Library and Archives Canada holds many records regarding the fur trade, including the companies involved in fur trading and the men, called "voyageurs," who did the actual fur trading.
Charles Napier Bell Fonds: Fur Trade Papers (MG 19 A30): Includes records relating to the recruitment of "voyageurs," 1787 to 1820, arranged by date.
List of Names in the Charles Napier Bell Fonds (MG 19 A30)
Names |
Date |
|---|
Asselin, François |
5 March 1787 |
Baudoin, Amable |
13 March 1799 |
Beaupré, Joseph |
27 April 1797 |
Bélangé, Joseph |
5 January 1803 |
Biboe, Paul |
28 May 1802 |
Buché, François |
24 January 1798 |
Cadieu, Michel |
3 January 1820 |
Chaurette, Joseph |
9 July 1803 |
Duchesne, Joseph |
13 August 1789 |
Fleurie, Amable |
29 May 1803 |
Gouin, Joseph |
6 January 1800 |
Goulet, Joseph |
22 November 1799 |
LaChance, Louis |
23 July 1802 |
La Freniere, Louis |
11 February 1797 |
Lalande, Ambroise |
24 January 1797 |
Larnois, Jean Bte |
5 January 1801 |
Laroque, Jean Baptiste |
12 August 1816 |
Laverdure, Joseph |
9 June 1787 |
Masuret dit Lapierre, Étienne |
4 November 1802 |
Ménard, Joseph |
23 June 1801 |
Mogie, Robert |
26 July 1801 |
Morneau, Louis |
22 April 1801 |
Papin, Louis |
4 January 1798 |
Rock, Baptiste |
13 July 1801 |
St. Onge, Jean Baptiste |
14 August 1817 |
Verigny, Louis |
19 June 1811 |
Collection de contrats d'engagement de Canadiens-français, 1801-1820 (MG 19 A51): Contracts for some French-Canadians working for various fur trade companies.
List of Names from the Collection de contrats d'engagement (MG 19 A51)
Names |
Residence |
Date |
|---|
Ballard, Bapiste |
Sorel |
s.d. |
Braudrier, Étienne |
Montréal |
19 May 1807 |
Croixeau, Baptiste |
Récollets |
6 July 1807 |
Forcier dit Augustin, Pierre (fils) |
Sorel |
s.d. |
Généreux, Pierre |
Rivière du Loup |
21 March 1801 |
Gileau, Baptiste |
Maska |
9 March 1808 |
Julie, Jacques |
Beaucherville |
s.d. |
Lantier, Louis |
St. Eustache |
21 April 1802 |
Longeuil, Joseph |
Montréal |
11 July 1806 |
Monmarquier, Pierre |
St-Laurent |
19 May 1807 |
Nadeau, Joseph |
Montréal |
18 August 1807 |
Parisien, Hyacinthe |
Isle Perrault |
15 September 1800 |
Poitras, Jean Bte |
Montréal |
30 April 1808 |
Ermatinger Estate Fonds (MG 19 A2): Contracts for "voyageurs" in western Canada, 1773-1780 (vol. 2, 170 pp., not indexed).
Quebec, Lower Canada and Canada East: Applications for Licences (RG 4 B28): Includes bonds and licences for the fur trade, 1763-1790 (vols. 110-115, microfilm reels H-1096 to H-1098, not indexed).
In Quebec, private agreements were made between companies or merchants and men to do fur trading and were ratified in a notarial record. Those records are entitled "Engagement."
Example of an Abstract |
28 05 1694 (1692-1716) [Chambalon, L.] (Qc) |
Engagement en qualité de voyageur de Simon Barbot dit Laforest, voyageur, de la ville de Quebec, à Marie Nolan et Louis de Laporte de Louvigny, écuyer, capitaine d'une compagnie des troupes du détachement de la Marine et commandant du fort de Buade à Michillimakinac. |
External Links to Other Institutions
Published Sources
- Dictionnaire historique des Canadiens et des Métis français de l'Ouest by A.G. Morice, 1912. (AMICUS 2465626)
- "Répertoire des engagements pour l'Ouest conservés dans les archives judiciaires de Montréal" by E.Z. Massicotte in Rapport de l'Archiviste de la Province de Québec, 1929-1932. (AMICUS 3494796)