Sarah McLeod (Ballenden) facts for kids
Sarah McLeod (born in 1818 – died December 23, 1853) was an important person in Canadian history. She was involved in a famous legal case known as the Foss-Pelly scandal.
Who Was Sarah McLeod?
Sarah McLeod was born in a place called Rupert's Land. This area was part of British North America. It covered the land around the Hudson Bay drainage basin. This region was very important for the North American fur trade.
Sarah was one of eight children. Her father, Alexander Roderick McLeod, was a chief trader for the Hudson's Bay Company. This company was a big part of the fur trade. Her mother was from a mixed background, often called Anglo-Métis. Many families in the fur trade formed through marriages between European traders and Indigenous women. This was sometimes called "Marriage à la façon du pays".
Growing Up in the Fur Trade
Sarah grew up at different trading posts. These were places where fur traders lived and worked. She lived in areas near the Mackenzie River and the Columbia River.
To get a good education, Sarah was sent to the Red River Colony. This colony is now part of Manitoba.
Life at Red River Colony
At the Red River Colony, Sarah met John Ballenden. He was a new accountant from Scotland. He worked at Upper Fort Garry. Sarah and John got married in 1836.
At that time, marriages between people from different backgrounds were common and accepted. The Ballendens started their family. John later became a "chief factor". This was a very important leadership role in the fur trade.
In 1848, John and Sarah returned to Red River. John was not very well, but he was getting better. They were active in the community and helped lead social events.
