Fort, Flett and Family: A Journey into our Family Roots at Fort Edmonton, by Vernon R. Wishart and Shirley A Wishart.

Fort Edmonton's 200th Anniversary has provided the stimulus for celebrating the connection we have as a family with this historic occasion. We are not unique. There are undoubtedly many families in Edmonton who have reason to cherish roots that go back to those earliest of times in the history of the city.


Our particular link to Fort Edmonton and its Bicentennial Celebration is traced through our great grandmother, Eliza Wishart. Eliza was the granddaughter of William A- Flett Sr., an employee of the Hudson's Bay Company. Flett. along with Peter Fidler, a surveyor with the Company, explored the site for a Hudson's Bay post which was to become known as Edmonton House and later as Fort Edmonton.


According to Hudson's Bay records Flett signed on with the Company on the 19th of June, 1782 at the age of twenty years. He worked as a labourer at York Factory until the 24th of August of that same year. It was on that date that the French under La Perouse attacked and left York Factory, in the words of Orcadian William Tomison, "a Ruinous heap, which is a Disagreeable sight to behold" (Tyrol I, 1934. p.584). Flett was taken prisoner and spent a year in France before returning in 1783 to help in the reconstruction of York Factory which had been reclaimed from the French. He was to be employed as a labourer, steersman and hunter both inland and at York factory from 1783 to 1809.


In 1793 Flett accompanied Peter Fidler as they explored the site for a Hudson's Bay post which was to become known as Edmonton House. According to Fidler's Journal, he, William Flett, Mr. Thomas, and John Ward set out on horseback from Buckingham House, a Hudson's Bay post, which was located on the banks of the North Saskatchewan, not far from present day Elk Point, "to see where would be the most eligible spot to build at, should the Canadians (the North-West Company) to there'. They traveled about 130 miles on horseback over seven days along the north bank of the Saskatchewan until they came to the mouth of the Sturgeon River where they scouted out possible sites for a post (Ream, 1974, p. 11ff).


The sod turning for the new post took place on October 3rd. The actual construction of Edmonton House began October 13, 1795 (Saskatchewan Journals and Correspondence. 1795-1802. p. 14). The post's flag was raised on December 7th just upstream from the mouth of the Sturgeon and just opposite Fort Augustus ('a musket shot away') which had been erected by the North West Company in the summer of 1795. The area was described as being "a rich and plentiful country abounding with all kinds of animals, especially Beavers and Otters, which are said to be so numerous that the Women and Children kill them with sticks and hatchets" (Quoted in G.H. McDonald, Fort Augustus - Edmonton, p. 27).


This was a time when there were frequent and bloody feuds between the two companies. They built close to one another, however, because of the ever present danger of Indian raids. A cairn has since been erected north-east of present day Fort Saskatchewan and overlooking the site of the two rival companies.


In 1821 the two protagonists were amalgamated under the Hudson's Bay Company. From that time on the trading posts were designated as forts, hence the name Fort Edmonton.


William A. Flett Jr., later Sr., was born circa 1762 in the Redland district of the parish of Firth, in the Orkney Islands. The Orkneys, a cluster of wind swept islands off Scotland's north coast, were where the Company recruited most of its employees. The Orcadians were used to laboring at home under conditions that were almost as rigorous as those they found in their new land of employment. Many of the Orcadians who signed on with the Company were likely the youngest sons of crofters (farmers) who were also fishermen. Their talents for stonemasonry. coopering, blacksmithing, steering and boat building were skills they brought with them to the New World. Their hardiness and adaptability were ideal for manning the distant outposts of the Company. Peter C. Newman in his book. Company of Adventures , observes that the contribution of the Orcadians was significant, "They did most of the real work, and it was their loyalty to the Company they served and their attitude towards the Indians with whom they traded that allowed the Hudson's Bay to rule its distant domain and barter in good faith with native harvesters of fur" (Newman, 1985, p. 175).


Like many of his countrymen, William Flett married a native woman. She was Cree. Her name was "Saskatchewan", a word derived from the Cree words kishiska, meaning "rapid" and djiwan, meaning "current"; the river with the "swift current" kishiska djwan (Armnstrong, 1972, p. 257).


Saskatchewan, like the women of the First Peoples who married husbands from distant lands, were invaluable to their spouses. Indeed, without them many would not have survived the hardships they would endure in the service of the Company. Their country wives taught them not only basic survival knowledge, including how to make and use canoes, snowshoes, etc. but were helpful also in their contacts with the tribes with whom the Hudson's Bay desired to trade.


Sylvia Van Kirk in her book. Many Tender Ties, makes this observation:


"Marriage 'a la facon du pays ("in the custom of the country") provided the basis for the growth of the fur trade society, which was characterized by the emergence of distinct family units...the particular demands of the fur trade cast the Indian wife into a much more important role than simply that of a sexual partner. Marital alliances cemented the social ties between the Indians and the traders and had a beneficial impact upon the trade itself. In the fur-trade world, the Indian wife, because of her unique work skills, also proved to be a much more valuable mate than a white woman would have been. (Van Kirk, 1980, p. 150)


Hudson's Bay records indicate that William Flett was a valued employee of the company. By 1796, he was an expert steersman, canoe maker and hunter with thirteen years of service behind him. Because he was an excellent marksman and buffalo hunter, he spent most of the winter of 1796 - 97 hunting buffalo for the (York) fort. In March 1797, Flett returned to the post to help build canoes, no doubt with the skilled help of his wife.


During the winter of 1796 - 97 George Sutherland was in charge of Edmonton House. 'To George Sutherland goes much of the credit for taking the lead in bringing into being the Hudson's Bay Company's fleet of York boats which proved so successful' (MacGregor, 1966, p. 104). The York boats were modeled after the Orkney fishing boats or yawls, which dated back to Viking influences. They were forty feet (12.3 m.) in length with a ten-man crew. They could transport four tons (3600 kg.) in furs and supplies. 'Some of Fidler's men were assigned to build these boats' (MacGregor. 1966. p. 104). William Flett was likely among them as the boat builders were mainly Orkney men.


It is notable that during William Flett's long and distinguished career he was a contemporary of such outstanding fur trade people as William Tomison and Peter Fidler. Flett's path crossed time and again with others of our ancestors: Isaac Baft, an Englishman, one of the Hudson's Bay most experienced inland travelers and James Spence Sr. who was a valued employee at Buckingham House.


As an indication of his experience and ability, Flett served on two occasions, 1810 - 12 and 1820 - 21 as Master at Acton House, which is about 5 kilometers from present day Rocky Mountain House. He was Master from 1812 - 13 at Little White Earth House, some eighty miles downstream from Edmonton, near modern Pakan, when the Hudson's Bay Company erected its third Edmonton House (the second was established around 1802 on the site of the present city of Edmonton, the location being on the river flats near where the power plant now stands). From 1813 - 14, he was Master and Canoe Builder at New Factory. His longest period of service inland was as Master and Canoe Builder at Edmonton House from 1814-20. Flett finished out his career at Edmonton as Master and Canoeman from 1822-23.


A word about the position of Master and Canoe Builder (I owe this explanation to a personal communication with Dr. John Foster, Professor of History, University of Alberta). A Master was a respected position in the Company. Employees were chosen as Masters who had long service, trading skills, self-sufficiency and reputation. They would be placed in command of a group of Company servants. During the winter the Master's job was to be in charge of outpost(s) where he and his men traded with and serviced Indian bands. William Flett's work in various capacities along the North Saskatchewan, as well as being educated enough to keep records, gave him the needed background for the task.


Especially helpful for his work was his country wife, Saskatchewan. Their relationship meant that he would spend time with her family and community. As a result, he would establish an understanding of native people and their ways which, through an outsider, would make him accepted and trusted. He would be looked upon by the Company as one who would be able to barter in good faith with the native people.


Being a Master was not an easy assignment. Not only was there the ever present danger of Indian attack, but there was also the strained relationships with the rival North-West Company. The Nor'Westers constantly sought ways and means to obstruct the trading between the Company and the native people.


In addition to serving the Company as Master, Flett served as Canoe Builder. With the coming of Spring, when canoes were needed for trade, exploration and the transporting of men, furs and supplies, the Fort's Canoe Builder had a vital function. His task would be to organize the gathering of the material necessary, and the supervision of canoe construction. Birch bark was the only local material strong enough to carry substantial loads, yet sufficiently light to be maneuvered and carried across a portage. The bark was sewn onto wooden frames with a type of cord (wattape) made from spruce roots and then caulked with spruce gum. There were two main types of canoes, one with a capacity of four tons and manned by ten paddlers. The other was a smaller vessel with half the carrying capacity but light enough for two men to lift across a portage. There is some truth in the saying that Canada was opened up for nation status by the beaver and the birchbark canoe.


The fact that William Flett served as Master and Canoe Builder in various locations, the longest of which was at Fort Edmonton. Indicates the high regard the Bay officers had for him, so much so, that on one occasion when the Chief Factor had to be away Flett was put in charge.


William Flett Sr., his country wife, Saskatchewan, and their four children. Elizabeth, Peter. Anne and William Jr., retired to the Red River Settlement along the banks of the Red and Assiniboine rivers in present day Manitoba. He died on November 10. 1823, at the age of 61 years. His widow Saskatchewan took up residence with her daughter, Elizabeth, and son-in-law Robert Rowland until her death in 1845 at the age of 70. In his will dated November 9. 1823. William Flett directed that 'all his monies be put in trust' for the sole use and benefit of his 'reputed wife Saskatchewan and their four children' ( Van Kirk, 1980, p. 45).


Peter Flett, the son of William and Saskatchewan, married Euphemia Halcro. A daughter, Elizabeth Amy (Eliza) married James Wishart. James and Eliza, the first settlers in the Rosebud area (twenty miles from Drumheller) in 1885, are our great grandparents.


Today, descendants of William and Saskatchewan Flett remember with thanksgiving the rich heritage that they and others like them bequeathed to us all. Like many others we feel we are part of a humble but honorable lineage of which we are tremendously proud.


BIBLIOGRAPHY
ARCHIVES, HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY (See attached)
ARMSTRONG, G. H., The Origin and meaning of Place Names in Canada, (MacMillan of Canada, Toronto, 1972)
MACGREGOR, J.G., Peter Fidler: Canada's Forgotten Surveyor 1769 - 1822 , (McClelland and Stewart Ltd., Toronto, 1966)
NEWMAN, Peter C., Company of Adventures , (Penguin Books Canada Ltd., Markham, Ontario, 1985)
REAM, Peter T., The Fort On the Saskatchewan , 2 nd edition, (Metropolitan Printing, Edmonton, 1974). [For the material on Fidler and Flett, Dr. Ream has drawn on the Saskatchewan Journals and Correspondence, 1795 - 1802].
TYRELL, J., editor, Journal of Samuel Hearne and Philip Turnor, (Champlain Society, vol. xxi, 1934).
VAN KIRK, Sylvia, Many Tender Ties, {Woman in Fur Trade Society 1670 - 1870}, (Watson and Dwyer Publishing Ltd., Winnipeg, 1980)