JACOB TRUTHWAITE (17875)

Jacob Truthwaite was born about 1786 in the Albany District. His parents were Matthew Truthwaite, from England, and Pocathea, a First Nations woman from the Albany area. Matthew was employed as a carpenter at Albany.

Jacob entered the service of the HBC as a carpenter at Fort Albany in 1800. He worked in the Albany District during his HBC career, also serving as a steersman, assistant trader and interpreter. In 1829 he retired to the Red River Settlement with his country wife Elizabeth Vincent and five children. He took up land on a river lot of 100 acres in the Parish of St. Andrew, 25 acres being a grant from the HBC for his years of service. In 1830 the Truthwaites were formally married by William Cockran and the children were baptised. Three more children were born at the settlement.

Jacob’s experience as a carpenter was an asset in the building of the first church at St. Andrew’s (Lower Church) and also a school. He died in 1873 and his wife died two years later.