Hudson's Bay Company Archives

471 Pages·2000·30.38 MB·English

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"Sons of the Wilderness":
Work, Culture and Identity Amoag Voyageurs
in tbe Montreal Fur Trade, 1780-1821
A thesis submitted in conformity with the tequirwients
for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the History Departrnent at the
University of Toronto.
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Table of Contents
List of Maps ....................................................................................................................-..........P.. .III
...
List of Appendices ....................................................................................................................... 111
Abbreviations .............................................................................................................................. 1.*1*1
..
..............................................................................................................
Acknowledgements ....vII
..............................................................................................................
Statement on Sources d x
............................
1. Introduction: Voyageurs. Liminality, Masculinity, and the Bourgeois Gaze I
PART ONE
2. Entering the Service: The Sûucture of Fur Trade Work, Recniitment, Tenns of
...........................................................
Employment and the Master and Servant Relationship .25
....*.............. .. .............
3. "A voyageur's life is any thing but an easy onen: Work in the Canoe 87
..................................................................................
4. "Jacks of al1 trades": Wotk at the Post A38
PART TWO
...................................................
5. Fonning Middle Gmunds: Voyageurs and Native Peoples 204
..............
6. Tender Ties, Fluid Monogamy, and Trading Sex: Voyageurs and Native Wornen 241
.......................................
7. Playing in the Mugins: Parties, Tricks and Friendships 2
..
PRRT THREE
....................... . ...............................................
8. Rites and Rights: The Voyageur Identity 351
................... .. ...................
9. Conclusion: Leaving the Service
......*...............................*.. ........................................................................................
Appendices 41 5
.......................................... ..........................................................
Bibliography ...........425
Map 1: Routes of the Porkeaters .........................................................................................A.....v
Map 2: Routes oft he Northmen ......................................................................................... .v
................................................~...............
Map 3: Major Posts .............................................. ..A
..
...............................................................................
Appendix 1: Annual Wages of Voyageurs 4 15
..................................................
Appendix II: Crews Travelling lnland h m F ort William 1 6
.............................................
Appendix III:C omposition of Posts in the North West Interior 4 1 7
.............................................
Appendix IV: Housing Amgements at Fort Vermillion, 1809 420
......................................
Appendix V: Women at Fur Tnde Posts 1
.................................................................
Appendix VI: VoyageursTW ives at Fut Trade Posts 422
...................
Appendix VII: Alexander Henry the Younger's 1805 Census oft he North West -423
Abbreviatioar
ANQM Archives nationales de Québec, dèpot de Montréal
CPCM Cours des plaidoyers communs du district de Montrtal
FWC Fort William Collection
GLNP Grace Lee Nute Papen
HBC Hudson's Bay Company
HBCA Hudson's Bay Company Archives
HBCC Hudson's Bay Company Collection
LAMC Lemrbook of Sir Alexander McKenzie and Company, kept by Daniel Sutherland
MC Masson Collection
MHS Minnesota Historical Society
MRB McG il1 Rare Books
MRL, BR Mebopoli tan Reference Libnuy, Baldwin Room (Tomn to)
NAC National Archives of Canada
NWC North West Company
NWCC North West Company Collection
NWCL North West Company Letterbook
OA Ontario Archives
PAM Provincial Archives of Manitoba
W C XY Company (or New North West Company)

vii
Acknow ldgements
The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, the International
Order of Daughters of the Empire, the Ontario Ministry of Education, the History Department
of the University of Toronto, and the School of Muate Studies of the University of Toronto
provided generous funding in support of my doctoral degree. Many archivists welcomed me
to theu collections and assisted me in finding sources. ln particular I thank Judith Beattic and
Anne Morton at the Hudson's Bay Company Archives; Gilbert Comeau at the Provincial
Archives of Manitoba; Alfred Fortier and Gilles Lesage at the Centre du Patrimoine de Saint-
Boniface; Mrs. Pam Miller at the McCord Museum of Canadian History; Luc Lepine, Estelle
Brisson and Evelyn Kolish at the Archives nationaies de Qudbec à Montréal; Karen
Bergsteinsson and Leon Warmsky at the Ontario Archives; and the staffs of McGill Rare
Books, the National Archives of Canada, the Minnesota Historical Society, Thomas Fisher
Rare Books, and the Baldwin Room at the Toronto Metroplitan Reference Library.
My dissertation cornmittee kept the faith during the long years 1 worked on this
project. My supewisor, Allan Greer, guided me through many tw*stsa nd tums with patience
and grace, and always urged me to push harder than 1 thought 1 could. Sylvia Van Krk
provided much inspiration and rigorous cornmentary. Ian Radforth gave me many helpfbl
suggestions and reassurance. In addition to my cornmittee, Jemifer S.H. Brown, Germaine
Warkentin, and Toby Morantz have been sage mentors. Laura Peers, Adneme Hood and
Catherine Carstairs gave me many wonderful ideas and references. Numerous people have
generously shared their research notes with me, directed me to sources and acted as sounâing
boards. 1 thank especially Peter Bakker, Car1 Benn, Heather Devine, Harry Duckworth, Don
Fyson, Konrad Gross, Ollivier Hubert, George Lang, Gilles Lesage, Ian McLaren, Hugh
MacMillan, Andreas Motsch, Tmdy Nicks, Jan Noel, Heather Rollason, Bruce White, and the
members of the Toronto Edy Canada Group.
My fnends have had an enonnous influence in shaping this thesis by providing a
supportive and stimulating atmosphere. 1 especially thank Catherine Carstairs, Eva Plach,
Robert Wollwark, John Gay, James Mu, Magda Fahrni, M. Pon, Peter Geller, Barrington
Walket, Catherine Heroux, Eona Karachicelli, Darlene Abnie-Femera, Sharon Wall, Richard
Gilrnour, Matthew Evenden, Elizabeth Bernhardt, Andrea McKenzie, and Elaine Naylor.
Special thanks to Heather Dyment for came tips and Christophe Horguelin for tips on 18th-
cenhuy French expressions. My parents, Sonia and Tom, and my sister, Heather, swunded
me with steaâf" love and support. I thank my Dad especially for cornputer support, rny
Mom for rnuch eâiting, proohadhg and comforting, and my sister for her insight ûnd ber
example of motivation and adventure. 1d dcate this thesis to my grandparents, Rose
Bilowus, Michael Bilowus, Frances Zatylny, and Steve Zatylny, who inspired me with their
harâ work, fimination with the world, and love of travel.