert is renamed Fort Victory by edict from Fort Gary, Red River.
1844
Adam Beinston o-1820/24 Orkney died March 26, 1912 Washington, worked west of Rockies (1844-1852) as labourer.
James Bichan of Orkney worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1844-1849) as a cooper, left for California gold rush September 1, 1849.
Burney is superintendent of Fort Astoria, Oregon Territory.
William Craigie of Orkney, worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1844-1860) as labourer was at Fort Colvile, Washington.
William Cromartie b-1814 Orkney, died 1876 Fort Langley, B.C., worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1844-1872) as cooper.
(II)-Agnes Douglas, Metis, b-1844 Fort Vancouver d-1928 daughter (I)-James Souglas, Metis (1803-1877) and Amelia Connolly, Metis, (1812-1890): married August 30, 1861, eloped from Fort Victoria to Port Townsend to marry A.G. Dallas. A second marriage was conducted August 31, 1861 Fort Victoria. The later divorced and remarried others.
John Goudie of Orkney worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1844-1849) as labourer, returned to British Isles
Andrew Harvey b-1823 Orkney worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1844-1857) as shepherd and settled Victoria area.
George Harvey b-1822 Orkney worked west of Rockies for H.B.C, (1844-1869) as storekeeper
Simon Horie, b-1820 Orkney worked west of Rockies for H.B. C. (1844-1848) as labourer at Willamette Falls, Oregon.
John Leask of Orkney worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1844-1848) as labourer
Jacques Lequechier this year built a house that was later called St. Ann's Schoolhouse in Victoria. I was sold in 1853 to Roman Catholic Bishop Demers for a schoolhouse and residence. It was relocated in 1974 behind Helmcken House.
James Polk, United States presidential candidate campaign slogan was "54° 40' or Fight" (WAR). This is part of the "Manifest Destiny" of the United States that North America was theirs for the taking by right.
Samuel Robertson b-1824 Orkney worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1844-1858) as boat builder settled in B.C.
Thomas Scott of Orkney worked west Rockies for H.B.C. (1844-1847) as blacksmith returned to British Isles
James Sinclair of Orkney worked west of Rocikies for H.B.C. (1844-1846) as cooper returned to British Isles.
John J. Sinclair b-1830 Orkney worked west of the Rockies for H.B.C. (1844-1855) as 1st mate.
The Songhees People built their village along the west shore of the Inner harbour, Victoria.
Missouri Senator Thomas Hart Benton noted that tens of thousands of settlers are meditating on claim jumping in the Canadian Oregon Territories when he said, Go on! The Government will follow you and will give you protection and land. It was very clear that the government would clear the land of Indian and Canadian domination, by force if necessary. The British, not prepared to go to war, would leave the Indians on their own. It mattered not that the Oregon Territory is dotted with Hudson Bay Company forts.
The belligerent cry of "Fifty four forty or fight" figured prominently in James K. Polk's successful presidential campaign of 1844. This assured the hostile invasion of Mexico owned Texas, Mexico owned New Mexico and Texas owned California. This would also lead to the Oregon Treaty of 1846 between the British and United States Governments to accept the 49th parallel as the international frontier. Dr. John McLoughlin (1784-1857), who retired from the Hudson Bay Company Oregon branch in 1846, even though he helped the United States settlers and sympathized with United States republicanism, ended up a venerable but pathetic figure, as he had to endure considerable local opposition, lies and hostility. Few would remember or care about the Metis discovery, exploration or establishment of the Oregon Territory. This is one of the most pathetic pages of the colonization of the Pacific Northwest.
February 27,: Fort Langley, birth, Matilda Falardeuil, Metis, died December 10, 1826, Washington?, daughter Narcisse Falardeau (1818-1888), and Helen (Elin) Tiheoartenate Quantlen: married May 19, 1863 New Westminister, B.C., George Rehberger, thet had 13 children.
1845
Birth, Vancouver (Portland Oregon), Lisette Arquoitte, Metis, daughter Amable Arquette (Arcouet, Arcoueite) b- 1797 and Marguerite Waponte d- 1870.
Magnus Flett of Orkney worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1845-1851) as labourer
John Greig of Orkney worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1845-1851) as labourer, retired to Fort Colvile area.
Peter Huntow of Orkney worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1845-1849) as carpenter departed for California gold rush.
Edward Oman, b-1826, Orkney working west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1845-1850) as labourer retired Fort Vancouver area.
Father de Smet (Smef) (1801-1873), of the Oregon Mission, came over White Man's Pass this year on his way to Fort Augustus (Fort Edmonton). When he passed through Jasper House Colin Fraser was there to great him.
Fort Vancouver becomes the base for the Kanaka (Hawaiian) community in the New World. They eventually become the largest single ethnic group in the area. That year, a total of 207 Kanakas worked at the forts, farms and coastal ships of the Hudson's Bay Company from California to Alaska.
The first confirmed Europeans in Kananaskis Country, west of Calgary, Alberta, were James Sinclair and15 families with their livestock, whom he was leading over the mountains to settle in Washington, U.S.A.
1846
James Ballenden, b-1822 Orkney, worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1846-1852) as farmer, discharged 1851, likely remained in Fort Vancouver (Portland Oregon) area.
William Eddy Banfield, who came to the Pacific coast on the H.M.S. Constance in 1846 and later became a trader and an Indian agent on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. In 1862 he was drowned in a canoe accident, which some suspected was murder. The Town of Bamfield alias Keeshan on the south shore of Barkley Sound is named after him.
(I)-William Cromarty, born c.17 May 1814, S. Ronaldsay, Orkney, Scotland died 1875, Ft. Langley,
married about 1846 to country wife Salum'mia aka Jenny of Matsqui,
(I)-Alexander Caulfield Anderson of India (1814-1884) and charted 3 routes to the Cariboo from the B.C. coast in
1846/47. Blackeye pointed out an easier trail and Blackeye's
son-in-law a Native
guide led the party to the top of the mountains and pointed the way to Fort
Langley and this trail became the brigade trail of the future.
(II)-Mira Goudie, Metis b-1846, daughter (I)-James Goudie, (1809-1887) and Catherine, Schwayips [Kettle Falls] (c.1819-53).
Helen Vautrin, Metis, b-1846, B.C. died 1864, B.C. daughter Francois Xavier Ventrin, born May 10, 1815, Quebec, died Vancouver Island 1st married Emily Kwoithe, 2nd married December 11, 1852, Victoria Marie of the Quytten (Kwantlen) tribe.
Oregon Territory is ceded to the United States.
Britain and the US established the 49th parallel as the boundary between Canada and the US.
The Royal Regiment, a 500 man contingent, arrived at Red River to ensure the peace; as some would claim. Or, as others claimed, to ensure the monopoly and authority of the English Hudson Bay Company because the Metis were beginning to challenge their authority.
A sawmill is built at Millstream, north of Fort Victoria.
On June 15, the Oregon Treaty cost the Hudson Bay Company and Canada its rights in the Oregon Boundary Territory, previously jointly held by Canada and the United States. They, however, did not quit the Territory until 1871 when compensation is paid.
June 15: The Oregon Boundary Treaty is established by President James Polk (1795-1849) and Queen Victoria under threat of war by the United States. The 1844 Democratic Party's election slogan was "Fifty-four forty, or fight". It is noteworthy that the Oregon Territory, that included Washington, Oregon and Idaho was a Canadian Territory, managed by the Hudson Bay Company.
July: Reverend J.B. Z. Bolduc a catholic priest is assigned to Vancouver, Island.
September 21: Gervais, Oregon, birth Pasile Plourde, Metis, son Francois Plourde, b-1793 Red River des Metis and Suzanne Dubois, Metis, b-1803; Married May 18, 1868 Elizabeth Barker, epouse William Smith..
Paul Kane departed Fort Edmonton to Fort Assiniboine with the Oregon bound brigade and Colin Fraser of Jasper House accompanied the party. Colin spoke of the days he piped Governor (I)- George Simpson (1787-1860) a Scot into innumerable posts.
1847
Robert Harvey of Orkney worked west of the Rockies for H.B.C. (1847-1850) as boat builder in Victoria.
(II)-Jane Goudie, Metis b-1847, daughter (I)-James Goudie, (1809-1887) and Catherine, Schwayips [Kettle Falls] (c.1819-53).
Cornelious Gilliam a fundamentalist clergyman raised a volunteer militia to move against the Oregon Cayuse. Gilliam had fought the Indians in eastern United States and believed in the the Unites States of extermination of all Indians Men like Joel Palmer and Peter Skene Ogden (1794-1854) attempted to defuse the situation towards peace but Gilliam was determined to kill some Indians. Gilliams vigilante army attacked an innocent encampment of Cayuses slaughtering at least 30 Indians. Gilliam died in the battle by his own gun. All the tribes on the Pacific Northwest threatened a general uprising and the Federal Army withdrew to keep the peace. Congress established a territorial government for Oregon and built more military posts rather than attempt to resolve issues.
February 26: Fort Langley, birth (II)-Elizabeth
Cromarty, Metis, born, 1847, died February 25, 1883, Maple Ridge. daughter
(I)-William Cromarty (1814-1875) and Salum'mia aka Jenny Matasqui; married. May
26, 1866, Fort Langley, Henry Dawson.
April 30: birth, Charles Bonanfant, Metis died May 1, 1850 son Antoni Bonanfant son Antoni Bonanfant and
Marie Pepin 1st married Maguerite Indian aka Marie Spokane also Mary Ann Pend
d'Oreille, 2nd marriage 1841 Francoise Deparitti, north west Pacific
Coast. Living Oregon 1842
November 29: The Cayuses 120 miles from the Nez Perce at the Cayuse Mission in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, reached a breaking point with the outbreak of measles believed to be spread by the missionaries. The United States are relentlessly, fraudulently and treacherously dispossessed the People of their hunting, fishing and grazing grounds to satisfy their greed. In final frustration the Cayuses rebelled killing Dr. Marcus Whitman (1802-1847) and fourteen other whites including Mrs. Whitman. Those spared, 53 women and children were taken prisoner. Fear swept the Oregon Territory assuming this was the start of a major uprising. The Cayuse War as it was called lasted until 1850.
Mary Anne Bridger, Metis daughter of Jim Bridger witnessed what some called the Whitman Massacre.
November 29: Dr Marcus Whitman (1802-1847), a Presbyterian missionary of the Dalles, Oregon on the Columbia River. The Dalles was named by a French Canadian Voyager, the Indians called it Winquatt. Whitman is considered by the natives to be a white doctor of bad medicine. They blamed him of bringing sickness to the People. When he brought in more settlers to their region, that was the last straw. The attacked the mission killing Whitman, his wife Naricissa (Prentiss) and 12 others. They took 53 women and children as captives.
1848
Jacob Ballenden of Orkney from Fort Colvile, possible suicide August 7, 1848 on Fraser River, worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1844-1848) as a farmer.
Joseph Brule, b-1831 Oregon Territory, died 1858, Sookie, B.C. son Jacques Iroquois and Marguerite Sook Brule (2nd marriage February 11, 1838, Fort Vancouver Joseph Baptiste Brule): married August 7, 1848, Willamette, Oregon Mary Ann Maranda dit le Frise, b-1832, died March 19, 1922, Yamhill, Oregon daughter Louis Shsegoskatsta, b-1796, Sault St. Louis (Caughnawaga, Kahnawake) and (married July 12, 1834) Louise Kalapuya (Churathea) b-1814
John Catlin b-1832 migrated to Portland, Oregon in 1848 then moved to Cowlitz, Washingon then back to Portland, married 1866 daughter Robert Henderson.
(I)-Alexander Caulfield Anderson of India (1814-1884) is Chief Factor Fort Thompson (Kamloops).
George Creol an Afro-Hawaiian pilot married 1848 Lahwatkin's sister Mary (1828-1877) of the Quinault tribe (Salishan). Mary was at Chinook Point in 1850 and Astoria in 1853.
Doroshin discovered gold near Fort Kenai, along the Kakni River, on the Kenai Peninsula, far to the westward of Juneau, Alaska.
Louisa Falardeuil, Metis, b-1848, died April 6, 1902 Fort Langley, B.C., daughter Narcisse Falardeau (1818-1888), and Helen (Elin) Tiheoartenate Quantlen: married 1866 Fort Langley, B.C., Henery West. The move to US with Rehburger and Kilcup but returned. They had 13 choldren.
John Flett b-1827 Orkney, died February 5, 1886, Victoria, B.C., worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1848-1860) as cooper
John Fraser of Orkney worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1848-1852) as laborer, deserted 1852 from Fort Umpqua.
(II)-Marie Goudie, Metis b-1848, daughter (I)-James Goudie, (1809-1887) and Catherine, Schwayips [Kettle Falls] (c.1819-53).
John Inkster of Orkney worked west Rockies for H.B.C. (1848-1853) as laborer then retired.
William Lawrenson of Orkney worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1848-1849) as laborer deserted March 1849 for California gold fields.
Some time in the late 1840's, Robert Campbell of the Hudson Bay Company reported the presence of gold on the Yukon River.
Fort Hope, B.C. is established by the Hudson Bay Company. It is the critical junction of traffic from the East to the West.
The Hudson Bay Company built Fort Yale, B.C. The post was named after James Murry Yale aka Little Yale (1776-1871). This post was abandoned in 1848.
James Robertson of Orkney, died February 24, 1852 Flatheads. worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1848-1852) as laborer
The California Gold rush brought devastation upon the Indians due to the United States policy of Indian extermination. Many white gold miners went on hunting sprees shooting Indians on sight. The population in a few short years decreased by 2/3 or more. The generally peaceful nature of the California Indians hastened their attrition since most hostilities were one-sided against them.
February 23: Fort Langley, birth
(II)-William Cromarty, Metis, born, 1848, son (I)-William Cromarty (1814-1875)
and Salum'mia aka Jenny Matasqui; married. Lucie of Cheam, Mission City
buried, Popcum Cem.
July 20: Gervais, Oregon, birth Ambrose Elmore Plourde, son Francois Plourde, born August, 1793 Red River des Metis and Suzanne Dubois, b-1803; married Katherine Boucher.
1849
Captain William Brotchie(1799-1859), was in command of the barque "Albion" when she struck Brotchie's
Ledge (off Victoria) this ledge in 1849, previously known as Buoy Rock.
Matthew
P. Deady, b-1824 arrived Oregon this year, he married June 1852, Lucy A.
Henderson daughter Robert Henderson and by 1860 are in Portland,
Oregon
Joseph Plouf a HBC blacksmith at Fort Vancouver (Portland Oregon) d-1849, married to Therese Makaina b-1815 daughter Owyhee a Hawaiian, they had seven children.
Hamilton Moffatt of Orkney, died April 13, 1894 in Victoria, worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1849-1872) as Chief Trader
William Ross of Orkney worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1849-1850) as overseer and settled in B.C.
John Sabiston b-1828 Orkney worked west of Rockies for H.B.C. (1849-1859) as labourer settled in B.C.
Donald McLean of the Hudson Bay Company led a 16 man posse after a Chilcotin Indian named Tlel, suspected of killing a company servant Alexis Belanger. The posse surrounded Tlels cabin, near the future city Quesnel, B.C. McLean burst through the door and found Tliels uncle, stepdaughter and her baby. The Uncle swore he didn't know where Tliel was hiding. McLean shouted, then for today you shall be Tliel and he shot the uncle dead. Tlel charged from another room and was shot dead. Another member of the posse leaped through the door and shot the step daughter wounding her and killing the baby. The Chilcotin swore to avenge the massacre but it would take 14 years because McLean wore a bulletproof vest and avoided death until he was finally shot in the back.
John Tod, Metis, born Abt. 1849, B.C., died September 05, 1889, son John Todd and Sophia Lolo:.
Alexander Tod, Metis born Abt. 1849, died September 05, 1889 in Victoria, B.C., Canada, son John Todd and Sophia Lolo:
Isaac Tod, Metis born Abt. 1849 died March 28, 1892 in Plumper Passage, B.C., Canada, son John Todd and Sophia Lolo:
Catherine Vautrin, Metis b-1849, B.C. daughter Francois Xavier Ventrin, born May 10, 1815, Quebec, died Vancouver Island 1st married Emily Kwoithe, 2nd married December 11, 1852, Victoria Marie of the Quytten (Kwantlen) tribe.
John H. Couch, b-1811 returned to Oregon City with more merchandise and a few passengers: Ben Stark, W.H. Bennet, W.S. Ogden (son Peter Skene Ogden (1794-1854??) and Chas M'Kay. Couch moved to Portland where he eventually retired.
Only 304 United States citizens lived north of the Columbia River and most of these are likely H.B.C. Canadian personnel.
The 1849 Oregon census, entitled "an enumeration of the inhabitants and qualified voters" excluded the Hawaiians even if born in the Oregon Territory.
A smell of gold saw 30,000 would be miners set out overland from Missouri for California, and another 25,000 are said to have made it to San Francisco by sea. The sea trip around Cape Horn took anywhere from a few months to a year. Hundreds of thousands would follow. The Oregon and Mormon Trails are filled with covered wagons. This effectively wrestled California and the Southwest from Mexico and crowded the Canadians out of Oregon and Washington in the Northwest.
January 13: Britain made Vancouver Island a crown colony and leased the whole island to the HBC for seven schillings a year.
January 13: The Hudson Bay Company leased Vancouver Island from the British for 7 shillings a year. They established a colony under Chief Factor James Douglas (1803-1877) a mixed blood (Scottish and a colored Creole Woman) and is considered 'The Father of B.C.' He married Amelia Connolly, Metis daughter Chief Factor William Connolly and native woman. Royal Charter specified that the Company must form a colony of British subjects, who should be encouraged to immigrate by the sale of land at reasonable prices. Democratic government had no part in their experience, and mass immigration had no part in their policies. The only sort of settlement they would welcome would be that of large-scale farms owned by men of means and worked by hired help. Only the squirearchy would be allowed any say in government. To ensure the land was used only for farming, the Company reserved all mineral rights. Additionally, all choice land near the Fort was set aside for Company use. W. Colquhoun Grant, late Captain in the Scots Guards, who bought land at Sooke and tried farming for three years before selling out to former Hudson's Bay Company coal miner John Muir.
March 14: Southern Colorado, death William Sherley Williams, mountain man, hunter, scout, Baptist minister son Joseph Williams (1757-1820) and Sarah Musick (1756-1820); married 1st Wind Blossom (Achinga) an Osage Indian and had two daughters Mary Anne (1814-1845) and Sarah, 2nd marriage Antonia? a Mexican woman and had one son. Old Bill williams was killed by the Indians while crossing the Rocky Mountains. Source Dylan Hayden
March 17: Fort Victoria, (I)-Robert John Staines (1820-1854) an English preacher arrived to establish a school with his wife Emma Tahourdin who was described as shrewish and snobbish. They later acquired a 400 acre farm at Metchosin. Early boarders at the school were children of James Douglas, Creole Metis (1803-1877), (I)-John Tod (1794-1882), and (I)-Alexander Caufield Anderson (1814-1884). Eden Colville called Staines a prig, Roderick Finlayson said he was a man of frills, James Douglas, Creole Metis (1803-1877) says he is a rather lazy man at times. The consensus was that Staines was an unsuccessful teacher.
June 1: Some Hawaiians presented themselves to become United States citizens, and be allowed to vote in the elections. These Kanakas were excluded from becoming citizens because they were not White. It is noteworthy these Kanakas were early pioneers to Oregon Territory long before most Whites.
June: Captain W. Colquhon Grant, with eight engages, arrived at Fort Victoria with coaches and carriages for nonexistent roads, with a set of cricket equipment for a nonexistent playing field and finally settled at Sooke, Vancouver Island. He did not last due to his lack of true grit and sold his property to the Muirs coal miners, returning to England
June: Scottish miner John McGregor had been one of the original miners at Fort Rupert, arriving in the brig Harpooner in June, 1849.
June 6: Father Honore Timothy Lempfrit a Roman Catholic priest at Fort Victoria (1849-1851) established a school of 20-25 Metis students. Reverend Robert Staines (1820-1854) a Anglican chaplin was at the fort in the same time and received £340 per year salary and £100 for his school. Father Lempfrit had to rely on the generosity of his parishioners. This discrimination would continue into the 21st century.
October 25: Vancouver Island, (I)-Andrew Muir of Scotland recorded that the H.B.C. hired him to work coal not to find coal. Andrew, his father, three brothers, and two cousins were the first group of coal miners to be hired to work coal for the H.B.C. John Muir, wife Anne, daughter Marian Muir and her two children Andrew, John, Robert and Michael; their nephews Archibald Muir and John McGregor, wife Mary, his sister and his three children; and the John Smith family were included in this contingent. The H.B.C. had no experience in mining and failed to manage these miners.
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