Canada Tree Volume 2 Issue 3 February 1995

Margaret L. Clarke, Editor #29, Evanson Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Inside This Issue

  1. The Poitras Family
  2. The Feudal and Baronial Days of Old Fort Carlton by Angus McKay
  3. The Alexander Cayen Family
  4. Published

The Poitras Family.

By Lisa Poitras, a fellow graduate student at the U. of W.

The Poitras family has existed on the prairies since at least the late 18th century when Andre Poitras Sr ventured west where he became employed by North West Company. He was the first generation within the family, to have married an Amerindienne woman. To which Aboriginal group she belonged, however, we do not know. Andre Sr was a fifth generation Canadien. His parents were Michel Poitras and Marguerite Harnois, who were married in St. Foy, Quebec, in 1751. Michel's parents were Joseph Lucien Poitras and Genevieve Moisan who had been married on November 24, 1708. Joseph Lucien's father, Jean, was the first generation Canadien. He married Marie St. Vie in Quebec City on August 27, 1664. His parents, migrated to the New World from France; Laurent Poitras from the region of Poitu and Renee Bertin from the outskirts of Paris.

Andre Poitras Sr and the Amerindienne woman had a son, also Andre, both of which show up in fur trade records as being situated at fur trade posts on the upper Assiniboine River in the 1790s and early 1800s respectively. Andre Jr was, of course, the first generation Metis in this particular branch of the Poitras family. He and his wife, Marguerite Grant, who was the full sister to Cuthbert Grant Jr., according to Margaret McLeod's biography, had several children, namely Francois, Pierre, Madeleine, Helene, Gabriel and Ignace. Francois married Madeleine Fisher, daughter of Henry Fisher and Marguerite LaFramboise at Portage La Prairie on February 17, 1825. Madeleine, Francois' sister, married Charles Gladu, son of Charles Gladd and Marguerite Ross in November of 1832 at St. Boniface. Pierre Poitras, married Marie Bruyere, daughter of Jean Baptiste Bruyere and Francoise (surname unknown) on November 27, 1832 at St. Boniface. Helene Poitras married Francois Gariepy, son of Francois Gariepy and Louise Gladu on January 14, 1840, at Francois Xavier. Gabriel Poitras married Isabelle Malaterre, daughter of Jean Baptiste Malaterre and Angelique Adam, on February 1, 1842 , also at St. Francois Xavier. Lastly, Ignace Poitras, married Helene McGillis, daughter of Alexandre McGillis and Marguerite Botineau on September 9, 1856 at St. Francois Xavier parish as well.

Gabriel Poitras' wife, Isabelle Malaterre, was the sister of Marie Malaterre, who was Louis Riel's wife's mother! Gabriel's brother, Pierre, incidentally, was a member of Louis Riel's provisional government of 1870.

Following the genealogical trail, then, we have, descended from Gabriel Poitras, son of Andre Jr., Modeste Poitras, who was born in 1850 at St. Francois Xavier. Modeste married Elnire Bonneau (born in 1851), at St. Francois Xavier in 1872. Elnire, however, was widowed when Modeste was, according to family legend, killed during a buffalo hunt in the Dakota territories. Out of this union, there arose four children, three sons, and a daughter. The daughter, however, died, again according to legend, during the trip north to the Qu'Appelle valley, near present day Lebret. Elnire's three sons survived. Their names were Baptiste, Zachary, and Gregoire. All three children produced large families. Gregoire, my grandfather married Celina Parisian, daughter of Solomon Parisian and Liza Melanie Major. Gregoire (born in 1880) and Celina (born in 1898) produced several children, namely: Joseph, Frederick, Rene, James and Roy, (my father), as well as Lucy, Lillian, Marie, and Margaret . My uncles and aunts chose to marry people from a variety of ethnic backgrounds, and these unions produced upwards of sixty cousins. Since my father was the youngest member of his family, I, too, am among the youngest of this generation. By my count, I am in the sixth generation of individuals of Metis descent, as well as being in the eleventh generation of Poitras in Canada.

It is gratifying to have been given the opportunity to have acquired this knowledge. I would not have been able to have accumulated detailed geneological data, however, without the helpful assistance of the St. Boniface Historical Society, and of their dedicated archivist, Alfred Fortier.

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[Editor's note: I found the following piece while browsing in the Denney Papers. Angus Mckay represents a specific part of the mixed-blood community. He speaks as a representative of the fur trade elite. I hope some of the other names in the piece resonate for some of our readers.]

The Feudal and Baronial Days of Old Fort Carlton

[sent to Mrs. Wetton for inclusion in Saskatoon newspaper Star Pheonix, Aug. 27, 1948?]

The early Feudal days of Old Fort Carlton were where Mr. Small and William Spencer were in charge, and both the Indians and the buffalo who roamed the prairies in countless herds disputed their feudal ownership to the vast domain upon which they roamed and subsisted. It was night and the gates were closed - In the morning the prairie around Fort Carlton was covered with Buffaloes - Mr. Spencer now got his buffalo runner from the stable harnessed with saddle and bridle. Then mounted with carbine and cartridges commanded the Warden to unbar the west gate. Then dashing out among the herds - shot down seven animals within a very short distance and within half an hour ride and thus inflicting a check on the intruding Herds. Later on Carlton became the 'Emporium' of the West for all kinds of Provisions especially in Pemican made from the buffalo meat. We encouraged and employed the French Metis and hunters of the Plains to make Pemican during the summer months - dried meat and pounded meat tallow and soft grease. For Pemican we payed prices varying from 15 - 20 - 25 cents per lb. We also purchased Furs - Buffalo Robes and leather for making tents and also the two blades of sinews - for sewing purposes in making leather tents and leather clothing, moccasins etc. And for thier sinew blades which were converted into a sewing thread we paid 10 - 15 -20 cents.

The zenith of the Baronial days of Old Fort Carlton were in the late 70s and 80s, when the annual Councils of the Hudsons Bay Company were held at Carlton House when the Governor of the Hudsons Bay Company assembled there for the annual Council coming from every District east of the Rocky Mountains - viz. Red River District, Norway House, York Factory, Swan River, Saskatchewan, Cumberland, Edmonton, Isle a la Crosse, Athabasca, Mackenzie River, Peace River, Moose Factory, Lac la Pluie. The Halls and Quadrangles of the Old Fort was crowded and Gay with the annual councillors. And now the man with the Notebook will endevour to explain who this cosmopolitan crowd are. The tall man with the bushy eyebrows and piercing eyes is Sir Donald Smith and now ranks as Lord Strathcona (and a Millionaire) and now retired from being the Governor of the Hudsons Bay Company and is leaving for Ottawa on the close of this council to be member for the City of Winnipeg - Manitoba, in the House of Commons at Ottawa - and this was the last time that his presence graced the setting of the Council at Old Fort Carlton - That fine looking old gentleman with gray hair and well groomed flowing beard is Governor James A. Graham who has just succeeded Strathcona as Governor, and is attired in an orthodox business tailored suit and looks all he is as Governor of the H.B.C. - That gentleman over there by the Governor - is C.J. Bridges - Land Commissioner of the H.B.C. Lands Dept., an English man and well groomed. Then follow a lot of Chief Factors and Factors - The Honourable Lawrence Clark - Chief Factor of Carlton Gouse and now Host to these councillors - He is an Irishman from County Cork - Ireland and makes a capital Host to these all and reminded me very much of Charles Parnell of Irish fame and a very convincing Parliamentarian. That Gentleman with a dark bushy beard is Roderick Ross Chief Factor from Norway House and is of Scottish descent; and that gentleman over there is Chief Factor Joseph Fortescue of York Factory a perfect type of an Englishman intelligent and well educated and highly respected by all in the council chamber. This gentleman is Chief Factor Archibald McDonald of Swan River District, a true Scot who escaped the Duke of Argyll's Glencoe Massacre of the McDonald clan and has since become an adventurer in the H.B.C.; That highly flushed man with blue eyes and Red Hair is Richard Hardisty - Chief Factor of Edmonton District and later became Senator Hardisty and is brother-in-law to Lord Strathcona who married his sister, [?] Grant, and who is that Huge gentleman with a vast corporation and weighing about 350 lbs. More or less with a perpetual smile and happy countenance - he is Chief Factor of Cumberland House and full of mirth and is the fast friend of all these cosmopolitans, He is Chief Factor Horace Belanger, That tall gentleman about the centre of the hall with dark eyes and black hair is Chief Factor William MacMurry of Isle a la Crosse who married Harriet Inkster of 'Seven Oaks' and sister of Colin Inkster the famous Sheriff of the City of Winnipeg Manitoba. That Gentleman with a highly flushed complexion is Chief Factor Roderick R. MacFarlane of Athabasca Lake who built upon its shore Fort Chipewyan which he ruled for many years successfully, was a wonderful correspondent and was the largest contributor to the Smithsonian Institute of Washington D.C.. That man man over there is Chief Factor Wm. Lucas Hardisty of Mackenzie River District and is brother to Senator Richard Hardisty. That Stout and well proportioned man is James MacDougall - Chief Factor of the Peace River District. MacDougall later became an Inspecting Chief Factor. And who is that man that resembles some wealthy Prince or Rah-jah from Calcutta in India? That is George S. Dawson, who came to Winnipeg with Sir Garnet Woolsley to quell the Riel Rebellion in Winnipeg in 1879 and when disbanded he entered the Hudsons Bay Co. Service at Lower Fort Garry as accountant and was later transferred to Carlton House where he became accountant of the District's Office and is now setting the pace for fashion in dress to all these cosmopolitans assembled here: But they refuse to follow his gait and remain strictly the the orthodox Business tailored suit. At present he is dressed immaculately in a tailor made suit and wearing a corked and pith Helmet with a fancy perque around trailing to his Knees behind and struts around the quadrangle with dignified importance, and now pray who is that young man with the notebook? He is Angus McKay an apprentice clerk and looks after the mail and Post Office at Carlton House; he is also secretary and Indian translator to the Honorable Lawrence Clark and is also in charge of the Indian trade at Fort Carlton. But you have not told us who that old gentleman is with the curly hair and bright blue eyes and wearing a beard? He is Factor William McKay and in charge of Fort Pitt and known and conceded to be the best Indian trader and peace maker employed in the service of the Hudsons Bay Company. And was dubbed by the Earl of Southesk where they first met in 1854 as one of "Nature's Gentlemen." And who pray provides for the dinners and meals for all these Barons assembled here? He is Arthur Dobbs the best chef attainable in Winnipeg and who is now the Purveyor and caters to the Barons here assembled, - the dinnertables are loaded down with all the modern luxeries of the period and we are living like fighting cocks. The Lords of the mighty rivers, Lakes and forests have held their councils and feasts in the best of harmony with every little detail being done 'a la mode', and now Ladies and Gentlemen having unfolded my story of Old Fort Carlton, I would also tell you that there were the Hey Days, Peak and Zenith of the Baronial Days of Old Fort Carlton - Built in 1897[sic] and destroyed in 1885.

And where pray is the site of Old Carlton House today? Nobody knows!![emphasis his] That cairn and Historic Monument that should have marked its original and actual site has been erected on the Highway several miles more or less from its actual site: and I hope the community and Province of Saskatchewan may unite to have this indifference and neglect corrected.

Yours most sincerely

Angus McKay

Alexander Cayen Family

From Harriet McKay I recieved some information on the Cayen family connections. Pierre Narcisse "Naber" Baudreau and Adelaide Catherine Arcand had a son, Alexander "Alex" Baudreau dit Cayen who married Marie McGillis, daughter of Alexander McGillis (son of Angus McGillis and Marguerite) and Marguerite Bottineau, on September 25, 1855 at St. Francois Xavier. Alexander McGillis had a sister, Marie McGillis who married Cuthbert Grant Jr.

Alexander Cayen was red haired and Harriet says, although he was Metis, was a chief at Lac Muskeg, now Muskeg Lake Indian Reserve, Saskatchewan. Alex and Marie had two daughters, Marie Cayen who married Isidore Dumont, son of Isidore Dumont and Judith Parenteau; and Justine Cayen who married Willie Edward (Billy) McKay, son of Edward McKay and Caroline Cook.

"Those who forget the lessons of their history are condemned to repeat them."