Forrest Oakes (also spelled "Forrest Oakes" or "Joseph Forrest Oakes," 1734–1783) was an English merchant and fur trader who played a significant role in the early British expansion of the fur trade in North America following the 1760 conquest of New France. Born on August 21, 1734, in Handsworth (near Birmingham), England, he was baptized in London and apprenticed as a young man. He arrived in Canada during the British military occupation, likely between 1760 and 1762, and quickly established himself in Montreal as a trader. By 1761, he was a partner in the firm MacKenzie and Oakes, focusing on outfitting expeditions to the Great Lakes region. Oakes divided his time between Montreal, Michilimackinac (present-day Mackinaw City, Michigan), Sault Ste. Marie (Michigan), and Grand Portage (Minnesota), managing supplies, provisions (including corn shipments from Detroit), wintering partners, and fur/cargo transports. He married a Native American woman named Marie Amerindienne Mesquake (b. ca. 1740, of the Mesquakie/Fox tribe) around 1762 at Grand Portage; she served as a translator, guide, and cook in the trade. They had at least one son, John Meticamish Oakes (a Métis minor, possibly the later silversmith John Oakes). Oakes returned to Montreal in the fall of 1782 and died there between April 17 and May 24, 1783, leaving property in Handsworth, England.
His career spanned the transition from independent "pedlar" trading to organized companies. From 1763 to 1765, he traded in the Great Lakes, though there's no confirmed evidence he wintered inland during this period. He was in Montreal in 1766 and 1768 but appeared on trading licenses at Michilimackinac in 1767, suggesting he was inland then. From 1767 to 1782, his brother-in-law and former partner (1763–1766), Lawrence Ermatinger, served as his primary outfitter, sending increasing volumes of goods to Grand Portage—from one canoe worth £241 in 1767 to multiple loads valued at £1,300–£1,700 by 1771–1773. In 1774, he formed a partnership that divided shipments into four coded lots, indicating operations at multiple sites. He spent 1777–1778 at Grand Portage. By 1779, he was a founding partner in the original North West Company (NWC), holding one of 16 shares under "Oakes and Company." Shipments declined by 1782 due to rising competition from other Montreal traders and the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC), as well as Ermatinger's financial troubles. Oakes frequented the Red River area from 1766 to 1768, likely passing through key junctions like the Forks of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers.
The 1761 Expedition
Oakes' 1761 expedition marked one of the earliest British forays into the western fur trade after the fall of New France, capitalizing on the vacuum left by French traders. On September 16, 1761, in Montreal, Oakes (with partners including James Stanley Goddard and possibly William Grant of the early North West Society) contracted a group of French-Canadian engagés (indentured laborers/voyageurs) to transport a canoe loaded with trade goods to Michilimackinac. The group traveled via the Ottawa River route, facing the perils of small bark canoes, limited manpower, and potential Indigenous resistance amid lingering French alliances and Pontiac's uprising tensions (though the massacre at Michilimackinac occurred later, in 1763). Oakes accompanied the party, either remaining at Michilimackinac to establish trade or venturing inland to connect with Indigenous groups for furs. A guide, Joseph Lamoureux dit Saint-Germain, was hired but sued Oakes for unpaid debts in 1762; Ermatinger represented Oakes in the case. This venture helped re-establish British trade networks, competing with remnants of French operations and setting the stage for expansions to areas like Baie-des-Puants (Green Bay, Wisconsin) and beyond.
Relationships with Family Tree Individuals
- Ignace Pinsonneau dit Lafleur 1736-1768 2nd cousin 6x removed: Direct professional connection as the leader (foreman or "conducteur") of the French-Canadian engagés hired for Oakes' 1761 Michilimackinac expedition. Pinsonneau, a seasoned voyageur from the Montreal area, managed the group under contract, handling navigation, portages, and logistics. This was typical of early British traders relying on French-Canadian expertise post-conquest. No evidence of ongoing partnership beyond this, but it highlights the intercultural collaborations essential to the trade.
- Charles Boyer 1735-1811 1st cousin 8x removed: Close business associate and partner. Boyer (b. ca. 1735) and Oakes were linked as early as 1766–1768 on the Red and Assiniboine Rivers (near present-day Manitoba), where they traded with Indigenous groups like the Cree and established temporary posts. They formed a formal partnership around 1771–1773, with Ermatinger supplying goods for their operations. In 1768, they co-established Pine Fort (also called Fort des Pins (1.) in the Assiniboine Valley with Thomas Correy, a key provisioning and trading site abandoned by 1781 after smallpox outbreaks. By 1774, Boyer joined Oakes and Peter Pangman in a three-way partnership that lasted until 1779, focusing on Great Lakes and northwest expansions. Boyer later partnered with his brother Michel at Rainy Lake.
- Peter Pond 1740-1807 4th cousin 7x removed: Indirect but collaborative connection through the competitive and cooperative nature of the Montreal-based fur trade. Pond (1740–1807), an American-born trader and explorer, entered the trade around 1765 at Detroit and Michilimackinac, overlapping with Oakes' early activities in the Great Lakes. No direct partnership is recorded, but Oakes was likely one of the Montreal traders (including the Frobishers, Simon McTavish, and James McGill) who pooled resources and stock in 1778 to outfit Pond's groundbreaking expedition to the Athabasca region (present-day northern Alberta/Saskatchewan), which opened rich fur grounds via the Methye Portage. Both became founding members of the NWC in 1779–1783, with Pond holding a share in the 1783–1784 agreement. Pond's maps and ventures influenced later NWC expansions, and Oakes' involvement in supplying such efforts tied them in the broader network.
Supporting Sources, Facts, and Notes
- Primary Sources/Biographies: Dictionary of Canadian Biography (DCB) entry on Oakes (detailed life, partnerships, and trade activities). Find a Grave memorial (biographical sketch, family links, and 1761 expedition details). Notarial records from Montreal (e.g., contracts with Pinsonneau and Lamoureux suits).
- Historical Texts: A.S. Morton's "Forrest Oakes, Charles Boyer, Joseph Fulton, and Peter Pangman in the North West 1765-1793" (Royal Society of Canada, 1937; covers Red/Assiniboine activities). Harold A. Innis's Peter Pond: Fur Trader and Adventurer (1930; discusses Pond's 1778 expedition and trader networks). Alexander Henry's Travels and Adventures (1760–1776; contextualizes similar 1761 ventures). Rhoda R. Gilman's works on upper Mississippi fur trade (connections at Michilimackinac).
- Key Facts/Notes: Oakes' success relied on family ties (e.g., Ermatinger as outfitter/guarantor for 1777 passports managing 50 men). Trade involved risks like debt suits, Indigenous relations, and HBC rivalry. No direct violence or exploration like Pond's, but logistical management enabled expansions. Spellings vary (e.g., "Oaks" in some records). For deeper Pinsonneau family ties, check Quebec parish records or fur trade engagé contracts at Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. If this links to your prior François Pinsonneau query, Ignace may be an earlier relative in the same voyageur lineage from La Prairie/Montreal area.
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| 1820 North West Company Token = 1 Made Beaver |
(1.) Overview of Pine Fort
Pine Fort, also known as Fort des Épinettes or Fort des Pins, was a significant fur trading post located on the north bank of the Assiniboine River in present-day Manitoba, Canada, specifically in the vicinity of what is now Spruce Woods Provincial Park. It operated intermittently from 1768 to 1811, serving as a key hub for the fur trade in the region west of Lake Winnipeg. The fort was the first trading post established on the Assiniboine River and played a role in the early British expansion into the western fur trade following the conquest of New France in 1760. It was closely associated with nearby posts like Brandon House (also called Fort Assiniboine or Fort La Souris), located about 18 miles to the west.
Historical Background and Establishment
The fort was initially built in 1768 by independent Montreal-based traders, often referred to as "pedlars," including Forrest Oakes, Charles Boyer, and Thomas Corry (sometimes spelled Correy). These traders ventured into the Assiniboine Valley to compete with the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) and capitalize on the fur resources in the area, trading primarily with Indigenous groups such as the Assiniboine, Cree, and Ojibwe for beaver pelts, buffalo hides, and provisions. It functioned as the northern terminus of the Assiniboine-Missouri trade route, facilitating exchanges along a vital pathway connecting the prairies to the Missouri River system.
The initial phase of operation ran from 1768 to 1781, during which it served as a base for these independent traders. After abandonment in 1781—likely due to declining fur returns, competition, and devastating smallpox outbreaks that ravaged local Indigenous populations—the site was re-established by the North West Company (NWC) on at least two subsequent occasions between 1785 and 1811. During the NWC period, it was sometimes referred to as Assiniboine House or other variants, and a second post was built about three-quarters of a mile upstream around 1785–1794.
Historical accounts, such as John Macdonell's 1793 journal, describe passing the site during westward expeditions, noting its overgrown state and use as a provisioning stop where traders encountered Assiniboine lodges bringing meat and furs. By the early 19th century, the fort's importance waned amid intensifying rivalry between the NWC and HBC, leading to its final closure around 1811.
Physical Description and Operations
Typical of fur trade posts of the era, Pine Fort likely consisted of log buildings enclosed by a stockade, including living quarters, storage for trade goods (such as guns, kettles, beads, cloth, tobacco, and brandy), and areas for processing furs. It was strategically positioned to access river routes for canoe transport and overland trails, including connections to the Souris River mouth and beyond. Operations involved seasonal trading, with wintering partners overseeing engagés (French-Canadian laborers) and fostering alliances with Indigenous peoples through gift-giving and intermarriage.
The site faced challenges like food shortages, as noted in journals describing "starvation" conditions and reliance on Indigenous hunters for provisions. It should not be confused with other similarly named forts, such as those on the Saskatchewan River or in Ontario.
Significance and Legacy
Pine Fort represented the early push by Montreal traders into the prairies, bridging French-era routes (like those established by La Vérendrye in the 1730s) and the organized companies that followed. It contributed to the development of Métis communities in the region, as traders often formed unions with Indigenous women, leading to mixed-descent families. Today, the site is commemorated by a provincial plaque in Manitoba, recognizing its role in the fur trade history. Archaeological evidence from similar sites highlights the intercultural exchanges and economic impacts of the trade.
Additional Notes
- Location Coordinates: Approximately 49°43′N 99°15′W, near the Assiniboine River's bend in the Souris-Mouth area.
- Related Sites: It was part of a network including Fort La Reine (1738, French) upstream and later HBC posts like Brandon House (1793).
- Sources and Further Reading: For primary accounts, consult journals like those of Alexander Henry the Elder or North West Company records. Modern analyses appear in works such as A.S. Morton's "Forrest Oakes, Charles Boyer... in the North West 1765-1793" (1937) and Ernest Voorhis's "Historic Forts and Trading Posts" (1930). The Manitoba Historical Society provides detailed local context.
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