NAME: IRVINE, William (B) [the B was not an initial, it was the HBC way to distinguish him from the other William Irvine in their employ]
PARISH: Sandwick, Orkney
ENTERED SERVICE: 15 Feb. 1862
DATES: b. ca. l843
Appointments & Service
Outfit Year* Position Post District HBCA Reference
*An Outfit year ran from l June to 3l May 1862, 15 Feb. Signed contract at Stromness A,32/34, fo. 75 1862, 6 July Sailed to York Factory in Prince of Wales, arriving 13 August C.1857
1862 - 1863 Labourer General Charges B.239/g/l02
1863 - 1867 Labourer McKenzie River B.239/g/l03-l07
1867 - 1876 Farmer McKenzie River B.235/g/l-3; B.239/g/l08-ll3
1876*-1878 Postmaster Fort Halkett (Toads River) McKenzie River B.235/g/4; B.239/k/4
1878 - 1882 Postmaster Fort Simpson McKenzie River B.235/g/5-6; B.239/k/4
1882 - 1900 Clerk Fort Norman McKenzie River
Contracts: Northern Department Engagement Registers indicate that he signed contracts at Stromness, 1862,
Fort aux Liards, 1867 & 1869, Fort Nelson, 1871 and Fort Simpson, 1873. B.239/u/2,#974;
Leaving HBC service: The Commissioner, C,C, Chipman, wrote to the Board on 11 September 1896:
"Mr. Irvine, who unfortunately lately lost his wife, has a large family, and he feels it necessary to live somewhere where they can be educated and looked after, as he has but small means. He has said always to have been faithful and to have given satisfaction… I beg to recommend him for a Pension of £25 per annum." A.12/FT 334/1a, fo. 29 ARCHIVES WINNIPEG
Chipman wrote again on 4 June 1897:
….I beg to inform you that Mr. Wm. Irvine, who retired from the Service last year, after the death of his wife, having since made satisfactory arrangements for his family being taken care of, has applied to be re-engaged in the Service; in view of the strong commendations as to his qualifications as an Indian Trader that I have, and that Mr. Camsell desired his services, the renewal of his Contract for
three years has been sanctioned. The Pension authorised by the Board has therefore been cancelled.
Irvine wrote to Lord Strathcona on 1 September 1901 from Halcro SK, near Prince Albert, where he had retired and gone into farming. With his large family of youngsters (his oldest son was only 13) he was having a hard time and asked for a pension. He added a postscript to the effect that he had been advised to
trade against the HBC in the Mackenzie River area but would not do so.
Chipman offered him a job but Irvine asked too high a salary
*Parish changes to native
Age - Ascertaining his year of birth is not easy to do from the HBC records. To judge from his age as given in different years, he was born in either 1843 or 1844.In his letter of 1 September 1901 Irvine wrote "I left Scotland when I was only 17 years of age."
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