Canada Archives Red River Settlement [BRARY THE UNIVERSITY OF CAL [FORNIA LOS ANGELES RED RIVER SETTLEMENT. <., PAPERS IN THE CANADIAN ARCHIVES RELATING TO THE PIONEERS SELECTED BY CHESTER MARTIN. ARCHIVES BRANCH. 1910. V- DR. DOUGHTY, Dominion Archivist. DEAR SIR, I beg to submit under your direction, extracts from docu- ments in the Canadian Archives, bearing upon the founding of the Red River Settlement. The personnel of the first Selkirk Settlement at the Forks of the Red River and the Assiniboine is to be traced with com- parative accuracy but not with absolute certainty. The ex- tracts from the Macdonell Papers and the Selkirk Papers, here submitted, are selected to show as far as possible the process by which the settlers were chosen for the enterprise of which the 100th anniversity will be celebrated in 1912. Probably no colonizing enterprise of the 19th century is to be traced in such elaborate detail, pleasant and otherwise. It is unfor- tunate, however, that the Selkirk Papers and the Macdonell Papers should be incomplete in precisely the point in which posterity may be considered to be most keenly interested. The official lists of names, for the compilation of which by Macdonell and Keveny there is the fullest evidence, are not to be found. We have partial lists in MacdonelFs hand-writing of the settlers who wintered at Hudson's Bay in 1811, and a list by Keveny of those who were to join the pioneers at Red River in the autumn of 1812. It is possible that the official lists mentioned in the correspondence with Selkirk may yet be found when the Hudson's Bay House in London yields up its treasures to the Canadian Archives. There is difficulty in distinguishing between actual settlers, the servants of the Hudson's Bay Company engaged in the fur trade, and the men hired by Selkirk's agents for the specific 76281 2 CANALIAN ARCHIVES purpose of preparing the land at the Forks for the permanent settlers to follow. To this third class belonged all those who reached the Forks with Macdonell on August 30, 1812. Selkirk, by the terms of his grant of Assiniboia, was under contract to engage a quota of servants for the fur trade of the Company. The separation between Company and Settlement, it will be seen, was not ultimately made by Macdonell until he was actually on the way to the Settlement. Even then the "enclosed Return" of the twenty-three men mentioned in the report to Selkirk is not at present to be found, though a list of eighteen is seen in Mac- donell's handwriting on a stray sheet in the Macdonell Papers. Three of the others, we are told, were 'experienced' men of the Company hired at Oxford House; one was an Indian men- tioned by name; the other may possibly have been John McLeod, the young Scottish employee of the Company, whom Macdonell sought to secure for the Settlement, but who was sent by the Company's officers to Turtle River after the official return was made to Selkirk, but probably before Macdonell's list in No. 5 was compiled. Macdonell had reached Hudson's Bay in September, 1811, and arrived at the Forks August 30, 1812. The second expedi- tion had sailed from Sligo on June 24, 1812, under Owen Keveny, and appeared at Red River a little less than two months after Macdonell's arrival. Here again, the full official returns, to be identified, as Keveny wrote to Selkirk, by the 'letter S' placed 'opposite the persons names whom I think the best to be put on the establishment of the settlement/ are wanting, The list, however, given in Selkirk Papers, Vol. 2, pp. 560-562, and endorsed '0. Keveny 's Return of men classed' would seem to be reliably complete; the more so as the number of boats specified at the end of the list would seem to correspond with those mentioned in Keveny's letter of September 8. All the lists I have ventured to submit are exact copies, of the originals, as far as it 18 possible to reproduce them in print. The stu- dent will be able to amplify to some extent the names in RED RIVER SETTLEMENT 3 Keveny's list from the lists prepared by some of Selkirk's agents in organizing the expedition. (No. 9.) Both Macdonell's party and Keveny's, it will be seen, retired to Pembina for the winter of 1812. The party which crossed to Hudson's Bay in 1813 suffered severely through an epidemic of ship fever, and reached Hudson's Bay too late to proceed inland until the following summer. The list is given in No. 10. The winter was passed at Fort Churchill, so that when the first party of the 'Churchill Settlers,' as they were called, reached Red River, open hostilities had already broken out with the North West Company. Only fourteen new settlers came out by the Hudson's Bay ships in 1814. One of the Hudson's Bay servants* joined the number, and the party reached the Settle- ment late in the autumn of that year. Although the number is specified in the Selkirk Papers and Macdonell adds some gen- eral remarks upon the character of the men, there seems to be no official list of this last contingent of settlers to reach Red River before the dispersion of the settlement by the North West Com- pany in the spring of 1815. It will be seen, therefore, that the lists numbered 5 and 7 give the names of the pioneers who reached Red River in 1812 . the extract numbered 10, supplies the names of other settlers, as far as we know tnem at pre- sent, who reached the Forks before ' the expulsion.' The colony was re-established by Colin Robertson in the autumn of 1815, and reinforced by a large party of more than eighty which arrived during the summer by way of Hudson's Bay with Governor Semple. The lists here given, however, close with 'the expulsion of 1815.' Even with the aid of these it is difficult to estimate the number of actual settlers at Red River at the close of this first period of its history. It is to be remembered that the numbers were changing almost continu- ously through fluctuations in ' the service ' between the Com- pany and the Settlement, through the practice of recruiting for the Settlement from among the retiring traders, of the Company through desertions to the North West Company, 7628 1 4 CANADIAN ARCHIVES and through deaths and births among the settlers themselves. The numbers taken to Upper Canada by the North West Com- pany are given in the Imperial Blue Book, Hudson's Bay, 1819, as about 140. Those who were driven off to Jack River, according to the list to be found in the Selkirk Papers, num- bered approximately about 45 souls. There is record, there- fore, of about 185 from the actual lists of some 205 who are recorded to have come out as settlers or servants at Red River. It would be possible from the Selkirk papers to trace many new names to various sources and to account for the omission of others from the lists of 1815. This, however, would seem to be beyond the purpose at present in view. Further research at Hudson's Bay House may supply three or four names which are needed to complete the full list of those whose arrival at the 'Land of Promise,' as Macdonell called it, will be celebrated in 1912. The brilliancy of that promise, only now about to be realized, will lend something of additional interest to the names of these pioneers of settle- ment in the Canadian West. I have the honour to remain, Yours faithfully, CHESTER MARTIN. CANADIAN ARCHIVES, August 27, 1909. RED RIVER SETTLEMENT NO. 1. SELKIRK PAPERS, VOL. I, pp. 40-55. CANADIAN ARCHIVES, M. 733. YORK FACTORY HUDSONS BAY October 1st 1811 MY LORD, I had the honor to address your Lordship from Stornoway on the 25 th & a few hurried lines on the morning of the 26th July, & had a letter written to put on board the Convoy, but she parted with us (2 nd Augt in Lat : 59 50 N Long : 17 46' W) when it blew hard an our ship being far from her, had not an opportunity of sending our Letters. ^;**4:**4;^**** * * * I forward a General Return of the number of men, effective & non effective according to the Lists which have reached me; by this your Lordship will see our strength at one view & deficiency from non appearance and Desertion. Our total numbers on board all the ships amount only to 90 labourers & 15 Writers, including Mr. Barker, making a grand total of 105, exclusive of us who Embarked at Gravesend. The Irish band were not more troublesome than the others, the people from Glasgow were at first the most turbulent & dissatisfied. The Orkney men being accustomed to it, think nothing of a voyage to Hudsons Bay but as they formerly when going out, fared the same as the ships Company they were displeased on account of the provisions, & served to increase the discontent of the others. In Hudson Straits on the 12 th September the shifting of some part of the goods & passengers took place in the different ships, much against inclination of Cap 1 Hanwell, who in that movement saw the loss of his command; as afterwards each ship was to make the best of its way to its destined Port. The 6 desertion from the Edward & Ann took place at Stornoway after the general distribution had been made, & each ship had received the number of men alloted to her: it was my intention to replace in part this disertion by taking a few from the two other ships, that each might bear its share of the loss. But the Commodore would not part with any of the men the Co' Agent had put on board his ship, being 22 men all from Orkney; & besides these, took two more from the Eddystone without my knowledge after I had left her. This proceeding surprised me, not expecting that he had any Controll or dir- ection as to the destination of the people. I took, with me Eight men from the Eddystone to the Edw d & Ann; with this aug- mentation she had 53 men, labourers and Artificers collectively. Thirty of these I expect to have for the settlement, & from the remainder M r Hilliers party may be formed. Not conceiv- ing it to be the intention of the C that all the Clerks or writers were for one part of the Country I permitted these to volunteer into the Prince of Wales for the service of the southern factor- ies, and two others to go in the Eddystone to Churchill & desired the Captains to mess them in their respective Cabins. The passage has been of uncommon length, and for a sum- mer one very boisterous on the morning of the 6 th Sepf we discovered land (Battons Islands) & were from that day to the 15 th in getting through the straits. After entering the Straits saw daily a number of detached lumps of Ice called by the seamen Islands. of these some were small & others appeared to be the size of two or three acres in Circumference & about 150 feet high. As we kept at a great distance from land in obedience to the signals of our Commodore, saw nothing of the natives which was a great disappointment. The Country on both sides of the Straits appeared to be high naked rocks, and with the exception of a little Snow or Ice, which I imagine they are never entirely clear of, are not unlike the West Coast of Sutherlandshire & part of Rossshire. At the upper part of the Straits we met a quantity of flat Ice; it gave us no interup- tion, but that of laying to, the whole of one night, with a fair II wind. On the ocean we had an uncommon share of boisterous stormy and cold weather but since entering H Bay have experienced a course of fine mild weather and moderate fair winds. We arrived here on the 24 lb September after a pass- RED RIVER SETTLEMENT 7 age of 61 days from Stornoway the longest ever known & the latest to H Bay. ***** * * * The Eddystone has now come here with all her passengers & cargo, without being able to get to Churchill : this affords an additional supply of men not wanted by the C. I am therefore allowed to augment my number to 35, labourers & artificers. I have taken all of Captain Rodericks men, the Lewis men and a portion of Irish ; the rest of my list willbe filled up by a selection from the Orkneys. There are besides a number of Orkney men here going home who have served out their time. I expect to be able to prevail on some of these to remain for one or two years more: their service as experienced men will be important to assist in ascending the waters next I hope that none of our Ossiniboia people shall ever be so late again as to be under the necessity of Wintering at this place. The Cross accidents of this year could not have been foreseen. The late sailing of the ships can be guarded against in future. Wintering here, altho: attended with heavy expense & loss of time, will give our people the advantage of acquiring some experience & practice in useful labour. I was aware of con- siderable difficulties in prosecuting this scheme, which a desire to forward your Lordships views led me to undertake. The troubles attendant on it have already exceeded my expecta- tion. I feel a confidence however, that we shall be able to surmount every difficulty; & altho much retarded in the pro- gress hitherto, the object is very attainable, and your Lord- ship need not be under any apprehension for us. With high respect I have the honour to be My Lord Your Lordships most obedient & most Humble Servant MILES MACDONELL. 8 CANADIAN ARCHIVES No. 2. MILES MACDONELL PAPERS, CANADIAN ARCHIVES, M. 155, pp. 281-289. To WILLIAM AULD, Esq., Superintendent of the Northern Department Hudson Bay. NELSON ENCAMPMENT, 25th Deer., 1811. Dear Sir Your letter of the 16th October from Y. F. reached me on the 5th November at the time you crossed here on your route to C. R., & should have been acknowledged before now had an opportunity for communication offered. The selection of Men for Red River Settlement was made in my mind on board of the Ships, & once that I learned the number to be given me for that Service there could be no farther delay. In conversation with you, after the arrival of the Eddy- stone, I was permitted to take 35 of the passengers besides Will m . Finlay since engaged. The people being landed from the ships at different times & hurried off promiscuously as they landed from the Factory to this place the men intended for R. R. S. could not then without some detention untill the whole of them had landed, be separated from the others. That separation was done immediately after my arrival here. The selection has been made with a view of forming an extensive local connection in the Highlands of Scotland & in Ireland. Ten or Eleven of the number were engaged by the H. B. Go's Agent at Glasgow at 25 sterl g of annual wages, & the committee pointedly refused to sanction the engagement altho T the people had in the meantime been sent to Stornoway to meet the Go's Ships. To cover the Agent & prevent any disagreeable consequences, the Earl of Selkirk intrusted me by letter to take these men into his service. The rest of the number has been filled up from Orkney. # # * * * * * * * * * RED RIVER SETTLEMENT 9 The service of the men being now lost till next summer from the late arrival of the ships the number going with me will be less injurious to the Go's affairs as their wages & subsistence will of course be borne on the R. R. S. establishment. The next Ships I am persuaded will bring an ample supply of men for us all. As matters are at present situated from the scarcety of hands, I shall be as moderate as possible consistent with the good of the service I am sent on, & instead of throwing obstacles in the way of the Co. have come out to be an ally of theirs to support them. It is unnecessary to point out to a person of your pene- tration the great advantages to be derived by the Co. from the prosperity of the proposed Colony among many others, a firm & powerful support may be reckoned on in that quarter of the grand Canadian Route, ample supplies of provisions for the Factories, &c., &c. When you take into consideration the numerous Stores now lying in the Warehouses at Y. F, & requisite for such an under- taking : Possession to be taken & kept of an extensive country, the natives of which may by malicious machinations be ready to oppose, you will think the number already mentioned scarcely adequate to the purpose. However I shall not ask for more in the present state of things, & shall pursue the particular object entrusted to me to the utmost of my ability with any number of men that may be given. ***** With true regard I am, Dr. Sir, Yours, very sincerely, (Signed) MILES MACDONELL. WM. AHOLD, Esq. C.R. Sent by the C. R. Express 27th Deer., 1812. 10 RED RIVER SETTLEMENT No. 3. MILES MACDONNELL PAPERS, CANADIAN ARCHIVES M. 155, p. 151. List of Men belonging to R. R. S. arriv g in H Bay in 1811 & Brought from York Factory July 1812 Names age " where from Time agreed Colin Campbell 21 Argylle 3 Years John McKay 22 Rossshire ditto John M-cLinnan 23 ditto ditto Beth Bethune 19 ditto ditto Donald McKay 17 ditto ditto William Wallace . 21 Ayr . - . . . . ditto John Cooper 26 Orkney ditto Nich 1 Harper. 34 Do. Do. Magness Isbister 21 Do Do. George Gibbon 50 Do Do. Thomas M c Kim 38 Sligo Do. Patt Corcoran 24 Crosmalina Do. John Green . . ... 21 Sligo. Do. Patt C^uin 21 Killalla Do. Martin Jordan 16 Do. Do. John O.Rourke 20 Do Do. Antfay M c Donnell 23 Do Do. 18 James Toomy 20 Slieo Do RED RIVER SETTLEMENT 11 No. 4. SELKIRK PAPERS, Vol. 2, pp. 443-449. CANADIAN ARCHIVES, M. 734. PLAYGREEN LAKE 11 th Aug' 1812. I have got this far with the greater part of the R. R. S. stores, there being only some Iron & Lead left behind at Y F. The Inlanders gave me a few experienced men in exchange for some of my new men to come up to Oxford House & took that far part of my stores mixt along with theirs. From thence each chief went off with his own men & cargo. Out of the 22 men aloted me of last years importation 3 declined coming by which my number is reduced to 19 Eight of them Irish. At Oxford House I engaged 3 experienced men at advanced wages for one year with these & Tipotem a young Indian who volunteered to come with me from the Nelson, my number is augmented-to 23 effective men as per enclosed Return. With this weak force I could not man all the small craft necessary for transporting the stores, & therefore procured two large boats that carry each the cargoes of 3 of the common size. One is a good new boat got from M r Sinclair Chief of West Winipie the other is old & was condemned but by frequent repairs on every carrying place will I hope serve to bring us up. * * * * We have now got past all the bad navi- gation have a prospect of getting soon to the Land of Promise this navigation is not near so bad as was reported, & is very capable of improvement, but is yet entirely in the state of nature although long the commercial track of an opulent C appears as if none but Indians had passed before us the Carrying Places are in a most wretched state We left Y F the 6 th July & arrived here this morning our stops & detention along the road in different places amount to a fortnight. I had no assistance whatever from the Co", men above Oxf 1 House & had I light craft would have nearly made as good progress as any of them. 12 CANADIAN ARCHIVES I send M r M c Rae down from here Y.F. to be up again with the people coming out in the ships it being necessary that a trusty person is there to protect & get the requisites for them two of my old hands go down to be guides & I expect M r M c Rae will be able to engage a few of those intending to go home, some of whom have partly promised me already to come up. no assistance can be expected from the Factory. * * * My intention at present is to leave a few men with an officer at the first ripple from the Lake by way of the Depot or Post, and to go up the Pembina myself with the main body some distance above the Forks to choose a proper situation for a larger establishment to serve for the present to serve for the present seat of government * * Mr. Hilliers was gone from here before my arrival with my heavy luggage & boats I cannot go quite so fast over carrying places as others but I expect to overhaul him yet on the Lake it is now late the wind is fair & I must be off early in the morning. I have the honour to be always My Lord Your Lordships most obd r & Humble Servant MILES MACDONELL. Right Hon hle The Earl of Selkirk. CANADIAN ARCHIVES 13 No. 5. MILES MACDONELL PAPERS, CANADIAN ARCHIVES, M. 155, p. 145. No. Names. Age. Where from. Parish. County. 1 5 10 15 20 25 30 John Mclntyre 19 28 19 20 23 22 21 23 24 17 25 25 21 24 19 23 17 17 18 21 24 23 20 20 23 19 20 22 20 19 18 30 33 24 34 29 Paisley. . . Aberdalgie Kilmars f do. do. Cowal. . Renfrew. Perth. Ayr. do. do. Argyle. Dumbarton . Ayr. Dumbarton . do. do. Renfrew. Argyle. Inverness. Ross. Ross. Ross. Sutherland . Sweden. Sligo. do. Mavo. do. do, do. Will. Anderson Rob'. Montgomerie William Brown James Robertson James Urie John Walker Bunhill Ricarton Row.. . Luss William Wallace Daniel Campbell . Andw. Mcfarlane Walter Colq uhoun Row Peter Barr Houstow .... Isla Colin Campbell Duncan McCaskill Harris Uig.. Beth Bethune John McLennan nig . . Donald McKay trig John McKay Ardrocullis.. Jacob Folstrom Thomas McKim John Green Patt Corkoran Killala. . do do do Anth. McDonnell Mich. Higgins . John O'Rourke James Toomy. . James Dickson Harra Walls Orkney, do. do. do. do. do. do. do. dc.. do. do. do. do. John Chambers. .... Murdock Rosie Bura Geo. Merriman . . Hara Peter Spence Sandwick . . . Sanda John Cooper James Robertson* Sandwick . . Stromness . Sandwick . . S tromness . Hara William Finlay Geo. Gibbon* Thos. Angus A. Simpson* Nichol Harper Birsay do. ... James Johnston ' A line is run through the three names in the original. 14 CANADIAN ARCHIVES No. 6. SELKIRK PAPERS Vol. 2, pp. 460-476. CANADIAN ARCHIVES, M. 734. YORK FORT 8 l " September 1812. The Right Hon hle THE EARL OF SELKIRK MY LORD In conformity with your desire I take the earliest oppor- tunity of writing you after a passage of 61 days we anchored within about 5 leagues of this place, the evening after I landed and delivered my letters to M r Auld in two days after the whole of the passengers were landed in two divisions with an increase of one, M rs McLean haveing a young daughter two days before we came to anchor, both are doing well and on tomorrow will be ready to proceed inland the return which you directed to be made out of the passengers J have not been able fully to make out, as it is at Lake Winipic the princi- pal division must be made with M r Hillier. I enclose a list of the entire of the people who were landed, and opposite the persons names whom I think the best to be put on the estab- lishment of the settlement, you will find the letter S marked, those unmarked will be put on the Companys service either under M r Hillier or some of the other posts according as they may be wanted, I have been very careful to select for the settlement those who I can best depend upon and such as I have proved on the voyage to be sober, humble, and obedient to the Officers, in this selection I have endeavoured to keep as near as possible to your instructions, first by setting apart the married men and their families and such of the trades- men as were particularly wanted for the settlement, in this I was a good deal directed by a gent n (M r McRae) who had been sent here by Cap 1 Macdonell to assist in getting up the settlers, and who had arrived here two days before I landed from Oxford house, to which place he had accompanied the Captain on his journey to the settlement, we have been de- tained here longer than I expected in consequence of the difficulty of procuring a sufficient number of old hands to take the boats inland, a great number of the Old hands who were RED RIVER SETTLEMENT 15 here and at the neighbouring out posts were found difficult to engage anew (their former contracts being expired) how- ever we have succeeded in procuring a sufficient number, ************ ************ this precaution was not amiss as there were only 6 Boats ready at this place, the superintendent at Churchill sent me two along with 2 or 3 more which were repaired will make up the requisite number and tomorrow the last division of the Boats being four in number with a canoe for M rs McLean and her children proceed on our journey it may be proper to state that in order to facilitate the progress of the entire Boats it was judged the best plan to divide the entire number into three divisions, the 1 st consisting of M r Holmes with four boats went from this yesterday, the 2 nd M r McRae and four boats to- day and the 3 rd consisting of 3 Boats and the Canoe I prcoeed with tomorrow in this arrangement I was advised by the officers here who are well acquainted with the navigation to the red river and these Gentlemen were all of opinion that if all the Boats proceeded at once the numbers both of boats and passengers would greatly impede our progress by being together, on the other hand they showed as I thought very clear that a few in number going would get on quicker and with less difficulty and that by the arrangement of proceeding within a day of each other no risk would arise as we would be sufficiently near to each other in every division in case of any accident or ob- struction. ************ ************* [I| 31 I have the honor to remain with the greatest respect Your Lordships most devoted & hum: Servant KEVENY. The Right Hon b * THE EARL OF SELKIRK London. 16 CANADIAN ARCHIVES No. 7. SELKIRK PAPERS Vol. 2 pp. 560-562. CANADIAN ARCHIVES, M. 734.* ABOVE 15 8-15 Ch" under 8 Men W m Boys Girls 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 C H H H C M> McLean, Wife & Maid & Plow" 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 2 5 i i 3 Alex r , & Don d Mother & Sister Jn Me Vicar Carp r & Wife names Hector McEachern & Wife Hector McDonald Serv* to McLean W Augus D Wife & 2 d D 2 sons.. 2 1 "i ' Neil McKinnon, Wife 3 sons 3d. 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 Don d McMillan Sailor Patt McNulty & Wife (Foxford) 1 1 Ja Smith Wife & 3 Duncan McNaughton Don d Livingston & Wife Ann McG Dond. D jun r & Jess 1 1 Miles Livingston Tho" Mullourey Sen' 30 (Newport) X J e Mahop 32-34 (Tireva) H Joseph Gathers 15 to be uqder Liv" boy. . Mich 1 Cryan 20 Sailor L' W (Erris) Tho" Corcoran 37 (Coolavin) Jno Conway 24-26 (Tubbercary Stis) Patt Clabby 30 [34 (Sligo). 1 Jno Carson 30 Cooper (Fermanagh) Peter Dunn 24 (Sligo) 1 1 X Jn Flynn 18] (Colfoony) 1 J Gulden \ 24 22] (Magheraken Sligo) . got sick / Austin Joyer 22 ( Westport) 1_ 1 Joseph Kenny 20 D 1 Mic Kilbride 24 [28 (Sligo) 1 Peter Rutigan 40 (Stockster) 1 X RED RIVER SETTLEMENT 17 c x Mic Kelley 23 x MKilcool22 x Mic Kilkeny 23 Phip Leydon 20 H Jas Quin 27 x Phil Roony 22 x Mic Roony 19 Hugh Swords 22 Ja 8 Swords 19 x J Somers 20 x W m Taylor 22 x And w Tymon 24 25 Bryan Gilgan x 30 John Forbes x 30 Patt McGovern x 28 Tho 8 Mulberry J r x 20 Jn Murrin x 20 Ja 8 Bruin x 20 J" Cunningham x 18 Ja 8 Davey x 20 Fra 9 Everard x 20 J Feeny 17 10 Mich Gillan 18 Ja 8 Gardner x 17 Henry Gilgan x 22 x Geo Holmes Rob' McVicar x And w McDermo^t Jo Bowrke x E d Castelo Js Warren Cha" Sweeny x Ja 8 Heron Oxf d x Fra 8 Heron Sw u Mich Haydon Smith Don d McDonald J Mclntyre x Hugh McLean 28 10 B. B. Jn McMarus H Sawyer (Granoid) Edwd Bell H (Donegall) Mich 1 Boyle (Enniskill") Mich 1 Hyland Sawyer B Shannon Ja 8 Johnston Tho 8 Sweeny H Ja" Pinknian-Nailer W m Malone 17 Moon Ja 8 Brannen 17 D Patt Flynn 16 D Corn'Hoye 20 D J Kennedy 15 D Total R. R. S 71 37 18 4 " 1 11 J Walsh & Wife 22 Sligo. 34 1 17 1 3 1 11 J Underwood 16-13] . . . i Francis Swords 23 (Long" 1 ) ... 1 Patt Swords 12 1 11 boats .... 3 Canoes . . x C = 66. R R S 37" C 28 d ove : 5 18" 4 b 11 - 9 = 99 3 - 4 = 12 70 18 16 104 111 July 6 - 31 - 5 = Aug 26 10 36 14 22 2 = 3 Sep. 9 & 21 7 4 Oct. Endorsed : 1812 O. Kevenys Return of men classed. 76282 18 CANADIAN AKCHIVES No. 8. CANADIAN ARCHIVES, SERIES M, 735, SELKIRK PAPERS, Vol. 3, pp. 764-794. July 17, 1813. Rx Nov 26 . Miles McDonell RRS FORKS RED RIVER Proceedings Winter 1812 17th July 1813. 13 MY LORD I had the honor of making my last report to your Lordship of our progress to Ossiniboia 11 th August last from Jack River Playgreen Lake. On 30 th Aug 1 we reached the Forks of Red River. Here were the Brandon House people waiting the arrival of Carts to transport part of their goods by land & also those of East Winipic under Mess rs Hillier Heney &c. Not withstand all the orders the Co" posts in this quarter might have had the preceding year to provide for our arrival, there was not one bag of Pemican or any other article of provision reserved for us. Cattle were now at a great distance & nothing was to be procured from the natives who never lay up any stock, & have only from hand to mouth. The Co 8 people were nearly as ill off as ourselves the river was there- fore the main resource of us all, which, from our being very scarce of hooks afforded but a scanty supply of fish for so many people. On 4 lh September the Patent was read at our camp on east side of the river, facing the N. W. Co. Fort delivery & seizin formally taken in presence of all our people a number of free Canadians. Indians &c three of the N. W. Co. gen- tlemen attended, but they did not allow their people to cross. RED RIVER SETTLEMENT 19 Mr. Heney translated some part of the Patent into French; which was read for the information of the Canadians. We had an Officer's Guard under arms colours flying after read- ing all our Artillery along with Mr Hilliers consisting of Six Swivels were discharged. After the conclusion of the business the gentlemen met at my tent, & a Keg of Spirits was turned out for the people, By the best information I could collect the tract of country below the Forks appeared to be the most eligible, on many considerations, for the present seat of the Settlement. The people could not how r ever be subsisted here in winter. I resolved therefore, on sending them immediately to Pembina Keeping only a few hands below for culture. A hut was built for the security of the "Stores not required at Pembina, & on 6 th Sept r sent off the people under the Command of Mess rs Edwards & McLeod in Company with Mr Heney & party. The same day, I went with a boats crew down the river to make choice of a place to begin work took the Bull & Cow, winter wheat & other Stores along. After an excursion of three days subsisting on what the river furnished, I returned to this place as the most eligible spot an extensive point of land through which fire had run & destroyed the wood, there being only brushwood & weeds left. these could be easier overcome than woods or grass. The people were set to work immediately to clear ground for sowing the winter wheat. Mr Isham was left with them to fish & trade meat from the natives. Next day 9 Sept r I set off on horseback for Pembina with an escort of three men, reached there the 12 th a day after my people. The following day after reconnoitring on horse- back for two or three hours the ground round about, made choice of the point south side the Pembina at its junction with the Red R. to build'on. that same evening my men encamped on it, & next day began to work. A Canadian free man was engaged to fish for us: he made his hooks out of nails & was tolerably successful. A great quantity of meat began to come in from free Canadians & natives, which enabled me to send a Supply to the party at the Forks. After building a Store House ; sketching out some other buildings and seeing the work fairly agoing, I went off in a boat 1 st Oct r for the Forks took along two horses & a Harrow we did not stop night or day, yet with Contrary winds & a weak crew, it took us three days to get down. 20 CANADIAN ARCHIVES My people had not wrought well a quantity of Hay was made but they had not sufficient ground cleared for the winter wheat so that it wasJ7 h Oct r before it could be sown, & then put under with the hoe; there being no Blacksmith to make teeth for the harrow * * * * I hired a Canadian who had a general acquaintance with the Indians, to trade meat from them & also Skins when they should offer them. This man was also to fish & assist in putting up some buildings I projected. An Indian was engaged to hunt for the support of the party, & I left a quantity of pemican for the people expected up, with orders for them to proceed immediately to Pembina. the party here was reduced to 5 men, the rest sent upwards with Mr Isham and family I reached Pembina 18 th October The people had wrought well during my absence there was yet however no quarter to go into. Mr Heney had given orders to Mr Jno: McLeod to leave me before my arrival. Mr Keveny & party arrived 27 th October when your Lordships letters from Sligo were handed me. Those I am referred to, sent by Canada Dec r 23 rd March 24 th & April 9 th have not come to hand Not a Canoe 01 Man for the H. B. C or us has yet come from that quarter. I had several private letters from there, but not one on public affairs. Having on the route here put into Winipic River for intelli- gence, the gentlemen of the N. W. C there informed me, that one hundred men had been engaged in Canada for the H. B. Co. but that the Agents of the N. W. Co. had bought up all the bark, so that no Canoes could be made for transporting the men here. This may 'be the case or not Your Lordship must long ago know the real cause of their not coming; to me it appears most extraordinary. the want of experienced labourers to mix among our people has been greatly felt, & is of considerable detriment to the progres's of every kind of work. There was no possibility of communicating to your Lordship after the arrival of Mr Kevney's party even the N. W. Co. sent no express towards Canada last winter, & T had not possibly the means to send any. * * * * Having but five old hands engaged below who were tolerably expert at the Axe three of whom only arrived with Mr Kevney, it was the 21 gt . Nov r before all the families & men got housed. The quarters for myself & officers were only habit RED RIVER SETTLEMENT 21 able 27 th Dec' some of the gentlemen remained some time afterwards in tents from choice to brave the winter. As soon as the place took some form & a decent Flag Staff was erected in it, it was called Fort Daer. ***** I could not leave Fort Daer early in spring to carry on work at the Forks for want of Provisions Mr Heney would nether give nor lend; pretending he had none altho' I knew to the contrary he served his chief Mr Hillier in the same way No 9. Brandon House was therefore my only resourse. Two men were despatched there 24 th April to request of Mr Fidler to send provisions immediately down the Assiniboia river to meet me at the Forks. The command of the Fort was given to Mr McLean who I always found very zealous Mr Sweeny was kept constantly backward & forward to the plains & was very active in the execution of this duty. Mr McDonnell I took with me to the Forks We set off on 4 th May with 22 men & got there in 21 hours. No accounts from Brandon House yet been received there A few fish were caught which supplied us with one meal a day. The little meat brought with us being consumed I sent off Mr Isham & family as useless xlumber & also 12 of the men were sent down to Mr Hilliers quarter near Deadmans River, to fish for themselves. On the 8 tb May a boat with supplies arrived from Brandon House, manned by the two express men & a Carpenter sent there in the winter to assist in boat building. Mr Fidler lost no time in sending the boat after my people reached there but the going was so very bad that they were a fortnight on the way, altho' ordinarily gone from Pembina in 4 or 5 days. After sowing some wheat and directing ground to be prepared for general sowing & planting, I left this the 10 th May in a Canoe for Fort Daer leaving Mr McDonnell in command. * * It was my intention to leave a few men at Fort Daer all sum- mer for the safety of the buildings understanding the C were to leave six men in the vicinity for the purpose of trade having now learnt that no men were to be left there for the C & finding the whole of the N W C. moving off & also all the free men for fear of the Sieux I determined like- wise on withdrawing my people To that place the Sieux generally resort on their annual war expiditions, it would weaken my force to leave a respectable garrison, besides the outfit it must require, & no very material object to be attained 22 CANADIAN ARCHIVES to compensate for the sacrifice. The Sieux do not make a prac- tice of destroying buildings, & there was nothing else to pre- serve I therefore gave orders for a general evacuation of the place hurried back here to expidite the sowing the famalies followed. Mr Sweeny with a respectable guard remained to the last & arrived here 23 rd May All the Stores & Articles of value were removed. * * * * * * * * * * * * There being no time in the spring to lay out regular lots, I gave as much ground on this point to the Settlers as they could man- age, & as much seed as could be spared. I have since laid out lots of 100 acres, of 4 acres front on the river, according to the annexed rough Sketch No 18. On these lots they are now at work preparing to build, &c. The farms in lower Canada are of 3 acres front, & the first Settlers in U. Canada had only the same, but they found it afterwards too narrow, which induced me to add one acre additional to the breadth of our lots here. This is sufficient for any common farmer. Mr. McLean has taken for himself & his ploughman, Jno Somerville the three first lots adjoining to the point so much will again be kept off the grant of his township. The Country on West side the river from above Deadmans river throughout, is all a plain with a belt of wood on the river edge of irregular depth from to 2 or 3 acres, in many places the plain reaches to the river bank. And the East side it is well wooded. The wood consists of Oak, Elm, poplar, Liard or cotton wood, ash, Maple, &c., there is no pine or cedar. Rivers falling into the Red River are generally wooded on both sides. It would be proper to make reservations of wood on East side R. R. in the proportion of about 100 acres for every five settlers; & this quantity might be kept off their lots on west side, the rest of the East side might be located. The Scarcity of wood on this side is the only difficulty in forming back con- cessions. Our crops from bad culture & the seed being old, do not promise great returns, the winter wheat being late sown has totally failed; as also the summer wheat, Pease and English Barley; of all these there must be fresh seed sent us. The appearance of the Potatoes promises good returns. The Indian Corn has almost totally failed ; from a great drowth after planting grubs, &c. The sowing was chiefly done with the hoe, as well as the planting, only one imperfect plough was got agoing late in RED RIVER SETTLEMENT 23 the season, there being no man here capable of making a good one. I feel the want of handy workmen in everything I attempt, A wheel-wright and a constructor of windmills would be great acquisitions to us * * * The Country exceeds any idea I had formed of its goodness. I am only astonished it has lain so long unsettled with good management the Buffaloe in winter & fish in summer are sufficient to subsist any number of people untill more certain supplies are got out of the ground; the river has amply fed us & and about 200 people in the neighbourhood since the begin- ning of June. The land is most fertile & the climate most extraordinarily healthy. * * * * I have the honor to be with high respect Your Lordships Most obedient servant MILES MACDONELL. Right Hon ble The Earl of Selkirk 24 CANADIAN ARCHIVES g $ Se C5 rH rH , COOOOOCO CO O 13 T3 13 T3 T3 13 T3 TJ : : : : ~ e : : : : q .a .g_o_o_o_o E : : . . : _^ 5 PM '" '" M : : : :M : :S" S| . -iQ . - . . :;bo :TJ I 32 c8 * ' " " jjj aj "

>^ I 8 f * C|J i-5 "8 si&fcas-a^s 76283 26 CANADIAN ARCHIVES No. 10. PASSAGERS ON BOARD THE PRINCE OF WALES FOR RED RIVER SETTLEMENT, 1812 (Canadian Archives, M 155, pp. 165-168.) age. 1 George Campbell 25 Auchraigh Parish Creich Sutherland 2 Helen his wife 20 3 Bell bis daughter 1 4 John Sutherland 50 Kildonan Par : Kildonan died 2d Septr. at C. F. a very respectable man 5 Catherine his wife 46 6 George his Son 18 7 Donald do 16 8 Alex' do 9 9 Jannet his daughter 14 10 Angus McKay . . 24 Kildonan 11 Jean his wife 12 Alex r Gunn 50 Kildonan 13 Christian his wife 50 died 20th Septr C. F. 14 William his Son 18 15 Donald Bannsrman 50 Badflinch ded 24th Septr. at C. F. a frank open hearted character. 16 Christian his wife 44 17 Willm his Son 18 18 Donald do 8 C. C. dumb & Epil 19 Christian his daughter 16 20 George McDonald 48 Dalvait died 1st Septr. 1813 C. F. 21 Jannet his wife 50 22 Betty Grey . ... 17 Jean Grey 23 Catherine do 23 24 Barbara McBeath widow 45 Borobal 25 Charles her Son 16 26 Hanny her daughter .. . 23 27 Andrew McBeath 19 28 Jannet his wife. 29 William Sutherland 22 Borobal 30 Margaret his wife 15 . 31 Christian his sister 24 32 Donald Gunn 65 Borobal 33 Jannet his wife 50 34 transferred to Eddystone for H B Co. Service 35 George Gunn son to Donald 16 Borobal Par : Kildonan 36 Esther his daughter 24 37 Katherine do 20 Died 29th Augt. 1813. C. F. 38 Christian do 10 39 Angus Gunn 21 40 Jannet his wife. 41 Robt Sutherland brother to Wm. 29. 17 Borobal 42 Elizabeth Eraser aunt to do . . 30 43 Angus Sutherland 20 Auchraich 44 Elizabeth his mother 60 45 Betty his sister 18 died 26th Octr. consumption C. C. Argyleshire 46 Donald Stewart. Balecheulish Par : Appin died 20th Augt. 1813 at C. F. 47 Catherine his wife 30 48 Margaret daughter 8 49 Mary do 6 60 Ann do 2 RED RIVER SETTLEMENT 27 51 John Smith age. Asbus Par : Kildalton Isla 52 Mary his wife , 53 John his Son 54 Jean his daughter 55 Mary do 56 Alex r Gunn 68 Ascaig Par : Kildonan Sutherland 57 Elizabeth McKay 1 58 Betty do his nieces/ ' 59 George Bannerman 22 Kildonan 60 John Bruce 60 Aultsmoral Par : Clyne 61 Alex 1 Sutherland 24 Balnavaliach Par : Kildonan 62 Willm do brother 19 died 63 Katie do Sister 20 64 Hannan Sutherland 18 Kenacoil 65 Barbara his Sister 20 66 James McKay 19 Cain 67 Ann his sister 21 8 John Matheson 22 Aultbreakachy 69 Robert Gunn : Piper Kildonan 70 Mary his sister 71 Hugh Bannerman 18 Dalhalmy Par. Kildonan 72 Elizabeth his sister 20 73 Mary Bannerman 74 Alex r Bannerman 19 Dalhalmy 75 Christian his sister 17 76 John Bannerman 19 Duible died Jany 1814 Consumption 77 Isabella his sister 16 78 John McPherson 18 Gailable 79 Catherine his sister 26 80 Hector McLeod 19 A scaig 81 George Sutherland 18 Borobal 82 Adam his brother 16 83 John Murray 21 Siesgill 84 Alex r . his brother 19 85 Helen Kennedy Sligo Ireland 86 Malcolm McEachem f | -j | Skibbo Par. Kilchoman. Isla 87 Mary his wife (. 88 James McDonald . . Fort Augustus Inverness Shire Blacksmith 89 Hugh McDonald Fort William Argyle died 3d Augt. Carpenter 90 Samuel Lamont Bowrnore Isla do Millwright 91 Alex r Matheson Keanved P. Kildonan Suth d 92 John Matheson 93 John Mclntyre Fort William 94 Neil Smith son of John 51 Isla 95 Edwd Sheil Balyshannon 96 Jo. Kerrigan do 93 & 94 enter the Service of the H. B. Co July 1814. No. 89 Hugh McDonald died 3d Augt. at Sea Mr P. LaSerre Surgeon 16 do 46 Donald Stewart 37 Catherine Gunn 20 George McDonald 4 John Sutherland 13 Christian Gunn 15 Dond. Bannerman 45 Betty Sutherland 76 John Bannerman Christiana Sutherland William Sutherland Junr. 20 29 1 Septr. 2d 20th 24 26th Octr Consumption Jany do University of California SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1388 Return this material to the library from which it was borrowed. Form L9-5' f CALiFOKNIA PAMPHLET BINDER " Syracuse, N. Y. ^^^ Stockton, Calif. F 1063 Cl6r UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY A 000 898 957 6