Creating a Fur Trade post, 1751
(Copy obtained by Government of Ontario from archives of the
Department of the Marine and Colonies, Paris )
Grant of the Post a la Carpe, North of Lake Nepigon, and extending to the
Shores of Hudson’s Bay:
Governor La Jonquiere to Sieur Simblin, 1751.
DECREE OF M. DE LA JONQUIERE, WHICH PERMITS SR. SIMBLIN,
ENSIGN OF THE TROOP IN CANADA, TO CONSTRUCT AT HIS OWN EXPENSE AT LAC A LA
CARPE, A FORT, A HOUSE AND A STOREHOUSE, WITH THE POWER TO COMMAND THEM, AND
THERE TO CARRY ON EXCLUSIVE COMMERCE DURING THE TERM OF SIX YEARS.
[Sieur Simblin lived
in interesting times: - Gainsborough was painting his Masterpieces; Ben
Franklin was playing with his kites and lightning; the Halifax Gazette was
putting out its first edition; and France and England were mixing it up “big
time” for the control of Canada.]
27th
February, 1751
Seeing the
Petition which has been presented to us by the Sr. de Simblin, second ensign in
the troops of this colony, with the petition {? Plan} appended to it, after
having given attention to the reasons contained in the said petition, and
having seen with evidence, by the said plan, that the savage nations which are
in the interior of the northern part of the said lands, and of whom certain are
yet to be known, the French are obliged to supply their needs at Hudson’s Bay,
and there to carry on their commerce with the English in passing by way of the
three arms of the river marked on said plan, not being in position to carry on
their traffic elsewhere. We, having been
assured that they have never carried it on at Nepigon, nor any other French
Post, that it would be very possible to cut all commerce and connection of the
savages with the English in establishing a fort at the lake called Lac a la
Carpe, which has not been up to the present occupied by the French, nor
comprised in the limits of any of our posts, and we not being able ourselves to
refuse the invitation which a chief of the said savages has given us by the Sr.
de Simblin, in the name of said nations, to found the said establishment.
Persuaded in
other respects that the said establishment could not but be, in every way, very
advantageous to the benefit of the King’s service, to the interests and to the
service of the colony;
Taking into
account the excellent evidence that has been given to us of the zeal , the
fidelity, the experience, the credit which the said Sr. de Simblin has acquired
amongst these savage nations, and that he is very capable of forming the said
establishment, and the closest alliance between the said nations and the
French,
We, in
virtue of the power which has been given to us by the King, have received and
receive the offer which has been made to us by Sr. de Simblin, to found the
said establishment at his own expense;
and in consequence have appointed, and appoint him, under the good
pleasure of His Majesty, to proceed next spring to the said Lac a la Carpe,
there to establish a fort, a house, and a storehouse, the whole to be built of
logs; of which we have given to him, and
by these presents, the command and the exclusive trade from the said Lac a la
Carpe, extending from the shore of Hudson’s Bay in the eastern section, and
from the west to 30 leagues of distance, for the time and term of six
consecutive years, which shall commence in the spring-time of the year, 1752,
and will finish in the spring-time of the year 1758.
ON
CONDITION:
First, that
he will bear the expenses of the said establishment at his risk and with his
fortune, without His Majesty being liable on anything, directly or
indirectly; that he will not lay claim
to any annual indemnification during the said six years, nor to any compensation
when said six years are finished; that
he will not carry on any trade except with the nations which shall go to said
post.
Second, that
he shall have caused the said fort, house, and storehouse, to be constructed in
the spring-time of the next year, 1752;
that he shall have there during the said year, and until the end of his
command, the merchandise necessary to carry on trade with the savages; and that he shall not found any establishment
nor winter on the River du Cassetete, having only the liberty to pass by the
Lake of the Nepigon and the said River du Cassetete in order to proceed to his
post; and neglecting one of these
conditions these presents will remain void.
And on this
condition we shall send forward to him gratis each year, our permission for the
departure of the canoes which shall make transport of the said merchandise, and
it will be free to him to buy the bark canoes and his provisions at
Missilimakinac for these purposes. In
testimony whereof, etc.,
Done at
Quebec, etc.
LA JONQUIERE
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