How strange and wonderful is the web of destiny, which is being woven in
our national, provincial and family life, which we poor mortals are
simply the individual strands.
How marvellous it is to look into the seeds of time--yes, and these may
be small as mustard seeds--which are the smallest of all seeds--and see
the bursting of the husks, the peering out of the plumule, the feeding
of the sprout, the struggle through the clods, the fight with frost and
hail and broiling sun, and canker worm and blight, the growth of the
strengthening stem, and then the leaf and blossoms and fruit! We say it
has survived, it becomes a great tree under whose leaves and under whose
branches the fowls of Heaven find shelter. How passing strange it was to
see the seed-thought rise in the mind of Lord Selkirk, that suffering
humanity transplanted to another environment might grow out of poverty,
into happiness and content. See his sorrow as he meets with undeserved
opposition from rival traders, from slanderous agents, from bitter
articles in the press, from Government officials and even police
officers who strive to break up his immigrant parties. Recall the
troubles of the Nelson Encampment as they reach him in letters and
reports. Think of the misery of knowing thousands of miles away that his
Colonists were starving, were being imprisoned, banished, seduced from
their allegiance, and in one notable case that men of honor, education
and standing to the number of twenty, were massacred, while he, in St.
Mary's Isle, in Montreal, or in Fort William, fretted his soul because
he could not reach them with deliverance.
[Illustration: MARBLE BUST OF EARL OF SELKIRK, THE FOUNDER
By Chantrey, obtained by author from St. Mary's Isle, Lord Selkirk's
seat.]
The world looked coldly on and said, "A visionary Scottish nobleman! a
dreamer a hundred years before his time! Is it worth while?" while he
himself saw a dream of sunshine when he visited his Colonists on Red
River, when he made allocations for their separate homes for them, when
he pledged his honor and estate that the settlers might in time be
independent, and when he made religious provision for both his
Protestant and Catholic settlers, yet think of the unexampled ferocity
with which he was attacked upon his return to Upper Canada, in law
suits, and illegal processes, so that his estates became heavily
encumbered, so that he went to France to pine away and die. The world
failed to see any glamour in him, and carelessly said, what does it
profit? Folly has its reward.
Yet the answer. Here is Manitoba to-day, it is the fruitage of all that
bitter sowing time. Next year Manitoba will be in the fortieth year of
its history. Its people have seen pain, strife and defeat, they have
gone through excitement and anxiety and patient waiting, and at times
have almost given up the strife. But the province and its great city,
Winnipeg, are the meeting place of the East and West, the pivotal point
of the Dominion. The national life of Canada throbs here with a steadier
beat and a more normal pulse than it does in any other part of Canada,
its dominating Canadian spirit is so hearty and so sprightly, that, it
is taking possession of the scores of different nations coming to us and
they feel that we are their friends and brothers. This, while it may not
be the noisy and blatant type of loyalty is a practical patriotism which
is making a united, sane and abiding type of national character.
Again we answer: Three years from now will be the hundredth year since
the landing on the banks of Red River of the first band of Selkirk
Colonists. It was as we have seen a struggle of an extraordinarily
bitter type. To us it seems that no other American Colony ever had such
a continuous distressing and terrific struggle for existence as had
these Scottish Settlers, but we say it was worth while, judging by the
loss to Canada of the northern portions of the tier of states of
Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana and Washington, which a line from Fond
du Lac (Duluth) to the mouth of the Columbia would have given to us, and
which should have been ours. We say that had it not been for the Selkirk
Colonists we would have stood to lose our Canadian West. It was a
settlement nearly a hundred years ago of families of men and women, and
children that gave us the firm claim to what is now the three great
provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. Was it not worth while?
Was it not worth ten, yes, worth a hundred times more suffering and
discouragement than even the first settlers of Red River endured to
preserve our British connection which the Hudson's Bay Company, loyal as
it was, with its Union Jack floating on every fort, could not have
preserved to us any more than it did in Oregon and Washington. It was
the Red River Settlement that held it for us.
We are beginning to see to-day that Canada could not have become a great
and powerful sister nation in the Empire had the West not been saved to
her. The line of possible settlement has been moving steadily northward
in Canada since the days when the French King showed his contempt for it
by calling it "a few arpents of snow." The St. Lawrence route was
regarded as a doubtful line for steamships, Rupert's Land was called a
Siberia, but all this is changing with our Transcontinental and Hudson's
Bay railways in prospect. In territory, resources, and influence the
opening up of the West is making Canada complete. And, if so, we owe it
to Lord Selkirk and to Selkirk Settlers, who stood true to their flag
and nationality. Very willingly will we observe the Selkirk Centennial
in 1912. "Many a time and oft" it looked in their case to be one long,
continued and alarming drama, but on the 30th day of August, the day of
their landing on the banks of the Red River, shall we recite the epic of
Lord Selkirk's Colonists, and it will be of the temper of Browning's
couplet:
God's in His Heaven,
All's right with the world.
* * * * *
APPENDIX
The author notes the fact that the agents sent out by Lord
Selkirk engaged (1) Labourers for the Company, (2) Settlers for the Red
River Settlement. On this account in the lists given in the archives and
other official documents, the labourers were often sent to the Posts of
the Company, and after serving several years often became settlers.
(List given in Manitoba Historical Society Transactions, 33.)
A.
List of men who arrived at Hudson Bay in 1811 and left York Factory for
the interior in July, 1812:
Names. Age. Whence.
1 Colin Campbell 21 Argyle
2 John McKay 22 Rossshire
3 John McLennan 23 Rossshire
4 Beth Bethune 19 Rossshire
5 Donald McKay 17 Rossshire
6 William Wallace 21 Ayr
7 John Cooper 26 Orkney, came to Upper Canada.
8 Nichol Harper 34 Orkney
9 Magnus Isbister 21 Orkney, probably father of A.K. Isbister
10 George Gibbon 50 Orkney
11 Thos. McKim 38 Sligo
12 Pat Corcoran 24 Crosmalina
13 John Green 21 Sligo
14 Pat Quinn 21 Killala
15 Martin Jordan 16 Killala
16 John O'Rourke 20 Killala
17 Anthony McDonnell 23 Killala
18 James Toomey 20 Killala
The Author is not aware of the existence of any list of the first
settlers other than these.
B.
Owen Keveny's party (list found in Archives, Ottawa). The total list of
seventy-one was engaged by Keveny in Mull, Broan, Sligo, etc. The
following are known to have come. They reached York Factory 1812, and
arrived at Red River October 27th, 1812:
1 Andrew McDermott, became the famous Red River merchant.
2 John Bourke, a useful man.
3 James Warren, died of wounds in 1815.
4 Chas. Sweeny.
5 James Heron.
6 Hugh Swords.
7 John Cunningham.
8 Michael Hayden Smith, evidently Michael Heden, blacksmith.
9 George Holmes.
10 Robert McVicar.
11 Ed. Castelo.
12 Francis Heron.
13 James Bruin.
14 John McIntyre.
15 James Pinkham.
16 Donald McDonald.
17 Hugh McLean.
C.
The Churchill party, which landed from "Prince of Wales" ship convoyed
by H.M.S. "Brazen," at Churchill in August, 1813, and some, marked C-Y.,
who walked overland on snowshoes to York Factory in April 14th, 1814,
and reached Red River Settlement in 1814. This whole list is from
Manitoba Historical Society Transactions, 33. Those marked C-Y. are from
Archives, Ottawa.
Names. Age. Whence.
1 George Campbell 25 Archurgle Parish,
Creech, Scotland
2 Helen, his wife 20 Archurgle
3 Bell, his daughter 1 Archurgle
4 John Sutherland 50 Kildonan, died 2nd Sept.,
at Churchill (a very
respectable man)
5 Catherine, his wife, C-Y. 46 Kildonan
6 George, his son, C-Y. 18 Kildonan
7 Donald, his son 16 Kildonan
8 Alexander, his son 9 Kildonan
9 Jannet, his daughter, C-Y. 14 Kildonan
10 Angus McKay, C-Y. 24 Kildonan
11 Jean, his wife, C-Y. .. Kildonan
12 Alexander Gunn, C-Y. 50 Kildonan
13 Christine, his wife 50 Kildonan, died 20th Sept.,
Churchill
14 William, his son, C-Y. 18
15 Donald Bannerman 50 Died 24th Sept., Churchill
16 Christine, his wife 44
17 William, his son, C-Y. 18
18 Donald, his son 8
19 Christine, his daughter, C-Y. 16
20 George McDonald 48 Died 1st Sept., 1813, Churchill
21 Jannet, his wife 50
22 Betty Grey 17
23 Catherine Grey 23
24 Barbara McBeath, widow 45 Borobal
25 Charles, her son 16
26 Jenny, her daughter 23
27 Andrew McBeath, C-Y. 10
28 Jannet, his wife, C-Y. ..
29 William Sutherland 23 Borobal
30 Margaret, his wife 15
31 Christian, his sister 24
32 Donald Gunn 65 Borobal
33 Jannet, his wife 50
34 Transferred to Eddystone, H.B. Co.
35 George Gunn, son of Donald, C-Y. 16 Borobal, Parish Kildonan
36 Esther, his sister, C-Y. 24
37 Catherine, his sister 20 Died 29th August
38 Christian, his sister 10
39 Angus Gunn 21
40 Jannet, his wife ..
41 Robert Sutherland,
brother of William, C-Y. 17 Borobal
42 Elizabeth Frazer, C-Y. 30
43 Angus Sutherland 20 Auchraich
44 Elizabeth, his mother 60
45 Betsy, his sister 18 Died of consumption, Oct. 26th
46 Donald Stewart .. Parish of Appin, died 20th
August, 1813, Churchill
47 Catherine, his wife 30
48 Margaret, his daughter 8
49 Mary, his daughter 5
50 Ann, his daughter 2
51 John Smith .. Kildonan
52 Mary, his wife ..
53 John, his son ..
54 Jean, his daughter, C-Y. ..
55 Mary, his daughter ..
56 Alexander Gunn 58 Kildonan, Sutherlandshire
57 Elizabeth McKay, his niece, C-Y. ..
58 Betsy McKay, his niece ..
59 George Bannerman, C-Y. 22
60 John Bruce 60 Parish of Clyve
61 Alex. Sutherland, C-Y. 24 Parish of Kildonan
62 William, his brother 19 Died
63 Kate Sutherland, his sister 20
64 Haman Sutherland, C-Y. 18 Kenacoil. Settled in Upper
Canada in West Gwillimbury.
He and his sister were children
of James Sutherland, catechist
65 Barbara, his sister, C-Y. 20
66 James McKay, C-Y. 19 Cain
67 Ann, his sister, C-Y. 21
68 John Matheson 22 Authbreakachy
69 Robert Gunn (piper), C-Y. .. Kildonan
70 Mary, his sister, C-Y. ..
71 Hugh Bannerman, C-Y. 18 Dackabury, Kildonan
72 Elizabeth, his sister, C-Y. 20
73 Mary Bannerman, C-Y. ..
74 Alex. Bannerman, C-Y. 19 Dackabury, Kildonan
75 Christian, his sister, C-Y. .. Died January, 1814,
from consumption
76 John Bannerman 19 Died January, of consumption
77 Isabella, his sister, C-Y. 16
78 John McPherson, C-Y. 18 Gailable
79 Catherine, his sister, C-Y. 26
80 Hector McLeod, C-Y. 19
81 George Sutherland, C-Y. 18 Borobal
82 Adam, his brother, C-Y. 16
83 John Murray, C-Y. 21 Sirsgill
84 Alex., his brother, C-Y. 19
85 Helen Kennedy .. Sligo
86 Malcolm McEachern .. Skibbo, Isla (deserted)
87 Mary, his wife .. Skibbo, Isla (deserted)
88 James McDonald, C-Y. .. Inverness, to Fort Augustus
89 Hugh McDonald. .. To Fort William, died
3rd of August, at sea
90 Samuel Lamont, C-Y. .. Boromore, Isla
91 Alex. Matheson, C-Y. .. Kildonan
92 John Matheson, C-Y. .. Overseer
93 John McIntyre, C-Y. To Fort William (entered
service of H.B. Co.,
.. July, 1814)
94 And. Smith .. Son of No. 31, Isla
95 Edward Shell .. Balyshannon
96 Joseph Kerrigan .. Balyshannon
Mr. P. La Serre Surgeon, died at sea
D.
List of settlers who came with Duncan Cameron from Red River to Canada,
1815. List prepared by Wm. McGillivray, of Kingston, August 15th, 1815.
About one hundred and forty, probably forty or fifty families, and some
single men, arrived at Holland River, September 6th, 1815.
Made at York (Toronto), September 22nd, 1815.
I. OLD MEN.
Donald Gunn, wife and daughter.
Alexander Gunn and wife.
Angus McDonell, wife and two children.
Neil McKinnon, wife and two boys.
II. SETTLERS.
Miles Livingston, wife and two children.
Angus McKay, wife and one child.
John Matheson, wife and one child.
John Matheson, Jr., and wife.
George Bannerman and wife.
Andrew McBeath, wife and one child.
William Sutherland, wife and one child.
Angus Gunn, wife and one child.
Alexander Bannerman and wife.
Robert Sutherland and wife.
William Bannerman and wife.
James McKay and wife.
III. WIDOWS.
Mrs. Barbara McBeath.
Mrs. Jeannet Sutherland and two boys.
Mrs. Elizabeth Sutherland.
Mrs. Christy Bannerman.
Mrs. Jeannet McDonell.
IV. YOUNG WOMEN, UNMARRIED.
Jane Gray.
Elizabeth Gray.
Esther Bannerman.
Elspeth Gunn.
Jannet Sutherland.
Isabella McKinnon.
---- McKinnon.
Catta McDonell.
Elizabeth McKay.
V. YOUNG MEN, NOT MARRIED.
John Murray.
Alexander Murray.
William Gunn.
Hugh Bannerman.
Hector McLeod.
George Gunn.
Charles McBeath.
Angus Sutherland.
Thomas Sutherland.
Alex. Matheson.
John McPherson.
Robert Gunn.
George Sutherland.
VI. MENTIONED IN ARCHIVES, OTTAWA.
Miles Livingston.
James McKay.
Angus Sutherland.
John Cooper.
Mary Bannerman (wife of John McLean).
Haman Sutherland.
John Maburry.
Alex. McLellan.
Young people capable of labour generally employed between York and
Newmarket. The old people are stationed at Newmarket for the present.
Some of the settlers who have gone to Montreal not included.
E.
List of passengers, chiefly from Old Kildonan, landed at York Factory,
August 26th, 1815. Reached Red River Settlement in same year.
Names. Age. Remarks.
1 James Sutherland 47 An elder who was authorized by the
Church of Scotland to baptize and marry
2 Mary Polson 48
3 James Sutherland 12
4 Janet Sutherland 16
5 Catherine Sutherland 14
6 Isabella Sutherland 13
1 Wm. Sutherland 54
2 Isabell Sutherland 50
3 Jeremiah Sutherland 15
4 Ebenezer Sutherland 11 At school
5 Donald Sutherland 7 At school
6 Helen Sutherland 12 At school
1 Widow Matheson 60
2 John Matheson 18 School master
3 Helen Matheson 21
1 Angus Matheson 30
2 Christian Matheson 18
1 Alex. Murray 52
2 Ebz. Murray 54
3 James Murray 16
4 Donald Murray 13
5 Catherine Murray 27
6 Christian Murray 25
7 Isabella Murray 18
1 George McKay 50
2 Isabella Matheson 50
3 Roderick McKay 19
4 Robert McKay 11 At school
5 Roberty McKay 16
1 Donald McKay 31
2 John McKay 1
3 Catherine Bruce 33
1 Barbara Gunn 50
2 Wm. Bannerman 55
3 Wm. Bannerman 16
4 Alexander Bannerman 14
5 Donald Bannerman 8 At school
6 George Bannerman 7 At school
7 Ann Bannerman 19
1 Widow Gunn 40
2 Alex. McKay 16
3 Adam McKay 13
4 Robert McKay 12
5 Christian McKay 19
1 John Bannerman 55
2 Catherine McKay 28
3 Alexander Bannerman 1
1 Alex. McBeth 35
2 Christian Gunn 50
3 George McBeth 16
4 Roderick McBeth 12
5 Robert McBeth 10
6 Adam McBeth 6
7 Morrison McBeth 4
8 Margaret McBeth 18
9 Molly McBeth 18
10 Christian McBeth 14
1 Alexander Mathewson 34 Sergeant of the passengers
2 Ann Mathewson 34
3 Hugh Mathewson 10 At school
4 Angus Mathewson 6
5 John Mathewson 1
6 Cathern Mathewson 2
1 Alexander Polson 30
6 Catherine Mathewson 2
3 Hugh Polson 10 At school
4 John Polson 5 At school
5 Donald Polson 1
6 Anne Polson 7
1 William McKay 44 Brought out millstones, embarked at
Stromness
2 Barbara Sutherland 35
3 Betty McKay 10 At school
4 Dorothy McKay 4
5 Janet McKay 2
1 Joseph Adams 25 Embarked at Gravesend
2 Mary Adams 23
1 Reginald Green 31 Sergeant of passengers
2 George Adams 19
3 Henry Hilliard 19
4 Edward Simmons 20
5 Christian Bannerman 22
6 John Matheson 22
7 Alexander Sutherland 25 Sergeant of passengers
8 John McDonald 22
Total--84
F.
THE HONOUR ROLL.
In Martin's "H.B. Co. Land Tenures" is found a petition to the Prince
Regent, after the troubles of 1816, asking for troops and steps to be
taken for their preservation. As these are those, from all the different
parties, who held fast to Red River Settlement, they are worthy of
highest honour. These were the real Kildonan settlers whom Lord Selkirk
saw on his visit in 1817.
Donald Livingston
George McBeath
Angus Matheson
Alex. Sutherland
George Ross
Alexander Murray, lot 23
James Murray
John Farquharson
John McLean
John Bannerman
George McKay
Alexander Polson
Hugh Polson
Robert McBeath
Alexander McLean
George Adams
Martin Jordon
Robert McKay
Wm. McKay
Alex. Matheson
John McBeath
John Sutherland
Alex. McBeath, an old soldier, 73rd Rgt., lot No. 3
Christian Gunn (widow)
Alex. McKay
William Sutherland
Alex. Sutherland, Sr.
James Sutherland
James Sutherland
William Bannerman, father of lot 21
Donald McKay
John Flett
John Bruce
Robert MacKay
William Bannerman, Jr.
Roderick McKay
Ebenezer Sutherland
Donald Bannerman
Hugh McLean
George Bannerman
Donald Sutherland
Beth Beathen
John Matheson
George Sutherland
Margaret McLean (widow)
* * * * *
ADDENDA AND ERRATA
Page 74.--Andrew McDermott arrived at Red River Settlement in
1812.
Page 148.--Fourth line from the bottom, after the word "him" insert
"afterwards."
Page 218.--Add to the title of the cut "and of the other forts of
Winnipeg." 1, Fort Rouge; 2, Fort Douglas; 3, Fort Gibraltar; 4,
Fidler's Fort; 5, First Fort Garry; 6, Fort Garry.
Page 264.--Line 10; 1857 should be 1851.
Page 297 and following pages.--"Major Bulton" should be "Major Boulton."
Appendix.--Words "Author's Note" should be, "The author notes the fact,
etc."
* * * * *
Transcriber's Notes:
Addenda and Errata above, incorporated, as well as:
Page 13. added ) after fishing
Page 33. importants [removed s]
Page 36. removed " after Lake Winnipeg.
Page 41. comma changed to period: obnoxious. The
Page 41. the the [changed to the]
Page 44. Alexander Mackenize [changed to Mackenzie]
Page 44. Porvince [changed to Province]
Page 61. removed " after summer." The
Page 64. crystalized [changed to crystallized]
Page 69. thaat [changed to that]
Page 118. daughers [changed to daughters]
Page 122. calvalcade [changed to cavalcade]
Page 123. Cat-Fsh [changed to Cat-Fish]
Page 130. lfe [changed to life]
Page 134. collison [changed to collision]
Page 139. solider [changed to soldier]
Page 147. steathily [changed to stealthily]
Page 151. pasionate [changed to passionate]
Page 184. setters [changed to settlers]
Page 196. couuld [changed to could]
Page 204. delivry [changed to delivery]
Page 267. as as [changed to as]
Page 275. schools -- added s to "school"
Page 286. Noebert changed to Norbert
Page 319. The English half-breeds [added hyphen]
Page 337. H.M.S.[added period] Brazen
Page 309. Begg, an eye-witnss [changed to eye-witness]
Page 309. C.-Y. [changed to C-Y.]
Appendix, Page 329. changed Settle-Settlement to Settlement