Red River Ancestry
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PETER FIDLER (1820-1881)
AMELIA BIRD (1822-1893)

(Last Updated: July 20, 2014)

 

Peter FIDLER was born in 1820 at Norway House, son of Mary MACKAGONNE and Peter FIDLER SR. of Bolsover (1769-1822). ** MORE ABOUT PETER FIDLER of BOLSOVER


In 1822 when his father (Peter FIDLER SR) died at Fort Dauphin, Peter was only two years old. He was six years old when his mother (Mary) died in Red River.

 

In 1831 Peter (age 11) and his brother Clement (age 17) were living with their older brother, Andrew FIDLER (age 25) in in St James (Winnipeg).

 

Marriage to Amelia BIRD
1838

 

In 1838 Peter married Amelia BIRD in St Paul (Birds Hill). daughter of Nancy THOMAS and George BIRD (1798-1855).

By 1866 Amelia had given birth to 13 children. However, only six survived to adulthood. In 1866 these were: Caroline (age 22), Emily (21), Sarah (15), Thomas (13), Mary (8) and William (age 6).

 

Canadian Confederation
A Red River Metis Rebellion
Manitoba becomes a Province
1867-1870

 

On July 1, 1867 the British colonies in North America were united under the British North American Act to become the Dominion of Canada. Sir John A MACDONALD (1815-1891) was appointed as Canada’s first Prime Minister. William McDOUGALL (1822-1905) became the Minister of Public Works, and he began negotiations to acquire Rupert’s Land from the HBC, sending out surveyors to prepare the way for an expected influx of settlers.

 

In 1867 daughter Caroline married Felix BONE at St Paul. Felix was born in 1843 in Quebec (Lower Canada). That same year, daughter Emily married William Allen MANN from Ontario (born c1844).

 

On Oct 11, 1869, Louis RIEL (1844-1885) placed his foot on the surveyors’ chain to tell them their work was finished. This marked the beginning of the Red River Metis Rebellion.

 

Early in 1870 it became obvious that some form of military expedition would have to be sent to Red River to oversee the Transfer from the HBC to Canada. Donald SMITH was sent back as a special emissary to RIEL. Colonel Garnet Joseph WOLSELY (1833-1913) was chosen to lead the expedition described as an “errand of peace”.

** MORE ABOUT GARNET WOLSELY in DCBO

 

On July 15,1870 Manitoba became the fifth province of Canada, the Canadian Government having acquired the territory previously governed by the HBC. The Rebellion was essentially over.

 

On Aug 21, 1870, Colonel WOLSELY and his soldiers arrived at Fort Alexander. On Aug 24 they forced their way into Upper Fort Garry. RIEL, having learned that the soldiers were planning to lynch him, fled, just a few hours before they arrived. After going to the bishop’s residence to tell TACHE that he had been tricked by the politicians, RIEL fled to the United States. He took refuge at St Joseph’s Mission, about 10 miles south of the border in Dakota Territory.

 

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In 1872 daughter Sarah married Henry BIRD in St Andrews, son of Harriet CALDER & Henry BIRD SR (1805-1893).

** MORE ABOUT HENRY BIRD SR

 

In 1878 son-in-law Henry BIRD died, and in 1881 daughter Sarah became the second wife of Donald GUNN,son of Margaret SWAIN and the Honourable Donald GUNN SR (1797-1878).

** MORE ABOUT HON. DONALD GUNN SR

 

On Feb 1, 1881 Peter FIDLER died in St Paul.

 

Around 1892 son William married Margaret Ann SINCLAIR, daughter of Maria DENNETT and William SINCLAIR (born c1840). ** MORE ABOUT WILLIAM SINCLAIR

 

On Apr 12, 1893 Amelia FIDLER died in St Paul, age 71.

 

In 1896 son William died, and in 1897 his widow (Margaret Ann SINCLAIR) re-married to his brother. Thomas FIDLER,

In 1903 daughter Mary married Henry CLARK of uncertain origins.

 

Comments and queries at this link: FORUM DISCUSSING the PETER FIDLER JR FAMILY

 

========================== Family Details ==========================

 

Children surviving to adulthood:  
1. May 13, 1842 CAROLINE CATHERINE FIDLER (m. Felix BONE)
2. Jan 2, 1845 EMILY "AMELIA" FIDLER (m. William Allen MANN)
3. Mar 4, 1851 SARAH FIDLER (m1. Henry Maurice BIRD, m2. Donald GUNN)
4. Aug 20, 1853 THOMAS FIDLER (m. Margaret Ann (nee SINCLAIR) FIDLER)
5. Aug 10, 1858 MARY FIDLER (m. Henry CLARK)
6. Nov 11, 1860 WILLIAM CHARLES FIDLER (m. Margaret Ann SINCLAIR)

 

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