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Description
FC 3212 K44 030.029 · Item · March 2, 1818
Part of Keenlyside Fur Trade Collection

Indictment for Robbery, signed in Montreal, 1818.

Docket reads: "No. 19. King's Bench, Montreal. March Term, 1818. Dominus Rex vs. Pierre C. Pambrun, Jean Bte. Girard, Antoine Robillard, Jean Bte. Lagarde, Frans. Boucher & Benonie Marie. Indictment for Robbery. A True Bill. [signed] Fs. Rolland, foreman. Witnesses: Jean Gab. Lalonde, dt. La Prielle, Jean Bte. Chauvin. Process. fyled 5 March. [signed] N.F. Uniacke, Atty Genl."

From notes provided by the donor: "This original document outlines the charge of robbery against Pierre Chrysologue Pambrun (1792-1841) and his associates (all employees of the Hudson's Bay Company), which took place on the 10th of November 1816. The indictment was officially filed with the Court of King's Bench in Montreal on 2nd of March 1818.

The charge is stated (in essence) as:

'With force and arms at a place called 'Lapuise' the accused men (employees of the HBC) assaulted and endangered the life of Joseph Belcour (trader with the NWC [North West Company]) on the 'highway' aforesaid (Lac des Cedres Rouges), and stole 9 beaver skins, 25 musk rat skins, 2 otter skins, 1 bear skin, 1 keg of gun powder, one sack of lead balls (28 pounds weight), 1 roll of tobacco (65 pounds weight), 9 pairs of woollen blankets, 3.5 yards of scarlet cloth, 14 yards of blue cloth, 21 yards of blue cloth, 6 frocks (commonly called capots made of woollen cloth or molton), 3 figured flannel robes, 1 pound and ten ounces weight of beads, 200 gun flints, 1 piece and one-half piece of broad tape, 1 Indian knife, 3 clasp knives, three-quarters of a pound of vermilion, 1 gimblet, 23 shoemaker's awls, 12 gun worms, and 4 dozen metal rings powder (each listed with values), the goods and chattel of 'certain persons' (i.e., Joseph Belcour, on behalf of the NWC).'

Pierre Pambrun was a long-time employee and servant of the HBC, and was intimately involved in the 'Pemmican War' disputes between the HBC and the North West Company, primarily during the years 1814 to 1816. Pambrun, as witness, provided the courts with his observations and experiences of various skirmishes between the two companies. His evidence was included in published accounts of the trials.

Not much is known about Joseph Belcour, aside from the fact that we know that he was employed by the NWC in 1811 at Athabasca River. Although not stated on the document, we can safely conclude that he was still associated with the NWC during the time of this incident, as the document is written in the style and format of similar indictments brought against the HBC by the NWC. We can also safely concluded that this legal action taken was paid for by the NWC coalition, as part of a larger retaliatory action against the HBC, in the fight for unrestricted access to furs and supplies (i.e., pemmican) in western Canada.

Norman Fitzgerald Uniacke, son of Nova Scotia's Attorney General Richard John Uniacke, was Attorney General of Lower Canada at the time of the 'Pemmican War' hearings. He was a controversial figure, and was criticised for his very superficial acquaintance with criminal law and inadequate knowledge of civil law.

This official document was brought before the courts in Montreal, but did not proceed to completion owing to the fact that the 'Jurisdiction Act' of 1803 did not clearly state the jurisdiction of the courts of Lower Canada. Thus, the 'Indian Countries' fell outside of their area of responsibility. In addition, it was argued that the trials would not escape sympathetic influence of Montreal residents (including lawyers) connected in some way to the NWC. Thus, the trials were moved to York (Toronto), and the legal actions continued in the fall of 1818."

FC 3212 K44 030.030 · Item · July 2, 1821
Part of Keenlyside Fur Trade Collection

Titled: "An Act for regulating the Fur Trade, and establishing a Criminal and Civil Jurisdiction within certain Parts of North America. (2d July 1821.)" Removed from a bound volume printed in London, Great Britain by Eyre and Strahan in 1821. Pages are numbered 569-575.

From notes provided by the donor: "This act, released shortly after the amalgamation of the Hudson's Bay Company and the North West Company, granted exclusive trading rights to the 'new' H.B.C. for a period of 21 years. The act also extended the legality of the 'Jurisdiction Act of 1803' to include all territory specified by the H.B.C.'s lease."

FC 3212 K44 030.032 · Item · September 29, 1830
Part of Keenlyside Fur Trade Collection

This is Edward Ellice's copy of an indenture between John Richardson, George Gregory and Samuel Gerrard of the First Part, Simon McGillivray of the Second Part, and Edward Ellice of the Third Part.

Docket reads: "Dated 29 Sept 1830, The trustees of Simon McGillivray Esq & the said Simon McGillivray to Edwd Ellice Esq, Copy Assignment of Hudsons Bay Stock and other Trust Effects in consideration of £110,000 [line] 1700. Norman Bethune Tutor Pltf vs. The Right Honourable Edward Ellice Defdt., Defendants Exhibit No.4 Filed Feb. 20th 1839 [signature illegible]."

From notes provided by the donor: "This indenture between John Richardson and George Gregory (formerly of the XY Company and North West Company), Simon McGillivray (formerly of the North West Company), and Edward Ellice (formerly of Phyn, Ellices and Inglis of Schenectady and the North West Company, and later of the Hudson's Bay Company) details the arrangements made regarding the financial interests of those holding title in the consolidated fur trade concern (formerly that of the North West Company and the Hudson's Bay Company).

Throughout the document, many details are given with respect to share and stock allocations to individual traders and trading groups. The docket states that this document was used as "Defendant's Exhibit No. 4" in a litigation filed 20 Feb. 1839, naming Norman Bethune as plaintiff and Edward Ellice as defendant. Edward Ellice stands out as one of the main players in bringing about the union between the North West Company and the Hudson's Bay Company. Upon the failure of McTavish, McGillivrays and Company in 1825, he became the only one who stood between the Hudson's Bay Company and the claims of discontented members of the North West Company. As a result, Ellice became involved in the series of litigations which lasted for 25 years. Norman Bethune was among the many people seeking financial compensation through Ellice."

FC 3212 K44 102.003 · Item · October 6, 1845
Part of Keenlyside Fur Trade Collection

A hand-written letter written by James Douglas to James M. Yale, Hudson’s Bay Company Chief Trader at Fort Langley, British Columbia. This letter was sent from Fort Victoria. Douglas writes about recent events and expresses some opinions about many of the issues facing the Pacific Northwest operations of the HBC.
From notes provided by the donor: “Douglas sheds light on the following issues of the time:
a) H.B.C. servants and their suitability for advancement
b) Furs and fur returns
c) Agricultural crops and the weather affecting yield in the region
d) The visit by Chief Factor Peter Skene Ogden, having travelled overland from Red River and into the Columbia River through the Coutonais (Kootenay) Portage, in the company of British Officers Henry J. Warre and Mervin Vavasour (on their ‘secret’ military reconnaissance of the Oregon Territory)
e) The arrival and operations of H.M.S. America, under the charge of Captain John Gordon (the brother of Lord Aberdeen, Foreign Secretary at the time, and later Prime Minister)
f) Activity of H.B.C. traders: Chief Factor Lewis (sic), Chief Trader John Work, and Donald Mason
g) Returns of the most recent Outfit (the yearly trade cycle of the fur trade)
h) The wretched state of John Clarke (a long-time H.B.C. employee, who has fallen on hard times)
i) The potential for salt to be gathered from salt marshes on Cowegen (Cowichan) lands, without attracting the attention of the Americans, who would undoubtedly try to capitalize on the resource
j) A visit from American whaling ship captains, whose ships are lying at anchor in Neah Bay.”

Douglas, James, Sir
FC 3212 K44 030.033 · Item · [1846?]
Part of Keenlyside Fur Trade Collection

Titled: "A Few Words on the Hudson's Bay Company." Written by Alexander Kennedy Isbister, and published by C. Gilpin in London, likely in 1846. This copy has been removed from a bound volume. It is a review of the status of the H.B.C. with petitions for redress of grievances.

Isbister, Alexander Kennedy
FC 3212 K44 030.034 · Item · July 12, 1850
Part of Keenlyside Fur Trade Collection

Docket reads: "Papers relating to the Legality of the Powers in respect to Territory, Trade, Taxation and Government claimed or exercised by the Hudson's Bay Company, on the Continent of North America, under the Charter of Charles the Second, or in Virtue of any other Right or Title. Ordered by The House of Commons, to be Printed, 12 July 1850."

A look at the rights claimed by the Hudson's Bay Company, including copies of correspondence, replies, opinions, and a map.

FC 3212 K44 102.004 · Item · August 27, 1850
Part of Keenlyside Fur Trade Collection

Handwritten letter from Donald Ross, Chief Factor of Norway House, to his friend James Keith in Aberdeen [Scotland]. James Keith was formerly the Chief Factor at Fort Chipewyan. In this letter, Ross writes about the poor mood he's suffered over the past year, laments the scarcity of furred animals, and predicts that gold will be the basis for the Hudson's Bay Company profits in the future. He expresses doubt that profits from coal will ever amount to much.

Ross, Donald
FC 3212 K44 103.002 · Item · 26 February 1858
Part of Keenlyside Fur Trade Collection

On the cover: Hudson's Bay Company-Return to an Address of the Honourable The House of Commons, dated 16 February 1858;-for, "Copies or Extracts of any Correspondence that has taken place between the Colonial Office and the Hudson's Bay Company, or the Government of Canada, in consequence of the Report of the Select Committee on the Affairs of the Company which sat in the last Session of Parliament."

FC 3212 K44 030.039 · Item · 1858
Part of Keenlyside Fur Trade Collection

A document titled: "Resolutions to be proposed by the Hon. Mr. Loranger, in reference to Rupert's land, the Indian Territory and the affairs of the Hudson Bay Company." Printed by the Queen's Printer, S. Derbishire & G. Desbarats.

The six (6) resolutions propose a limited renewal of the Hudson's Bay Company's trading rights. The proposal is for the Canadian government to assume all territory the HBC claimed, allowing the company to retain only those lands on which it had built or otherwise improved. The HBC would not be eligible for compensation from lands lost.

FC 3212 K44 030.038 · Item · 1858
Part of Keenlyside Fur Trade Collection

A document titled: "Resolutions to be moved by Mr. Dawson for An Address to Her Majesty, on the subject of the North Western parts of this Province, the Indian Territories and the Hudson's Bay Company." From the first (1st) session of the sixth (6th) Parliament. Printed by order of the Legislative Assembly by the printer John Lovell in Toronto.

This document has eighteen (18) resolutions outlining the history of the Hudson's Bay Company, challenging the validity of HBC's trading rights, and proposing that their lease to trade within the so-called "Indian Territories" not be renewed.

FC 3212 K44 103.014 · Item · 1863
Part of Keenlyside Fur Trade Collection

Title: Treaty Between Her Majesty and The United States of America, for The Settlement of the Claims of the Hudson's Bay and Puget's Sound Agricultural Companies Signed at Washington, July 1, 1863. Presented to both Houses of Parliament by Command of Her Majesty. 1864

Details the various articles surrounding the settlement of the claims between The Hudson's Bay Company and Puget Sound, WA, USA.

FC 3212 K44 103.021 · Item · 11 August, 1869
Part of Keenlyside Fur Trade Collection

Title: Canada (Rupert's Land). Copy or Extracts of Correspondence between the Colonial Office, the Government of the Canadian Dominion, and the Hudson's Bay Company, relating to the Surrender of Rupert's Land by the Hudson's Bay Company, and for the Admission thereof into the Dominion of Canada. Ordered by The House of Commons.

Contains multiple letters to and from various parties, including: Despatches [sic] from the Governor, Despatches from the Secretary of State, Correspondence Between the Colonial Office and the Hudson's Bay Company, Correspondence Between the Colonial Office and Sir G. Cartier and Mr. McDougall (Delegates).

1871 HBC deed poll
FC 3212 K44 030.040 · Item · 1871
Part of Keenlyside Fur Trade Collection

A document titled: "Deed Poll by the Governor and Company of Hudson's Bay, for conducting their trade in North America, and for defining the rights and prescribing the duties of their officers." Printed by Sir Joseph Causton & Sons, London, United Kingdom.

From notes provided by the donor: "An internal document outlining the rights and duties of H.B.C. officers, outlines the number of Chief Factors, Factors, Chief Traders and Junior Chief Traders, the distribution of shares, and many other details."

1887 HBC deed poll
FC 3212 K44 030.041 · Item · 1887
Part of Keenlyside Fur Trade Collection

A document titled: "Deed Poll by the Governor and Company of Hudson's Bay, for conducting their trade in North America, and for defining the rights and prescribing the duties of their officers, 1871. Amended by Shareholders, June 27th, 1876; June 24th, 1879." Printed by Sir Joseph Causton & Sons in London, United Kingdom.

From notes provided by the donor: "An updated version of the Deed Poll issued in 1871, outlining the rights and duties of H.B.C. officers, outlines the number of Chief Factors, Factors, Chief Traders and Junior Chief Traders, the distribution of shares, and many other details.

FC 3212 K44 030.042 · Item · [ca. 1933]
Part of Keenlyside Fur Trade Collection

On the cover: "Hudson's Bay Company incorporated 2nd May 1670, Post Manual, Fur Trade Department."
Inside the front cover, someone has written "No. 18" in ink, and someone has penciled in "ca. 1933."

This document is a compilation of regulations for the Fur Trade Department, with room at the end for postmanagers to insert additional memoranda. All pages are typewritten. This particular copy is in such fine condition as to suggest it was never used.

1853-55 Fort Simpson Journal
FC 3212 K44 030.035 · Item · September 1, 1853 - April 30, 1855
Part of Keenlyside Fur Trade Collection

From the first report provided by the donor (see notes on accompanying materials below): "The Fort Simpson Journal contains the expected daily and routine entries on weather conditions, entertaining descriptions of the laborers and their occupations, and general comments on trading activities. The journal also contains a plethora of lengthy and intensely interesting entries describing specific activities and events hitherto unknown and unrecorded elsewhere."

The author of the Fort Simpson journal is William Henry McNeill (1801-1875). He does not name himself in the journal itself, but the donor has provided research identifying him through HBC Archives documents. McNeill took charge of Fort Simpson in 1851, was appointed Chief Factor in 1856, left from 1859-1861, before finally departing the fort in 1863. The town of Port McNeill on Vancouver Island is named for him.

The Hudson's Bay Company founded Fort Simpson, which eventually developed into Port Simpson and later Lax Kw'alaams. It is located on the coast of British Columbia.

McNeill, William Henry
FC 3212 K44 102.008 · Item · June 16, 1857
Part of Keenlyside Fur Trade Collection

From the docket: “Hudson’s Bay Company. Copy of the Letter addressed by Mr. Chief Justice Draper to Her Majesty’s Secretary of State for the Colonies, bearing date the 6th day of May 1857, together with a Copy of the Memorandum therein referred to, relative to the Hudson’s Bay Company. (Mr. Labouchere.) Ordered, by The House of Commons, to be Printed, 16 June 1857.”

This letter and enclosure request that British Parliament settle the question of the exact boundaries between the Hudson's Bay Company and the Province of Canada. From page 5: "The rights of the Hudson’s Bay Company, whatever they may be, are derived from the Crown; the Province of Canada has its boundaries assigned by the same authority; and now that it appears to be indispensable that those boundaries should be settled, and the true limits of Canada ascertained, it is to Her Majesty’s Government that the Province appeals to take such steps as in its wisdom are deemed fitting or necessary to have this important question set at rest.”