ENPages That Need Review
1M17_B23-A-1
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November 1st Friday. This morning the River being filled with floating Ice, detered the Indians from proceeding further with us this Day, as they said the Ice would cut our Canoes in Pieces; Snow all Day, killed Eleven Wood Partridges, Wind variable.
2nd. Saturday. left our tent this Day about Noon bad Water, passed one small Fall which greatly damaged our Canoes, the Banks on both sides the River very high and Steep, the Wood chiefly Pine Ash, Birch, Poplar, and a kind of bastard Cedar the River about 200 yards across, wind in the SW Quarter, froze very intensely all Day, at 5 oClock put upon the North Shore our Canoes being half full of Water, this Days Journey computed at 7 miles.
3d Sunday this morning the River filled with floating Ice, the Indians again refused to proceed further, which obliged us to lay by, the People out hunting most part of the Day, brought to the tent 5 Partridges, Wind in the SW Quarter fine clear weather, gave 3 Quarts of Brandy to the Englishmen and Indians for their encouragement.--
4th Monday the River still continuing filed with Ice, the Indians still refused to proceed, but went to take a Beavers House they had found the proceeding Day, at Night they returned with two Beaver an old and a Young one; killed Ourselves 5 Wood Partridges and one Rabbit, fine clear weather, a very little Wind from the Southward; in travelling in the Woods to Day in search of Partridges fround several Ash Trees of a small size.
5th Tuesday after repairing our Canoes set forward again this morning; soon after leaving the Tent, one of our Canoes was found to be so leaky as to be quite unfit for proceeding further, stopped to unload her, and after dividing her loading equally amongst the other four set off again; passed two Creeks one on the South Side which the Indians had no Name for, and one on the North Side which they call Me.ta.poos.a.wan.; the River almost clear of Ice; wind from the SW Quarter with some Rain, put up at 4 oClock; this Days Journey computed at 4 miles, several ash Trees on the North Shore.
6th Wednesday after repairing our Canoes left our Tent at 11 oClock, passed one small Woody Island; and two Creeks; one small one, on the North Shore which bears the same Name as the one we passed Yesterday, the other on the South Shore and which is properly a branch of the River as the Indians inform me it is nearly as large as the one we are in that it leads to a very plentifull part of the Country, and that it is freqented by great Numbers of Indians, the Name of it is Ash.a.quo.ga.me.; the River quite free from Ice, a light Wind from the SW Quarter, fine warm clear weather, passed one small Fall which greatly hurt our Canoes, the River much the same breadth, and Banks covered with the same kind of Wood
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27th. Wedensday wind in the SW Quarter with snow great part of the Day. Sharp frost all hands kept the tent, Mitchel Brown and Geo. Donald each a trapping Hatchet both being without, the water in the River still continuing to rise, put some Hooks down.
28th. Thursday a fresh of wind from the SW Quarter with a little Snow, all hands out overhauling our traps, returned to the tent this evening with two Partridges, very few Martin Tracks to be seen, no fish to be got by our hooks; saw a good many Rabbit tracks, took a Skain of twine for snares.
29th. Friday almost Calm, much Rain in the Night weather quite warm, out looking at our traps and snares; brought to the tent 5 Rabbits, the River much opener than Yesterday and much more water in it; the Indians this Evening returned to their tent, traded the flesh of one Beavr. with each of them
30th. Saturday fore part Calm warm weather, latter part a fresh breeze from the NE Quarter with frost and snow, traded the flesh of two more Beavr. with Abicootch, and as he and Chickiyou talk of returning to the Factory tomorrow, wrote to Mr. Kitchen as (??) Book of Correspondence, all Hands in the tent all Day.
Decemr. 1st. Sunday wind in the SW Quarter with fine clear weather; received from Abicootch 9 whole Beavr. in Beav Skins, and from Chickiyou 8 Do. in part of payment of their Debts at the Factory, traded likewise one Hatchet with Chickiyou for one whole Beaver Skin after which they left us in order to return to the Factory Oricot one of the Indians still continuing with us; all hands out hunting brought home in the Evening 5 Rabbits, and took 1 Fish from our Hooks.
2nd. Monday wind and weather as yesterday with sharp frost, Mitchel Brown, Wm. Thomas, Wm. Wood and Oricot set out early this morning in order to take the Beavers House found by Mitchel; Geo. Donald and self out overhauling our Rabbit Snares brought home in the Evening 4 Rabbits; the Ice not yet sufficiently strong for us to venture hauling our Sledge upon.
3rd. Tuesday wind and weather as yesterday, self and Geo. Donald out hunting, in the Evening returned to our tent with one Rabbit; about 7 oClock the people returned unsuccessful; Oricot informing them that they could not be taken, they killed 4 Pheasants the first we have seen since our leaving the Factory
4th. Wedensday. fine clear weather, fore part of the Day wind in the SW Quarter, latter part in the NE, employed this Day in packing up, and fastening our Things upon the Sledge ready for hauling, purposing to set forward in the Morning, as the Ice appears to be sufficiently strong to admit of it; likewise knocked down our Martin Traps, and took up our Rabbit Snares, from which we got 3 Rabbits
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what we was able about a mile higher up the River where we put up; there being bad Woods where the misfortune befell us.
9th. Monday sharp frosty weather, so severe we were almost freezing in our Tent in the Night Season(??), wind SW; myself and Wm. Wood walked a considerable way up the River in order to see what Condition it was in before we (???) proceed further; found it open in many places and others lately set fast and far from being strong enough to haul over; the rest of the People in the mean time, employed in getting up the rest of the Goods, and in endeavouring to get more out of the Water, but all their endeavours to that purpose were ineffectual.
10th. Tuesday wind in the SW Quarter with exceeding sharp weather, all of us employed in drying our bedding, such as Blankets and every other Necessary and Article that had been damaged by the Water, the fore part of the Day; the latter in cleaning our Sledge from the Snow, and making ready for hauling again tomorrow; about 3 oClock in the afternoon Maucocu and Nanap arrived here (two Indians from the Factory) from whom I received Mr. Kitchens favour dated 24th October and in it the agreeable News of a fresh supply of Provisions, which Maucocu informs me he has left about 3 Days Journey down the River from Wapuscogamee Creek, and which I intend sending down for as soon as we reach that place, where in all probability I shall fix, as by the Indians Information there are no Woods higher up fit for building with, they, likewise inform me that we are now one Days Journey from this Creek, and that it is one good Days walk further between the Creek, and the great Fall Mr. Thomas mentioned
11th. Wedensday at 9oClock this morning set forward again with our Sledge, Maucocu and Nannap assisting us, wind SW with sharp frost, the River open in many places, the Rivers Banks covered with burnt Woods chief part of this Days Journey at ½ past 3 oClock reached Wapuscogamee, a Creek on the North Shore, Maucocu again informs me we are no more than one Days Journey from the great Fall, in Snow Shoes, and that the Woods are very small and thin higher up.
12th. Thursday Myself and Mitchel Brown walked a considerable way higher up the River in order to look out a proper place for building in, and accordingly pitched upon a place about ¾ of a Mile above the Mouth of the Creek, and intend hauling our things thither tomorrow; wind in the NW Quarter with clear frosty weather.
13th. Friday set out this morning with our Sledge for the above mentioned place, employed after our
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arrival there in falling Wood for builing a log tent of clear sharp weather, wind westerly.
14th Saturday. all hands employed in building our tent; wind in the SW quarter with sharp frosty weather, the tracks of nothing to be seen any where near us excepting [].
15th Sunday. all hands in the tent except Wm Wood who went out with his gun, he returned in the evening without any thing, he saw two deer at which he fired, but unluckily missed them no tracks of any thing else to be seen; redeived from Maucocu six, and from Nannap four whole Beaver Skins, being part of their debt to Mr. Kitchener wind and weather as yesterday, a great quantity of snow fallen last night.
16th Monday. in the the SW quarter, the people employed at the tent, myself out hunting, returned to the tent in the evening with 5 white partridges very sharp frost weather; this morning Maucocu and Nannap left and wnt in land to look after deer and beaver, they promised to return to us in 11 days if they met with []
17th Tuesday. all hads still employed at the tent wind in the SW quarter with sharp frosty weather no tracks of any thing to be seen, about noon Oricot reutned to us after being 8 days absent, I recieved from him 10 rabbits and 8 3/4 whole beaver skins in whole an half beaver.
18th Wednesday. not being able to prevail with Oricot to accompany the people who I intend sending down for th Provisions left by maucocu, Mitchel Brown, Wm Thomas, & Wm Wood are this day preparing themselves to set out tomorrow; wind & weather as yesterday
19th Thursday. early this morning dispatched Mitchel Brown, Wm Thomas & Wm Wood for the provisions before mentioned; myself and George Donald employed in completing our tent, which is yet unfinished, wind and weather as yesterday.
20th Friday. wind & weather as yesterday, George Donald employed at the tent, senf out setting rabbit snares and setting Martins traps a very few rabbits tracks to be seen.
21st Saturday. wind and weather as yesterday, self out hunting, retunred in the evening with one rabbit; George Donald at the tent all day.
22nd Sunday. wind from the Northward with very sharp weather, self out hunting all day, George at the tent.
23 Moonday. wind in the SW quarter with very sharp weather, self out hunting all day, returned
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in the Evening with only one Rabbit from 20 Snares set some Hooks, George at the Tent.
24th. Tuesday wind and weather as yesterday, self out hunting, no Rabbits from my Snares nor any Fish from the Hooks, George Donald at the Tent.
25th. Wedensday being Christmas Day, myself & Geo: both at home all Day, a light Air(??) of wind from southward with warm thawey(?) weather.
26th. Thursday wind and weather as yesterday self out hunting, returned at Night with one Rabbit no fish to be got, Geo. Donald at the Tent.
27th. Friday Calm warm weather but dull & Cloudy set out hunting as usual, Brought home one Rabbit in the Evening.
28th. Saturday wind and weather as yesterday, self and Geo. Donald both out hunting, returned to the Tent in the Evening with two Rabbits which is all the Provision of any kind we have by us, having eat half of a piece of Pork yesterday which was the last we had, and which makes our situation very alarming, especialy seeing no likelyhood of the peoples returning with the supply they were sent for; and we nothing to depend on for our sustenance but what we are fortunate enough to procure ourselves with infinite Labour & Fatigue; and which, after all is depending on the greatest uncertainty imaginable
29th. Sunday self out hunting all Day, in the Evening brought home two Rabbits from the Snares which we had cooked at Night; fore part of the Day wind NE with a little Snow, latter part in the SW Quarter
30th. Monday Calm dull weather with a little Snow self out hunting and overhauling my Snares, returned later in the Evening with two Rabbits & one Squirrel.
31st. Tuesday Snow all this Day, which kept us at home, having the two Rabbits by us we got yesterday Calm warm weather.
1777 January 1. Wedensday myself and Geo. Donald went early this morning to overhaul the Snares, Snow all Day, wind in the NE Quarter with sharp Frost; as we must inevitably persish with hunger if we continue here longer, we both resolved to start out for the Factory tomorrow Morning at all Events, though we have all the Reason in the World to doubt we shall never reach it, as we find our Strength so greatly diminished as scarcely to be able to procure ourselves fire Wood; all we can muster to sustain us on our Journey is a small Indian Dog we are fortunate enough to have by us, 2 or 3 lbs of Candles and some undressed Beavr. Skins, which Necessity I'm afraid will oblige us to eat. The three Men not returning with the Provisions
1M18_B23-A-11
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HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY Reference :- B.23/a/11 COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHICALLY OR OTHERWISE WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY, LONDON
HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY Copy No. ....................................... Reference ..................................... Reduction ..................................... SECTION ..................B.................. CLASS ......................23................. SUB-DIVISION...........a................... PIECE.......................11................. DESCRIPTION....BRUNSWICK....HOUSE.-............ ....POST...JOURNAL...................... ................................................... 1787-1788 NOTICE. THESE COPIES ARE SUPPLIED FOR INFORMATION AND RESEARCH ONLY. NO REPRODUCTION EITHER OF THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT OR OF THESE NEGATIVES, OR OF PRINTS OF THEM, MAY BE MADE OR USED FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF THE HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY, LONDON, ENGLAND.
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Journal of Proceedings and Occurrences at Brunswick House from the 9th August 1787 to the 19th Sept 1787 by John Leask Documetennant and from the 20th Spet 1787 to the 24th of Aug 1788 by Mr Germain Maugenest Master
1787 August 9th. Thursday. Wind North Cloudy weather with rain people as before, all the Indians went away
10th Friday. Wind NW fine weather two men manning Grafes the other diging a trench for the Stockades
11th Saturday. Wind South Cloudy weather, all hands bringing home Hay
12th Sunday. Wind variable with rain, needs a mild Fish from the Dam
13th Monday. Windy W Cloudy weather two men gone down the river to cut grafes the others getting birch for tunnels, the Indians of the 9th Aug return with some birch rhind