Birnie.Org 2008, All Rights Reserved
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Contributions by N. Anderson, The Dorsey Family, and the Cathlamet Musem. Photos by Virginia Birnie. |
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Birnie.Org 2008, All Rights Reserved |
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Historical Notes: Back
James was born in Aberdeen, Scotland and joined the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) as a trading clerk. He married, Charlot, the daughter of a French Voyager and a princess of the Kootayae Indian tribe. Charlot's skill with native languages and James affable personality, contributed to their excellent relations with local Indian tribes. Although James was noted for his unusual and under appreciated management style, his career spanned 30+ years with the HBC. Induded in their houshold were 15 native slaves, well treated, and crucial to their establishment of Birnie's Retreat, a trading post at the future Cathlamet village site.
As noted in James Birnie's service record, most of his appiontments were in the Columbia River Valley. He settled in the valley and founded the village of Cathlamet, Washington, USA. When the British and Americans settled their dispute the lower Columbia Valley, it became part of what is now Washington State, USA.
James Birnie was stationed at Port Simpson, B.C., a Hudson Bay fur trading post on the rugged B.C. coast. Originally settled and claimed by Russia, the British considered it as part of their (disputed) Oregon territory. A journal kept at the post recounted the lives of the Tsimshian and the Haida (Indian) clans. 1835:
“The most impressive of all the harbor scenes must have been the annual departure of the canoes for the oolichan fishery on the Nass (River). They assembled during February and early March. Then one day the seagulls would give the signal and the canoes would sweep across the Bay out of sight beyond Birnie Island*. More than seven hundred canoes took part in this flitting which might occupy two or three days. March 08,1835 - About 100 canoes started for the Nass this morning tho’ it was raining heavily.” * named after James Birnie
-- Aug. 1, 1844: The first Sisters set foot in Oregon. At Astoria, they were entertained in the home of Mr. James Birnie of the Hudson's Bay Company and the Sisters completely captivated the seven daughters of this family.
-- Dec. 26, 1848: Father J. Lionet was sent by Archbishop Blanchet to establish a mission at Astoria which was to be called Immaculate Conception. Father Lionet chose instead a site on the north side of the Columbia River and here he founded a mission he called Stella Maris, Star ofthe Sea. From this place he made periodic visits to Indians in the north. After his departure, Stella Maris was visited periodically from Vancouver.
-- December 1849: Father Toussaint Mesplie, later a pioneer missionary among the whites in Idaho, opened a mission among the Chinook Indians at the mouth of the Columbia River and attended various tribes in the neighborhood as well as Catholic soldiers at Fort Astoria.
-- October 1871: The first church at Cathlamet, Washington Territory, was built by Father Richards from Cowlitz Prairie. Located on ground donated by Mr. Birnie, it measured 46 by 22 feet. It was dedicated by Bishop Blanchet on September 26, 1875, under the title of St. Charles Borromeo. This first church was replaced by a new one in 1910. This was dedicated in honor of St. Catherine.
Excerpts courtesy of Catholic Diocese of Spokane, Washington
Pioneer Service Record with the The North West Company (Hudsons Bay Company)
NAME: BIRNIE, James PARISH: Aberdeen, SCOTLAND ENTERED SERVICE: 1818 (NWC) DATES: b. 1799-d. 1864
Appointments & Service
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Outfit Year: An outfit year ran from 1 june to 31 May. |
Appointments and Service Position |
HBC Post |
HBC District |
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1821 - 1823 |
Fort George (Astoria) |
Columbia |
|
|
1822 -1823 |
Spokane |
Columbia (Washington) |
|
|
1824 - 1825 |
Clerk |
Fort Okenogan |
Columbia (Washington) |
|
1825 - 1826 |
Clerk |
Spokane House |
Columbia (Washington) |
|
1825 - 1826 |
Clerk |
Fort Colvile |
Columbia |
|
1825 -1826 |
Slave Lake Brigade to Edmonton and back. |
Now Alberta and N.W. Territories, Canada |
|
|
1826 - 1829 |
Clerk |
Columbia |
|
|
1829 - 1831 |
Clerk |
Fort Vancouver |
Columbia |
|
1832 - 1834 |
Clerk |
Fort Colville |
Columbia |
|
1835 - 1837 |
Clerk |
Fort Simpson* |
Nass (British Columbia) |
|
1837 - 1838 |
Clerk |
Umpqua Fort |
Columbia |
|
1838 - 1840 |
Clerk |
Fort George (Astoria) |
Columbia |
|
1840 - 1842 |
Clerk |
Fort Vancouver (Indian Trade) |
Columbia |
|
1842 - 1845 |
Clerk |
Fort George (Astoria) |
Columbia |
|
1845 - 1846 |
Clerk |
Fort Vancouver (Indian Trade) |
Columbia |
|
1846 - 1847 |
Settler |
Cathlamet (Birnie's Retreat) |
Columbia (Washington) |
|
1854 - 1859 |
Settler |
Cathlamet |
Columbia (Washington) |
REFERENCES:
1860 census: Wahkiakum County, Washington: James Birnie, age 65, farmer - Wife, Charlotte: age 47. Children: James Jr.: age 27, fisherman (m. Julia A Stilwell: age 23, c. Richard H.: age 2), Alexander: age 18, Victoria: age 22, Catherine: age 15, Thomas: age 11.
"British Columbia Coast Names..." by Capt. John
T. Walbran, Ottawa, l909 p. 52 (Birnie Island, Port Simpson named after him)
"Fur Trade and Empire," by F. Merk Cambridge, (H.B.C.A. Library FC32l3 M4)
Search File: “Birnie, James” H.B.R.S. Vol. XXX, p. 202. Filename: Birnie, James (1799-1864) (fl. 1821-1846) MD l8/l6/9l
Cathlamet Map
