JOSEPH LEWIS / LOUIS alias LEVY JOHNSON (1773-1820) (Last Updated: August 14, 2015)
Joseph LEWIS / LOUIS (alias Levy JOHNSON), a mulatto, was born in 1773 in Manchester, New Hampshire (north of Boston, MA). ** The term ‘mulatto’ refers to a person of mixed white (European) and black (African) ancestry.
Joseph’s first employer was apparently the North West Company (NWC). It seems like a good possibility that may have entered their service in Montreal along with Alexander HENRY the YOUNGER (1765-1714) who in 1792 built the NWC Fort at Bas de la Riviere (later Fort Alexander, Manitoba) near the mouth of the Winnipeg River at Lake Winnipeg. Employed by the Hudson’s Bay Company
Cumberland House Journal: On Dec 17, 1795 George SUTHERLAND (b-c1755) in his Cumberland House journal noted that "Joseph LEWIS", a Mulatto, had left his Canadian (NWC) employer and wished to enter the HBC.
1795-96 HBC Records: "Joseph LEWIS, from Canada, has left his Canadian master and is gone down - steers-man to York Factory to engage in you Honor’s service. He speaks tolerable good English and came to the House (Cumberland House) the last day of May (1796). He is black, but whether he was a slave or a hired servant I (William TOMISON) do not know, or how far he may be depended upon I will not venture to say, but by what I have heard since he embarked, he is very much in debt".
York Factory Correspondence: Jun 4, 1796: From SHAW, FINLAY and McKAY (at "Grand Rapids") to George SUTHERLAND (at York). - - "They (WARD & SABISTON) would wait the Arrival of Mr BEAULIEU who undoubtedly would be rejoiced to have so fair an Opportunity of retaliating the loss of his negro,(Joseph LEWSI) who, he is well aware, has been debauched by your people, and is now in the HBC service" (in this context "debauched" means "seduced" into joining the HBC. Joseph COLEN later replied that it was a free country.
Norway House
From 1797 to 1799 Joseph served under Charles ISHAM aka ASHAM (1755-1814) at Jack River (Norway House). On Aug 20, 1797, Donald McKAY, who was travelling from Albany, noted that on arrival at Norway House "ISHAM master with 5 men and a Negro from Canada". ** MORE ABOUT CHARLES ISHAM aka ASHAM
Various journal entries indicate that Joseph also served under Peter FIDLER (1769-1822), during the hazardous establishment of Bolsover House (Meadow Lake, SK) in 1799 and Greenwich House (Lac La Biche, AB).
Joseph took a sabbatical 1802-03, but there is no indication that he left the west. An 1804-05 entry states "Joseph remained in the Saskatchewan District until 1810.
An Indian Wife
In 1806 Joseph LOUIS had an Indian wife of unknown origins. That year daughter Margaret was born. In 1807 only son James was born, followed by daughter Mary (Polly) in 1808.
With Joseph HOWSE – Expedition over the Rockies
In 1810, Joseph LEWIS accompanied Joseph HOWSE (1742-1852) on an expedition over the Rockies - the last expedition until after the amalgamation (1821). North West Company partner Alexander HENRY the YOUNGER (1765-1814) watched them depart from New White Earth House (near Pakan, AB). They overwintered in Montana, returning to the Saskatchewan, where Joseph retired at the end of the 1813-14 season. ** MORE ABOUT JOSEPH HOWSE in DCBO Killed by a young Blackfoot
Further mentions of Joseph in Edmonton journals: Oct 16, 1814: “Joseph LEWIS also arrived - - “; May 29, 1820: “- - James BIRD JR arrived - - He informed me that one of our Freemen (Joseph LEWIS) was killed by a young man belonging to a tribe of Indians commonly known as the Blackfoot tribe - - “ This was James “Jimmy Jock” BIRD (1798-1846).
Children move to Red River
Joseph's three children (Margaret, James and Mary) migrated to Red River Settlement. They all married, and while the daughters died young and seemingly without issue, James fathered a large family. The 3 children were beneficiaries of Joseph's estate.
In 1827 daughter Margaret married James Thomas SANDERSON at St Johns, the son of Nellie (Indian) and JAMES SANDERSON (1757-1820).
In 1827 son James married Barbara GIBSON at St Johns, the daughter of Nancy FLETT and William GIBSON (b-1788), an HBC voyageur from the Orkneys of Scotland.
In 1831 youngest daughter Mary “Polly” married Jean Baptiste JOURDAIN in Red River, an HBC Post Master pf uncertain origins.
In 1835 son James married a second time to Isabella Elizabeth SPENCE, daughter of Margaret TAUSAND and Andrew SPENCE (1789-1851).
Comments and queries at this link: FORUM DISCUSSING JOSEPH LEWIS alias LEVY JOHNSON
======================= Family Details =======================
Children: ** MORE ABOUT JAMES THOMAS SANDERSON 2. Dec 25, 1807 JAMES LOUIS (m1. Barbara GIBSON, m2. Isabella Elizabeth SPENCE) 3. 1808 MARY "POLLY" LOUIS (m. Jean Baptiste JOURDAIN)
|
