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This item was originally offered for sale, but when it sold, we thought the story was worth saving. Enjoy. Back in the 18th and early 19th century when Canada's wild west was the domain of the fur trapper and buffalo hunter, the only authority around was the Hudson's Bay Company. Since the closest bank was a thousand miles away, their Royal Charter gave them the ability to create their own legal tender, and this is a fine example. This is a one shilling note signed by Governor Duncan Finlayson and dated 1840. |
 Duncan Finlayson, his brother Nicol and nephew Roderick and other relatives were all instrumental in the development of the Canadian West.
Roderick's story of joining the Company is exausting just to relate and an example of life in a "simpler" time. In the Spring of 1837, 20 year old Roderick sailed from England on a 3 month trip to New York. After a few weeks visiting with relatives, he travelled by boat up the Hudson River, through Lake Champlain to Montreal. The Hudson Bay Company offered him a position and he immediately left by canoe for Victoria. |
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He travelled through the length of the Great Lakes to the Rainy River - Lake of the Woods - Winnipeg River system used by the fur trappers, thence by Lake Winnipeg to the Saskatchewan River to Fort Edmonton. Here he switched to horseback and traveled over the Great Divide to the source of the Columbia River near Mount Robson where York boats were waiting to carry him the length of the river to the Hudson Bay Company's outpost at Fort Astoria, now Washington State. After a brief stop, he travelled by canoe up through Puget Sound to Victoria. All in one season. As for Nicol and Duncan Finlayson, after a brief apprenticeship, they both rose high in the ranks of the Hudson's Bay Co., eventually becoming Chief Factors working throughout Rupert's Land. Duncan married Isobel Graham Simpson, the sister in law and cousin of Sir George Simpson, Governor of Rupert's Land, and Duncan was himself the Governor of Assiniboia (a territory within Rupert's Land comprising parts of what today is Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Northern Minnesota) from 1839 to 1844. Duncan's travels took him as far west as what today is British Columbia and East to Washington, D.C.. However, the rigors of life in Indian Country took a toll on the European born Isobel, who's journal of venturing from England to Fort Gary in Red River with her new husband Duncan Finlayson was published in the The Beaver Magazine. In 1848. Duncan returned with his wife to Lachine, near Montreal where they lived with the Simpsons for a time before retiring from the company and returning to London. Duncan died in London on July 25, 1862. See another HBC Note example here. |
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 All Nations Stamp & Coin
5630 Dunbar St. at 41st Ave. Phone: 604-684-4613 Fax: 604-266-4515 e-mail: collect@direct.ca |
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