Pedlar (fur trade) facts for kids

The term Pedlar in Canadian history refers to English-speaking fur traders. These traders were independent. They came from Montreal and operated in western Canada. They were active from about 1770 to 1803. They competed with the powerful Hudson's Bay Company (HBC). After 1779, most of them joined the North West Company.

The Hudson's Bay Company first used this name for French Coureur des bois. These were French traders who traveled inland. They traded furs directly with Indigenous peoples in their villages. This was different from the HBC's plan. The HBC built trading posts on Hudson Bay. Indigenous people would bring furs to these posts.

Pedlars were important for three main reasons. First, they helped share important skills. French-Canadians had great knowledge of the woodlands. They passed these skills to English-speaking traders. These English traders later led the fur trade. Many guides and interpreters were French-Canadian or Métis people. They helped transfer knowledge from Indigenous peoples.

Second, the Pedlars created strong competition. This forced the Hudson's Bay Company to build posts further inland. After 1821, the HBC became very powerful. It acted like an informal government in western Canada. It helped connect western and eastern Canada. Third, the Pedlars explored much of the country. They opened up areas west of Lake Winnipeg. By the time the fur trade reached the Rocky Mountains, most Pedlars had joined the North West Company.

Key Traders and Their Arrival

This section lists when some major English-speaking fur traders arrived in Canada. Many arrived around the end of two wars.

• 1759: Quebec fell. William Grant (seigneur) (from Scotland) arrived.
• 1760: Montreal fell. Richard Dobie (Scotland) and George McBeath (Scotland) arrived.
• 1761: Alexander Henry the elder (New Jersey) arrived.
• 1763: Benjamin Frobisher and Joseph Frobisher (England) arrived.
• 1765: Peter Pond (Connecticut) arrived.
• 1766: James McGill (Scotland) arrived.
• 1767: Peter Pangman (New Jersey) arrived.
• 1769: Simon McTavish (Scotland) arrived.
• 1774: Nicholas Montour (New York) and John Finlay (fur trader) (Canada) arrived.
• 1783: Angus Bethune (fur trader) (Canada) arrived.
• 1783?: Alexander MacKay (fur trader) (New York) arrived.
• 1784: Simon Fraser (explorer) (New York), David Thompson (explorer) (London), and William McGillivray (Scotland) arrived.
• 1785: Francis Badgley (merchant) (London) arrived.
• 1786: Angus Shaw (Scotland) arrived.
• 1788: Peter Fidler (explorer) (England) arrived.
• 1790: Peter Skene Ogden (Quebec) arrived.
• 1799: Daniel Williams Harmon (Vermont) arrived.

Fur Trade Rebounds and Westward Exploration

French Trade Changes

During the French and Indian War, French officers left Quebec. Trade goods became hard to find. By 1760, all French forts on the Saskatchewan River closed. Some French colonists stayed in the area. They continued trading as best they could. Some, like Louis Primeau, even joined the Hudson's Bay Company.

After the British took over New France, the Royal Proclamation of 1763 tried to control the fur trade. But it was hard to manage traders in the west. In 1768, control of Indigenous trade moved to individual colonies. This meant the Governor of Quebec was in charge.

Trade Starts Again

Montreal fell to the British in 1760. In 1761, William Grant (fur trader) made a deal. He arranged for goods to be carried to Michilimackinac. That same year, Alexander Henry the elder brought goods from Albany, New York, to Michilimackinac. In 1763, he was caught in Pontiac's Rebellion. He was held captive for a year.

In 1765, William Howard, who led Michilimackinac, gave Henry a special right. Henry got to control the trade on Lake Superior. French-Canadians like Blondeau and François le Blanc kept trading. They had stayed in the interior. The first English trader to go west of the lakes had trouble. His canoes were robbed on Rainy Lake in 1765 and 1766. But he reached Lake Winnipeg in 1767.

By 1767, the western trade seemed to be back on track. That year, 100 canoes traveled from Grand Portage to Michilimackinac. Robert Rogers (soldier) was in charge there. Records from that year show mostly French traders. They were supported by English investors. A few English traders were also present. They traded in places like Fort Dauphin (Manitoba) and Fort La Reine. In 1768, James Finlay was at Nipawin, Saskatchewan. By 1770, B&T Frobisher were on Cedar Lake.

Westward on the Saskatchewan River

In 1773 and 1774, Louis Primeau and Joseph Frobisher spent the winter on Cumberland Lake. In 1774, Samuel Hearne built Cumberland House, Saskatchewan. This was the first inland trading post for the Hudson's Bay Company. In 1775, many Pedlars were further upriver. They were near the old Fort de la Corne on the lower Saskatchewan.

Some Pedlars appeared on Cumberland Lake. These included Peter Pangman, the Frobishers, and Alexander Henry the elder. In 1776, the Pedlars built Fort Sturgeon. This was the first trading post on the North Saskatchewan River. In 1778, the Pedlars built a post called Middle Settlement. It was upriver near Silver Grove. Further west, they had a place called "Pidgeon's House" near Ruddell, Saskatchewan. Another post was "Upper Settlement." This was nine miles downriver from Battleford, Saskatchewan. In 1780, there was a conflict at Upper Settlement. Indigenous people captured the fort but allowed the traders to leave.

In 1779, the North West Company was formed. Around 1780, a serious disease outbreak happened. It affected the middle Saskatchewan region. Many Indigenous trappers died. This caused a big economic loss for the North West Company in 1782. In 1782, the French captured York Factory, Manitoba. This disrupted the Hudson's Bay Company's trade. In 1786, Pine Island Fort was built. It was 40 miles east of the Alberta border. One of its founders was Donald McKay. He was still an independent "Pedlar" at that time. For more history, see Saskatchewan River fur trade.

Northwest to Lake Athabasca

In the spring of 1775, Primeau and Joseph Frobisher traveled north. They went from Cumberland Lake to Frog Portage. There, they stopped many furs that were heading to Hudson Bay. In the winter of 1776 and 1777, Peter Pond and Thomas Frobisher were on Lac Île-à-la-Crosse. In 1778, Pond crossed the Methye Portage. He spent the winter about 40 miles below Lake Athabasca. In 1781, the Hudson's Bay Company decided to join the Athabasca fur trade.

See also

In Spanish: Pedlar para niños