Contract of William Corston with the Hudson's Bay Company 1836
An Agreement made this Nineteenth day of February
in the year of our Lord One thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty
six BETWEEN William Corston
in the parish of Rendal in the County of Orkney Scotland
in North Britain of the one Part and the Governor and Company of the Adventurers
of England Trading into Hudson's Bay by Edward Clouston
their Agent of the other part as follows
The said William Corston hereby contracts and agrees to enter into the service & employmentof the said Company in North America in the capacity of Labourer and that he will embark when then here unto agreed on board such Ship or Vessel be appointed by me on behalf of the said company and proceed to Hudson's Bay and for the Term of Five Years to be completed from the said Embarkation and for such further time as herunafter mentioned and faithfully server the saidComapny as their hired servant in the capacity of Labourer and devote the whole of his time and labour in their Service, and for their sole benefit and that he will do his duty as such and perform all such work and Service by day and night for the said Company and he shall be required to do and obey all the orders which he shall receive from the Governors of the Company in North America or other there officers or Agents for te time being. And that he will with courage and fidelity in his said station in the said service defend the Proprety of the said Company and their facorties & TerritoriesAnd he will not absent himself from the said service nor engage or be concerned in any trade or Employment whatsoever except for the benefit of the said Company and according to their orders And that all Goods obtained by Barter with the Indians or otherwise which shall come to the hands or possession of the said William Corston shall be held by him for the said Company only and she be duly delivered unto the said Governors or other Officers at their Factory or Trading post without any waste spoilor injury thereto And in case of any willful neglect or default herin he shall make good to the said Company all such loss or damage as the shall sustain and to be deducted out of his wages. And that the said William Corston will faithfully obey all laws Orders & regulations established or made by the said Company for the good governemnt of their Settlements and Territories And at all timesduring the residence of the said William Corston in North America he will defend the rights and Privileges of the said Company and aid and support the Officers and Agents to the utmost of his power.
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And the said William Corston further engages and agrees that in the case he shall omit to give notice to the Governors or Officers of the said Company in North America one year or upwards before the expiration of the the said Term of five Years of his intention to quit their service and return to Europe then that he hereby promises and engages to remain one year longer and also until the next Ship in the service of the said Company shall sail from thence to Europe as their hired Servant in North America upon the like terms as are contained in this contract. And the said William Corston also engages and agrees that in case the said Company shall not have any Ship which will sail from Hudsons Bay for Europe immediately after the expiration of the said term of five Years or such further Terms as herein before mentioned then her hereby promises and engages to remain in the Service as a hired Servant of the said Company in North America until the next ship of the said Company shall sail from thence to Europe upon the like terms as are contained in this Contact provided always that the said William Corston further agrees to keep watch and perform such work in the navigation of the ship in which he shall be embarked on the outward and homeward voyages as he shall be required to perform by the Commanding Officer of the said vessel. And the said Edward Clouston on behalf of the said Company hereby engages that upon condition of the due and faithful service of the said William Corston in like manner as aforesaid but not otherwise the said William Corston shall receive from the said Company after at the rate of Sixteen Pounds Sterling. Per ammum to commence on the day of his embarkation for Hudsons Bay as aforesaid and up to the day of his embarkation for Europe in one of the Ships of the said Companys Service. Provided always and it is hereby expressly agreed between the said parties thereto that it shall be lawful for the Governor or Governors or other Officers of the said Company in North America at any time during the term of five Years or such additional Term as aforesaid to dismiss the said William Corston from their service and direct his return from thence to Europe in one of the ships in their employment and in such case his wages are to cease from the day of his Embarkation for Europe And further that in case the said William Corston shall at any time during this contract desert the Service of the aid Company or otherwise neglect his duty to discharge his duty as such hired Servant as aforesaid then he shall forfeit and lose all his wages for their recovery whereof there shall be no relief either in law or in Equity. For Witness whereof the said parties have hereunto set their hands
Signed in the presence of John Pritch residenter in Kirkwall Witneys William Corston
Edward Clouston
Robert Clouston Son of the said Edward Clouston Witneys
[?] Jan'y 1835