by Garth Merkeley | Aug 20, 2018
Alexander Gunn was born in Kildonan, Sutherlandshire about 1765. He married Christian Fraser, probably in the late 1780s.
They sailed on the
Prince of Wales with their son William in June 1813, and landed at Fort Churchill instead of York Factory because of typhus on board ship. Christian died at Churchill on September 20. The colonists spent a miserable winter at a temporary settlement about 15 miles from the fort and in the spring of 1814, a group of 51 set out on snowshoes for York Factory. Alexander was the oldest of this group, an exception being made as he insisted on accompanying his son. Upon arriving at York Factory, they proceeded to Red River by boat.
In November 1814 at the settlement, Alexander married Henrietta (Hannah) McBeath. In June 1815, a large group of settlers including Alexander, son William, and Hannah left the settlement for Upper Canada, transported in the North West Company canoes. They settled in West Gwillimbury.
Alexander and Hannah had three children: Angus, Christian, and Catharine. Alexander died 23 March, 1839, Hannah having pre-deceased him on 24 March, 1830. They are both buried in the Auld Kirk Cemetery, Bradford, West Gwillimbury.
Alexander Gunn (18093) Alexander Gunn was born in Kildonan, Sutherlandshire about 1765. He married Christian Fraser, probably in the late 1780s. They sailed on the Prince of Wales with their son William in June 1813, and landed at Fort Churchill instead of York...
by Garth Merkeley | Aug 15, 2018
John McLeod was born about 1793 in the Parish of Uig, Rosshire, Scotland. (1) He probably came to Rupert’s Land as a servant of the HBC, but the date of his arrival is unknown. (2) He came to Red River about 1823 and settled in the Little Britain area (St. Andrews).
John McLeod was born about 1793 in the Parish of Uig, Rosshire, Scotland. (1) He probably came to Rupert’s Land as a servant of the HBC, but the date of his arrival is unknown. (2) He came to Red River about 1823 and settled in the Little Britain area (St....
by Garth Merkeley | Aug 15, 2018
William Robert Smith was born in London about 1796. The HBCA biographical sheet gives the information that he was a Christ’s Hospital boy (1). He entered the service of the HBC in 1813 as a writer and sailed to Churchill on the Prince of Wales, the same ship which carried the 1813 colonists and experienced an outbreak of typhus. He was employed by the HBC for the next ten years at various posts in the Northwest, then retired to the Colony in 1824.
William Robert Smith was born in London about 1796. The HBCA biographical sheet gives the information that he was a Christ’s Hospital boy (1). He entered the service of the HBC in 1813 as a writer and sailed to Churchill on the Prince of Wales, the same ship which...
by Garth Merkeley | May 20, 2016
William Tait (1) was born in South Ronaldsay, Orkney in 1793, and joined the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1812. He sailed from Orkney on the King George III and disembarked at Churchill River. (2) From 1813-1822 he worked at Churchill, Deers lake, and Indian Lake. On 10 July 1823, at York Factory, he married Mary Auld, daughter of William Auld, Superintendent of Northern Factories. William left the fur trade that year and went to Red River where he farmed on land allotted to him by the HBC. He and Mary had at least twelve children. Mary died in 1864 and William in 1872. They are buried in St. John’s churchyard.
William Tait (1) was born in South Ronaldsay, Orkney in 1793, and joined the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1812. He sailed from Orkney on the King George III and disembarked at Churchill River. (2) From 1813-1822 he worked at Churchill, Deers lake, and Indian Lake. On 10...
by Garth Merkeley | Mar 11, 2015
James Fraser was born about 1788 in Avoch, county of Ross and Cromarty, Scotland. He came to Rupert’s Land in 1816, a passenger on the Prince of Wales.(1) He and 18 men had boarded a small vessel at Inverness and sailed to Stromness in Orkney where they joined other Hudson’s Bay Company servants embarking on the Prince. It is possible that Fraser was recruited as a servant for the proposed farm at Red River, but the passenger roster does not indicate this; it simply lists him as a labourer. Upon the ship’s arrival at York Factory, her passengers would have received the news that the settlement was destroyed and most of the settlers were wintering at Winipic Settlement or Jack River House at the north end of Lake Winnipeg.
James Fraser was born about 1788 in Avoch, county of Ross and Cromarty, Scotland. He came to Rupert’s Land in 1816, a passenger on the Prince of Wales.(1) He and 18 men had boarded a small vessel at Inverness and sailed to Stromness in Orkney where they joined other...
