Red River Ancestry

This is to announce a new posting, click here: NAHOVWAY & WILLIAM SINCLAIR

To discuss this family, please do so hereunder.

Gary: Fanny Sinclair was born in 1813. Beth

A quote from Donna Sutherland’s book, ‘Nahovway’, page 194: Another child to claim William as his father was Ben’s younger sister Fanny (John ISBISTER). In 1885 Fanny applied for Metis Scrip - - She listed her birth date as Mar 1, 1918 and her parents Margaret & William SINCLAIR. Her mother was not NAHOVWAY, but a Cree woman who likely took the name Margaret after she accepted Christianity, and she was quite likely Ben’s mother too. This woman was likely the wife of AISSAYSAIPEAU. - - more than one William SINCLAIR who could have been her father - - in the 1870 census Fanny claimed AISSAYSAIPEAU as her father. In that record she claimed 1813 as her year of birth, leaving some inconsistency in her claim. If she was born in 1816 she was definitely not born to NAHOVWAY because in that year NAHOVWAY gave birth to Colin - - Being identified as the reputed sister of James SINCLAIR is pretty strong evidence to suggest William was indeed Fanny’s father.

Gary: I was reviewing my notes and noticed my software has a problem with Fanny being a mother to Elizabeth Betsy Isbister at the age of 13. I check her grave markers and noticed that her husband and children have her born c. 1812-3. I don’t have access to the resources you have. I just figured I would point it out. Beth

Beth: Although Fanny’s birth date does appear to be questionable, the Scrip Affidavits of at least two of her children indicated their parents as half-breed Fanny SINCLAIR and John ISBISTER, a Scotchman.

I am planning to do a Family Page for John ISBISTER sometime soon. - Gary

For anyone interested, DNA is currently being tested at Family Tree DNA lab for a descendant of William via his son James and his line. So soon we will know the DNA of William as Y dna follows the male line only,,,being passed down from father to son to son and so on

Hello Hamish,
I would be interested to know the DNA results! I am a descendant of that line, and would be interested to know if I am descendant of AISSAYSAIPEAU or John Isbister. Thanks!