This is a virtually complete transcription of the Swan River Summer Journal 1793 by Alex Nicol

Swan River Summer Journal 1793
James Peter Whitford, Master

May 12 1793
" Sunday fine calm weather first part second part strong Gale from the Northard. About nine oClock Mr C. T. Isham embarked for York Factory with six large Canoes. J. P. Whitford and two Men with him in charge of the house and goods"

May 13
" Monday wind N a strong breeze with cloudy weather at times
Two Tent of Indians repairing their Canoes to go away. Men employed clearing the Garden ground"

May 14
" Tuesday wind variable with cloudy weather
Men employed as before
Gave the above Indians a little supply afterwards they set of for the Lake"

May 15
" Wednesday Calm with rain at times
Mr. P. Pangman the Canadian Master left his house for the Grand Portage leaving one Large Canoe full of Goods to trade in the summer. Myself went in a small canoe to the shoal River. put up about half down in company with the Canadian Master."

May 16
" Thursday calm fine clear weather
about noon I took my leave of Mr. Isham and the men. they proceeded on their Journey. Myself sett of for the House."

May 17
" Friday wind NW a strong breeze clear weather
Myself came on towards the house & put up in the Lake"

May 18
" Saturday calm fine clear weather
Early this morning myself embarked and call'd upon the hunter who gave me 6 Green Beaver 2 Geese and a few Ducks. afterwards I arrived at the house"

May 19
"Sunday wind variable with rain."

May 20
" Monday wind SSW a strong Gale with rain
Men employed digging the garden"

May 21
" Tuesday wind NW a strong Gale with snow at times
Men employed as yesterday"

May 22
" Wednesday wind S fine clear weather
Men employed taking Pine Bark for covering the House. Myself killed a few Ducks"

May 23
" Thurrsday wind SW fine clear weather
Men employed as yesterday. Myself sett of to the Hunter to the Lake"

May 24
" Friday calm with a thick fog afterwards fine and clear
Myself brought 3 green beaver from the hunter and a few Ducks of my own killing
Men employed as before"

May 25
" Saturday wind NNE a strong Gale thick weath.
Myself & the Men employed putting Pine Bark on the house for Covering"

May 26
" Sunday wind NNE moderate weather
The hunter came to the House and brought 1 Green beaver also paid his debt gave him credit for a Gun he went away"

May 27
" Monday calm fine pleasant weather
Men employed cutting more bark for the House
One Indian Man came in with a few furs & some dried beaver"

May 28
" Tuesday wind NE a strong Gale with clear weather
Myself traded with the above Indian who behaved in a rioting disorderly manner"

May 29
" Wednesday wind S light Airs with Cloudy weather
This morning the Indian went away
Men employed putting bark upon the house"

May 30
" Thursday wind S a strong Gale clear weather
The hunter went away, the Men finishing barking the house"

May 31
" Friday wind ENE strong breeze with hot weather
Men employed digging the Garden"

June 1 1793
" Saturday wind variable with thunder & rain
Men employed as before"

June 2
" Sunday wind N light air clear hot weath"

June 3
" Monday wind SE the first part afterwards strong Gale from the Northard
Early this morning I set of in a small Canoe to look for Eggs in the Lake. Men employed digging in the garden"

June 4
" Tuesday wind NE strong Gale with hot weather
laid by"

June 5
" Wednesday calm with fine hot weather
this Morning saw the hunter whom was starving gave him a little beat meat then proceeded to the shoal river found a few Eggs"

June 6
" Thursday wind NE a fine breeze hot weather
In the Morning I set of for the House and in the Evening I call upon the hunter he having killed two beaver, one he gave me I left a net with him"

June 7
" Friday variable wind part clear part Cloudy with Thunder lightening and rain
Myself arrived at the house. Men at various Jobs"

June 8
" Saturday wind N a strong Gale cloudy weather
Men variously employed"

June 9
" Sunday calm with fine hot weather"

June 10
" Monday wind S clear hot weather
this day sett two nets in the river"

June 11
" Tuesday wind NE a strong Gale clear weather
Early this morning the hunter brought part of a Buck Moofe here he remained very troublesome for Liquor"

June 12
" Wednesday calm hot weather the hunter went away Men employed cutting firewood. Myself kill'd a small beaver. Caught no fish"

June 13
" Thursday wind NE a strong breeze clear weather
Men employed cutting firewood"

June 14
" Friday wind NE a strong Gale with hot weath
Myself went a hunting met no succefs. Men cutting firewood"

June 15
" Saturday wind NE with showers of rain at times
Men variously employed"

June 16
" Sunday wind NW light airs clear weather
Myself went in a small Canoe to the little Lake Winnepeg to the Hunter for meat. put up in a Bay in the swan lake"

June 17
" Monday wind S light airs clear weather
Early this day set down the shoal river to the hunter whom I found in a Bay on the south side of the lake. in the evening he kill'd a large Buck Moofe"

June 18
" Tuesday strong breeze NE cloudy weather
About? I left the Hunter & proceeded for the House and put up at the Head of the shoal river"

June 19
" Wednesday strong breeze fromn S clear hot weather
Early in the Morning set of again & put up in the lake to dry meat towards evening proceeded again acrofs the lake & stopt in the swan River"

June 20
" Thursday wind variable first part a sharp frost in the morning latter part a srong Gale SW. I arrived at the House found every thing Clothed by the frost in the garden"

June 21
" Friday strong Gales from SW hot clear weather
Men employed cutting firewood"

June 22
" Saturday light breeze clear hot weather"

June 23
" Sunday calm clear fine hot weather"

June 24
" Monday Light breezes clear hot weather
Men employed cutting firewood"

June 25
" Tuesday light breeze NW clear hot weather
Men employed cutting firewood"

June 26
" Wednesday calm cloudy weather with rain most of the day
Men employed as before"

June 27
" Thursday wind WNW a strong heavy Gale with rain at times
Men employed cutting firewood"

June 28
" Friday more moderate and clear weather"

June 29
" Saturday wind S. light breeze clear weather
Men employed cutting firewood. Myself set of in a small Canoe to the hunter slept on an Iland in the swan lake"

June 30
" Sunday wind S light airs first part latter part strong Gales from the Nd
Embarked and paddled till Noon put up at the hunter tent at North side of the little lake wennepeg"

July 1 1793
" Monday strong breeze N. cloudy weather with thunder, lightening and rain
The hunter pitch from that place. I left him & put up in a bay in the lake from wind and rain
Received part of one doe moofe & some birch rind"

July 2
" Tuesday strong breezes N.W. clear hot weather
Embarked & paddled to the head of the shoal river then put up"

July 3
" Wednesday light airs S.E. clear hot weather
Embarked and paddled in the Evening I arrived at the house"

July 4
" Thursday calm clear hot weather
Men employed cutting firewood"

July 5
" Friday strong breezes from SW clear hot weath
Men employed cutting firewood"

July 6
" Saturday calm with thunder, lightening hail and rain
The Hail which fell was very large about the size of a Muskquet Ball.
Mens employ cutting firewood"

July 7
" Sunday light airs W with small rain all day"

July 8
" Monday light airs with rain at times
Mens employ cutting firewood"

July 9
" Tuesday Calm with exceeding great heat
Mens employ cutting firewood"

July 10
" Wednesday a very heavy storm of thunder, lightening and rain, began the last night and continued till this morning, the rain continued the whole day"

July 11
" Thursday strong breeze NW with rainy weather
Mens employ Cutting firewood"

July 12
" Friday wind and weather as yesterday
Men variously employed"

July 13
" Saturday strong Gales SSW with rain at times
Men employed as before"

July 14
" Sunday strong Gale NW cloudy weather.
in the heavy rain"

July 15
" Monday strong breeze WNW clear weather
Mens employ cutting firewood & setting plants"

July 16
" Tuesday small breeze SW clear hot weather
Men variously employed"

July 17
" Wednesday variable winds light airs very hot
Men variously employed"

July 18
" Thursday light breeze Wly with rain at times
Mens employ at various Jobs"

July 19
" Friday Calm with very hot weather
Early this Morning sent one Man to fetch half a doe moofe from the french hunter. At noon our hunter came and brought part of one doe moofe & some young Ducks. the hunter very troublesome for Liquor"

July 20
" Saturday light breeze Sly clear hot weather
The hunter went away. At noon arrived here seven Young Men with information that there Leader would be here in twenty days time. they came for ammunition & Tobacco. gave them 8 lbs Powder 8 lbs shot & Ball 8 lbs of Tobacco as encouragement to come to the House"

July 21
" Sunday winds variable with thunder storms
The young men went away"

July 22
" Monday light Airs Cloudy weather
Mens employ cutting firewood"

July 23
" Tuesday Southerly wind clear weather
Mens employ cutting firewood. One Indian man came in with two horse load of meat"

July 24
" Wednesday wind N with heavy rain thunder and lightening
the Indians traded and went away
Mens employ cutting firewood"

July 25
" Thursday calm part clear, part Cloudy weather
Mens employ the same as yesterday"

July 26
" Friday winds variable clear hot weather
Mens employ the same as yesterday"

July 27
" Saturday Calm rain and cloudy weather
The hunter came in a Canoe to the House and brought one Buck Moofe and part of one doe moofe
Men employed as before
The Hunter went away with a two Gall. Keg of brandy"

July 28
" Sunday fresh breeze Sly part clear part cloudy with rain at times"

July 29
" Monday fresh breeze Cloudy first part, clear in the Evening from the Northward
Mens employ cutting firewood"

July 30
" Tuesday fresh breeze clear hot weather
Men variously employed"

July 31
" Wednesday fresh breeze S very hot weather
Mens employ as before"

Aug. 1 1793
" Thursday fresh breezes S very hot weather
Men variously employed"

Aug. 2
" Friday light airs hot weather
Men employed as before"

Aug. 3
" Saturday Calm hot clear weather
At noon two young men came & brought a little dried meat and beat meat which they traded"

Aug. 4
" Sunday Calm with Cloudy weather rain at times
The above young men after having their supplies went away"

Aug. 5
" Monday fresh breezes SW clear weather
Myself embarked in a small Canoe for the swan lake in order to take Birch Bark to make sugar corsals"

Aug. 6
" Tuesday calm, part clear part cloudy weather with heavy Thunder storms
In the Evening I arrived at the House"

Aug. 7
" Wednesday calm hot weather
In the Evening a Bungee Indian came to the house & brought a small parcel of dried meat. An Old Man and his Son of the Sootee tribe, came on purpose to see the English house afterwards he went down to the french house. I sent on Man with him who returned with a little provifsions which he traded. Our hunter came in with these Indians to drink with them. One young man came here for Tobacco and ammunition & informs me of fifteen Tents of stone Ind's have been killed"

Aug. 8
" Thursday fresh breezes S clear hot weather
This day all the Indians went away the hunter with them. the Keg of Brandy that remained was this day expended"

Aug. 9
" Friday calm, part clear part cloudy hot weather
The Young Lad who came for supplies went away
At noon One Tent of Indians pitch in between us and the french house. they brought me a little beat meat & fat the rest they carried to the french house"

Aug. 10
" Saturday fresh breezes N Cloudy with heavy rain
Men variously employed"

Aug. 11
" Sunday calm clear hot weather"

Aug. 12
" Monday Sly wind fresh breezes clear hot weather
the Indians drunk at the french house
Men employed various Jobs"

Aug. 13
" Tuesday fresh breezes Sly hot weather
this morning the Indians pitch away they informed me they would be here in a few days"

Aug. 14
" Wednesday calm fine clear weather
Myself set of in a small Canoe to the Lake a hunting kill a few days. An Old Man and his family came and brought some dried Meat & fat also a few skins"

Aug. 15
" Thursday calm fine clear weather
Myself arrived at the House traded part from the Indians & the rest was left till the Canoes arrived. An Old Man and his family in three Canoes arrived here"

Aug. 16
" Friday strong breezes Sly cloudy weather with rain at times
sent two men in a small Canoe to birch river to fetch meat. An Old Man came & brought me a little green meat & went away the horses"

Aug. 17
" Saturday strong breezes S hot weather"

Aug. 18
" Sunday light airs clear hot weather
At noon the men I sent for meat came home with part two Moofe the hunter & a Bungee Indian came in"

Aug. 19
" Monday calm clear hot weather
Men variously employed. An Old Man came in Canoe to the house to wait the arrival of his Son from YF"

Aug. 20
" Tuesday calm clear hot weather
Mens employ cutting firewood"

Aug., 21
" Wednesday fresh breezes WNW with rain at times
Men variously employed"

Aug. 22
" Thursday fresh breeze SW clear hot weather
Late in the Evening An Indian Man & his family arrived from York Factory & brought 3 Bundles of goods 1 small box"

Aug. 23
" Friday wind South hot clear weather
Men variously employed"

Aug. 24
" Saturday strong breeze SW hot weather
Men as before"

Aug. 25
" Sunday strong Gales SSW hot weather
Four Indians went past with three horses loaded with meat to the french house. sent two Indians a hunting they kill'd a few Ducks"

Aug. 27
" Thursday light Airs variable weather
The Indians from YF went a hunting. also the hunter went in the Canoe to kill ducks, in the Evening the returned with about 40 small ducks"

Aug. 28
" Wednesday AM thick fog PM fresh breezes clear hot weather
Indians drunk at the french house"

"Errors Excepted"
"James Peter Whitford"

1M144 B.213/a/4

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