Fur Trade Stories   Teaching Tips
  En Français
  Identity, Culture
& Communities
  The Land: People
& Places
  Historical Connections
  Power & Authority
  Economics & Resources
  Globalization

Search the entire site
Search this time
period only
 
Fur Trade Stories Timeline
  From 1600 to 1867
Home >> From 1600 to 1867 >> Identity, Culture & Communities >> Articles/Diaries/Ephemera/Journals

Daily life and challenges for the various groups involved in the fur trade.


Image 1 | Image 2
Author: Letitia Hargrave
Title: The Letters of Letitia Hargrave
Publisher: The Champlain Society, Toronto
Year Published: 1947
Copyright Holder: The Champlain Society
  -46- Letitia Hargrave: Miss Mactavish

Letitia Hargrave nee MacTavish (1813-1854) was the daughter of Sheriff Dugald MacTavish and Letitia Lockhart. In 1840, she married James Hargrave, Chief Trader for the HBC, and left Scotland for York Factory.

The letters Letitia wrote to family and friends provide us with observations of daily life that differ from the typical post journals of that time which were written by men.

Her correspondence is also recognized for its importance as being one of the earliest for pioneer women in the fur trade in Western Canada. Through her letters, we can see her mature from a gawking and sea-sick newcomer to a shrewd and experienced observer of fur trade life.

21 May, 1840. This is a very early letter to her mother, regarding country wives and stepchildren. P34-35, 3rd pgh: “I wish you had heard… much attached to her.”


“I wish you had heard Mrs [George} Simpsons account of Mrs John [George] Mactavish’s introduction to her eldest daughter a girl of 13. As soon as they arrived at Montreal Uncle had told her. Mrs S. says she had evidently suffered, but said nothing till one day after dinner at Lachine with all the gentlemen sitting and Mrs Simpson and herself the only ladies. Mr Tom Taylor (brother to the late Mrs Mary Stuart) who was then the Governors servant threw open the door with a flourish and announced “Miss Mactavish”.

Uncle rose and took her up to his wife, who got stupid but shook hands with the Miss who was very pretty and mighty impudent. Her father then proceeded to caress and make of her. Mrs M. got white and red and at last rose and left the room, all the party looking very uncomfortable except Uncle and the girl. Mrs S. followed and found her in a violent fit of crying, she said she knew the child was to have been home that night but thought she would have been spared such a public introduction.

All the way up to Moose Uncle spoiled and indulged her in a provoking way and she was often very impertinent to her step mother, who however never took notice of it and always when writing told Mrs S. that Mary was a very affectionate girl and she had become very much attached to her- ”


Other Related Material
Read excerpts from Letitia's letters - enter 'Letitia' in the search box to your left.

What does Letitia Hargrave look like?

Check the Beaver Index - e.g., type in women, children, health, etc.