A Day Steeped in History

 With the lockdown and everything being placed on hold, I have been a bit remiss in blogging. Of course it is hard to have subject matter when every minute of every day of every month of .... is the same. 

In May, I flew to BC for a long overdue cousin reunion. Like everything else in 2020, this trip had been mothballed. Now being fully vaxxed, and with daily case numbers no longer being headline news, I was ready to head out. However, I didn't take my laptop so blogging remained on mothballs. 

I spent a whirlwind six days in BC. Three on Vancouver Island and three on the Mainland. 

Once back on the mainland, I had the chance to spend a day at Fort Langley. This was an incredible glimpse into history for me. I have spent a great deal of time reading about, researching, writing and speaking about the Hudson's Bay Company and to now get the chance to wander around an old HBC fort was just an unbelievable experience. 

Fort Langley was built in 1827 as an HBC outpost. It also set the pathway for BC becoming a Crown Colony (1858). 

Workers and traders arrived by canoe or HBC company boat. 

It was through this trade window that aboriginal trappers would hand in pelts, hide, and fresh fish in exchange for guns, spices and tobacco. 

The HBC outposts were relatively self-sufficient little communities. They had a store

a blacksmith

a cooperage 

and homes for the workers (the workers were known as 'servants') 

This shows the inside of a typical servant's home with the living area on the main floor and the bedrooms upstairs

The furs were pressed and packaged for shipment back to England where they would be sent to Europe and to be sold

The fish were salted and packed in barrels and then were also sent back to the UK for trade with Europe 

Fort Langley was just one small part of the HBC trading company and larger trading network. The company had posts right across Canada, and after the amalgamation with the North West Company, the posts extended into the US as well. 

The day was informative and helped bring so much life to my understanding of life in an HBC trading post. The day was also a fabulous day steeped in history. 

Six eGuides in the Genealogy Tours Store

 

There are now 6 eGuides in the Genealogy Tours store. These guides are all in PDF format and immediately downloadable. All prices are in Canadian dollars. 

Start Searching Your Scottish Ancestors:

Everything you need to know to start researching your Scottish ancestors. Learn how not to waste credits on ScotlandsPeople. See the depth of information on Scottish documents. Understand the Scottish Naming Pattern and a bonus appendix of words commonly found on Scottish documents

Preparing for a Genealogy Trip to Scotland:

Preparation is the key to a successful genealogy research trip. In this comprehensive eGuide, you will learn what is needed in order to be prepared for success for researching your Scottish ancestors in Scotland.

Early Scots in Atlantic Canada:

Following the highland clearances, Scots began pouring into Atlantic Canada by the boatload. These Scots may have been escaping religious persecution, extreme poverty or simply looking for a better way of life for themselves and their families.

Scottish Settlers in Ontario:

After the American Revolution, the Crown declared that Ontario was open for settlement. A number of settlements were developed. Some were military settlements others were purchased by entrepreneurs who then sold the land to immigrants. Many of these immigrants or military men were Scottish. In this publication, we look at Glengarry, Lanark County, Baldoon, the Talbot Settlement, and the Huron Tract. We also look at the politics and power surrounding the Huron Tract.

Early Scottish Settlers in Canada: 

Following the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783, there was a strong effort by the Crown to promote emigration to Canada. Many of these early settlers in Canada, were from Scotland.

Researching HBC & Metis Ancestors:

The HBC began recruiting in Scotland in 1702. Orkneymen were recruited to work at York Factory and were indentured for a period of 5 years. Since women were not allowed, these men coupled with the indigenous women in the area, creating the Métis nation in Canada. This eGuide provides historical context as well as resources for researching your Scottish ancestors working for the HBC as well as resources for researching your Métis ancestors

Researching HBC Ancestors

On Thursday, September 5th at 1:00 pm, eastern, I will be giving a presentation on researching ancestors that worked for the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) for Genealogy with a Canadian Twist. 

One of the results of men working for HBC was that they took what were known as "Country Wives" and married or coupled with Cree women. The children resulting from these relationships gave rise to the Métis and the presentation will include resources for researching Métis ancestors as well. 

Please join me! https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_chSvUK7PSgWa4bh7p60TFQ

The presentation is FREE  at the time of the live webinar.