David Thompson at "Holly Lake" to Joseph Colen
Sept. 11 1793
..." Mr. Hallet comes well is cheerful and puts up very well with the hardships of the pafsage - I intend with your leave to send him with Mr. Tate to the Northward as he is a sensible man. Poor M. Vandriel is quite dull, indeed his situation is not altogether the most comfortable, he is in with Andrew Davey - whose Canoe is Leaky - the Bowsman & Steersman on this account often bluster at each other but they behave well to him"...
1M256 B.239/b/55

Blood River John Best
Nov. 8 1794
" I servd out all the Beef and pork this day each Man got 3 1/2 pcs and all the other Victuals that is; is two Cheeses and a half and 90 lbs of Baccon god knows how We are to put over the Winder as there is no fish to be got."
1M16 B.254/a/1

Peter Fidler
Red River Settlement
Aug. 8 1814
..." engaged a Canadian Bellemure? to get 700 roofing sticks of 12 1/2 & 15 feet long and to haul them to the rivers edge? for 10 Dollars"...
1M153 B.235/a/3

Peter Fidler
Red River Settlement
Aug. 28 1814
" Sunday Read prayers - Paid several Canadians off for work done by them this Summer, mostly in liquor at the sale of a Days work for 1/2 pint British brandy"...
1M153 B.235/a/3

Donald Mackay
Brandon House Journal
July 30 1793
" Departed from Osnaburgh House at 10 AM and received 8 days flour but no meat or Journey Brandy which will not answer well to take this Article out of the outfit as Brandy is the principle Article in the Country where I am going to. I have five Crafts three Boats & two Canoes and nineteen men to Navigate them, put up at 4 PM the two Canoes being Leaky, good weather."

July 31
" Started at 6 AM it blowed very hard gale of Wind from the NW was detained about a Miles distance. at 10 AM we sett of again but was obliged to put up at 4 PM the Canoes was almost sunk before we got a shore"

Aug. 1
" Started at 10 AM but was not able to get the distance one Mile with a Storm of Wind from the North West & a head"

Aug. 2
" Started at 5 AM still blow hard but at 2 PM it blow so hard that we was obliged to put a Shore & detained all day"

Aug. 3
" Started at 5 AM being still a strong wind from the N West got to the Carrying place at 2 PM & carryed all the goods over it at half past six in the? evening"...

Aug. 4
" Started at day light made a good day's Journey got over three Carrying places the water very low ordered John Richards & four men to go & stopt the water below us for to morrow to raise it so as to get through this cursed Creek the easier but did not Effect it as to do any service"

Aug. 5
" Started very early got over some of the Carrying places the water exceeding low, meet Simon Bougrant and fourteen men two Indians returning to Osnaburgh House with five? Canoes having found that one of my Canoes was not sufficient good to go so long a Journey, he peremtorly refused it as well as some Guns? that I had an order for from O:H: my two Canoes was broke in Nottinways fall's one had her bottom torn out and the other much hurted? I was obliged to sent one of the Boats back for their Cargo, I got them both mended this evening very late in the night, fine weather"

Aug. 6 1793
" Started at 6 AM the Canoe was broke again, it is but folly to think that the Orkney men will learn to Navigate Canoes, this detained us much. This days Journey we came to the end of this Divels Creek meet Pishcaucadis? two sons who stayed with us all night, rained this evening"
1M16 B.22/a/1

Brandon House Journal Donald Mackay
Aug. 7 1793
" Started at AM rainy weather was obliged to make a carrying place below the creek, the two Indians follow us, at 2 PM we past an Indian tent which came after us after we put up OH Capt. was among them & had not so much as a duck to give me, I gave the Capt. two quarts of Brandy and sent him off but returned in the night and was troublesome & very abusive"
1M16 B.22/a/1
more coming

Home