Red River Ancestry

New Family Page: DR WILLIAM TODD (1784-1851)

Please post comments and queries about the FAMILY OF DR WILLIAM TODD here.

Looking to speak with Ken Lang, who has knowledge of the oil painting at Norway House bring in a Canadian museum. The old page or maybe I had clicked on a link in the forum stated specifically "Calgary". I am a direct descendant of Dr. William Todd.

Dr William Todd's will in 1851, says his wife is Jane Johnstone with 2 sons, Albert Todd 1847- and Samuel Todd 1849-1864. Grandson William Todd (1853-) said his mother is Sarah. I suspect 2 people, a Sarah Johnstone and a Jane Johnstone.

Ken Lang

Not only are all the William Todd's confusing, the Donald Todd's are also confusing and mixed up. In particular there are:
Donald Todd baptized in 1839 and his nephew Donald Todd born in 1855.
Donald Todd baptized in 1839, has an HBC bio that shows he was in Saskatchewan district in the 1850's. In 1875 he married Susan Durand dit Dumont (1855-1944). The 1881 Census for Donald Todd shows he was born in 1837. The kids are listed but Susan is still on Treaty and not listed. In the 1880's Donald and Susan ran a wayside inn on the Battle River. The Edmonton Bulletin on 23 Sep 1882 called the Battle River crossing, the Donald Todd crossing. Today it is called the Todd's Crossing at NW 36-44-23-W4. The Edmonton Bulletin on 25 Oct 1884, said that on 19 Oct 1884, Donald Todd was brought from his home on Battle River, at Todd's settlement, and confined in Ft Saskatchewan as a lunitic. The Edmonton Bulletin on 26 Sep 1885 said Donald Todd, the lunitic, who escaped from custody at Ft Saskatchewan, has not been captured yet. I think he escaped on 18 Sep 1885. The Edmonton Bulletin on May 1, 1886 reported that 2 weeks ago, bones had been found on the prairie near Egg Lake south of Victoria. The bones are either Donald Todd or Jas. Strang.

Donald Todd born in 1855 in the 1870 Census is in St Clements. 9 Jul 1875 he filed a Manitoba affidavit that said he lived in St Clements. In 1877 his signature is on a number of Manitoba Affidavit's as a Dominion Land Agent. In 1881 he is in St Andrews. I have no idea where he goes from here but there is a Donald Todd in BC.

Ken Lang

Hey,
I stumble across this site while researching my family tree and am the 3rd Great Grand Son of Dr. William Todd; I thought it was pretty cool given the stamp he has left on settler history with Indigenous relations.

Confirmation was made by St. Boniface Historical Society, Hudson Bay Company achieves, and the Manitoba Metis Federation (he was not Metis but his grandson married a Lavallee).
This site appears to be very accurate but if anyone is interested in knowing more I have some additional resources (unfortunately nothing going back to Ireland).

Looking at the HBC record for William Todd (1784-1851), it is noted that his first wife was a half-breed, Marianne Ballantyne(sic) who died in 1831, most likely during or shortly after childbirth of her son, Robert. Marianne was the daughter of John Ballendine and Jane Favel, born in 1804.
Children of Marianne and William were William, Anne and Robert.
With his 2nd wife, Isabella Dennett who died in 1845, he had James, Samuel, John, Margaret, Donald, Mary and Elizabeth.

Regarding the origins of Sarah Jane Johnstonne:
Sarah was the daughter of George Johnstone (1795-1873) and Frances Martha Thomas (1796-1869) (daughter of John Thomas (1751,London,England-1822,Vaudreuil,Quebec) and Margaret (1754-1813), a Cree woman). Sarah was born about 1825.
George was the grandson of George Johnston (1741-?) and Katharine SPENCE (1744-?), of whom I'm a cousin.
George joined the HBC in 1817 and served with them until retiring in 1831 to the Red River Settlement.
You have George, Fanny, John and Margaret in your list. Just not Sarah!

From the Todd Family Genealogy site:
William TODD Jr. baptized Sept. 7, 1823 York Factory, died July 18, 1871, Mapleton, MB. Son of Marianne BALLENTYNE and William Todd Sr. RRS #4958. On his Manitoba Scrip registration form he wrote mother BALLANTYNE Half Breed and father Dr. William TODD Irishman.
+ Sarah Jane JOHNSTON(E), Metis, 1st Wife, b. 1825, married William TODD Jr. Sep. 17, 1849 at St Andrew's Anglican, d. before 1868. She is the mother of all of William TODD Jr.'s children.
Sarah Jane's father was George JOHNSTONE b. 1796 in Sandwich, Orkney Islands, Scotland and died 1873 in St. Andrews, Red River Settlement, Manitoba. He was a Sloopmaster, Sailor, and Mate for the Hudson Bay Company 1817-1831. Her grandfather was Hugh JOHNSTONE b. Sep 1773 Birsay, Orkney Islands and died 1835 in Orkney Islands, Scotland. Her grandmother was Margaret BALDWIN b. 1780 in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland. Sarah Jane's mother was Frances Martha THOMAS b. 1815 (or 1796)-1869 in Moose Factory, James Bay, Ontario, d. in St. Andrews, Red River Settlement, Manitoba. Sarah Jane's maternal grandparents were John THOMAS b. 1751 London, England and died 1822 in Vaudreuil, Quebec. He worked at Moose Factory, Ontario. Her mother was Margaret an Ojibway-Cree woman b. 1765-1813.

Hope that helps!