Beaver River
In September 1824, Governor George Simpson and his paddlers reached the Ile-à-la-Crosse post, headquarters of the English River Department. At this place, he was given a letter left behind by…
Read moreFort Durham to Sitka & beyond
“At two in the afternoon,” Sir George Simpson said, “we reached Taco, an establishment conducted by Dr. [John Frederick] Kennedy, with an assistant and twenty-two men. Here the little harbour…
Read moreSeizure at Puget Sound
Well, I have a new problem to figure out: that is, exactly what did happen in the seizure of two HBC ships in Puget Sound in December 1851. This is…
Read moreOars or Paddles
Did the HBC men use oars or paddles in their boats? I would have thought paddles, but I think I am not correct in every instance. So, let’s find out!…
Read moreSamuel Black
Samuel Black was the oddest of all the HBC men. Black, born in 1780, was a young highlander of enormous size when he came to Canada and joined the fur…
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