David Thompson: The “Stargazer” and Greatest Land Geographer of North America -- PART IV

 

PART IV

David Thompson (1770–1857), a British-born fur trader, surveyor, and cartographer, stands as one of the most remarkable explorers in North American history. Known to some Indigenous peoples as “Koo-Koo-Sint” (the Stargazer) for his use of astronomical instruments, Thompson traveled an estimated 90,000 km (56,000 miles) and mapped approximately 4.9 million square km (1.9 million square miles) of the continent. His precise maps, based on meticulous astronomical observations, sextant readings, and compass traverses, remained in use by governments into the 20th century.

Early Career and Transition to the North West Company

Thompson apprenticed with the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) starting in 1784. He developed surveying skills after an injury sidelined him from routine trading. Frustrated by the HBC’s limited support for exploration, he defected to the rival North West Company (NWC) in 1797 without the customary notice. 

The NWC valued his mapping expertise for trade routes, boundary disputes, and expansion.

Major Mapping Expeditions and Achievements

Thompson’s work combined fur trading with systematic exploration and cartography. Key phases include:

1797–1798: Boundary and Mississippi Source Survey — Sent to survey the Canada-U.S. boundary per the Jay Treaty, he mapped routes from Lake Superior to Lake of the Woods and identified Turtle Lake (Minnesota) as a candidate for the Mississippi River’s source. This expedition produced early detailed maps of the region.

• Rocky Mountains and Interior West (Late 1790s–1800s) — Based at posts like Rocky Mountain House, he led multiple forays into the Rockies. He crossed the Continental Divide repeatedly, mapping river systems and passes while establishing trade relations with Indigenous nations (e.g., Kootenay, Salish/Flathead, Peigan).

• Pacific Slope Expeditions (1807–1812) — Charged with finding a viable route to the Pacific amid concerns over the Lewis and Clark Expedition, Thompson achieved several firsts for European-descended explorers:

• 1807: Crossed the Rockies via the Howse Pass and established Kootanae House (near present-day Invermere, BC), the first NWC post west of the Continental Divide.

• 1809: Built Kullyspel House (near Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho) and Saleesh House (Flathead Post, near Thompson Falls, Montana) on the Clark Fork River. Saleesh House became a key base for wintering and trading with Salish peoples.

• 1810–1811: Explored the Columbia River system, mapping it downstream to its mouth. He reached the Pacific in 1811, shortly after the American Pacific Fur Company established Fort Astoria. He helped establish Spokane House (near present-day Spokane, Washington).

Thompson’s traverses covered vast swaths of present-day Alberta, British Columbia, Montana, Idaho, and Washington. He documented geography, natural history, weather, and Indigenous cultures in detailed journals, creating some of the most accurate maps of the era.

Connection to François Rivet and the Fur Trade

In the context of our family’s history, Thompson interacted with François Rivet around 1809–1810 at Saleesh House. Rivet, operating as a freeman trapper, traded furs and supplies with Thompson’s party. Thompson employed or interacted with several Illinois River-area freemen (including Rivet) who faced challenges with Blackfeet raids. This period reflects the NWC’s collaborative network with independent voyageurs in the Columbia/Flathead district.

Later Life and Legacy

Thompson retired from the NWC around 1812 and continued surveying (e.g., for the International Boundary Commission). He settled in eastern Canada with his wife Charlotte Small (a Métis woman with whom he had 13 children) but faced financial hardship and died in relative obscurity in 1857. His monumental map of the West (completed around 1814) and journals were later rediscovered and celebrated. He is now recognized as Canada’s greatest practical land geographer. 

Thompson’s work bridged commerce and science, aiding NWC expansion while producing enduring geographic knowledge. His expeditions in the Saleesh/Flathead region directly overlap with François Rivet’s activities, tying him into the broader voyageur and fur trade narrative of our family.

Thank you Grok xAI for your wisdom and research assistance. -- Drifting Cowboy

The North West Company (NWC): History and Context in the Fur Trade -- PART III

 

PART III

The North West Company (1779–1821) was a major Montreal-based fur trading enterprise that played a pivotal role in exploring and exploiting the North American interior. It was the primary rival to the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) and employed many French-Canadian voyageurs, including connections to families like the Rivets. Its aggressive, adaptive model drove significant westward expansion but ultimately led to its merger.

Origins and Formation

After the British conquest of New France in 1763, independent traders (often called “pedlars”) from Montreal filled the vacuum left by French companies. High costs and cutthroat competition prompted consolidation.

• A loose coalition formed in 1779; it was reorganized on a firmer basis in 1783–1784 under leaders like the Frobisher brothers (Benjamin and Joseph) and Simon McTavish (often called the “Premier” or “Emperor” of the fur trade).
• By 1787, it absorbed rivals like Gregory, McLeod and Co., bringing in partners such as Alexander Mackenzie. The company operated as a partnership with shares held by Montreal agents and “wintering partners” who managed interior posts.

Headquartered in Montreal, the NWC focused on the Great Lakes, Prairies, and beyond—using extensive canoe routes rather than relying solely on Hudson Bay ports like the HBC.

Business Model and Operations

The NWC’s strength lay in its voyageur workforce and flexible structure:

• Transportation: A two-stage canoe system. “Pork-eaters” (mangeurs de lard) paddled from Montreal to Grand Portage (later Fort William) on Lake Superior. “North men” (hommes du nord) handled deeper interior routes. Annual rendezvous at these depots exchanged goods and furs.
• Workforce: Mostly French-Canadian voyageurs, plus clerks, interpreters, and Métis descendants. They paddled birchbark canoes, portaged, and traded with Indigenous nations. Trade was valued in “made beaver” (MB) units.
• Exploration: The company sponsored major expeditions, including Alexander Mackenzie’s journeys to the Arctic (1789) and Pacific (1793), Simon Fraser’s Fraser River descent (1808), and David Thompson’s extensive mapping of the Columbia River system and Rockies.

The NWC pushed aggressively westward and northward, establishing posts as far as the Pacific slope and Arctic regions. It briefly tried direct trade with China and operated in U.S. territories.

Rivalry with the Hudson’s Bay Company

The HBC (chartered 1670) had a legal monopoly in Rupert’s Land and shorter supply lines via Hudson Bay. The NWC countered with inland posts, better Indigenous relationships (often through “country marriages” that created Métis communities), and superior mobility. 

Tensions escalated into violence, notably the 1816 Battle of Seven Oaks (near present-day Winnipeg), where Métis hunters allied with the NWC clashed with HBC settlers from Lord Selkirk’s Red River Colony. Legal battles and costs weakened both sides.

Merger and Legacy (1821)

By the early 1820s, unsustainable competition, violence, and financial strain forced a resolution. In 1821, the NWC merged with the HBC under the latter’s name and charter. The HBC absorbed NWC posts, personnel, and expertise, creating a near-monopoly across much of British North America. Many NWC voyageurs and traders transitioned to HBC service. 

The merger stabilized the trade but ended the NWC’s independent identity. Its explorations helped map western Canada and influenced later Canadian claims to the Pacific coast.

Connection to the Rivet Family and François Rivet

In the context of your family history, François Rivet (1754–1852) engaged with the NWC in the early 19th century as a freeman trapper and interpreter in the Columbia and Flathead regions. Short on supplies in 1808, he traded with David Thompson’s NWC party. By around 1813, he worked more formally for the company among the Salish/Flathead, later transitioning to the HBC after the 1821 merger (e.g., at Fort Colville). 

This reflects the NWC’s role in absorbing experienced voyageurs from earlier French-Canadian traditions and extending their careers into the Pacific Northwest fur trade.

Broader Impact

The NWC accelerated the fur trade’s reach, fostered Métis culture, contributed to geographic knowledge, and shaped the economic and political landscape of western North America. Its competitive drive, while costly, complemented (and challenged) the HBC, ultimately consolidating under one banner that influenced Canadian development.

A modern retail company revived the name in 1990, but it is unrelated to the historic fur trader beyond branding. The original NWC remains a symbol of bold Montreal-based enterprise in the pays d’en haut. 

This history ties directly into the voyageur legacy we’ve been exploring—from Detroit in 1701 to the Missouri, Rockies, and Oregon in the 19th century.

Thank you Grok xAI for your wisdom and research assistance. -- Drifting Cowboy

François Rivet’s Role in the Lewis and Clark Expedition (Corps of Discovery) -- PART II

 

PART II

François Rivet Sr. (1754–1852), the long-lived voyageur and mountain man from the Rivet-Cusson lineage, played a supporting but memorable part as one of the French-Canadian engagés (hired boatmen) during the early stages of the 1804–1806 Lewis and Clark Expedition. His involvement highlights the critical reliance of the Corps on experienced French-Canadian and Métis river men for navigating the Missouri River and handling watercraft.

Hiring and Early Service (1804)

The expedition, led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, departed from near St. Louis on May 14, 1804. To crew the keelboat and pirogues, they hired skilled boatmen familiar with the Missouri River’s currents, sandbars, and challenges.

• François Rivet was hired in the St. Louis / St. Charles area (some records note connections to Kaskaskia). He joined as part of a group of French-Canadian voyageurs engaged by St. Louis entrepreneurs like Auguste Chouteau to support the military contingent.
• He helped paddle one of the cargo pirogues (large, sturdy boats). The French boatmen provided essential muscle and expertise for upstream travel against the powerful Missouri current.

Rivet and the other engagés were not permanent members of the military Corps but temporary hires—contracted for specific legs of the journey. Many were experienced in the fur trade, bringing practical skills in boating, camping, and interacting with Indigenous nations.

Journey to the Mandan Villages and Discharge (Late 1804)

The Corps pushed up the Missouri through the summer and fall of 1804. By November, they reached the Mandan/Hidatsa villages in present-day North Dakota, where they built Fort Mandan for the winter.

• Rivet agreed only to travel as far as the Mandans. In November 1804, he and three others (DeChamps/Degie, Malboeuf, and Carson) were discharged at Fort Mandan.
• After discharge, Rivet and his companions built their own hut near Fort Mandan. They wintered there under the protection of the expedition while the Corps prepared for the push westward in spring 1805.

This arrangement was common: short-term voyageurs provided labor for the initial river ascent, then returned to their trading networks or stayed in the Upper Missouri region for fur trade opportunities.

Notable Personal Detail

Journals and accounts describe Rivet as a lively character. One record notes him as the man who “danced on his head” at Mandan parties—adding entertainment and helping build rapport with the Indigenous hosts during the winter.

Post-Discharge Contributions and Path Forward

• In spring 1805, Rivet and Philippe Degie (who had lent a dugout canoe to the expedition) built their own canoe and descended part of the Missouri with a return party.
• He continued working in the Upper Missouri fur trade, later traveling farther west, joining brigades, trapping, and interpreting for companies like the North West Company and Hudson’s Bay Company. He eventually settled in Oregon, living a remarkable life until 1852.

Significance of His Role

Rivet was not a core “permanent” member like the soldiers or key interpreters (e.g., Toussaint Charbonneau or George Drouillard), but he belonged to the vital French contingent whose boating skills enabled the expedition’s progress. The Corps depended on these voyageurs for the heavy labor of propelling heavily laden boats upstream—often singing traditional voyageur songs to maintain rhythm and morale. 

His story connects the Rivet family’s earlier Great Lakes voyageur heritage (Detroit and Michilimackinac) to the 19th-century western expansion. As a bridge between New France fur trade traditions and the American exploration era, François embodied the enduring mobility and adaptability of these river men.

His participation, though brief, placed him in one of the most famous expeditions in U.S. history, and his long subsequent career as a mountain man and settler extended that legacy into the Pacific Northwest. This chapter richly illustrates the family’s broader contributions to North American exploration and the fur trade.

Thank you Grok xAI for your wisdom and research assistance. -- Drifting Cowboy

The Rivet Family Voyageur Legacy: From New France to the American West -- PART I

 

PART I

The Rivet family’s involvement in the voyageur and fur trade world spans generations, beginning in the early days of New France and extending across centuries and continents. Tied to the Cusson family through marriage, their story highlights resilience, adventure, and the essential role of French-Canadian boatmen in shaping North American exploration and commerce.

Maurice Rivet and Marie Cusson: The Founding Generation

Maurice Rivet (1642–1712), born in La Rochelle, France, arrived in New France around 1664. He received a land concession from the Jesuits and married Marie Cusson (c. 1658–1732), daughter of royal notary Jean Cusson dit Desormiers and sister of Charles Cusson (the Detroit founder’s voyageur). Maurice and Marie raised at least 11 children in the Cap-de-la-Madeleine area, farming while navigating the challenges of colonial life. 

Though Maurice himself was not primarily a voyageur, he fathered several who entered the trade. Court records show him handling land deals, borrowing canoes, and acting as an estimator—practical skills that aligned with the mobile, resource-driven world of the fur trade. The family’s proximity to waterways and connections through the Cussons positioned the next generation for long-distance engagements.

Early Voyageur Sons: Service to Detroit and the Great Lakes (1700s)

From 1703 to 1716, at least three sons—Jean, René, and Pierre Rivet—signed voyageur contracts. These engagements involved paddling canoes laden with trade goods westward and returning with furs, often under harsh conditions.

• Pierre Rivet (1683–1753) had a particularly long career. Contracts record him traveling to Detroit (Fort Pontchartrain) as early as 1703, and later to Michilimackinac, the Illinois posts, and Poste de la Rivière St. Joseph (up to 1736 and beyond). He made repeated trips over decades, demonstrating the demanding, seasonal nature of the work.
• Alexis Rivet (c. 1693–1757) was hired in 1728 specifically for Detroit du lac Érié.
• Other sons, like Jean and René, contracted for “l’Ouest” (the West) in 1705.

These early Rivets directly supported the fur trade networks radiating from Detroit, helping sustain French influence in the Great Lakes amid competition from the English and Iroquois. Their labor—paddling, portaging, and trading—kept supply lines open in the pays d’en haut.

Later Generations: Expansion into the Interior and the Far West

The tradition continued with descendants like Nicolas-Pierre Rivet (1719–1811), who contracted in 1736 for Michilimackinac and in 1738 for the Illinois posts. The most celebrated figure is François Rivet Sr. (1754–1852), a 2nd cousin 7x removed to the line through Marie Cusson. Born in St-Sulpice, Quebec, he signed multiple contracts in the 1790s (e.g., 1791 with Jacques Giasson for three years, “wherever required” excluding the far North). He likely worked as a coureur de bois (independent trader) earlier. 

François’s adventures extended far beyond traditional voyageur routes:

• He joined the Lewis and Clark Expedition (Corps of Discovery) in 1804 as one of the French-Canadian boatmen. He paddled a pirogue, wintered near Fort Mandan with the Mandan/Hidatsa, and was discharged in 1804–05 but remained in the region.
• He trapped and traded up the Missouri River, interacting with tribes like the Teton Lakota, Arikara, and others. He survived conflicts (e.g., escaping a Blackfeet/Gros Ventres attack) and worked with figures like David Thompson of the North West Company.
• By the 1810s–1820s, he lived among the Salish/Flathead people, formed a family with Therese Tete Platte, worked as a trapper, interpreter, and clerk for the North West Company and later Hudson’s Bay Company (including at Fort Colville, where he was placed in charge around age 75).
• He joined Snake Country brigades in the 1820s and retired in 1838 to French Prairie in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, where he lived to nearly 100 and participated in early settler communities.

Themes of the Rivet Legacy

The Rivets exemplify the voyageur archetype: hardy French-Canadian men (often Canadiens) skilled in canoeing, winter survival, and cross-cultural negotiation. They were essential to the fur trade economy, which drove European expansion while creating Métis cultures through intermarriage with Indigenous nations. 

Their story connects Detroit’s 1701 founding (via Charles Cusson and early Rivet trips) to the broader exploration of the Midwest and Pacific Northwest. It bridges New France, British North America, and the early United States—showing how family networks sustained the trade across political shifts.

This legacy of adventure, endurance, and adaptation is a proud part of the family heritage. It underscores how ordinary colonists and their descendants helped weave the fabric of North American history through rivers, portages, and trading posts. As Detroit celebrates its 325th anniversary, the Rivet voyageurs remind us of the deep roots linking Quebec, the Great Lakes, and the wider continent.

Thank you Grok xAI for your wisdom and research assistance. -- Drifting Cowboy

Celebrating 325 Years: Our Family’s Voyageur Legacy in the Founding of Detroit

 

In the summer of 2026, as Detroit marks its 325th anniversary—commemorating the founding of Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit on July 24, 1701—we pause to honor the bold spirits of our ancestors who helped plant the seeds of this great city. Among those intrepid French-Canadian voyageurs who paddled into history with Antoine de La Mothe Cadillac was our own Charles Cusson, binding our family’s story forever to the birth of Detroit.

 

Jean Cusson dit Desormiers (1630–1718), our 9th great-grandfather, was born in Ste-Marguerite, Rouen, Normandie, France. He and his wife Marie Foubert (1640–1715) raised a family in New France that embodied the adventurous, resilient spirit of the early colonial era. Their son Charles Cusson (c. 1672–1727), our 8th great-granduncle, answered the call of the frontier. On May 27, 1701, Charles signed a historic voyageur contract before notary Adhémar in Montréal. He and dozens of other hardy men—Louis Babie, Laurent Renauld, Claude Crevier, and many more—committed themselves to serve the King, obey Cadillac’s command, and help establish a new outpost at “le détroit” (the strait). 

Cadillac’s expedition brought approximately 100 French voyageurs and 100 Algonquin allies down the waterways to the narrow strait connecting Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie. On July 24, 1701, they landed and began constructing Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit from the surrounding timber. The strategic purpose was clear: secure the French fur trade in the Great Lakes region against English encroachment and Iroquois threats, while fostering alliances with Indigenous nations. Charles and his fellow voyageurs paddled the canoes, cleared land, raised fortifications, and laid the foundations—literally and figuratively—for what would become one of North America’s great industrial and cultural cities. 

Charles was not the only connection. His sister, our 8th great-grandmother Marie Cusson (1658–1732), married Maurice Rivet (1642–1712), a man whose family became deeply intertwined with the voyageur tradition. Maurice is noted as a father and grandfather of voyageurs, and their descendants—including a famous 2nd cousin 7x removed, François Rivet Sr. (1754–1852)—carried forward that legacy of exploration and resilience across the continent. Several of Marie and Maurice’s sons signed voyageur contracts, extending the family’s involvement in the fur trade networks that radiated from early Detroit. 

The Cusson brothers, including Charles and others like Jean, Michel, Ange, Nicolas, and Joseph, were active in fur trading from the 1690s onward, often traveling westward under official permits. Their lives reflected the era’s blend of courage, hardship, and opportunity in the pays d’en haut (the upper country). 

As we celebrate Detroit’s 325th anniversary in 2026—with events like Rendez-vous Détroit, ceremonies at Hart Plaza near the Cadillac statue, and reflections at the Detroit Historical Museum—we carry forward immense pride. Our family was there at the very beginning: not as distant observers, but as active participants whose blood, sweat, and determination helped shape the city’s origins. 

From the log walls of Fort Pontchartrain to the vibrant, resilient metropolis of today, the spirit of those 1701 voyageurs endures. Charles Cusson, Marie Cusson Rivet, and the broader family network remind us that Detroit’s story is one of bold crossings, cultural intersections, and enduring legacy. This anniversary is not just a civic milestone—it is a deeply personal one, inviting us to honor our ancestors, share their tales, and celebrate how their journey helped launch a city that continues to redefine itself.

Here’s to 325 years—and to many more chapters in our shared Detroit story! Bon anniversaire, Détroit!

Thank you Grok xAI for your wisdom and research assistance. -- Drifting Cowboy

The definition shift from coureur de bois to voyageur is tied to the 1681 King's Edict

 

The vocabulary morphed across eras as the trade evolved from an outlawed frontier hustle into a massive corporate enterprise.

1. The Linguistic Evolution: Coureur de Bois vs. Voyageur

The two terms shifted from a distinction of legality to a distinction of employment status.

• The Era of Legality (Late 1600s – Early 1700s): Before the 1681 Edict, anyone heading out to the Pays d'en Haut (the Upper Country) was essentially an outlaw.
• Coureur de Bois ("Runner of the woods"): This became the specific term for an unlicensed, illegal independent trader who bypassed colonial authorities.
• Voyageur ("Traveler"): When the 1681 Edict introduced the congé (permits), men operating with legal permits began calling themselves voyageurs to distance themselves from the criminal stigma of the coureurs.
• The Corporate Era (Post-1763 British Conquest): After France ceded New France to Britain, the legal stigma vanished. The distinction became economic: 
• Voyageur now strictly meant a hired laborer—the canoe men under contract (engagés) who paddled the big corporate brigades for a wage. 
• Coureur de bois fell out of common daily use in commercial records, transitioning into a romanticized historical term for independent wilderness dwellers.

2. What were Independent Traders called during the Revolutionary War?

During the American Revolutionary War era (roughly 1775–1783), neither the North West Company (NWC) nor the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) fully monopolized the Great Lakes or the Mississippi/Ohio valleys yet.

Independent traders operating in the interior—unaffiliated with the massive British syndicates—were referred to by a few specific titles depending on who was talking:

A. Les Pedlars (The Pedlars)

This was the most common, slightly derogatory term used by the Hudson’s Bay Company to describe independent traders coming out of Montreal. Because these independent men traveled directly into the interior to intercept Indigenous trappers rather than waiting at a fort for them to arrive, the corporate class mocked them as mere "pedlars" traveling door-to-door.

B. Free Traders / Freemen (Les Francs-Bourgeois / Hommes Libres)

In the field, independent operators who commanded their own small outfits were called Free Traders or Freemen.

• The Shift: Many of these men were former company clerks or experienced hivernants (winterers) who had completed their contracts, refused to re-sign, and went into business for themselves.
• They hired their own small crews of voyageurs and traded on credit extended by independent merchant houses in Montreal or Detroit.

C. The Merchants of Detroit / Michilimackinac

During the Revolution, independent trade heavily centralized around fortified British outposts. Men like John Askin (at Michilimackinac and later Detroit) were highly influential independent merchants. They weren't corporate cogs; they were private entrepreneurs supply-chaining the frontier.

Why the Revolution Disrupted the "Independents"

The Revolutionary War actually marked the beginning of the end for the truly independent trader. Because the British military feared American rebels (like George Rogers Clark) would subvert Indigenous alliances in the West, the British government heavily restricted trade passes and the shipment of gunpowder.

To survive the wartime shipping restrictions and high insurance costs, independent traders were forced to pool their capital. This direct pressure during the Revolutionary War years is precisely what caused a coalition of independent Montreal merchants to merge, eventually cementing into the formal North West Company by the early 1780s.

3. Looking into how our ancestors fit the definition change and intersected with Montreal or Detroit merchants.

Given our lineage tracing through François Dupuis, Marie Anne Christiansen, Rene Bourassa, and the Pinsonneau line, our family lived through the exact linguistic and economic shifts we just discussed.

       [ THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY: COUREURS DE BOIS ]

       Early ancestors hunt and trade independently without permits, risking 

       fines or arrest by the Governor of New France.

                             │

                             ▼

       [ THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY: VOYAGEURS DE LAPRAIRIE ]

       Ancestors sign contracts (engagements) in Montreal, boarding 

       birchbark canoes right off the Laprairie/Lachine shores.

                             │

                             ▼

       [ POST-1763 & REVOLUTION: THE DIASPORA / FREEMEN ]

       The British take over. The family adapts, some continuing as hired 

       freemen, eventually migrating south toward the Champlain Valley and U.S.

Thank you Gemini AI for your wisdom and research assistance. -- Drifting Cowboy

Note: Yes, I'm guilty of using the term Voyageur as a catchall term for all the above definitions, but then so are many others, especially Hollywood.