Family is what keeps us happy! Being together, helping one another out is what family is all about. Vital Daniels (Sturgeon Lake)
 

A Summary of the Corston Family in Canada

Although the first Corston recorded with the Hudson's Bay Company was) Hugh Corston who starved to death near Little Whale River in 1754,we cannot determine if he was of the same family as us,even though he apparently came from the same area in Scotland.

Our story then begins with William Corston of Rendal,in the Orkney Islands.

He was born in 1819, and was engaged to work for the Hudson's Bay Company by Edward Clouston,agent for the Company, on 19,Feb. 1836 as a labourer in the Company's territories for a five year term at 16 pounds per annum.

He sailed to Moose Factory on James Bay, June 22,1836, on the Company Vessel Prince of Wales,under the command of Captain Henry Baker, and arrived at Moose Factory September 3,1836. He and two other men were then transferred on September 25,1836 to Rupert's House, Rupert River on the schooner Robin,arriving there September 27,1836.

Like all in the Fur Trade,he did many varied tasks with the Company. He was a labourer and cattlehand at Rupert's House, spent some time as a slooper on the schooner Robin,transporting supplies between Rupert's House and Fort George,and was part of the Canoe Brigade that wintered at Mistassini during the season of 1842-1843.

It was while he was at Mistassini,that he met his future wife, Margaret McKay,the daughter of the officer in charge,William McKay and his wife,Mary Bunn.

William McKay and Mary Bunn were both native to Rupert's Land, both born to Hudson's Bay Families around Albany Factory. William McKay was born around 1793,one of many children of John McKay (1753-1810) and a Native woman,Mary Favell (d.1810) the daughter of John Favell (d.1784) and his Indian wife Titameg.

Mary Bunn was born around 1799,and was a daughter of Thomas Bunn(1765-1853) and Sarah McNab(d.1806),the daughter of John McNab (1755-1820), Chief Trader at Albany Factory. William McKay and Mary Bunn retired to the Red River Settlement (Winnipeg) in 1857. He died March 15,1864 and she died May 29,1873. Both are buried at St. Andrew's. (records of Diocese of Rupert's Land)

In 1844 William Corston renewed his contract,and was based at Fort George,where he oversaw the fishing operations as well as working on the schooner in the summer and taking the winter packet to Rupert's House. He did this untill his contract expired in 1848 and he declined returning to Fort George and was then assigned to vessels attatched to Moose Factory. It may have been at this time that William Corston "married according to the Custom of the Country",Margaret McKay.

1849 saw him back at Fort George,and his services must have been well regarded,because in 1851 he was given the task of establishing a small post at Little Whale River,along with two Eskimo interperters and an Eskimo lad. His name appears in the Journals of 1851-52 when Chief Trader Joseph Gladman in his report to Sir George Simpson that Spencer(at Fort George) had spoken "in very favourable terms of the zeal and activity"shown by Corston in establishing the Little Whale River post, and William Corston was promoted to Postmaster at 30 pounds per annum.

In 1853 the Company expanded their operations at LIttle Whale under Robert Hamilton,E. Belanger looked after the porpoise fishery,and William Corston was in charge of the Indian Trade.

The Rupert River District was divided in 1854, with Fort George and Whale River going to Eastmain,under Chief Trader James Anderson.

On August 14th, 1854, William Corston of Little Whale River, married by Clergy,Margaret McKay; on the same day,The Rev. E.A. Watkins who solomized the marriage,also baptized three of their children,Mary, William,and John. He continued to work at Little Whale River,and on the sloops in summer.

William Corston was in charge of the Enterprise, which took Robert Hamilton and others to establish the new post at Great Whale River in 1856. He was in charge of Fort George from 1857 to 1863, when he was transferred to take charge of the post at Martin Falls on the Albany River. William and Margaret Corston's fourth child,a daughter named Jane was baptized during this time, on July 20th, 1862. They were at Martin Fall until 1866 when he transferred to Moose Factory. In the meantime,two more children were born, Margaret and James although we're not sure of their exact birth dates.

They were at Moose Factory from 1866 until 1868, and then it was on to Rupert's House again untill March 1871 when he was sent to establish and maintain a cattle station at Eastmain River. His wife Margaret was established on the payroll in 1872 at 2 pounds per annum for services as dairymaid.

This was to be his last posting in his career,and another daughter was born,named Louisa. In 1876,he apparently was attacked by a bull and suffered broken ribs. He was fifty-seven.

By 1891, at age 70, with 50 years service and a wife and child dependant on him,he was given two assistants,his sons John & James.

William Corston apparently retired in 1893, although he continued to live and be active around the post of Eastmain.

He died April 7,1898,and his wife,the former Margaret McKay, died October 13,1902 about 2:30 am.

In all,they had seven children,four daughters and three sons. William Jr. had a son Thomas with Mary Cheezo of Eastmain,but he married first; Annee Bob and later Jane Louttit.

Mary,married Angus Faries,and one of their children, Richard Faries went on to become Archdeacon of York Factory.

Jane had a son out of wedlock,Edward Corston,before she married James Morrison.

Margaret, married John Iserhoff,and they later lived in Missinaibi.

James married Emily Elson,who later died in Chapleau and is buried in the old cemetary bordering Connaught,Birch and Grey Streets. Louisa married Charles H.M.Gordon who went on with the Company and was at Fort Hope when Treaty #9 was signed with the James Bay Cree.

Our particular story continues with John Corston,who married on July 7th,1884, Sarah Mark,the daughter of Mark Askowekapow, (Stands - Too - Long) and his wife Elizabeth of Eastmain.,

When John Corston was born is not known,however he was baptized August 14,1854,and on his service record for 1869,he was listed as age 16 years. He apparently started working as early as 1868, doing odd jobs for his father's post at Rupert's House. From 1869 till 1875 he is listed as an apprentice blacksmith,although he was still spending time working for his father as well. His career with the Company was spent between Rupert's House and Eastmain,as a labourer and general servant. He retired in 1920 and he died in Chapleau in 1947. Sarah Corston died in 1897, (we have conflicting records) but not before they had four children.

 

Our story continues with John George Corston,son of John Corston and Sarah Mark,born at Eastmain in 1886,he was baptized June 12,1887,sponsored by James and Emily Corston of Moose Factory.

Once again,I confess to not knowing much about John George Corston's early years,(the Corston boys were not famous for their oral communication skills)however in a recent conversation (April 23, 1994) with his oldest living son Clifford William,I was told that John George spent a considerable time in what is now Thunder Bay and apparently was practically raised by the Alston Family. Mrs. Alston was a daughter of Angus Faries and Mary Corston.

John George Corston married on March 1, 1907, Lydia Frances Swanson at St. John's in Chapleau Ontario. At the time,he was a fireman for the Canadian Pacific Railway.

Lydia Frances Swanson was born at Fort George,November 13,1888. She was one of eleven children of George Swanson of Moose Factory, a catechist with the Church Missionary Society,and Maria Pott of Fort George. Both George and Maria Swanson were Indian,however only Maria was Registered on a Band List.

The old Corston house on Grey Street in Chapleau should have been classified as a hotel,for many are the stories about how many people lived there. There was also a homestead (farm) across the Chapleau River (Back River).

John George Corston became an engineer with the Canadian Pacific Railway,and he died as a result of injuries sustained from a head on train wreck at Tripoli. He was buried July 29,1941.

Lydia Frances Corston was to live until May 1, 1960, at the age of 73.

Both are buried in Chapleau,Ontario.

During their lifetime,they had eight children,and raised their nephew John Michael (Mike) Turner as their own. Mike later married Lydia's sister Gertrude Swanson. The Children and Grandchildren are:

Further work is continuing to bring the family to the present time and I hope to have a complete family history with photos in the very near future.

All records concerning our family's early history are in my files.

Special thanks to Frances Corston,for without her efforts,this project would not have been possible.


April 24,1994 Randall M Corston