14 | May | 2022 | From Mowat and Beyond

In this blog post I’m going to share the transcript from a letter written by Thomas Bear (1801 or 1810-1892) to one of his daughters named Isabella.

I first mentioned this letter in my post about his son, Jacob Bear (1839-1925), and would like to do a full post on Thomas one day as he is the furtherest I can trace in the Bear family beyond mention of his father Wapask in the 1870 Manitoba Census.

I first learned of this letter’s existence while researching the Bear family from St. Peters. In my search for this line of Bears, I came across Angela Jeske’s 1990 Thesis entitled, St. Peter’s Indian Settlement: A House Indian Community at Red River, 1833-1856.

This thesis really helped flesh out what St. Peter’s was like and who lived there during the early and mid-1800s which I previously had been unable to find information. Much of the published materials I have looked at focused on the later 1800s and early 1900s which is too far ahead for what I’ve been focused on.

As well, it is possible to associate specific family names with either “Cree” or “Saulteaux”. Names common to those identified as Cree were Bear, Badger, Cockrane, Johnstone, Stevenson, Thomas, Sutherland, Isham, Whitford, Sinclair, Sandison, Williams, Turner, Kennedy, Garioch and Halco.
Jeske, 1990, p. 68.

The census of 1835 records three separate heads of families with this name [Bear]: Jacob, John, David. It is likely, however, that Thomas Bear “an Indian from Cumberland House” was the brother of the previously mentioned family heads, and was connected to Robert Stranger through both place (Cumberland House) and marriage.
Jeske, 1990, p. 79.

Based on this information I suspect the family hails from northern Manitoba or Saskatchewan as I’ve seen references to both Norway House (Kinosao Sipi – ᑭᓄᓭᐏ ᓰᐱᐩ) and Cumberland House.

This next part just goes to show I need to write down where and how I come across some of my references. In my general search regarding the Bears, I came across another book entitled, The Shady Side of Fifty: Age and Old Age in Late Victorian Canada and the United States by Lisa Dillon.

The economic status of indigenous elderly wives, whose family economies were typically resource based, was undoubtedly less certain than that of their white counterparts. The insecurity of Isabella Beardy old age is evident in a letter written by her husband, Thomas Bear, a Cree born in Rupert’s Land, to his daughter in 1883. A broken gun and lack of a boat impeded Bear’s abilities to hunt for himself and his wife. Their son, Peter, planted wheat and barley, which Isabella was left to reap. A granddaughter, Maggie, arrived unannounced; she helped dig up potatoes but left her grandparents mystified by her sudden departure from their daughter’s home. With Peter away hunting ducks, Isabella and Thomas made their own efforts to repair their house. When Isabella and Thomas attempted to cope with their problems by praying, Peter interrupted them drunk; it was Isabella’s role to pacify their drunken son. Although Isabella had borne nine children, her security and peace in old age was far from guaranteed.
Dillon, 2008, p. 45.

Intrigued by the content of the letter, I was able to have it retrieved from the Manitoba Provincial Archives during my visit in October 2021. A copy of the original letter had been made and then donated by an individual from Thunder Bay in October of 1992.

Ann Morton, Head of Research and Reference at the HBC Archives, wrote in her reply that there was only one Thomas Bear that could be found in the 1870 Census. Based on his age, place of residence, and connection to a daughter named Isabel, it was very likely the Thomas in the census was the same one who wrote the letter.

She also provided additional information from the 1870 Census and Anglican Parish Registers and mentioned that she checked the HBC employment records but could not find any information prior to his marriage in 1835. She suggests that he was either not employed by the HBC or was an undocumented seasonal worker.

A second page was included with some genealogy information related to Thomas and his family. Thomas Bear married Isabella Beardy on December 3rd, 1835 in St. Peters. The pair had the following children recorded in St. Peter’s registers: Thomas (1836), Robert (1837), Jacob (1839), Isabella (1842), Elizabeth (1844), Sophia (1846), George (1848), Joseph (1851) and Mary Joan (1859). The couple also had a son named Peter but he was not included in the parish register. The researcher wondered whether Joseph (1851) could be Peter or if his name was life off altogether.

The letter was 9 pages in length and hand-written so I had some trouble deciphering some of the text. I always think of younger generations who are not being taught cursive and the extra work archivists and researchers will have to do in order to familiarize themselves with it before even looking at some of the extra peculiarities with style that come and go.

In any case, I have kept most original spelling and have added my educated guesses within brackets.

St. Peters
October 23rd
1883
Mrs. Esibella Hopeboam
dear daughter
I was very glad to receive [your] letter. to learn that you are all still alive. and about what you wish from me [I do it] for you. I could not do it for you. know I am [getting] blind I only killed one duck this summer, and the same time you know that I broke my gun last spring before you went away.
[since] I have no gun nor a boat to hunt with even I have no boat to set my net with. am that hard up having no flour or tea. I sold 10 bushels of potatoes [and past] only [come] being after my pay. but they are very cheap this year. they are only 25 cts per bushel but I put 35 cts per bushel myself and about the house fixing.
I see plainly Peter can’t do it for he has lots of work to do this fall to fix the [biars] and his after ducks all this time. So we are trying to fix the house ourselves after your sister heard about that you was wanting me to hunt ducks for you, she said that Abram would hunt for you in place of that [money] you sent to take him out to Rat Portage.
Abram [he’s] always after ducks but they generally take them up to Winnipeg. but we always [set] a share every time he [arrives]. they went down one week already with his family. they [plan] to stay for two weeks. after that [he’s gone] to fix his house and stable for the winter.
I always known that it was very hard for an old man to make his living. for the little wheat + barley that Peter put down for us. when it got ripe it was only your mother had it cut it down. sometimes I would try and help her. you don’t know how much I pitied your mother at last I had to go to work and cut it with a scythe. and about the digging of potatoes while your mother and me was digging, Maggie came and I was very thankful when she came for it was a great help to us.
I [feel] a great deal harder to live than usual for Peter and [Isauc] [doesn’t] leave off drinking, actually your brother came in while having prayers being drunk your mother had to get up to try and pacify him and me praying. but mind that I didn’t tell this to anyone excepting you. I [feel] very lonesome a many a time in my soul, not in the outward body, for I know very well that am old man that has known many [his] got to be in need a many a time.
and after I had your letter read to me. I think a great deal concerning what you [gone] to do before hand this is the third time now I hear a person saying that this summer. very likely you will not see the day and that’s why I think a great deal. it [is] very hard for me which to believe you say in your letter that you didn’t know that Maggie was lonesome if you were that- you would let her come [home] for the time you sent for Sophie if she would go that you would let Maggie come home for you said [there] that she was lonesome and that’s why I said it is very hard for me which to believe different stories.
I was very much thankful when you had [elloss] relations you out. Betsy my own [sister] and your brother’s daughter when you was gone to meet we may say near death. after you went through. then to give them such bad name. I thought you would have [more] thankful to those who kept you dear daughter. I know that am very wicked and the same to my sister Betsy your aunt am know that that she kept a many a [cree] and I never hear ever [to set] after keeping somebody a bad name not as same as what you do.
it is very good to [deny] yourself sometimes after thinking bad for you know very well dear daughter the God’s holy scripture says to forgive your brother that offend you. for if you don’t forgive, your Heavenly father will also not forgive your sins. for wickedness as many a time is chastised. therefore try and love your dear little ones. therefore dear daughter try and forget all the bad thoughts what you have thinking. St John tell us to believe and repent of our evil doings and we shall have everlasting life.
I think you brother Robert [he’s] very much troubled all the time. he’s living with a woman but not lawfully married. he only writes to [Snyder] he never writes to us. and by him we hear. that’s why am telling you that I [feel] very lonesome in my [soul].
am very much thankful to your husband when [he’s] keeping you right-therefore be good to your husband dear daughter, and about your brother Jacob I never hear from him. last spring last he was seen [at] Qu’Appelle and he was gone farther west I hear that by mouth he never send a letter to us since last winter.
Edward Thomas was far west this summer and I ask him [whether] he ever heard or any thing about him he said no. I send a letter [to] him to tell me [whether] [he’s] alive or not, but the letter went astray. the letter came to me again and I sent it off again, since I didn’t hear.
I have lots of news that I could tell you lots of sickness for children very hard sickness and whooping cough, and about Maggie running off from [you]. I didn’t ask her one question so I don’t know anything, why she did, that’s all. Kisses to you children, husband, may the Lord bless you and keep you and lead you to everlasting life, good night.
Your father
Thos Bear
Letter from Thomas Bear to Mrs Esibella Hopeboram, St Peters, 23 October 1883, Thomas Bear Collection, P 5098 f.8, Manitoba Provincial Archives.

There is so much interesting information contained in this letter that I’ve used to support ongoing research. Due to the difficulties I’d had in transcribing the content, I have also uploaded copies of my photos of the letter for anyone who might want to take a stab at some of the peculiar words that don’t fit.