John Ballenden
Encyclopedia
John Ballenden was one of the Scottish fur traders that the Hudson’s Bay Company recruited to administer that trade in North America.
Ballenden started as an apprentice at York Factory (Man.) in 1829 and was named accountant at Upper Fort Garry in 1836. He married Sarah McLeod
, the daughter of Alexander Roderick McLeod
, e chief trader with the HBC, in a mixed marriage that was still common among the traders at the time.
Through a number of career moves, Ballenden became a chief factor with the company. His mixed marriage created a number of hardships for the family and led to his taking furlough and a reposting. On the death of his wife, he again took charge of trading out of the Red River Settlement. Deteriorating health had him return to Scotland where he died.
In an age when the fur trade was rapidly changing, John Ballenden was an able and loyal employee who, despite the family problems, had his children educated in Scotland and prepared for the changing social landscape of the time.
Ballenden started as an apprentice at York Factory (Man.) in 1829 and was named accountant at Upper Fort Garry in 1836. He married Sarah McLeod
Sarah McLeod (Ballenden)
Sarah McLeod was born in Rupert's Land.Sarah was one of eight children of chief trader Alexander Roderick McLeod and a mixed-blood mother and grew up at HBC trading posts in the Mackenzie River and Columbia areas...
, the daughter of Alexander Roderick McLeod
Alexander Roderick McLeod
Alexander Roderick McLeod was a fur trader and explorer who began his career with the North West Company in 1802.McLeod became a chief trader with the Hudson's Bay Company after they joined with the NWC in 1821...
, e chief trader with the HBC, in a mixed marriage that was still common among the traders at the time.
Through a number of career moves, Ballenden became a chief factor with the company. His mixed marriage created a number of hardships for the family and led to his taking furlough and a reposting. On the death of his wife, he again took charge of trading out of the Red River Settlement. Deteriorating health had him return to Scotland where he died.
In an age when the fur trade was rapidly changing, John Ballenden was an able and loyal employee who, despite the family problems, had his children educated in Scotland and prepared for the changing social landscape of the time.