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| Read original Return to Kennedy at Cumberland House |
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June 1818, kidnappings by the North West Company
Cumberland House post journal, 1818.
B.49/a/34 fos. 2-4d.
June 1818
Friday 5th Sent John Budge & Daniel Fraser down to Whitey Narrows for Fish and to bring home our nets & Fishermen from that place as our compliment of men are too few to admit of keeping nets down so far from the House. They returned in the Evening with Magnus Corrigle & Robert Miller all the nets & 13 Sturgeon[.] Several Indians who had been harbouring about the house for some time past went off and others arrived with eggs very troublesome for Rum an article of which we have none to give them… Mr Kennedy preparing to start for York Factory as soon as the Canoes from the Northward arrives.
Frobisher (one of the NW Partners) arrived here in a light Canoe from Lac La ronge, he brought with him, James Peck a youth who was in charge for us at Pelican Lake & whom he (Frobisher) forcibly took away from his station and carried down here as a prisoner. As soon as Mr Kennedy knew that Peck had arrived he went over to the NW house to demand him, when he was immediately given up, Frobisher denied that he (Peck) was a prisoner and alledged [sic] that he only took him down here, to give his reason for debauching one of Frobishers men, which he accused Peck of having done in the course of last winter…
Monday 8th Mr Holmes’s men preparing their canoes for embarking tomorrow. Our own people weeding & repairing the hedges about the Gardens. Chee Ka Peg one of the Indians that came here with Mr Holmes & who is considerably indebted to us went over to the N.W. house where he was invited by some of his relations (who had been sent to decoy him) to partake of a pot of Rum. As soon as he entered the NW House, he was laid hold of and put in irons & threatened to be murdered for having Traded with Mr Holmes last winter. The North West Partners who were present at this transaction were John Duncan Campbell & Ben Frobisher – William Connolly and H Farris Clerks.
Tuesday 9th Messrs Holmes & Heron embarked for Norway House with 3 Canoes having 3 Bundles of Furs on board and some empty kegs. Sent John Budge & two men in a canoe along with them, to go as far as the little River to bring up some bark left there by our Saskatchewan Crafts. They returned in the Evening having found that the principal part of the bark they went for had been taken away and destroyed by the NW people who had lately passed that way. Put down two small fish nets in the Lake…
Friday 12th People employed as Yesterday – blowing too hard to admit of visiting the nets – Campbell & Connolly embarked from the NW House in a light Canoe taking Chee Ka Peg with them in Irons they have given out to the Indians here that he is going to be hung for having traded with Mr Holmes last winter…
Sunday 21st John McGillivray and several other partners & Clerks of the NW Co arrived at the NW House in 3 light Canoes from the Northward. Mr Kennedy went over & had a conference with Mr McGillivray on the Subject of the Peace River Arrangements. About an hour after Mr Kennedy return the North Westers embarked for their headquarters.
In the afternoon Mr Decorgne arrived in two light Canoes from Athabasca. he expects another tomorrow of the same description. Magniol – a Guide was left at Isle a la Crosse with a fourth canoe to bring out some deserters and runaways that are to be given up by the NW Company. 26 White Fish & 2 Sturgeon from our nets.
Monday 22nd Mr Kennedy after delivering up the charge of Cumberland to Mr Thomas Isbister who is to act as summer master embarked in company with Mr Decorgne in two light Canoes for Norway House – Men employed in extending the fence round the Garden & attending the nets which produced 18 white fish.
