William Flett Sr. was born about 1762 in the Parish of Firth, Orkney. He entered the service of the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1782 and was posted at York Factory. A French raid captured the fort that year and William was taken prisoner to France. However, he soon returned to Rupert’s Land and the majority of his career with the HBC was spent in the Saskatchewan district. He retired to Red River in 1823 and died in November of that year.
During his years with the HBC, William had taken a Cree woman named Saskatchewan (baptised Isabella) as his country wife. They had at least four children: Elizabeth, Nancy, William and Peter. Red River census records show that the Widow Flett lived with her daughter Elizabeth Rowland from 1830 to 1835. Isabella went to the Oregon country with her son William Jr., but it is believed she returned to Red River where she died in 1845.
Elizabeth married Robert Rowland and remained in Red River.
Nancy married William Gibson and went to Oregon.
William Jr. (6261) married Margaret McNab, daughter of Thomas McNab. Margaret died in 1838 and in 1841 William left for the Oregon country with a group led by James Sinclair. William travelled with his mother and his four children. He may have remarried in Oregon. Gold was discovered in California in 1848 and he joined others in the hope of making his fortune. He died there in 1851.
Peter, born about 1811, married Euphemia Halcrow and remained in Red River.