Starting Sept. 30, 2014, Genealogy.com will be making a big change. GenForum message boards, Family Tree Maker homepages, and the most popular articles will be preserved in a read-only format, while several other features will no longer be available, including member subscriptions and the Shop.
 
Learn more


Home Page |Surname List |Index of Individuals |InterneTree |Sources


View Tree for Wash-e-soo-E'Squaw CockingWash-e-soo-E'Squaw Cocking (b. 1780, d. 1850)

Wash-e-soo-E'Squaw Cocking (daughter of Matthew Cocking and Ke-che-cho-wick) was born 1780, and died 1850. She married Budd (Cree Indian).

 Includes NotesNotes for Wash-e-soo-E'Squaw Cocking:
Wash-e-soo-E'Squaw was baptised 11 May, 1828 by William Cockran and given the name Mary Budd ( St. John's Cathedral - baptismal reg 1, no. 745, p.94). She was still living with the Erasmus family in 1850.

Washehoesguew must have been living at Norway House in 1820. In the fall of that year the Church of England missionary John West took her son from Norway House to the mission at Red River. It may be that she had been there for some time because her son, The Cask, (James Budd), is listed in B154/d/7, Norway House Accounts, 1818/1819, fo. 77d, under "Indian Debt Remaining unpaid, June 1, 1819."

The mother of Henry Budd was employed by the Church Missionary Establishment from the fall of 1822 to look after the children at the Red River School.

"In October and the beginning of November 1822 the following girls with a half-breed (widow) woman, speaking only the Indian language, to make clothes, wash, cook, etc for the children were upon the Establishment: viz.

Agathas ......................................................The widow woman
Nehowgatim .......... Four Legs .................. An orphan girl
Tackaquatim ......... A great noise .............. An orphan girl

Baptisms :
Pemuteuithinew .... Baptised July 1822 ... James Hope
Sakachuwescum ... Baptised July 1822 ... Henry Budd

(SOURCE: Memorandum and Accounts of the Church Missionary Establishment, Red River Settlement, Hudson's Bay, North America, from Oct 1, 1822 to May 31, 1823, C.1/M, Public Archives of Canada, Microfilm Reel A-77, Item 15, p.71)

A comparison of The Hudson's Bay Company Accounts, 1824/1827, clearly establishes that "The Woman on Missionary Establishment" was the same person who was called "Agathas" was the same person called "Wash-e-soo-E'Sguew." The same records also contain separate accounts for Mr. Cook's wife. See detailed evidence below.

21 October 1824

In the Retired Servants Accounts, "The Woman on Missionary Establishment" Annuity is recorded between the accounts of William H. Cook and Mrs. Cook. On October 21, 1824, she purchased good for a total of £8/O/10. (SOURCE: B235/d/18 Retired Servants Accounts, Colony Shop, Ft.Garry, 1824/1824, fo. 86d, p.162. A duplicate of the above account is recorded in B235/d/19 under "Annuity of Aggathas.")

2 November 1825

In the Retired Servants Account B235/d/22 under "Annuity of Agathas" are listed purchases made on November 2, 1825 similar to those made the previous year. The total was £4.l3.ll. This contrasts with the amount recorded in B.235/d/23, the account of Mrs. Cook, which states "1826 Apr 26 To Wm Cook per amount placed to his credit £15.5.l." (SOURCES: B235/d/22 Retired Servants Accounts, Colony Shop Ft. Carry, 1825/26, fo. 79d, p. 150; 13235/d/23)

21 October 1826

The Retired Servants Accounts include "Annuity of Aggathas" and records that she received £l0.4.0 in cash and 1/2 yd silk ferrets for a total of £l0.4.2.. The "Annuity of Mrs. Cook" of £6.0.0 was transferred to W. H.. Cook's account on 13 December 1826. (SOURCE: B235/d/28, fo 80d,p.152, and fo.?, p.180, Retired Servants Accounts, Colony Shop Ft. Carry 1826/1827)

8 November 1827

The Settlers and Retired Servants Accounts record under Annuity of Agathas or Wahahesquew that she received £6.0.0 on 8 November 1827. The "Annuity of Mrs. Cook" states that £6.0.0 was transferred to W. H. Cook's account on 22 April 1828. B325/d/35, p. 307, fo.45, notes "Annuity of Wahuhes quew" for £6.0.0 on 8 November 1827. (SOURCE: B235/d/34, Settlers and Retired Servants Accounts Colony Shop, Vol. 1, 1827/1828, fo. 6, p. 3, and fo. 6d, p. 4., and B235/d/35, l827/l828, vol. 2, fo. 45, p. 307.)

In the winter of 1824/1825, Wash-e-soo-E'Sguew may have visited Norway House, although she did make purchases at Red River Oct 21, 1824, which may have been after the last boats had departed. Her sister Kee-che-cow-e-com-e-coot, alias Betsy Holmes, was at Norway House with her family, and Washe-soo-E'Sguew had at least two of her children there as well. The letter below is inconclusive, but there is at least the implication that Wash-e-soo-E'Sguew was in Norway House that winter. In the CMS Records, Wash-e-soo-E'Sguew is called "Agathas", thus creating confusion as to her identify. (Her half-sister, wife to William Hemmings Cook, was also called "Agathas.")

Norway House 3 Feb 1825

Mr. R. Miles

Dear Sir/ On the Annuitants List forwarded to this there is a Balance of £32.5.4 in favor of Matthew Cockings Three children & of £84.ll.2 in favour of Thos Ishams Three children - if, by reference to documents of former years, it could be ascertained what portion of these sums such Legatees is entitled to you will oblige me by forwarding a Statement of the Same in the Spring - Mrs Holmes/Kees e cow e cum a coot / says that for the four years of 1816/17, 1817/18, 1818/19, and 1819/20 She received no part of her Annuity. Nor did her Sister/ Wasihoesguew/ any part of hers for the year 1818/19. Agatha/Mrs. Cook/ it is presumed, has invariably received her Annuity in full.

With respect

From your Obed. Servant

Alex Robertson

Wash-e-soo-E'Squew is clearly distinguished from her sisters in a letter of Wm. H. Cook, who also clears up the confusion over the use of the name Aggathas to distinguish both Wash-e-soo-E'Squew and Mrs. Cook. As to Wash-e-sooE'Squew's residence that winter, the letter is unclear. Cook may have been referring to her having run up her account while she was at Norway House. Nevertheless, he speaks in the present tense, so perhaps she was.

Red River 25 May 1825

My Dear Sir

Could I ask the favor of you to inform me the state of the Annuitants' Accounts who are designated by the names of Agathas, Washihow Esqow & Keshechow e cummicoot - my partner is one of these (Agathas) & her arrears of 3 years accumulation were last Summer £l0.l8.1O - instead of the net sum of £18 - some wrong payment of this annuity must have taken place owing to the Gentm at the Factory not being able to identify the parties - the name of Agathas being an Appelation suitable to any of the halfbreed Ladies - Mr. Jones informs me that a Box procured by Mr. West on behalf of Washehozsqow was marked with the name Agathas - from which I conclude that the Arrears of Annuity taken by Mr. West for Washeho Esqow was debited to Agathas - & thus the deficinency in my wifes Acct may have occurred - Washehow Esqow on the other hand complains of the deficiency of her account but she being a resident at Norway House & no doubt frequently applying to the Store for supplies of Prov' etc may have overrun her reckoning before she was aware of it, for like the rest she is no dabster at arithmetic & would have no Idea of the limit to which she could proceed with the ample or rather enormous sum of £6 annually.

Any little information you can afford on the foregoing matter will greatly oblige.

Dear Sir
yours sincerely
W. H. Cook

(SOURCE: B239/c/l: fo.201, York Factory Correspondence Inward, 1808-1828, letter to Robert Miles from William Hemmings Cook to Robert Miles, 25 May 1825.)

[B235/d/20, p. 196, to. 17d, Vol. 2, Retired Servants Book Debts, Red River District, 1824/1825, records the following:

"Nov 24, By Trade Charges pr fret of 1 piece goods from YF to RRS, fall 1823, being Annuity for Aggathas, £1/17/6")

Children of Wash-e-soo-E'Squaw Cocking and Budd (Cree Indian) are:
  1. +Catherine BUDD.
Created with Family Tree Maker


Search for Family - Learn About Genealogy - Helpful Web Sites - Message Boards - Guest Book - Home
© Copyright 1996-99, The Learning Company, Inc., and its subsidiaries. All rights reserved.
© Copyright 1995-97 by Matthew L. Helm. All Rights Reserved.