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Family
Marriage: Children:
  1. George Bird: Birth: ABT 1797 in Rupert's Land Sask., River South Branch. Death: 28 FEB 1855 in St. Paul's, Red River Settlement

  2. John James "Jimmy Jock" Bird: Birth: ABT 1800 in Sturgeon River. Death: 11 DEC 1892 in Two Medicine Creek buried at Browning Glacier ,Montana

  3. Joseph Bird: Birth: 1801 in Ruperts Land. Death: 9 SEP 1879 in St.Ann, Poplar Point. Manitoba

  4. William Bird: Birth: 1803 in North West.

  5. Henry Bird: Birth: 1805 in Norht West.


Family
Marriage: Children:
  1. Elizabeth Maria Bird: Birth: ABT 1806 in Edmonton. Death: FEB 1845 in Winnipeg

  2. John Bird: Birth: ABT 1808 in Manitoba, Canada. Death: 15 OCT 1839 in Pembina Minnesota

  3. Thomas Bird: Birth: BET 1810 AND 1815 in Norway house.

  4. Letitia Bird: Birth: 20 FEB 1810 in Red River Settlement. Death: 26 FEB 1897 in Washington County , Oregon

  5. Levi Bird: Birth: ABT 1813 in Rupertsland. Death: 12 JAN 1864 in St. Johns

  6. Chloe Bird: Birth: ABT 1816 in Red River Settlement. Death: 1842 in Columbus River, Oregon Territory

  7. Philip Bird: Birth: ABT 1820.

  8. Arthur Bird: Birth: ABT 1822.

  9. Nicholas Garry Bird: Birth: ABT 1824.

  10. Mary Bird: Birth: BET 1825 AND 1829.

  11. Peter Bird: Birth: ABT 1826.


Family
Marriage: Children:
  1. Curtis James Bird: Birth: 1837 in Red River Settlement. Death: MAY 1876 in London, England

  2. Eliza Margaret Bird: Birth: 1839.

  3. Harrietta Bird: Birth: 6 JUN 1842. Death: 25 OCT 1843


Notes
a. Note:   BIRD, James #128, Lot 754, James Bird, age 53, Protestant, England, 1 married man, 1 woman, 3 sons (+16), 6 sons (-16), 5 daughter (+15), 2 daughter (-15), 1 house, 1 barn, 4 stable, 3 horses, 1 mare, 1 bull, 12 cows, 12 oxen, 8 calves, 12 swine, 3 carts, 2 ploughs, 2 harrows, 1 boat, 1 canoe, 16 acres; page 5
  The Hudson Bay Company gave preference to British subjects to ensure that the western expansion was English. At this time practically all officers and many lower ranked employees had women according to the custom of the country. Church sanctioned or recorded marriages were few. The company had a practice of not bringing churchmen into the fur trade country until Thomas Douglas of Selkirk opened the door. Some English veterans of the Hudson Bay Company with their Metis families settled on the left bank of the Red River. These include: William H. Cook, Thomas Thomas, James Bird, Alexander Ross, John Pritchard, Donald Gunn, Thomas Bunn and others. The English had a policy to limit the Metis to higher positions in the fur business. A few Metis who attained the higher accounting positions were: John McNab (b-1806) son Thomas McNab (b-1782) North West, Charles Thomas, Charles Bird, James Hodgson and (II)-Thomas Fidler, who are sons of superior officers and mostly Anglo Saxon Half-breed rather than French Metis. Source: Metis Culture in Manitoba 1821-1823
  October: Alexander Henry (1764-1814), the younger, on the Saskatchewan River, opposite the mouth of the Vermilion River, with eleven canoes of trade goods, noted James Bird and his family arrived by canoe from York Factory, then departed with his family on horseback, presumably for Fort Edmonton. Jimmy Jock Bird is the Halfbreed son of James Bird.Metis Culture in Manitoba 1809-1811
  October: The Plains fire of this year is the most devastating to hit the upper Saskatchewan since the arrival of the fur trade. Edmonton House was forced to send their men fifty miles away to fish. Bird had learned from a Sarcee band that, from Edmonton to the banks of the South Saskatchewan, there is not a bull to be seen nor a bit of dry ground unburned. They would burn again in 1813. This very seriously affected trade for the next few years. The Blood, Sarcee and Peigan tribes were driven down into present day Montana.1812-1814
  July 18: (I)-Thomas Douglas (1771-1820), or the money-master as the Natives called him, backed by his rebel army, signed a Red River treaty with the Cree and Ojibwa for good conduct and for use (loan) of Indian lands. Those who signed at the Metis Red River, what the English consider as lands on the Red River and Assiniboine Rivers, were: Selkirk, Thomas Thomas, James Bird, F Matthey, P.D. Orsonnios, Miles McDonnell, Jean Baptiste Chs DeLorimer, Louis Nolin (interpretor) Matchie Whewab Le Sonnant, Mechkadettinnah La Robe Noire, Kataguskebinoa L'Homme Noir, Pegwiss, Ouckidoat and Premier. The British say the inclusion of the Ojibwa in the treaty infuriated the Cree. The British contend that the Ojibwa are latecomers to the region, brought here by the Canadian North West Company some thirty years ago. This was an intentional British tactic to turn the Native brothers against the Metis and Nor'wester. There doesn't appear to be any basis for this comment other than trouble making. It is noteworthy that the Cree are also late comers to this region and that the former peoples were the Blackfoot. The Snake People (English) had extensively documented the displacement of the Cree by the Ojibwa in northern Ontario. They knew very well that both people had arrived at Red River about the same time, and that the English intent was to cause trouble between the related clans. 1816
  Selkirk tried to entice Metis settlers, that were supportive of the the English position, into the Selkirk Town on the Red River . Robert Dickson spread the word among the Coureurs des Bois, Indians and Metis in the Minnesota and Michigan Territories. Jean Baptiste Nolin (1742-1826) was one of the first to respond, and wrote in August that he would move to Selkirk Town on the Red River if Selkirk would provide financial assistance to set up a trading post as well as a sizable discount on trade goods. They would need a village house as close to the church as possible, with room for a garden, stable and other buildings. Selkirk agreed to the terms in general and wrote to James Bird, outlining in detail how the Nolin family is to be encouraged and helped. He is to be an example of the new settlement plans. He is hoping Nolin's daughters will fix to the soil more Metis, who will be more disposed to the English intrusion into Red River. 1818-1820
  There are surplus forts and personnel. The North West Company had 97 forts, and the Hudson Bay Company had 76 forts. This resulted in twice as many clerks as needed. Senior officers retired under generous terms. Unsatisfactory or newly hired personnel were discharged. A strategic shift of trade routes would take place from Montreal to the Hudson Bay, from canoe to York boat. The merger eliminated the historic Great Lakes and St. Lawrence trade networks. The French, pork eating Voyager became redundant; being replaced by the English York men to serve the North West Territories. The displaced peoples became independent traders at Red River and Sault Ste Marie. The Hudson Bay established itself at Sault Ste Marie in an attempt to displace the free traders, but considered their Michipicoten Post as more strategic. Others joined the American Fur Company or faded into the Canadian or American main stream. These Coureurs des Bois, being attached to their native women, rarely returned to native Quebec but, rather, migrated to the Red River, Dakota territories, Red Lake, and the shores of Lake Superior to become hunters, trappers, and free traders. A small number sustained themselves on fishing, the production of maple sugar and on farming. The natural flow of Canadians to the Territories now became an English flow through the Hudson Bay. The Hudson Bay Company gave preference to British subjects to ensure that the western expansion was English. At this time practically all officers and many lower ranked employees had women according to the custom of the country. Church sanctioned or recorded marriages were few. The company had a practice of not bringing churchmen into the fur trade country until Thomas Douglas of Selkirk opened the door. Some English veterans of the Hudson Bay Company with their Metis families settled on the left bank of the Red River. These include: William H. Cook, Thomas Thomas, James Bird, Alexander Ross, John Pritchard, Donald Gunn, Thomas Bunn and others. The English had a policy to limit the Metis to higher positions in the fur business. A few Metis who attained the higher accounting positions were: John McNab (b-1806) son Thomas McNab (b-1782) North West, Charles Thomas, Charles Bird, James Hodgson and (II)-Thomas Fidler, who are sons of superior officers and mostly Anglo Saxon Half-breed rather than French Metis. 1821-1823
  I)-James Curtis Bird, born 1773 son James Bird and Elizabeth Curtis, who married Cumberland House Elizabeth Oo-menahomisk, retired to Red River and was in charge of Edmonton House from 1799-1816. It is noteworthy that he gave the surname Curtis to his children. Upon the death of his country wife, he married another woman, a Mrs Mary Lowman, which resulted in two children, Elizabeth Margaret and Curtis James. Bird totally ignored his Metis children by his first country wife(s?) and focused his last will on his last wife's children. 1824-1835
  Retired Chief Factor (I)-James Bird born 1773, son James Bird and Elizabeth Curtis, purchased a wife Mary Lowman, from the Mission School at Red River who, it was said, paid 'full value' for his 'conquest', 3000�, which was considered reasonable considering his age, upwards of sixty two. The child was likely in her mid teens. It is noteworthy that he ignored his Metis children from his first marriage at Cumberland House to Elizabeth Oo-menahomisk. It is noteworthy that he gave the surname Curtis to these children. His second marriage produced two children, Elizabeth Margaret Bird and Curtis James Bird. 1835
  . Scrip affidavit for Bird, Curtis James; 1) Annabelle Bird - Deceased wife who died August 22, 1874; father: Donald Reiss; mother: Mary McBeth (both original white settlers from Scotland who settled in Red River Country in 1815); heirs: Husband, Curtis James Bird; and Children; 2) Curtis James Bird - born: 1837; father: James Curtis Bird (British) an original white settler from England settled in Red River Country in 1820 and died in 1858; mother: Mary Kelly (British); First Wife: Frances Ross = 19uu. File.
  Source: Metis Culture
  October: Alexander Henry (1764-1814), the younger, on the Saskatchewan River, opposite the mouth of the Vermilion River, with eleven canoes of trade goods, noted James Bird and his family arrived by canoe from York Factory, then departed with his family on horseback, presumably for Fort Edmonton. Jimmy Jock Bird is the Halfbreed son of James Bird.
  April 24: Prairie De Chien, birth Elizabeth Therese Baird died November 5, 1890 daughter Henry Munro Fisher (American Fur Company) and Marienne Lasaliere Metis daughter Pierre Lasaliere and Therese Schindler (also married George Schindler); Elizabeth married 1824 Mackinac Henry S Bird (1800-1876).
  October: The Plains fire of this year is the most devastating to hit the upper Saskatchewan since the arrival of the fur trade. Edmonton House was forced to send their men fifty miles away to fish. Bird had learned from a Sarcee band that, from Edmonton to the banks of the South Saskatchewan, there is not a bull to be seen nor a bit of dry ground unburned. They would burn again in 1813. This very seriously affected trade for the next few years. The Blood, Sarcee and Peigan tribes were driven down into present day Montana.
  July 18: (I)-Thomas Douglas (1771-1820), or the money-master as the Natives called him, backed by his rebel army, signed a Red River treaty with the Cree and Ojibwa for good conduct and for use (loan) of Indian lands. Those who signed at the Metis Red River, what the English consider as lands on the Red River and Assiniboine Rivers, were: Selkirk, Thomas Thomas, James Bird, F Matthey, P.D. Orsonnios, Miles McDonnell, Jean Baptiste Chs DeLorimer, Louis Nolin (interpretor) Matchie Whewab Le Sonnant, Mechkadettinnah La Robe Noire, Kataguskebinoa L'Homme Noir, Pegwiss, Ouckidoat and Premier. The British say the inclusion of the Ojibwa in the treaty infuriated the Cree. The British contend that the Ojibwa are latecomers to the region, brought here by the Canadian North West Company some thirty years ago. This was an intentional British tactic to turn the Native brothers against the Metis and Nor'wester. There doesn't appear to be any basis for this comment other than trouble making. It is noteworthy that the Cree are also late comers to this region and that the former peoples were the Blackfoot. The Snake People (English) had extensively documented the displacement of the Cree by the Ojibwa in northern Ontario. They knew very well that both people had arrived at Red River about the same time, and that the English intent was to cause trouble between the related clans.
  Selkirk tried to entice Metis settlers, that were supportive of the the English position, into the Selkirk Town on the Red River . Robert Dickson spread the word among the Coureurs des Bois, Indians and Metis in the Minnesota and Michigan Territories. Jean Baptiste Nolin (1742-1826) was one of the first to respond, and wrote in August that he would move to Selkirk Town on the Red River if Selkirk would provide financial assistance to set up a trading post as well as a sizable discount on trade goods. They would need a village house as close to the church as possible, with room for a garden, stable and other buildings. Selkirk agreed to the terms in general and wrote to James Bird, outlining in detail how the Nolin family is to be encouraged and helped. He is to be an example of the new settlement plans. He is hoping Nolin's daughters will fix to the soil more Metis, who will be more disposed to the English intrusion into Red River
  July 2: Norway House, birth (II)-Peter Fidler Jr., Metis, son (I)-Peter Fidler (1769-1822) and Mary a Swampy Cree; married Amelia Bird, b-1821..
  There are surplus forts and personnel. The North West Company had 97 forts, and the Hudson Bay Company had 76 forts. This resulted in twice as many clerks as needed. Senior officers retired under generous terms. Unsatisfactory or newly hired personnel were discharged. A strategic shift of trade routes would take place from Montreal to the Hudson Bay, from canoe to York boat. The merger eliminated the historic Great Lakes and St. Lawrence trade networks. The French, pork eating Voyager became redundant; being replaced by the English York men to serve the North West Territories. The displaced peoples became independent traders at Red River and Sault Ste Marie. The Hudson Bay established itself at Sault Ste Marie in an attempt to displace the free traders, but considered their Michipicoten Post as more strategic. Others joined the American Fur Company or faded into the Canadian or American main stream. These Coureurs des Bois, being attached to their native women, rarely returned to native Quebec but, rather, migrated to the Red River, Dakota territories, Red Lake, and the shores of Lake Superior to become hunters, trappers, and free traders. A small number sustained themselves on fishing, the production of maple sugar and on farming. The natural flow of Canadians to the Territories now became an English flow through the Hudson Bay. The Hudson Bay Company gave preference to British subjects to ensure that the western expansion was English. At this time practically all officers and many lower ranked employees had women according to the custom of the country. Church sanctioned or recorded marriages were few. The company had a practice of not bringing churchmen into the fur trade country until Thomas Douglas of Selkirk opened the door. Some English veterans of the Hudson Bay Company with their Metis families settled on the left bank of the Red River. These include: William H. Cook, Thomas Thomas, James Bird, Alexander Ross, John Pritchard, Donald Gunn, Thomas Bunn and others. The English had a policy to limit the Metis to higher positions in the fur business. A few Metis who attained the higher accounting positions were: John McNab (b-1806) son Thomas McNab (b-1782) North West, Charles Thomas, Charles Bird, James Hodgson and (II)-Thomas Fidler, who are sons of superior officers and mostly Anglo Saxon Half-breed rather than French Metis.
  I)-James Curtis Bird, born 1773 son James Bird and Elizabeth Curtis, who married Cumberland House Elizabeth Oo-menahomisk, retired to Red River and was in charge of Edmonton House from 1799-1816. It is noteworthy that he gave the surname Curtis to his children. Upon the death of his country wife, he married another woman, a Mrs Mary Lowman, which resulted in two children, Elizabeth Margaret and Curtis James. Bird totally ignored his Metis children by his first country wife(s?) and focused his last will on his last wife's children.
  Retired Chief Factor (I)-James Bird born 1773, son James Bird and Elizabeth Curtis, purchased a wife Mary Lowman, from the Mission School at Red River who, it was said, paid 'full value' for his 'conquest', 3000�, which was considered reasonable considering his age, upwards of sixty two. The child was likely in her mid teens. It is noteworthy that he ignored his Metis children from his first marriage at Cumberland House to Elizabeth Oo-menahomisk. It is noteworthy that he gave the surname Curtis to these children. His second marriage produced two children, Elizabeth Margaret Bird and Curtis James Bird.
  Mrs. Elizabeth T. Bird, Ottawa Metis, living Green Bay listed March 28, 1836 treaty. Rejected as living Green Bay last 11 years.
  (I)-James Bird Sr., a.k.a. James Curtis (d-1856), is in charge of South Branch House, York until 1794.
  (I)-James Bird Sr., a.k.a. James Curtis (d-1856), is in charge of Nepawi, York until 1795.
  (I)-James Bird Sr. a.k.a. James Curtis (d-1856) is in charge of Carlton House, York until 1797.
  (II)-George Bird Metis born 1792 North West (York Factory?) son (I)-James Bird of England, 1838 census Red River.
  Elizabeth (Betsy) Thomas married Richard Stony Robins and had a son; Henry Stony Robins. Richard Stony Robins, who is presently (1822) living with James Russell also married March 13, 1820 Red River a (II)-Joseph Bird son (I)-James Bird Sr. a.k.a. James Curtis (d-1856), of Red River District.
  1788 I)-James Bird Sr., a.k.a. James Curtis (d-1856), arrived York Factory with the Hudson Bay Company from Middlesex County, England. He worked here until 1792. It would appear this was his second tour of duty as children attributed to him were born 1781 and 1785, or there was another James Bird in the employ of HBC. It is known that he had at least two Indian wives. He would spend most of his assignment in the Saskatchewan River District, mostly at Fort Edmonton and neighboring posts. He retired in 1824 to Red River. Bird, being English, is likely the brunt of an often told Scottish story: A Cree Indian woman, when asked why there were so many French and Scottish Halfbreeds and so few English Halfbreeds, replied, "A Squaw (isikwao) must draw the line somewhere." (Squaw is a very insulting English word.)
  II)-James Bird born 1798 North West son (I)-James Bird born 1775 Britain, and Mary Kelly Indian born 1777 North West territories, listed St. Andrews, Red River census 1870. (II)-James 1st married Elizabeth b-1808, 2nd marrage Sarah Butts Indian b-1809 North West Territories. This could be in error as James Bird Sr arrived HBC 1788 but had children from 1781 making his birth day closer to 1760 or we are dealing with two James Bird.
  The HBC is claimed to build Action House, commanded by James Bird Sr., in clear sight of the N.W.C.'s Rocky Mountain House.



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