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

Life at a Fur Trading Post in the Early Days

 

The author, Archdeacon Thomas Vincent was a 2nd cousin of Margaret Corston (McKay) Archdeacon Richard Faries August 30, 1870 - April 13, 1964 was a first cousin of John (Jack) Corston. His mother was Mary Corston a daughter of William Corston and Margaret McKay, and his father was Angus Faries. Adelaide Taylor born August 13, 1904 was a niece of Rev. Faries. Jane Faries was her mother while Ashton Alston was her father. Adelaide was a member of the Thunder Bay Historical Society.

 

I will begin my talk about life at a fur trading post in the early days by giving an outline of my father’s start in the fur trading. My father, Robert C. Wilson was born at York Factory in the North of Canada, the son of a Hudson’s Bay Company Post Manager, and on the death of his father, was taken to Scotland for his education. At the age of 19 he came back on a sailing vessel in the year 1871, through the Hudson Straits, where the ship was frozen in the ice for several weeks, but finally arrived at Moose Factory on James Bay, where he served his apprenticeship in the Fur Trade. After 10 years he returned to Scotland where he was married. He returned to Moose Factory after a years furlough, and in the course of time was given a post of his own, where he served as Manager. This was Osnaburgh House, a fur trading post of the Hudson’s Bay Company, of which I am going to speak. It is situated on Lake St. Joseph, which is one of the Northern boundaries of Ontario.

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