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Early Fur Trade

During the late 17th century, a conflict began between the English and the French for colonial domination. The struggle was also for control over the fur trade industry. The explorers were attracted to Hudson Bay for the fur trading over the furs of animals such as fox, beaver and marten. The high demand in Europe was for beaver pelts, which were fashionable at the time as top hats. The economic potential and gain was responsible for Fort York switching hands between the French and the English during the 17th century.

The Aboriginal people traded their furs that they had obtained either by hunting or trapping. During the winter they traded their furs for cloth, guns blankets and tools as well as luxury items such as tobacco and brandy. In the summer months, other Natives would travel great distances to the Hudson's Bay posts in Hudson Bay to trade with whomever occupied the posts at the time.

In 1672 a man named Edward North at Fort York made the first public sale of fur. Later in 1682, Captain Zachary Gillam, would sail in a ship named the Prince Rupert, to the Nelson River. He had eighty men accompany him to establish a trade relationship with the Aboriginals along the Nelson River.

The fur trade industry was under control of the French until the treaty of Utrecht was signed on July the 13th 1713. This treaty handed over the trade franchise back to the Hudson Bay Company by giving English control to the existing forts along the shores of Hudson Bay.

Smallpox had made its way to Churchill in 1782 during the trade and wiped out an estimate of half, to two thirds of the Cree population. The Natives residing near York Factory were greatly affected with this disease along with influenza and scarlet fever.

The North West Company was formed in 1968, rivaling the already existing Hudson Bay Company. The new company established posts inland throughout western Canada. The HBC would also put up more trading posts to establish an inland network in response to the North West Company. As a result, York Factory became their busiest trading post making it their center for storage and main supply depot.


Traders

In 1672 a man named Edward North at York Factory made the first public sale of fur. Captain Zachary Gillam was also one of the traders that had a trade relationship with Aboriginals along the Nelson River. Captain Gillam first set sail in 1682, making his was on the S.S. Prince Rupert. The Chevalier de Troyes from New France captured all but one of the Hudson's Bay Company posts along the western parts of Hudson Bay. In 1686 they had led an overland expedition to the bay. The area was under French control until James Knight of the HBC recaptured York Fort in 1686. Later, Pierre Le Moyne Sieur d'Iberville of New France, took over Fort York in a naval batlle dubbed, 'Battle of the Bay'. The result of the battle had the fort under French control from 1697 until the treaty of Utrecht was signed in 1713. The treaty of Utrecht put control into the English rule for all the HBC posts along the Hudson and James Bay shoreline. James Knight, at an estimated age of 75, would lead an expedition to reclaim the forts for the Hudson Bay Company.


Trade Posts

Hudson Bay itself was named after an explorer name Henry Hudson. He first sailed in the bay in 1610. A year later, his crew mutinied and sent Henry, his son and seven others on a small boat adrift. They were never seen or heard from again. York Factory was first called Fort York, Named after the duke of York, who was the Governor of the Hudson Bay Company. This individual would later become King James the 2nd.

The post in York Fort was first constructed in 1684 on the north bank of the Hayes River. It was then later rebuilt twice, in two other locations due to flooding in both areas. There is no mention of conflict until 1686, when the Chevalier de Troyes led an expedition and captured HBC posts along the western part of Hudson Bay. James Knight, employed by the Hudson Bay Company, recaptured York Fort in 1693.

The fort was then later retaken by Pierre Le Moyne ieur d'Iberville of New France. The fort was claimed as a result of a naval battle. The fort was under French control in 1697 only to be returned to the Hudson's Bay Company in 1713.

In 1713, the treaty of Utrecht was signed. England had regained all the HBC posts alon the Hudson and James Bay Shoreline. The present post itself was built in 1788 and became a major warehouse for the Hudson Bay Company. York Factory in the 17th century, had the most activity out of all the posts and played a significant role in Canada's and the Hudson's Bay Company history. The original fort was declared a national historic site by the government of Canada.

The trading post constructed in 1788, was later closed in 1957. York was handed to the federal government in 1968. The federal government in turn made the York Factory Trading Post into a national historical site.


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