[James Macleod to his wife about daily life in Battleford and court cases there] - Frontier Life: Borderlands, Settlement & Colonial Encounters - Adam Matthew Digital

Keyboard Shortcuts

The full content of this document is only available to subscribing institutions. More information can be found via www.amdigital.co.uk

Field name	Value
Title	[James Macleod to his wife about daily life in Battleford and court cases there]
Archival Reference	M-776-14a
Sub-collection	Macleod, James F. Family
Author	Macleod, James F.
Date	8 Jun 1881
Document Type	Correspondence
Contents	James Macleod describes daily life in Battleford and the various court cases there.
Sub-collection Information	James Farquharson Macleod, 1836-1894, was born in Scotland, the son of Martin Donald Macleod and Jane Fry. The family moved to Upper Canada in 1845. James received his BA from Queen's in 1854 and was called to the Bar in 1860. He served under Col. Wolseley during the 1870 Riel Rebellion. In 1873 he accepted the position of Assistant Commissioner in the newly formed North-West Mounted Police, and the following year led a police column to southern Alberta and established Fort Macleod. In 1875 he sent troops to establish Fort Walsh and Fort Calgary. He served as Commissioner of the NWMP from 1876 until 1880. As Commissioner he successfully negotiated Treaty 7 in 1877. When he resigned in 1880 he moved to Pincher Creek and devoted himself to judicial duties. He was one of only three magistrates in the North-West Territories. From 1887 until his death he was a judge of the Supreme Court of the North-West Territories. He married Mary Isabella Drever, 1852-1933, in 1876, and they had four daughters and a son, Helen (Cross), Jean (Montgomerie-Bell), Mary M. (Townshend), Roma (Sharpe), and Norman T. Macleod. His older brother, Norman Torquil Macleod, 1822-1885, served as the first Indian agent in southern Alberta from 1880 to 1882. Colonel Macleod School in Calgary was named in his honour in 1955. Macleod Drive in Lethbridge, Alberta, Macleod Manor at Fort Macleod, Macleod Island, Alberta, Macleod Mall in Calgary, Macleod Plaza in Calgary and Macleod Trail in Calgary are also named after Colonel Macleod.
Region	Canada
Subjects	Travel and Transportation Mixed-Race People Domestic Life and Living Conditions Children and Family Foreign Policy Law and Order Canadian Mounted Police
Places	Saskatchewan; Battleford
People	Macleod, James Farquharson Macleod, Mary
Themes	Exploration, Expeditions & Travel; Law & Order; Children & Family
Library	Glenbow Museum
Copyright	Glenbow Museum
Transcript	Council Chamber Battleford June 8. 1881 My own darling wife, The mail arrived last night and brought me your two delicious and welcome letters. I was so glad to get them and to learn that you were all well. It appeared such a long time since I had heard anything from you at all. You say nothing about high water so I suppose there was no appearance of a flood when you wrote. I arrived here on the Monday after I left Cypress. I left there on Tuesday afternoon and only made 10 miles the first evening - lost half a day at the crossing of the Saskatchewan, although it took us two hours to cross. I have been almost shaking from cold in the Council Chamber so have moved into the Governor's office. The trip out was rather momentous, but I did not mind it much as the half breed was a companionable sort of a fellow and drove like a Jehu. It only took us 5 days travelling to get here. We might have got in on Sunday night, but I did not know how things were here - also at the ferry - and might perhaps have arrived when the Governor was at Church. When I did arrive he was very glad to see me and took it for granted that I was going to stay with him - so here I am very comfortably put up at Govt House. We have been hard at work ever since the 26th and I think very few more days will see the end of the Session. Won't I just be glad when I turn my face South. Mr. Clark, the member for Lorne, arrived on the 25th and is staying here too. He is a very nice fellow and we all get on capitally. He has a very fine pair of horses - mares - which he bought from the Governor. They are very good looking, fast and well trained - bay with black points. I wanted to buy them and he said something about selling them - but when I offered to buy he said he could not part with them as his other team are not fit for work this summer. They have been courting too much. I am quite disappointed as I looked forward to driving up with a pair which I know you would admire and be delighted to drive. He says he will get me a pair willingly, if I cannot. So I am to let him know if I still want them before he goes down there in September. I could not get them before next spring though. He is out for a drive every evening and sometimes he takes Mrs. Scott and Mrs. Forget. The latter has no children and takes such a strong fancy to pets. She has a young bear cub now, a very funny looking creature, it got its jaw and hind legs broken by pigs, and they have it all bandaged up and treat it just like a baby. Mrs. S is quite happy with her two chicks. The drives about here are very pretty - but we have about exhausted them all. The country is looking splendid - as green as emerald. There have been continual showers and yesterday evening it set in to rain steadily and this is a very blustery, chilly, wet day. The night you speak of as being so disagreeable at home. I was camped at the crossing of the River. We had very little rain but the wind suddenly changed and it blew almost a hurricane. My tent came to grief and I slept in the open air in the shade of some brush, as comfortably as I possibly could anywhere out of your sweet arms. I was writing to you when the tent went. I enclose what I wrote. I could not write to you where I met McKay. Mc. only stayed for a few minutes, and did not undo the load -- my case was in my bag, and it was blowing great guns. I am so glad to hear that our shanty is progressing so well and hope that I shall find you there when I return, only because I know you would rather be away from Macleod with the chicks. I am sorry to hear what you say about Jarvis. He will have to be careful or he will certainly come to grief. I think it is just as well you did not go to the farm when you intended - it would have been unpleasant - but I don't think the fellows would have exceeded if you had been there. Indeed I think that your presence at the Fort has an influence for good as it is. Don't you wish your skalliwag husband had the same influence. I have had one or two horns since I came here. Colonel Richardson had a little but now there is none at all and not much chance of there being any before I leave. I wrote to Mother by the last mail from here. I am sorry that my choice of china does not meet with your approval. I suppose I was too hasty, but I have done it - so what can't be cried etc. I had thought about what you want me to do before your letter came, and intended to do so as you underline. The Parson here is a Mr. Clark, a very little person given to giggling but is rather a nice little neat dapper fellow. I have been to the service both Sundays. The first Sunday there were about 8 and last Sunday Antrobus marched the men from the Barracks. They got a good ducking going home. You did not say whether Mrs. W. got a letter from her husband or not. Poor little woman she must be dreadfully disappointed at his non-arrival. Remember me most kindly to her and tell her I shall be quite ready for a romp - perhaps this is too strong a word - when I return. She must get out of the habit of calling out. It is too telltale. I am delighted to hear of the capture of "Star Child". It will be an unpleasant duty trying him. I wonder who the white horse thieves are. I will have a regular jail delivery when I get back. I will have a Court at Cypress on my way back but it won't detain me long. I read Norman's letter and am sorry to hear that things are not getting better. Everyone is complaining about the Indian management in the South. In fact there is general dissatisfaction all over. I am glad that you had Wadsworth and Brunskill to dinner. John Saskatchewan left for the Cypress and Macleod country last week. He went south of the river all the way. Bishop Grandin is en route to Macleod. I have been sitting in Council since 2 o'clock and it is now 5. My head is muddled with questions about marriage, etc. They are awfully slow, it takes a tremendous time to settle a sentence after we have decided what we want. I shall be glad when it is over. Good by dearest dearest girl. What wouldn't I give if I could just go and have a good loll with you, it would be awfully soothing. I must buy a pipe. Just wait till I get home. You remember two amas[?] etc. I looked for Christian's name in the steamboat arrivals in Benton. The telegraph is down here & I can't hear any thing from St. James. With hugs & kisses all round. Think of a terrible one when you get to bed. Your own fond husband, Jim [This following message is on the reverse of last page, but was actually written earlier, as explained above] N. Camp Forks of the Red Deer My own dearest wife It is very likely that we will meet the mail man tomorrow so I write you a few hurried lines to let you know where I am. We expect to be in Battleford in [?] days. We crossed the River in a skin boat this afternoon all right. The mosquitoes were terrible but it is now blowing a gale, and my tent, not a good one, is flapping very ominously. And it went

Previous Item Next Item