Hudson Bay Saga Continues

My children have a great deal of North American history in their veins.  For instance, in the period from 1780 to 1820, on their father's side, their g.g.g.g.g.grandfather's brother was William Clark of the Lewis and Clark expeditions and on their mother's side, their g.g.g.g.grandfather was John Hodgson, Chief Factor at Fort Albany House for the Hudson Bay Company.  In the same time frame, both men were experienced with wilderness travel, dealt very well with the Natives, were surveyors and were leaders.  Both men were exploring large tracts of land at approximately the same time - one in the Hudson Basin in Canada and the other the Louisiana Purchase and beyond in the States.

While history books have done justice to Clark, there are only a smattering of references (probably with good reason) to John Hodgson or John Hudson as he was also known.  But that is where the intrigue lies - as to whether or not, he was part of the Hudson Bay fortunes.

We all learned in Canadian history classes that in 1670 the King of England awarded his cousin Prince Rupert and his Company of Adventurers as "true lords and proprietors" of all seas and land of the Hudson Bay and it's entire drainage system.  Subsequently, with a long and profitable fur trade and strategic partnering with the Northwest Company, the original twenty shareholders of the Hudson Bay Company became the 'Bill Gates' of their eras.

Now, fast forward 100 years to the time of John Hodgson.   Here was an Englishman who was educated for the 'service' and did in fact spend most of his working life with the HBC.  The headquarters of the HBC in London controlled his life.  He was expected to obey implicitly all of it's yearly directives - a big one being that employees of HBC were not to associate with Native women.  Of course, many employees ignored this rule and simply omitted any reference to their country wives and children in the reports that were sent to London.  

John however fathered nine children between 1785 and 1816 very probably with the same woman and he brought James, his oldest, back to be educated in England on one of his 'leaves'. It is doubtful that he did this without the knowledge of his superiors. 

Now fast forward another 100 years to Sophie Cloutier,  John's great granddaughter,  who hears that there is a trial taking place in England regarding proceeds of a former Hudson Bay estate.  She has heard the story of her grandfather, James Hudson, writing a will on an old hide, stating that he had native offspring that should benefit upon his death.  She is led to believe that if she can prove her lineage, she will be able to collect a portion of this fortune.