Paul Fraser

Alexander Caulfield Anderson’s 1849 painting of the Kamloops post, courtesy the Kamloops Museum & Archives. The early post is on the right. In 1843 the larger post was built on the west back of the North Thompson River (to the left); this is the post that Paul Fraser took charge of.

My book, The HBC Brigades: Culture, Conflict, and Perilous Journeys of the Fur Trade, was published by Ronsdale Press in July, 2024. You may order this book at your favorite bookstore, or via Amazon. For American booksellers, the distributor for Ronsdale Press in the United States is Independent Publishers Group. Thank you!  

Paul Fraser was a man who never got along with anyone, as far as I can tell. Well, that’s not exactly true. Donald Manson liked him, and regretted his loss to New Caledonia when Fraser was transferred to Kamloops post. James Douglas also seems to have liked the man. Not many others did, however. This is what Bruce McIntyre Watson has to say of this HBC trader, in his books Lives Lived West of the Divide:

Paul Fraser, born in Upper Canada, 1797, died on the HBC Brigade Trail, July 18, 1855

Paul Fraser joined the NWC on May 7, 1819, for six years as an apprentice clerk. He worked at a variety of posts east of the Rockies and was managing Fort Vermilion [for the HBC] when he was transferred to the McLeod Lake post in 1832. Becoming chief trader in 1844, he was the originator and subject of much correspondence and in 1846 found himself in charge of New Caledonia when Donald Manson was temporarily relieved of his post… He used Waccan  Boucher as his enforcer at Fraser Lake and appears to have become somewhat excessive in his own enforcement. He was under a cloud due to his drinking habits in 1850 and led a group of twenty-four men from York Factory to Edmonton [in the incoming York Factory Express?].  He then resumed control of Thompson River [Kamloops] and it was here around 1855 that Fraser’s disciplinary excess appear to have led to the death of Michel Fallardeau, though records supporting this are difficult to track. On July, 1855, while he was reading correspondence in his tent on Manson’s Mountain, on the HBC brigade trail between Fort Hope and Campement des Femmes, a tree fell on him killing him. He was buried on the trail the next day. Because he died soon after Fallardeau, an air of suspicion has hung over the circumstances of his own death but it appears to have been an accident.

On his return with the incoming York Factory Express in 1845, Paul Fraser headed north from Fort Colvile to take over the charge of the McLeod Lake post. As he traveled through Fort Alexandria, where Alexander Caulfield Anderson was stationed, he borrowed some horses. From the Fort Alexandria journals:

Thurs. 20th [November 1845] Fine. Cold. Express party arrived, Mr. C.T. Fraser & 3 men.

Monday 24th. Some snow has fallen. The express party will set out tomorrow; having horses to go to Ft. George. Marineau & Wentrel are sent to bring these animals back; and it is understood that should circumstances render it imprudent to take them the whole distance they will be sent back & the party proceed on foot…

Tues. 25th. Fine. Express party off. Nothing new occurs.

Friday 19th [December] Marineau arrived from Ft. George. Eight of his horses have remained along the road. Five of these were left at W[est] Road River being tired; but as they are in an excellent pasturage with long grass & prele [horsetail], there is little to apprehend as to them passing the winter. Two others are close at hand, & will be sent for in a day or two. The remaining one is doubtless dead, having been left weak and sick upon the road. By referring to the entry of 24th ulto, it will be seen upon what terms I supplied these horses for the accommodation of Mr. Fraser’s party; and I am now compelled to remark that the promise then made by Mr. F. has been [infringed]. Marineau on several occasions (as he tells me) represented that owing to the snow being deeper than was expected in the portage, it would be advisable not to take the horses further; but to no purpose. Now if any material loss should accrue in consequence of this refusal, I must say that the responsibility remains with Mr. Fraser. Be this however as it may, this is the last time that I endeavour to accommodate any person or party with horses, at this advanced season, without having special directions to do so.

By 1850, Paul Fraser was in charge of the Kamloops post south of Fort Alexandria: the first notations in his surviving journal in B.C. Archives began on his return from Fort Langley, and are dated Saturday, August 17th, 1850. But he must have arrived at Kamloops in 1849, coming in with the New Caledonia brigade and traveling to Fort Langley over the brigade trail. That year Chief Factor John Tod had come out with his Kamloops brigade, intending to remain at Fort Nisqually under doctor’s care. Fraser was also given instructions to explore “the country lying between the North Branch of Kamloops, and Jasper’s House, for the future Convayance [sic] of our Express across the Mountains.”

In 1850, Paul Fraser and Alexander Caulfield Anderson had an argument at Fort Langley which worried the HBC gentlemen in charge of Forts Vancouver and Victoria. Although I had no evidence to support my theory, I supposed the argument was about the death of Michel Fallardeau. Anderson knew Fallardeau well, as the mixed-blood man was one of the men who had accompanied Anderson on his 1847 expedition down and up the Fraser River. I no longer believe that the argument was about Fallardeau’s death. I think that Paul Fraser, who had by now established the horse breeding farm at Kamloops, made a remark on the quality of the horses that Anderson, now at Fort Colvile, had arranged to have delivered from Edmonton House that year. Here is what I say in my book, The Pathfinder:

Fort Langley buzzed with the news of the gold rush in California. To deter desertions, the gentlemen allowed a shorter break [at Fort Langley] than was usual, and the work of the return journey soon began. There was no disagreement between Anderson and Manson this year, but Douglas reported to Governor Simpson that Anderson and Paul Fraser had argued.

“Fraser as usual promises great things, more I fear than can be reasonably expected from him. He has an unfortunate tongue, which is a never failing source of trouble to himself and all around him. Anderson was very bitter with him at Langley about some reports to his prejudice and was disposed to go to great lengths with him but I advised him to drop the matter and patched up a reconciliation on Fraser’s solemn promise of amendment for the future — which I fear was forgotten as soon as the parties separated.”

Both Paul Fraser and Alexander Anderson had brought out their children to go to the school at Fort Victoria. The Anderson children traveled from Fort Langley in James Douglas’s canoe, but the two Fraser children (Peter, and Margaret) took a ride in the little ship, Cadboro, to Fort Victoria. Both batches of children would come to Fort Langley the next summer to meet their parents. After a year at Reverend Staines’s school, Paul Fraser’s children had forgotten their mother’s native tongue and could not communicate with her.

In 1850, a number of brood mares were forwarded to Kamloops post from Fort Vancouver, the first breeding stock for the brigade horses at Kamloops. However, many were lost on the way. Douglas wrote to Fraser: “It is unfortunate that so many of the Mares, sent on from Fort Vancouver, should have been lost on the way. I trust [they] will now be carefully attended to as well as the other live stock at Thompson’s River.” Considering his past history of lack of care for the HBC horses, perhaps Paul Fraser was the wrong man to entrust with this duty. However, he does seem to have produced a sizable number of horses for the brigades every year.

In 1851, Paul Fraser considered moving the Kamloops post to a new location, and James Douglas wrote to Donald Manson that:

It being considered desirable to remove the post at Kamloops to a more convenient situation recommended by Chief Trader Fraser, about 8 miles distant from the present site, I beg you will examine the place, with reference to its capabilities and if you agree in opinion with Chief Trader Fraser, that there is a sufficient extent of good land to form a tillage farm of 300 acres, with an extensive cattle range, and that it is not too inconvenient for the Natives who trade there, I would strong recommend the removal of the Fort, and have in that case authorized Mr. Fraser to commence building on the new site.

Donald Manson viewed the site proposed by Paul Fraser, and did not approve the move. In 1852, Paul Fraser reported to Governor Simpson on the success of the horse raising now done at Kamloops post: “I am happy of Stating for your information, that the Band of Brood Mares and Cattle are all doing well and Increasing fast, and I hope in a couple of years from this that Thompson’s River will be able to meet any reasonable demand in Horses,” for the Brigades. In the end, it seemed that the more horses the Kamloops farm produced, the more were needed in the brigades! Horses, or the lack of them, was always a huge problem for the HBC men of this era.

In January 1853, Paul Fraser made an excursion to the mouth of the Thompson’s River, and James Douglas complemented him on its success: “I am happy to hear that you succeeded so well in your excursion to Fraser’s River, as I have no doubt the Indians in that quarter might be brought by a little pushing and encouragement to produce a great many more furs, than they now do, as their country abounds in Martens, the most valuable fur which is now sent to market.”

In 1854, Paul Fraser was again complemented by James Douglas, who was “glad to observe by your letter that the brood mares and cattle were in good health and condition, and trust they have got well over the latter part of the winter, which was very severe in this quarter.” Kamloops was now the provisioning post in the interior, Fort Alexandria having lost all its farmland and its mill. The Kamloops fur trade was also doing better with the establishment of the North River post. However, there were complaints about Fraser’s actions from others in the district. Donald McLean reported that William, chief of the Barge Village on Fraser River, had been employed by Paul Fraser “to traffic with the Indians in this vicinity and [Fraser] has intrusted the said William with Guns, Traps &c &c and has also given Tobacco for the Express purpose of making the Indians smoke. This is most assuredly a new method of Trade, opposing and underselling another post belonging to the same Company.” On further investigation, McLean discovered that the rumours were true:

William the Atnah informed me that Paul Fraser Esquire gave him a fathom of Tobacco and 40 Balls & Powder to be distributed among the Indians in this vicinity with a desire from him (P.F.) that they should trade at Thompson’s River. William appears inclined to return to this post and has desired me to put aside for him Goods to the amount of 26 M.B…

Donald McLean did not have a gentle tongue, and I am sure he had something to say to Paul Fraser when he next rode out with the brigade to Kamloops.

In 1855, Paul Fraser led his brigades out to Fort Langley, where he met James Douglas of Fort Victoria. Douglas wrote:

 I have lately returned from Fort Langley, where I met the Brigades from the Interior on the 1st of inst. [July], under the charge of Chief Traders Manson and Fraser. Their arrival was later than usual in consequence of heavy rains and flooded Rivers, which caused much delay on the journey.

On his return journey, he was killed by a tree that fell across his tent as he was doing his paperwork. News of his death spread quickly. In August Charles Touin arrived at Fort Alexandria with the news of “the death of Chief Trader Paul Fraser who was killed accidentally by a tree felled by one of his men.” At Fort St. James, the man in charge of the post reported that someone “also informed us of the death of Mr. Fraser of Thompson’s River, who was accidentally killed on his way in with the Horse Brigade by a felled Tree having fallen on him in one of the Encampments.” James Douglas wrote:

The death of poor Fraser is most unfortunate, a grave on a lonely mountain is the reward of 40 years wandering in the Indian country. I have just learnt that the tree which caused his death was felled by one of the men, and took a wrong direction. Strange that they should fell trees so near a tent and in the very midst of the camp.

There seemed to be no suspicion of murder at the time, and I have not been able to confirm he was involved in the death of Fallardeau, whose story I told here: https://nancymargueriteanderson.com/michel-fallardeau/

But it seems that others give Fallardeau’s death as the reason Fraser died: that he was murdered, in effect. This, from Reverend A.G. Morice’s “History of the Northern Interior of British Columbia,” Chapter XVIII, p. 280 (which you can view online):

If he was so curt with his brother officers, we may well imagine what must have been his temper while dealing with the servants. At that time clubbing and flogging were the devices resorted to in order to enforce obedience or punish a wrong. Now, it happened that for some offence, the nature of which is not remembered, he gave (at Kamloops) to one of his men, a French Canadian named Falardeau, such a brutal beating that the poor fellow died of it. As Baptiste, an Iroquois, was planing and bending the planks intended for the luckless man’s coffin, Fraser happened to pass by.

“What are you doing with these boards?” he asked of the Iroquois. “Rough, unplaned boards are good enough for that rascal.”

The Iroquois, surprised at such a remark under the circumstances, stared a moment at his master; then, with the brutal frankness proper to his race:

“Hehm! when you die you may not have even rough boards to be buried in,” observed the laborer.

Two months later Paul Fraser was on Manson’s Mountain, seated in a large tent by the side of [William] Manson, who accompanied his brigade, and the men were variously employed in preparing the camp when a crash was heard, and a big tree, which a Canadian was felling, came down on the tent, instantly killing Paul Fraser, who was reading his correspondence. So it was that he who had grudged a decent coffin to the victim of his own brutality had to be returned to Mother Earth without any kind of coffin.

There is more to the story of his death, or at least his burial place. In Okanagan Historical Society Annual of 1925, Harley Hatfield wrote that Paul Fraser was killed and buried on the HBC Brigade Trail on the 28th or 29th July 1855. One story says that he was buried on Manson’s Ridge. Paul Fraser is actually buried at the place now called Campement du Chevreuil, or Deer Encampment. Lieutenant Palmer of the Royal Engineers saw Fraser’s grave at this encampment, and wrote: “It is here that Mr. Fraser met his death by a tree falling on him when asleep, and within a few yards of the spot where we had pitched our tent, a neat pile of rough hewn logs mark his lonely grave.”

Paul Fraser’s full name was Paul Amelia Fraser. His oldest son, John, joined the HBC at Fort Vancouver in 1849, and died of poisoning of some sort at Chinook Point in 1863. Fraser had two daughters at least (besides above mentioned Margaret), both of whom lived at Victoria for some time. The family had come down from Kamloops in a Native canoe in 1855 or thereabouts, to Fort Langley. They traveled by horse to Granville (Vancouver), and by steamship to Victoria. They both married: Amelia Beckman lived in Vancouver and was alive in 1935, and Isabella (born November 18, 1850 at Kamloops) died in Victoria in 1935 (She was the widow of Alexander Holmes). It is not known what happened to the other children (or at least, I don’t know). If any one does know, please let me know, as I have people asking me if there were any.

Copyright, Nancy Marguerite Anderson, 2016. All rights reserved.

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