Donald Manson Family

Donald Manson Family

oregonpioneers.com
Compiled by Stephenie Flora
copyright � 2010

In 1847 two sons of Donald Manson were boarding at the Whitman Mission when the Whitman Massacre took place. The two boys were escorted to safety at Fort Walla Walla by Nicholas Finley. Donald Manson was a long time employee of the Hudson Bay Company and two of his sons followed in his footsteps.

Donald Manson
b. 06 Apr 1798 Thurso, Scotland
d. 07 Jan 1880 Marion Co, OR
buried Champoeg Cemetery, Champoeg, Marion Co, OR
(Note: his headstone says Donald Manson Jr. which gives the impression that the headstone is for his son)
s/o Donald and Isabella Manson

m�d Oct 1828 Champoeg, Marion Co, OR

Felicite Lucier
b. 1814 Champoeg, Marion Co, OR
d. 10 Jun 1867 Champoeg, MarionCo, OR
buried St. Paul Cemetery, St. Paul, Marion Co, OR
d/o Etienne Lucier

1867: Jun 12 buried Felicite Lucier, wife of M. Manson, deceased 2 days, age 53 years. Witnesses: Stephen Manson, Francois Bernier, etc. [Catholic Church Records of the Pacific Northwest, Vol III St. Paul, Oregon by Munnick; S-4 p.14]

Donald Manson Notes:

1817, Spring: appointed to clerkship in the Hudson Bay Company at Fort York on Hudson�s Bay, headquarters of the company in America

1820, Spring: sent to Lake Winnepeg where he met Dr. John McLoughlin

1823, January: received instructions to join Mr. Samuel Black, chief of an expedition to explore British possessions on the Pacific coast of America

1824, August: Black expedition split with Black going to the Columbia and Donald Manson leading a division back to York factory on Hudson Bay. Upon reaching Lake Athabasca Manson received an express directing him to report to the Columbia Department

1825, Jan 6: reached Fort Vancouver with four men in his company; was appointed by Doctor McLoughlin to be Superintendent of improvements at the post with some forty men under his command. Manson was instructed to build a new fort on the present location of Vancouver, WA. This was the post familiar to the early pioneers. After completion of this establishment he was sent with a force of men via Nasqualla to Frazier river where he selected a site and supervised the building of Fort Langley, situated on that river near the northern boundary of Washington Territory. After completion he returned to Fort Vancouver.

1827 Manson first visited the Champoeg villages to fit out the southern bound brigade

1829, in company with Dr. McLaughlin, made an extended tour through the Willamette valley to assess it for agricultural purposes.

1831-32 in charge of Fort Simpson

1839 after 22 years of consecutive service he was given a year�s furlough which he spent in visiting his native Highland home

1841 returned to Vancouver where he learned that his old friend, Samuel Black, had been murdered by Indians at Fort Camloops. He was sent to that post to apprehend and punish the guilty parties.

1843-44 constructed Fort McLoughlin

1844 Manson was appointed Executive officer of the district of New Calidonia, where he served for 14 years at which point he retired. (The district of New Caledonia extended from the coast range to the Rockies and northwards from Alexandria to approximately the 57^th degree of latitude).

1844-1857 in charge of Fort St. James

1847 sons, John and Stephen, were boarding at Whitman Mission when the Whitman Massacre took place. They were escorted to safety at Fort Walla Walla by Nicholas Finley

1858 settled at Champoeg, Marion County, OR, having purchased the donation land claim of Dr. Robert Newell. He invested large sums of money and time in improving the land which was swept away in the flood of December, 1861.

1860: Champoeg, Marion Co, OR; Donald Manson, 61, farmer, $1500 $1500, Scotland; Felicia, 46, OR; Steve, 34, BC, farmer; Donald, 30, OR; Annie, 24, BC; James, 15, BC; George, 13, BC; Isabella, 9, BC; Elizabeth, 4, BC; F. Dennison, 24, day laborer, Canada

1870: Champoeg, Marion Co, OR; Donald Manson, 71, farmer, $6000 $800, Scotland; Donald Jr., 24, laborer, OR; James, 23, OR; Isabelle, 20, BC; Eliza, 13, OR; Annie Ogden, 26, Alaska; Wm Ogden, 11, OR; Emma Ogden, 5, OR; Sarah Ogden, 4, OR

Described by Willard H. Rees as being �six feet in height, symmetrically formed, of a quick military bearing; yet one of the most affable of men, endowed with uncommon physical powers, a strong will untied with true courage. Insubordination in the slightest degree was never manifested among the men under his command. Fond of reading, he was quite conversant with the general literature of his time

It was remarked by Governor Simpson that Manson never rose to Chief Trader due to �an unfortunate irritability of temper�. In 1853 Simpson complained of Manson�s rough treatment of people in New Caledonia

NAME: MANSON, Donald
PARISH: Thurso, Caithness
ENTERED SERVICE: 1817 DATES:1798-7 Jan. 1880 Appointments & Service Outfit Year*: Position: Post: District: HBCA Reference: *An Outfit year ran from 1 June to 31 May

1817-1818 Gordon Depot York Factory A.16/38; B.239/d/195pp17-18
1818-1819 Clerk Oxford House York Factory A.16/38B.156/a/7; A.30/16 fo.25
1819-1821 Ile a la Crosse(Ft.Superior) Ile a la Crosse A.16/38; E.11/2
1821-1822 Ile a la Crosse English River B.239/f/12 fo.4
1822-1823 South Branch Expedition A.34/1
1823-1824 Bow River Expedition B.239/g/3; A.34/1
1824-1825 Clerk Rocky Mountain Expedition B.239/g/4; A.34/1
1825-1829 Clerk Columbia B.239/k/1 p.128, 177, 215, 250
1829-1831 Clerk Fort Vancouver Columbia B.239/k/1 p. 270, 292
1831-1834 Clerk Columbia B.239/k/1 p.316; B.239/k/2 p.16, 43
1834-1838 In Charge Fort McLoughlin Columbia B.239/k/2 p. 72, 96, 139, 163
1839-1841 Furlough B.239/k/2 p. 189,196
1841-1842 Chief Trader Bona Venture Columbia B.239/k/2 p. 228
1842-1843 Chief Trader Thompson River Columbia B.239/k/2 p. 258
1843-1844 Chief Trader Alexandria New Caledonia B.239/k/2 p. 281
1844-1845 Chief Trader Stuart's Lake New Caledonia B.239/k/2 p. 333
1845-1846 Chief Trader Fort Simpson Columbia B.239/k/2 p. 362
1846-1847 Chief Trader Thompson River Columbia B.239/k/2 p. 391
1847-1854 Chief Trader Stuart's Lake New Caledonia B.239/k/2 p. 413, 438, 464, 487; B.239/k/3 p. 15, 39, 59
1854-1855 Chief Trader Stuart's Lake Western B.239/k/3 p. 84
1855-1857 Chief Trader Western B.226/g/3-5
1857-1858 Furlough B.239/k/3 p. 139
1858 Retired and moved to Champoeg, Oregon on the banks of the Willamette River DCB

"Fine strapping fellow, can go thro' any labor,tolerable clerk & trader, but his time would be thrown away at an Establishment, active service being his forte" (A.34/1 fos. 20, 21)

Parents: Donald and Isabella Manson
Wife: F�licit� Lucier m. Oct. 1828
Children: Eight (DCB Vol. IX) including William (see Biog), John Duncan, Stephen, James, George, Elizabeth, Annie (Rothenburger: The Kamloops McLeans)
Biography in Dictionary of Canadian Biography Vol IX p.495-496.
Search File: Manson, Donald
Manson, Donald (1798-1880)(fl.1817-1858); CAW 99/December ARCHIVES WINNIPEG

Donald Manson Barn http://www.champoeg.org/monographs/web/Barn%20web.pdf

Hudson Bay Company Archives http://www.gov.mb.ca/chc/archives/hbca/biographical/

Children:

1. William Manson
b. c1829
d.
m1. 1856 Elizabeth McLean
father of Donald Manson
m2. 29 May 1861 Adelaide Ogden, d/o Peter Skene Ogden Jr.
father of Lizzie, William, Martha, Peter O., Sarah and Margaret
still alive in 1893 when he received his Crown Grant

NAME: MANSON, William
PARISH: Native
ENTERED SERVICE: 1849 DATES: b.ca 1829
Appointments & Service, Outfit Year*: Position: Post: District: HBCA Reference: *An Outfit year ran from 1 June to 31 May

1848-1849 Apprentice Clerk B.239/g/28
1849-1850 Apprentice Clerk Lac Des Roseaux Red River B.239/k/2 fo. 229
1850-1851 Apprentice Clerk Shoal Lake Lac La Pluie B.239/k/2 fo. 241d
1851-1852 Apprentice Clerk Disposable Columbia B.239/k/3 fo.15
1852-1853 Apprentice Clerk Babine New Caledonia B.239/k/3 fo.39
1853-1854 Apprentice Clerk Fraser's Lake New Caledonia B.239/k/3 fo.59,84
1855-1860 Clerk New Caledonia B.226/g/3-7
1860-1863 Clerk Thompson River B.226/g/8-10
1863-1865 Clerk Fort Alexandria B.226/g/11-12
1865-1866 Clerk Fort Alexandria and Fort Simpson (Nass) B.226/g/13
1866-1868 Chief Trader Fort Simpson (Nass) B.226/g/14,15; B.20/a/9, 109d
1869-1870 On furlough B.226/g/17
1870-1872 Chief Trader Exploring B.226/g/18,19
1873 Retired B.226/g/20

Parents: Donald Manson and F�licit� Lucier
Wives: Elizabeth McLean m. 1856 Rothenburger, The Kamloops McLeans
Adelaid Ogden
Children: from Elizabeth
Donald (12 Sept 1857- Jan 1930)
Manson, William (b.ca 1829)(fl.1848-1873); JHB/ek 85/March; revised CAW 99/ December
[HBC Archives http://www.gov.mb.ca/chc/archives/hbca/biographical/index.html]

2. Stephen Manson
b. 1834 BC
d. aft 1880
appears he never married
described as remarkably handsome with a bright intellect

1880 Champoeg, Marion Co, OR, June 8, 1880; Donald Manson, 39, farmer, OR Scotland OR; Stephen, 42, brother, laborer, BC; James, 35, brother, BC, consumption; Anna Ogden, 37, sister, BC; Isabel Manson, 26, sister, BC; William Ogden, 17, nephew, farm laborer, OR Wash Ter, BC; William Riley, 12, adopted son, farm laborer, OR Ire Ire

3. John Duncan Manson
b. c1836 BC
d. 22 Apr 1903 (igi)
m�d Aurelia Yale (1839- Jan 1931) d/o James Murray Yale
apprentice clerk in charge of Fort Fraser 1854
clerk in charge of Fort Fraser 1855-1862
clerk at Fort Langley 1863
clerk at New Caledonia 1863-1865
father of Isabella c1863, Annie c1867 and John c1868
resided in BC
[Lives Lived West of the Divide by Burce McIntyre Watson]

4.Anna Manson
b. c1837 Fort Stikine, Alaska
d.
m1 Isaac Ogden (s/o Peter Skene Ogden)
m2. Mr. Tremewan; resided at Champoeg on father�s land

1873, June 27: baptized Emma Julie b. 02 Nov 1864 and Sara May b. 10 May 1866, the children of the lawful marriage of Isaac Ogden and Anna Manson. [Catholic Church Records of the Pacific Northwest, Vol III St. Paul, Oregon by Munnick; B-16 & B-17 p.65]

1910: Dist 173, Ward 6, Portland, Multnomah Co, OR; William P. Ogden, head, 46, s, OR Can Can; Anna Trinewan, mother, 63, m2, 2-2, Can Can Can; Daniel Manson (sic), uncle, 58, s, OR Scot OR; Isabella Manson, aunt, 54, s, BC BC BC

"Mrs. Tremewan, now residing at Champoeg, has many most interesting recollections of her early life. Although now past middle age she is if magnificent physique, being about five feet eight inches tall, straight as an arrow and well proportioned, but at the same time of that peculiarly supple mold and movement that so distinguishes the French creoles. Her hair is still jet black, and long and wavy and very thick; her eyebrows heavy and black, and her features, though strong and marked, refined and very intelligent.
  Her speech is remarkably clear, every word being distinctly pronounced, with rather an English or Scotch accent, and in a full rich voice of rather low key. During conversation her features light up noticeably, and though she speaks deliberately she has no hesitation, never pausing to think of a word or construction. She complains of her poor memory for dates, but possesses a large fund of family information, both of her own people and the Hudson Bay Company.
  Her mother was a daughter of Etienne Lucier, of French Prairie; her father was Donald Manson, a trusted captain of the Hudson Bay Company, and her first husband was Isaac Ogden, a son of Peter Skeen Ogden, governor during the latter years of the Hudson Bay Company's occupation of Fort Vancouver. She is living now at Champoeg, in the old house built by her father, though now owned by herself with her husband.
  Her brothers are men of education and ability; Donald Manson Jr., being a resident of Portland; James Manson, living at Victoria; and William Manson, who was educated in Scotland, being principal of a school at New Westminister, BC. Another brother, Stephen, no longer living, who was named by his mother of his grandfather Lucier, is described by those who knew him as a man of remarkably handsome appearance, and bright intellect. He was, as a boy, attending the school at Waiilatpu at the time of the Whitman massacre, and although uninjured was so shocked by the bloody occurrence that long afterwards, he would start from sleep crying out `The Indians, the Indians!' There were two daughters besides Anna (Mrs. Tremewan), Isabella and Lizzie.................'[Reminiscences, Oregon Historical Society Quarterly, Vol IV p.261-264]

5. Donald Manson Jr.
b. Mar 1841 OR, resident of Portland, OR
d. 02 Jan 1918 Portland, Multnomah Co, OR
appears he never married
buried in Riverview Cemetery, Portland, OR

1900: Dist 75, Ward 9, Portland, Multnomah Co, OR; Donald Manson, head, March 1841, 59, s, OR; Isabella, sister, Dec 1863, s, OR [living next door is William Ogden, head, Nov 1872, 27, s, OR Can Ter OR]

6. James Manson
b. 1845 BC, living at Victoria
d. 02 May 1887 Champoeg, Marion Co, OR
buried Champoeg Cemetery, Champoeg, Marion Co, OR

7. George Manson
b. 1847 BC
d. 04 Nov 1876 Champoeg, Marion Co, OR
buried Champoeg Cemetery, Marion Co, OR

8. Elizabeth Manson aka Lizzie/Liza
b. Sep 1856 BC, Stuart�s Lake on Frazier River
d. 29 Jul 1927
m'd Mr. Armstrong

1867: Jun 13 baptized Adolphe Manson b. 13 May 1867 of Liza Manson
1867: Sep 13 buried Adolphe Manson, son of Liza Manson and unknown father. [Catholic Church Records of the Pacific Northwest, Vol III St. Paul, Oregon by Munnick; S-7 p.15]

9. Isabelle Manson
b. Dec 1863 BC
d.

1920: Dist 47, Portland, Multnomah Co, OR; Isabel Manson, head, 70, s, Can Scot OR; William Ogden, nephew, 57, s, OR Can Can, works in basket factory

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