WILLIAM COOK (1840-?) (Last Updated: February 27, 2016)
William COOK was born on Dec 25, 1840 in St Peters (Red River), son of Mary Anne BEARDY and William COOK SR (1815-1885). ** MORE ABOUT WILLIAM COOK SR
In 1864 Chief PEGUIS (1774-1864) died, and his youngest son, Henry PRINCE (1819-1902), or RED EAGLE, as he was known to the Band, became Chief of the Red River Saulteaux.
During the 1860's the Indians began to fear for the security of their land titles because of the pressure of others for cheap land for settlement. Much of the St Peters district lay unused and it wasn't long until Indians were being enticed to sell their land at bargain prices, by one method or another, and others started settling on Reserve land.
Canadian Confederation
On July 1, 1867 the British colonies in North America were united under the British North American Act to become the Dominion of Canada.
Around 1868 William married Charlotte SANDERSON.
In 1869 the historic Red River Rebellion began; led by Louis RIEL (1844-1885).
In September of 1869 son Joseph was born.
William’s father (William Sr.) and his siblings always lived in Red River Parishes, except for the winter of 1869-70, when they were living at Grand Rapids. Thereafter, they lived in St Peters. It is uncertain just where William COOK JR. and his young family were during this period.
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.
Indian Treaty Number One
Shortly after the entry of Manitoba into Confederation, the Dominion Government made plans to extinguish the Indian title in anticipation of the expected influx of agricultural settlers into the province.
In 1871 Wemyss SIMPSON (1824-1894) was appointed as Canada’s Commissioner and General Indian Agent for the Northwest, to negotiate treaties with the Indians of the region. SIMPSON arrived in the province on July 16, 1871, and he immediately issued proclamations to the Indian leaders of the territory to come to Lower Fort Garry to negotiate the terms of a Treaty. The first to arrive was Chief Henry PRINCE of the Peguis Band. By the end of August, SIMPSON’s negotiations culminated with the signing of Indian Treaties One (the Peguis Band) and Two, the first such treaties concluded by the new Dominion of Canada.
Plan showing St Peters Reserve No.1
On June 26, 1875 William filed a Scrip Affidavit in the Parish of St John that was co-signed by Merchant John SCHULTZ and Druggist James STEWART. In it William states that he is a Half-breed Head of Family resident in the Parish of St John on July 15, 1870 consisting of himself, his wife and a child. He states he was born on Dec 25, 1840 in St Peters Parish and that his parents were Mary BEARDIE and William COOK, both Half-breeds. He also states: “In the years 1871, 1872 and 1873 I received Treaty money. I did not wish to take the money the first time. It was received by my wife at St Peters. She told me that there Chief’s son persuaded her to take it. The last two occasions I received the money in person at Winnipeg from M PROVENCHER. I did not object to take it. I heard at the time that I could not claim as a half-breed if I took the money.” Hand-written at the bottom of the first page of this affidavit, difficult to read but it seems to state that the claim was disallowed. The following Treaty census seems to indicate that William therefore remained a Treaty Indian.
The 1876 Treaty Census in the St Peters Reserve recorded William COOK JR. with a wife and one child who were paid a Treaty Annuity that year.
In 1885 William’s father, William COOK SR. died. His mother, Widow Mary moved to Grand Rapids.
Around 1886 son Joseph married Marie LINLKATER, daughter of Marie MORIN and Peter LINKLATER (1828-1882), an HBC voyageur who died at Cumberland House in 1882. ** MORE ABOUT PETER LINKLATER
William COOK JR seems to disappear from the records for the next 15 years. That’s a long time during which he may have had more children. If anyone has information in this regard, please let us know on the Forum at the link provided below.
In the 1901 Census we rediscover William (age 70 by now) and his wife Charlotte (age 61) in the small Indian Reserve at Pine Bluff which was located about 25 miles west of Cumberland Lake, Saskatchewan. If they did have more children, none were with them in that census record.
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Only Child?:
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