Sarah McLeod (Ballenden) facts for kids

Sarah McLeod (1818 – 23 December 1853) is notable in the history of Canada for being involved in a defamation case, the Foss-Pelly scandal.

Early life

Sarah was born in Rupert's Land, i.e. the Hudson Bay drainage basin, part of British North America deeply involved in the fur trade. She was one of eight children of Alexander Roderick McLeod, chief trader for the Hudson's Bay Company, and a mixed-blood mother (see Marriage 'à la façon du pays' and Anglo-Métis). She grew up at trading posts in the Mackenzie River and Columbia areas. She was sent to the Red River Colony (now part of Manitoba) to receive a formal education.

At Red River she met John Ballenden, a newly appointed Scottish accountant at Upper Fort Garry, whom she married in 1836. This type of mixed marriage was still considered socially acceptable at this time. The Ballendens began to raise a family. When John was named chief factor, they returned to Red River in 1848. He was in poor health but recovering and they were active in leading the social life of the community.