This is a virtually complete transcription of the Churchill River Journal from 1802-1803 by Alex Nicol
"Churchill Factory"
Sept. 1802
" Previously to the departure of the Brig Ceres, Capt. Ramsey, It was thought proper that I should go round in her to YF that some arrangement might be formed with the Chief & Officers there concerning the interference of the subordinate settlements with each others Indian traders Inland. After a short pafsage of 48 hours landed & fortunately found Mr Cook who exprefsed himself sorry at the conduct of one of his people who had intercepted the natives properly belonging to this Factory & it was agreed on that each Factory should exert itself in restraining the different Officers & Traders from encouraging or receiving the Indians who more properly belong to other settlements. Bad weather prolonged my stay at YF untill the 16th Sept. & on the 23 inst. arrived at this Factory being detained 2 days on the road by Cold Rainy & snowy Weather. had the pleasure to find all well & the necefsary duties carried on succefsfully. a few days before my arrival 2 Sn. Indians had brought down about 50 lb of good Venison. On the 27th two more belonging to the same party arrived with about as much more.
Being informed that there were Deer crofsing within 26 miles of the Factory sent them off immediately & next day followed them myself in a light Batteau with 6 men but blowing hard against us did not reach the place till two days after. I found they had procured a considerable quantity of Venison which when brought to the Factory weighed 2072 lbs.
During this month had 13 rafts of firewood brought down from the Woody Islands. a sufficient quantity of Hay made for the Cattle during the winter. Also received during this month the following provisions -
104 Ducks
17 Geese
3 Partridges
146 lbs Venison, Dried
3071 lbs Do., Green."
October 1802
" During this Month the Weather has been unusually severe the frost set in early which was fortunate for the preservation of our fresh Venison.
People employed at the necefsary duties particularly making preparations for the ensuing Winter Several of whom went to tent about the 18th.
Towards the latter end of the month we killed part of our Hogs & the Bull which came from England in the year 1796. he was intolerably lean but upon the whole not very bad eating. The Pork was exceedingly good. - The Deer are numerous in the neighbourhood but we had no Indians till a few days ago when 2 lads and a Sn Indian man who came for some necefsaries stopped a few days they killed only 5 or 6. On the 30th of this month 2 Nn Indian young men brought in a few furrs Deer Skins & 120 lb dry Venison.
Received the following Provisions
680 lb Beef fresh
8 Geese
217 Partridges
839 Pork fresh
126 Venison Dried
716 Green Venison."
November 1802
" People employed at the necefsary duties of the season as follows - 5 Hunting Partridges 3 Fishing 8 others & self at the Factory. Killed a 5 year old Ox which weighed 544 lb very lean & not at all superior to the Bull. we also killed the remaining Pigs only saving a sufficient Number for rearing another year supply. towards the latter end of this month the Fishing failed upon which I sent orders for them and three hunters to cut down timber or such trees as our necefsities oblige us to dignify with such a name. Three Nn Indian Youths came in with a few furrs Deer Skins & Meat. engaged 2 of them to carry a packet & haul some Trading Goods wanted at Nelson House they departed on the 4th On the 6th 4 more Nn Indians arrived they brought about 120 Br & a few deer Skins -
Received the following Provisions
544 lb Beef fresh
724 lb Fish
600 Partridges
506 1/2 lb Pork fresh
178 lb Venison Dried."
December 1802
" Remarkably Cold weather. But few Partridges to be gotten. On the 11th a Southern Indian accompanied by 2 Englishmen arrived from Nelson House after a very tedious journey. also on the 24th arrived 2 Sn Indians Homegaurds with 2 youths they brought a few furrs engaged the two last to accompany an Englishman to YF for the purpose of hauling Shirts &c as there are none here & to supply YF with such Articles as she needed. they departed on the 30th while the same day the two Men returned to their families. The men at the Woody Islands falling timber and those few at the Factory constantly employed in repairing the Warehouse. the Blacksmith at his own particular businefs.
Received the following Provisions
304 lb Fish
222 Partridges."
January 1803
" ? the beginning of this month sent off 5 People to the Eastward to kill Partridges also 5 to the Woody Islands. The trades people putting in a new partition in one of the Warehouses when they also were sent off to the same place. On the 13th a Packet arrived from YF and on the 28 the Englishman and two Indian Youths returned from YF with Shirts &c. the 30th The YF set off to that place & on the 31st 2 Nn Indians arrived with a packet from Nelson House.
Received the following Provisions
288 Partridges."
February 1803
" All the People out a tents hunting & falling Wood except the Steward Cook & one labourer. On the 8th sent off the Sn Indian (who arrived here the 11th Dec.) with the two Nn Indian lads for the Interior - I employed the 2 southern Indian Youths in hunting & trapping near the Factory.
Rec'd the following provisions
836 Partridges."
March 1803
" In the middle of this Month 3 families of southern Indians came here when I supplied them with nets for Partridges & a few Articles to enable them to trap near the place. I received from them about 80 MB in furrs - The people employed as last month but towards the latter end sent for the Boatbuilder for the purpose of building a new Whaling Boat.
Rec'd the following Provisions
920 Partridges."
April 1803
" According to the desire of Capt. Ramsey I sent several men to prepare wood for the erection of a Beacon on Knights Hill which they completed by the end of the month. The Steward afsisted by one man distilled a sufficient quantity of Spirits of Wine for the ensuing year. At the latter end of the month several Nn Indian families arrived with Furrs which I traded with them the greater part have staid to kill Geese.
Rec'd the following Provisions
724 Partridges."
May 1803
" People all at the Factory employed variously at their respective duties. Several Nn Indians arrived with their Furrs. Supplied them with Guns & Ammunition for the Goose Hunt. in general a very cold and disagreeable season.
Rec'd the following provisions
7 Birds small
10 Ducks
6 Fat
1736 Geese."
June 1803
" People employed as follow at times in the Garden otherwise at the quarry for limestone. The Shallop master & Sailor preparing every thing for the Craft at the Factory & the Inland Batteaux. Boatbuilder & one Carpenter repairing Whaling boat and all other boats. House Carpenter & Joiner making Boxes & cases for Inland also employed them in removing the roof from the new warehouse in order to heighten it as it is so flat that the rain water does not run off quick enough this was accomplished in 14 days.
On the 28th? Mefs Charles & Topping arrived from Inland in Five Batteaux. in company with them were 4 Canoes of Indians. - They say the opposition from the Canadians continues still very violently. the report also of John Forbes of (Firth, Orkney) having left this service & joined the Canadians. We got home some rafts of firewood which will be sufficient for the ensuing winter with the Coals. Natives employed in killing Geese & Deer in which they have been very succefsful.
Rec'd the following Provisions.
11 Ducks
4 lb Fish
343 Geese
5976 1/2 lbs Venison."
July 1803
" Having got everything ready for the departure of the Batteaux for Inland Mr Charles accompanied by Mr Venables left this on the 12th with 29 People in 5 Batteaux & one Canoe.
People employed as follow 6 in 2 Whaling Boats. 3 flinching & cutting up the Blubber 1 man boiling the oil. Boatbuilders repairing old Batteaux & the Shallop which has received much damage this last summer & winter. House Carpenter & Joiner repairing the Launch. at times packing furrs & other necefsary jobs. In the latter end of this month 6 Eskimaux arrived with a very few furrs they bring the dreadful intelligence of a great no.? of their tribe having perished by famine during the winter which was remarkably cold.
Rec'd the following Provisions
14 Ducks
1043 Fish
4 Geese
240 Venison Dry
88 Venison Green."
August 1803
" On the 5th had the pleasure to see the Beaver Brig Capt. Taylor enter the River with Mr Thomas from Severn with a number of Pipes & Hogsheads for this place according to my request in a letter last winter. Without this welcome supply we should have been entirely at a stand as all our own had been filled before he arrived. unluckily continual gales of Contrary winds have prevented their sailing untill the 14th. On the 11th the Ceres Capt. Ramsey came to an anchor in the river about 5 PM from whom we received the Company's Packet Box.
Busily employed in unloading the Ship &c &c. On the 19th Two Batteaux with 10 Men arrived from Inland with a very few furrs & skins. they say that the Canadians are exerting all their endeavours to seduce the Natives from our houses - Sent the Homeward bound cargo on board. This day the 23rd sealed the Packet containing the necefsary papers Accounts Journals &c."
"William Auld."
Reel 1M33 B.42/a/128
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