by Garth Merkeley | Mar 4, 2015
Alexander Rose of Nairn, Scotland, his wife Lilly/Lilias, and their six children sailed on the Eddystone from Orkney to York Factory in 1820. The children were all born in Nairn and their births appear in the Old Parish Registers: Hugh (1803), Margaret (1805), Colin (1810), Isabella (1812), Alexander (1814), and Charles (1817). They reached the settlement in the fall of that year.
Alexander Rose of Nairn, Scotland, his wife Lilly/Lilias, and their six children sailed on the Eddystone from Orkney to York Factory in 1820. The children were all born in Nairn and their births appear in the Old Parish Registers: Hugh (1803), Margaret (1805), Colin...
by Garth Merkeley | Mar 4, 2015
John Pritchard was born in 1777 in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England, the fifth of thirteen children born to Mary Harries and Samuel Pritchard. By 1801 he was in Montreal and had been engaged by the XY Company which later united with the North West Company. Between 1801 and 1814 he was employed as a clerk in various North West forts, including Red River, Souris River, Lake Nipigon, Pine Fort and Qu’Appelle. John had a country wife, Marie Sauvagesse, with whom he had two sons, William and John.
John Pritchard was born in 1777 in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England, the fifth of thirteen children born to Mary Harries and Samuel Pritchard. By 1801 he was in Montreal and had been engaged by the XY Company which later united with the North West Company. Between 1801...
by Garth Merkeley | Mar 4, 2015
Alexander Polson, 36-year-old wheelwright, emigrated from Torrish, Sutherlandshire, with the 1815 party. He and his wife, Catherine Matheson, sailed on the Hadlow with their four children: Hugh (10), Ann (7), John (5) and Donald (1). (1) The Old Parish Registers of Scotland also include the birth of a son William in 1812. He was not on the passenger list of 1815, so presumably he died as a young child before the family left Scotland.
Alexander Polson, 36-year-old wheelwright, emigrated from Torrish, Sutherlandshire, with the 1815 party. He and his wife, Catherine Matheson, sailed on the Hadlow with their four children: Hugh (10), Ann (7), John (5) and Donald (1). (1) The Old Parish Registers of...
by Garth Merkeley | Mar 4, 2015
Oman Norquay was born about 1773 in South Ronaldshay, Orkney. He joined the HBC and came to York Factory in 1791. (1) He was employed as a labourer at York Factory from September 1791 to 1795, and then went inland as a canoeman until 1802. For the next nine years, he worked in the Cumberland and Edmonton districts as a labourer and bowsman. He served as a middleman on the York boats in the Saskatchewan district 1811-1818. According to the ‘custom of the country’, he married Jean Morwick, the daughter of James Morwick and a native woman named Sarah.
Oman Norquay was born about 1773 in South Ronaldshay, Orkney. He joined the HBC and came to York Factory in 1791. (1) He was employed as a labourer at York Factory from September 1791 to 1795, and then went inland as a canoeman until 1802. For the next nine years, he...
by Garth Merkeley | Mar 4, 2015
Richard Stevens was born in Overton, Gloucestershire, England, about 1795 and entered the service of the Hudson’s Bay Company as a writer in 1816. (1) He was employed in the Southern Department, serving at Albany Factory, Moose Factory, Eastmain and Rupert House. According to ‘the custom of the country’, he married a Métis woman named Mary or Meenish, widow of John Thomas Jr. By 1822 Richard and Mary had three children: Henry, George and Thirza (Theresa). In that year, Stevens was dismissed from Rupert House for intemperate drinking. As a family man and a good accountant, he was retained at half pay by the Company. He returned to England in 1824, but came back to Rupert’s Land in 1825. In 1826 he and his family came to Red River and settled near St. Andrew’s Rapids. A daughter Isabella was born the same year. Richard and Mary were formally married at the settlement in 1827. They had three more children at Red River: William, Mary, and Robert. In 1867 Stevens deeded a part of his property to the Church Missionary Society of London for a school chapel. Richard died in 1872 and Mary in 1877.
Richard Stevens was born in Overton, Gloucestershire, England, about 1795 and entered the service of the Hudson’s Bay Company as a writer in 1816. (1) He was employed in the Southern Department, serving at Albany Factory, Moose Factory, Eastmain and Rupert House....
