" 1782 A Journal of the Transactions of the French during their stay at the Factory from 15th August to 1st September 1782."
[Cover]


" YF Journal from August 15 to 1st September 1782"

Aug. 15 Thursday
" Went in the Boat from the Ship with Capt. Fowler and took charge of the Fort. Entertained Rob. Garrock John Fleet Henry Liutit Andrew Davey Jas. Fleet Wm. Fleet Robt. Inkster Hugh Lisk John Kirknefs Wm. Lenny David Groundwater each for 5 Years at [blank] also Wm. Sinclair Mr Martens's Servant. Severn Sloop and Ships Long Boat came with part of the Cargo."

Aug. 16 Friday
" Wind variable a Fog about Noon the rest of this Day fine Weather. Busy in unloading the Cargo. Sent a Packet to Churchill. Some Indians came with a few Geese & Ducks. Also a few Fish. Sent back? fresh Provisions & greens on board the Ship."

Aug. 17 Saturday
" Wind Variable from SE to E the Weather part clear part cloudy & part foggy. Receiv'd 22 Deer from the English and a few small Birds & 3 geese from the Indians. the Surgeon visited 10 Sick Indians; some in a fair way Some dubious. The Men employed in stowing away the outward bound Cargo & other necefsary Jobs."

Aug. 18 Sunday
" Wind southerly very fine Weather. Men salting Venison. Mr Tunstal and several petty Officers and Sailors came on Shore entertain'd them as well as we could afford."

Aug. 19 Monday
" Wind Variable from NW to SW At times small drops of Rain, The Weather warm, The Men variously employed. Mr Tunstall went on board. Surgeon visited the Sick, found a Boy died since he was there last; The rest as before."

Aug. 20 Tuesday
" Wind Variable from NW to SW The Weather cold with Rain at times. In the afternoon a Boat came exprefs from the Ship to acquaint the Captain that three large Ships were then in the Offing on which the Captain went on board to prepare the Ship for fighting. Loaded all our Guns to make what defence we can."

Aug. 21 Wednesday
" About 1/2 past 5 AM We observed a Boat go from the Ship and cut down the outer Beacon. At 11 PM received a Letter from Capt. Fowler informing me he wanted Water and the homeward bound as soon as pofsible as the Ships in the Offing were large and he hop'd to escape them by running into shoal Water. As I found by this Letter that the Ships were of force & an Enemy. I went on board to consult with the Captain on the properest and surest Measures to be pursued, when it was agreed to send the Cargo and Water on board directly and the Ship to go off the first opportunity. At 5 PM I returned to the Fort where I was informed that two Sloop rigg'd Vefsels & 7 Boats were proceeding up the North River. Put ourselves in the best posture of defence we could and watched with half our force all Night. We took to our Afsistance 10 Indians. About 7 PM Mefs Falconer & Luckey came to the Fort."

Aug. 22 Thursday
" A hard Gale at N Sent a Letter by 2 Indians to acquaint Captain we thought the Enemy was landed we having at 2 PM heard a whistling in the Woods. Put part of homeward bound Cargo on board and got water into the Longboat. At 9 AM or thereabouts the Boatswain arrived with a letter from the Captain requesting that the Water &c be directly sent him. Sent off the Sloop and Longboat. Was informed that nine Boats belonging to the Enemy are on ground on the Sands in the N. River."

Aug 23 Friday
" Wind variable from NE to SW A fresh gale with Rain at times. The Ship Shallop and Sloop still in 5 Fathom Hole. Sent out a few Scouts who informed me they heard several Guns and saw the tracts? of the Enemy. At the Fort we saw a large smoak to WbN. All hands on the look out and half and half all Night. We are now afsured the French are landed in great force having seen great Smoaks at the back of the Island. The Ship sailed in the Night."

Aug. 24 Saturday
" Wind Variable from SE to S with Rain at times. At 11 this Morning observed the French Troops in motion. Soon after about 3 or 400 of the Regiments of Armiznae? Auxerxois & Evie? with Artillery & Seamen in all about 700 Men came to the Fort and demanded Entrance. Before this I had hailed them and told them to halt. At first they took no Notice but on my acquainting them that if they did not halt I should be obliged to fire at them they halted. I demanded a parley which was granted. They deliver'd a Letter sign'd LaPerouse & Rostaing offering us our Lives & private property but threatening the utmost fury should we resist. On which I deliver'd terms of Capitulation which being in the main agreed to; upon Honor I deliver'd up the Fort. They informed me Churchill was taken and blown up."

Aug. 25 Sunday
" A Hard Gale at NW with rain. The french Officers distributing various things to the Soldiers. Some Plunder last Night. The Officers behaved very politely. The Ships in the Offing are the Sceptre of 1/4 & 2 Forty gun Frigates."

Aug. 26 Monday
" A hard Gale at the NW with Rain. The French Commander gave Orders for 19 English to go on Board the Sloop but would not permit any one to take a Chest. He order'd also several of the French to go on board in doing which a Boat was overset and 15 Men were drowned. We had informed the French that the Weather was too bad to proceed in sending the Troops on board but they were determined. On this Accident however A stop was put to any further embarkation. Preparations are now making to blow up the Magazine & burn the Fort."

Aug. 27 Tuesday
" Wind in the Morning NW The rest of the Day E light breeze clear fine Weather. The French brought several Boats round the Island from N River. The Severn Sloop & one of their large boarding Boats went off with about 100 French & 10 English. The French Commander order'd a kind of Tent to be erected at the Sloops creek to put provisions and Stores in for the distrefsed Indians to prevent them from starving should any come to this place and he very politely told me I was welcome to any thing in the Fort that would be of Service to me or my Officers. I return'd thanks for his kind Offer and afsured him that should I live to see England I would publish the kind & noble behaviour that had been shewn to me & my Officers from him & his Officers. Mr Wm. Leeckey, Mitchell Omen James Omen & Wm. Luitet drove in the Shallop on the Eastern Shore 4 days since & I fear are lost. 3 more large Boats came round the point of Marsh & took in a large No. of Casks and Hoops & went for the Ships. An Exprefs arrived from the Ships to inform Mr DeLangois Commander of the Afstrea that the Frigates had lost 3 Anchors in the last Gale. On which he immediately went on board and the Second in Command in the Sceptre came on Shore. Mons. LaCertain Capt. of Arlo? busy in destroying the Battery Cannon & Wm. Guthrie Jas. Clouston Geo. Gun John Taylor Robt. Inkster Hugh Lisk John Driver Robt. Garrock Henry Tomison & John Kirknefs were sent on board."

Aug. 28 Wednesday
" Persons sent on board. Andrew Hervy. David Knarston. George Groat. John Flatt. Wm Flatt. Andrew Davey. Persons afsisting in the Craft Mr John Turner. Tho. Phillips. Wm. Appleby. John Corston Peter Folster Henry Garrock Jas. Grimbeston Robt. Tennant Tho. Kirlews Wm Carr, Nich. Spence.
Persons at Severn House James Wooldrige Gilbert Duncan, Edward Tommison, Robert Wilson, Tho. Catley & James Carmitchell."

Sept. 1 Sunday
" This day the Factory was burnt & all the remaining of the Company's Servants & the French Troops embarked in the Severn Sloop for the French Fleet."



" A List of the Honble Hudsons Bay Companys Servants that embarked on Board the Severn Sloop"

" Mr Humph. Marten Chief of York Fort.
Mr Wm Falconer Second and Mas. of Severn.
Mr Jn Turner Master of Severn Sloop
Mr Alfred Robinson Surgeon
Mr Edw'd Umfreville Afsistant to Chief and writer
Jn Bennet Morris Writer
Jas. Elphingston Writer
Jas. Grimbister Cooper
Sam. Isbester Taylor
Wm Carr Shipwright
Wm Sinclair Servant to Chief
Jn Inkster Servant to Mr Turner
Tho. Kirklews Carpenter
Tho. Phillips Sailor
Wm Appleby Do.
Peter Folster Do.
Henry Garrock Do.
Jn Corston Do.
Rob. Flatt Labourer in all 19 Persons"

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" A List of Persons carried to France"

" Wm Guthrie Carpenter
Jas. Clouston Nominal Bricklayer
Mathew Collins Shipwright
Wm. Bews Smith & Armourer
Rob. Tennant Sailor
Geo. Gun Lab'r
Jn Taylor Do.
Rob. Inkster Do.
Hugh Lisk Do.
Jn Driver Do.
Rob. Garroch Do.
Henry Tomison Do.
Jn Kirknefs Do.
And. Hervy Do.
Dav. Knaston Do.
Geo. Groat Lab'r
Jn. Flatt Do.
Nich'l Spence Do.
Wm Davy
Alexander Towers Lab'r
Tho. Flatt Do.
Jn Sinclear Do.
Jas. Downey Do.
Hen. Luitit Do.
Jas. Flatt Do.
Wm Lanny Do.
Dav. Groundwater Do.
Peter Barston Do.
Tho. Isbester Do.
And. Davy Do.
Hugh Henry? Do.
Rob. Davy Do.
Wm Flatt Do.
Wm Windwick Do.
Alex. McCorest Arm'r
Jn. Caithnefs Lab.
Jn Hourston do.
Ja Leask
Wm Gray."

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" List of Person who deserted from York Fort"

" Wm Luckey Mast. Whale Sloop
Mitchel Omen Lab.
Jas. Omen Do.
Wm Luitit Do. fate unknown."


" List of Persons Inland"

"Mr Wm Tomison Mast. of Cumberland House
Mr Wm Walker Mast. of Hudson House.
Mr Geo Hudson Afsistant Trader
Nich'l Wishart Taylor
Jas. Batt Lab.
Wm Omen Do.
Cha. Tho. Isham Do.
Magnefs Twatt Do.
Magnefs Annell Do.
Jas. Gadie Do.
Tho. Johnson Do.
Malcolm Rofs Do.
Jas. Banks Do.
Wm Copeland Do.
Jas. Spence Sen. Do.
Jas. Spence Jun. Do.
Jas. Sanderson Do.
Rob. Wishart Do.
And. Corrigal Do.
Jn Irwine Do.
Tho. Tate Do.
Wm Folster Do.
Geo Rofs Do.
Jas. Tate Do.
Wm Flatt Do.
Jas. Flatt Do.
Jas. Johnson Do.
Jas. Morwick Do.
Jas. Berwick Do.
Jas. Gray Do.
Jn Sabaston Do.
Isaac Batt Do.
Rob Longmoor Afsistant in 93 Persons"


" List of Person left at Severn House"

" Rob Wilson Taylor
Tho. Catley Sailor
Peter Wooldridge Lab.
Gilbert Dunkin Do.
Edw. Tomison Do.
Jas. Carmicheal Do. in all 6 Persons"

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" Peter Wooldridge Labourer
Robert Willson Taylor
Gilbert Duncan Labourer
Edward Tomison Do.
James Carmichael Armourer
Thomas Catley

William Lockey Mas. Sloop
Mitchell Omen
James Omen
Wm. Luitet."



B.239/a/81

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