Page 133 - Fortier Family History

Flying Post 26th January 1844 Address to Richard Hardisty, Esq. My Dear Sir, Your much esteemed favor of the 20th October came duly to hand by arrival here of the bearer on the 3d November. I am sorry I cannot comply with your request by reengaging myself for another three years, as my state of health, of which I have so often apprised you, still continues very indifferent, so much so indeed that I am sometimes hardly able to attend to the duties of my station. I regret exceedingly not to be able to remain in the Service for a long period, which I would do with the utmost cheerfulness had I continued healthy, but having suffered so long from ill health, I have consequently abandoned all hopes of recover, so that I now think a removal to Canada where I can have recourse to medical assistance is the only way, if any, to effect a cure. It is almost needless to subjoin that I intend to retire from the Service next summer; I shall consequently be ready to deliver up the charge of this Post at the close of the present year's transactions. With the greatest esteem, I now remain. My Dear Sir, yours affectionately, Alexander Finlayson (Source: H.B.C. 124/c/1, folio 5, 1844 - Matawagamingue loose correspondence, via digital collection) Alexander Finlayson’s death from the HBC Post Journal The 26th March is the last day on which an account of transactions and occurrences appeared to have been kept at Kukatoosh by the late Mr. Alexr. Finlayson, who I regret to say departed this life suddenly about 2 o'clock on the morning of the 29th March. The young man caught a severe cold during the winter of 1841/42, and with the exception of short intervals had been ill ever since. Subsequent to the end of January last he appeared to the people to be getting much better, as he went about more actively than he had been accustomed to do for a long time before, but on the 27th of March he got worse again, and his appetite began to fail him for the first time since the commencement of his illness in 1841/42. On the evening of the 28th March he expressed a wish for some coffee which was made for him, as was also a pancake which he ate the whole of, but drank very little of the coffee. He was then assisted to bed by the people - they themselves retiring to rest at the same time in the room adjoining, about 2 o'clock however on the following morning they were awakened out of their sleep by hearing a noise like that of something falling in the next room, and running immediately into the room found that Mr. Finlayson had risen from his bed and after walking a few feet toward the window had fallen down and expired immediately - he breathed his last just as the people to him - he was lying on his side and a great quantity of matter was running from his mouth, and I am told that the body was in such a state that the people were obliged to tie handkerchiefs over their mouths while they worked with it. A coffin was made for the body of the deceased during the day of the 29th March, and in the evening of the same day was interred as decently as possible. Information of Mr. Finlayson's decease was brought here by Valentine Saunders and an Indian on the evening of the 31st March, and on the following morning I set out for Kuckatoosh, taking with me Frederick Faries and Walter Faries, the former to take Charge of that post until the trade is over and the latter to return here again with me. I arrived at the Post of Kuckatoosh on the 4th of April, and immediately took an inventory of the late Mr. Finlayson's property which will be brought to Matawagamingere along with the Kuckatoosh returns and afterwards forwarded to Moose Factory. While at Kuckatoosh I was sorry to learn that there was every reason to fear that the trade of that post would be worse than ever - it was owing principally to the number of deaths which had occurred of Indians belonging to that post and illness of others who were not expected to live. I set out from Kuckatoosh on my return to Matawagamingue on the 5th of April, having previously given every requisite instruction to Frederick Fariy for his guidance in transacting the business of Kuckatoosh till it closes. Signed: Matawagamingue, 10th April 1844, Richard Hardisty, C.T., HBC (source: Kinvgumissea River District , Journal of Occurrence at Kukatoosh Post, commencing 5th July 1843, ending 26th March 1844 via HBC digital database B.70-A-17, p. 18)