Map from Canadian Heritage Rivers System (www.chrs.ca)

The Hayes River was a major route used by fur traders and native people. This was also the way the Selkirk Settlers took to reach Lake Winnipeg and then the Red River Settlement, after landing off Hudson’s Bay. The river begins near Norway House and runs NE through Oxford and Knee Lakes, reaching Hudson’s Bay at York Factory, a distance of 600 kms.

A loading dock on the Hayes River at York Factory c. 1880 (National Archives of Canada)

I Blyster’d for the Cough McRea came to my bed, & asked how I did, I told him it made no matter to him how I was, not to bother me, that I would be soon well, from the effects of the Blyster & repeated I did not think he was a Gentleman

- Journal of the Rev. Charles Bourke.

(reference: pages 17849 of the Selkirk Papers, M187, Manitoba Archives)

[McRae] Told me a Skin was wanting of the Number he gave me to put under me for a bed, they were in Captn. McDonell’s tent where I slept I told him I did not take it, nor had not it, & that it was surprising any person would go into Captn. McDonell’s tent to take it out, that perhaps he did not count them well that it must be among the others, upon which he said he did, I must pay for the one that is lost. I told him he spoke very peremptorily, & that stil a tryal ought to be made, but the word was I must pay for it. I then told him I would not that he gave them, & I did not reckon them, & as he gave them that he took them. That if he required so many from me, he ought as he was so particular to receive them, from my hands, & not take them himself. Upon this He told me go be damned. Upon which I told him but that I was a Clergyman I would kick him. He wanted me to box him. I told him I was no Blackguard, but that he was a Comissary had a sword & pistols & that if Captn. McDonnell would lend me either of his, I would try him at either. There was no Man on the ground I could depend on for arms but Capts. McDonell. I brought none myself, thinking I’d have no occasion for any, for which I was sorry & more so that I should be under the necessity of calling to Captn. McDonell for his, Captain McDonell was out at the time, when he came in I told him what happened, & that in McRea’s presence, & that I was sure McRea was no Gentleman, tho’ he had the arms of a Gentleman, sword & pistols. I guess’d from the Doctor & McReas being always with Hillier, that perhaps they were put up to this, & I was resolved to try what the best of them could do. In fact I heard some days after, that McRea went to Mr. Hillier & requested he would be is Friend in a day or two, when he would call on him But I understand Hillier gave no reply whatever, but changed colour.

- Journal of the Rev. Charles Bourke

(reference: pages 17848-9 of the Selkirk Papers, M187, Manitoba Archives)

Miles Macdonell and Mr. Hillier made two camps near York Factory over the winter of 1811/12, where the men who were to be the work crew for the Red River Settlement lived until moving south after break-up. Even from Macdonell’s journal, which is often somewhat brief and lacking detail in its daily record of events, it is clear that the winter was full of malcontent.

With the men was a Roman Catholic priest, Charles Bourke – Irish, like many of the men of the working party. He, too kept a journal, a journal that is far more outspoken about the tensions between the Irish and the Orkneymen, and the outright prejudice and abuse the former suffered. Several times violence erupted and, on occasion, serious injury occurred. While it seems that the Irish were doing the erupting, the entries in the ailing priest’s diary over the next three days show that they were well and truly goaded.

This ill feeling carried over into later years at the RRS, as these Irishmen formed most of the working party and were joined later by some Irish immigrants.

[A Bad Cough & sore breast] increases I observe a great deal of impertinence in McRea & a bad disposition in general towards the Irish

- Journal of the Rev. Charles Bourke

(reference: pages 17867 of the Selkirk Papers, M187, Manitoba Archives)

Settlers came to Red River filled with hope, but some found only disappointment. In many cases, their names are remembered only in 200-year-old journal entries. Such an one was Helen Kennedy, a young Irish woman who sailed in 1813.

Typhoid fever ravaged the ship and one of its victims was Dr. LaSerre, whom Helen had nursed during his illness. On the shores of Hudson’s Bay, more misfortune awaited. The passengers were landed at Fort Churchill instead of York Factory. They spent a miserable winter at Churchill Creek and reached Red River in 1814.

By spring of 1815, NWC harassment had convinced most settlers to depart for Upper Canada. Helen chose to stay. She had become attached to Michael Boyle, an Irish labourer at Red River. However, the small group of loyalists were soon driven out by NWC agents. They fled to the north of Lake Winnipeg. During the trip, Helen cared for John Warren, a man dying of a severe head wound.

The refugees returned to the settlement, where Helen and Michael were married. Helen’s dreams crashed again in 1816 when the colony was once more destroyed. The Boyles then went to York Factory and boarded a ship for home.

Clear sailing? Not a chance! The ship was unable to traverse Hudson Strait due to ice. It returned to James Bay and disembarked its passengers at Moose Factory. Helen was ill during the winter and almost died. The postmaster at Moose was anxious to be free of his charges and when the ice went out of the river in the spring, most of the passengers were sent south in Company boats. They were told they could make their way home or return to Red River.

The Boyles spent a year at a post northeast of Lake Superior, where Michael worked as a carpenter. They then continued to Sault Ste. Marie. They had expressed an interest in returning to the colony, but there is no indication that they did so. The settlement eventually thrived, but Helen had passed from its history.

The York Boat was an important means of moving goods and people to the Red River Settlement from York Factory. Developed by the HBC and built by Orcadian and Scottish builders, it was based on a similar design found in Orkney. It was about 36 ft. long, 8ft. wide and 4ft. deep and could carry 3.5 tons of cargo. Very hardy and durable, it was in general use from 1800 until the 1880′s.

York Boat

As I have read through the literature researching this topic, it has become apparent that, in the early days of the RRS – and well into its history – man’s best friend functioned mainly as the sled dog. A good breeding stock must have been in the area before the settlers arrived. Although there is mention of dogs being used at York Factory, I didn’t see any reference to them being brought down in the boats.

Most of the mention of dogs at work in the Red River Journals indicated that they were busiest at hauling meat from the winter kill sites back to Fort Daer or Fort Douglas.

Archibald McDonald mentions that two dog teams helped relay his goods and some supplies from Churchill Creek to York Factory when 51 members of the 1813 Group made their famous snowshoe trek, but most of the sledges used were pulled by the men in the expedition. In April of 1815, two small groups of settlers intending to desert to Canada in NWCo. canoes left for Point Futre on the Winnipeg River with their belongings packed in dog sleds.

The winter expresses, carrying mail packets from fort to fort or post to post, were taken by dog team. Hargrave gives an excellent description of the specially designed sleds:

The starting of the Northern Packet from Red River is one of the great annual events in the colony. It occurs generally about the 10th December, when the ice having been thoroughly formed and the snow fallen, winter travelling is easy and uninterrupted. The packet arrangements are such that every post in the Northern Department is communicated with through its agency. The means of transit are sledges and snowshoes. The sledges are drawn by magnificent dogs, of which there are three or four to each vehicle, whose neatly fitting harness, though gaudy in appearance, is simple in design and perfectly adapted to its purposes, while the little bells attached thereto, bright looking and clearly ringing, cheer the flagging spirits of men and animals through the long run of the winter’s day.

In the course of the long distances traversed by the winter runners, every pound weight laid on the sledges tells. So jealously was all excess in the amount of mail matter transmitted through the packets guarded against in the old times, before the institution of Red River mails, that the carriage of newspapers was disallowed, with the exception of an annual file of the ” Montreal Gazette,” forwarded to head quarters for general perusal. Newspapers were then rare and highly prized, but now the bulk of the contents of the Company’s inward bound packets consists of newspapers addressed to private individuals.

A pair of stoutly constructed wooden boxes, measuring about three feet in length by eighteen inches deep and fourteen wide, when well packed, contain an astonishing amount of printed and written matter. These receptacles are secured to the dog sledges, and the party sets forth on its journey, the dogs running at a gentle jog trot from about daylight till dusk, and the drivers accompanying them on foot.

Detail of a painting depicting a dog sled at Lower Fort Garry in 1869 - Private Collection

Although he is writing about a period some time later (1850s/1860s) than the days of the early settlement, it is unlikely that the teams and sleds had changed much.

(references: pages  16967, 18180, 18184, 18185, 18186, 18305, 18308, 18320 of the Selkirk Papers, M186, Manitoba Archives; James John Hargrave. Red River. Montreal: 1871 pages 100-1, 155-6)

“I have overhauled this evening the property of the late Hugh MacDonald & put them all up to auction & sold pretty well, considering the quality of the property.” – Archibald McDonald Journal

Archibald McDonald is busy at York Factory clearing up unfinished business prior to his departure for England. One of the details he addresses is the ‘estate’ of Hugh MacDonald, a settler in the 1813 group who died prior to 24 June 1814, probably at Churchill Creek.

Auctioning off the goods of deceased single men seems to have been a common practice with the HBC and RRS, particularly if no family members were present. Clothing, tools, etc. were in short supply and high demand in the north – MacDonald’s tools alone fetched 35/- (Archibald McDonald bought them for the settlement because the price was so good). The auction would see that the goods went to someone who needed them and saved the HBC the time and expense of shipping them home and tracing relatives.

It is unclear in the journals where the funds raised went, but they likely were applied to the deceased’s account to pay for his passage from Scotland and debts incurred with the HBC or RRS for supplies, etc.

(references: pages 18410 and 18228 of the Selkirk Papers, M187, Manitoba Archives)

“…everything being arranged, they all started forward demanding Cloth Trowsers for wear going up the Rivers – a greater allowance of provisions – an allowance of Rum & also a supply of Tobacco to Accnt/ = abt. such demands I could not comply with, but put the whole off untill Mr. Cook & self would consult of it this evening…”  – Archibald Macdonald Journal

Apparently, the leather trousers were not considered haute couture among the Settlers!

(reference: p. 18211 of the Selkirk Papers, M187, Manitoba Archives)

(reference: p. 18210 of the Selkirk Papers, M187, Manitoba Archives)