JOURNAL OF SEAN THOMPS
Trip from York Factory to Edmonton
July 15, 1840.
At last our vessel ?Good Hope? rode gently on its anchor chains at Five Fathom Hole, the sandy-bottomed holding ground, 7 miles from the depot. I could see people standing on the hexagonal cupola of the depot-building vantage point.
Wife of a post’s leading officer vivacious Letitia Hargrave came with us from England. She brought with her a Viennese piano of six and a half octaves. I am sure it will create a sensation at York Factory. It is called Factory not because something is manufactured here, but because this is where the factor (company’s agent) lives.
The vessel brought cargo of guns, brandy, textiles, axes, knives and other supplies. All this will be exchanged for the bundles of furs at the trading posts.
Hudson’s Bay Company?s inspector Mr. James, who actually offered me to come with him on this trip, is going to spend a few days at the Factory.
Supper at chief factor’s house is an amply supplied table. Mr.Hargrave, a chief factor, assigned one of the inferior officers, interpreter Jean-Baptiste Wilkie, to accompany us around York Factory.