NANCY MARGUERITE ANDERSON

An Accidental Historian, writing about the people who worked in the Territory West of the Rocky Mountains before 1858 — so many good stories!

Fort Victoria’s Frenchtown

By Nancy Marguerite Anderson April 12, 2025 "Headquarters", Fort Victoria stories

The fact that Fort Victoria had a Frenchtown of sorts was a surprise to me — even more so when I realized that I had resided on this property. True,…

HMS America

By Nancy Marguerite Anderson July 27, 2024 "Headquarters", Fort Victoria stories

The story of the British frigate HMS America is an especially interesting story, as it involves the history of both Forts Victoria and Vancouver. There are some very interesting characters…

Fort Victoria Ships

By Nancy Marguerite Anderson March 30, 2024 "Headquarters", Fort Victoria stories

The years between 1844, when Charles Ross died, and 1846, when the Fort Victoria journals begin, are a bit of a wasteland so far as information re: the workings of…

The HBC ship Cadboro

By Nancy Marguerite Anderson March 4, 2023 "Headquarters", Fort Victoria stories

It is November 1844, and we are continuing Thomas Lowe’s stories of the happenings at Fort Vancouver, the HBC headquarters near the mouth of the Columbia River — one hundred…

Fort Victoria’s Missing Years

By Nancy Marguerite Anderson February 25, 2023 "Headquarters", Fort Victoria stories

There are a few missing years in Fort Victoria’s early history: mainly between Summer 1844, when the Fort Victoria well was discovered, and 1846, when the Fort Victoria journals…