Fort Albany, Ontario - Hudson's Bay Company Post

Hudson's Bay Company Post

Fort Albany was one of the three original Hudson's Bay Company posts on James Bay the others being Moose Factory on the south shore and Rupert House on the east. The fort was built inland from the river mouth, partly for defense, and moved several times. Ships from England had to lay at the river mouth at Albany Roads. The east-flowing Albany River drew furs from as far west as Lake St. Joseph. From there a portage ran west to Lac Seul, the English River (Ontario), the Winnipeg River and beyond. A north-flowing branch, the Kenogami River led upstream toward Lake Superior at Wawa, Ontario and another branch, the Ogoki River led toward Lake Nipigon. Until around 1775 the English were content to remain on the coast and let Indians bring furs to them. The whole area was exposed to French competition from Montreal.

About 1675 the area was explored by Charles Bayly and Fort Albany established in 1679. In 1683 Henry Sergeant was directed to make it the chief post. In 1684 a Monsieur Péré reached the fort from French Canada. He was arrested and his two companions sent to Charlton Island. In 1685 the French built Fort des Français at the juncture of the Albany and Kenogami Rivers to block Indians from coming north to trade. In 1686 all three posts were captured by an overland expedition from Quebec (Hudson Bay expedition (1686)). In 1688 the English sent ships to reestablish their posts but were defeated by French ships that had come to re-supply the forts (Battle of Fort Albany). In 1693 the English retook the fort (Battle of Fort Albany (1693)) and held it thereafter. By the Treaty of Ryswick (1697) Albany was to be returned to the French, but nothing was done until war resumed in 1702. In 1709 the French tried and failed to capture the fort (Battle of Fort Albany (1709)). In 1713 the Treaty of Utrecht gave the Bay to the English. Sloops from Albany would trade along the east coast until a new post build on the Eastmain River in 1723-24 and Moose Factory was reestablished in 1730. In 1743 Henley House was built 160 miles up the Albany. In 1777 Gloucester House was built 243 miles above Henley House and in 1786 Osnaburgh House at the outflow of Lake St. Joseph. This westward expansion significantly increased the trade of Fort Albany. In 1793 the Governor of Albany Fort established posts on the Rainy River and Winnipeg River. Until the union of the two companies in 1821 posts supplied from Fort Albany competed with Northwest Company men from Lake Superior and even HBC posts supplied from York Factory,

Some Chief Factors were: 1728:William Bevan (sloopmaster); 1730:Joseph Adams (HBC chief factor); 1734:Thomas Bird (HBC chief factor); 1743: Joseph Isbister; 1768:Humphrey Martin (This is a partial list; please expand!)