Vancouver has some unique street art. I discovered this one in a baseball field on an urban walk on Saturday along the Ridgeway Greenway Belt. I have forgotten what it is called but it is not called, "Theatre Sports", unfortunately. Someone should photograph some of these eclectic sites and create a coffee table book.

The city had two back-to-back days of sunshine this weekend and I managed at three hour walk on Saturday and almost two hours of bike riding on Sunday. Today, the rain and grey has returned.


This will be my last blast for John Hodgson, a possible source of the 'Hudson Bay fortunes', for awhile at least. Here is his time-line:

• 1763 - Born in St. Margarets, Westminster, London, England.
• Until the age of 11, he was educated at Grey Coat Hospital at Westminster. He studied mathematics and surveying. His education was sponsored by the Hudson Bay Company.
• 1774 - At the age of 11, he was engaged by the HBC and sailed to Fort Albany via Moose Factory on the Company's ship, Prince Rupert. Age 11
• 1774-75 - Fort Albany
• 1775-78 - Henley House
• 1778-81 - Fort Albany
• 1781-82 - Henley House
• 1782-83 - Fort Albany
• 1783 - Severn House
• 1784 - Fort Albany - Possibly married that year to a Country Wife (name not known). Age 21
• 1785 - First Son James Hudson born in St. Margarets, Wesminster, London England
• 1789 - Daughter born - Ann Hodgson
• 1790 - Son born - Thomas Hodgson
• 1792 - Son born - John Hodgson
• 1793 - Returned to England on the King George Age 30
• 1794 - Returned to Fort Albany
• 1799 - Son born - Joseph Hudson
• 1803 - Received commission of Chief Factor at Albany House
• 1803 - Daughter born - Katherine Hodgson
• 1804 - Son born - Charles Hudson
• 1806 - Daughter born - Mary Hudson (possible birth date 1816)
• 1807 - Returned to England on the ship King George Age 44
• 1808 - Returned to Fort Albany
• 1810 - Relieved of his duties due to mismanagement. Age 47
• 1810 - Moved with his family to a farm at Lac Des Chats on the Ottawa River in August.
• 1826 - Died, possibly of cholera, five days after death of wife who had cholera.
• 1826 - Buried in Renfrew Cemetary. Age 63

Some of my questions are:

• At age 11, even in the 1700's, it must have been a very early age to apprentice or indenture a child to a career. Would John Hodgson have gone overseas willingly at that age or would his parents have signed away his rights? Perhaps he had an uncle or other relative to accompany him.
• Why were some of the children named Hudson and others Hodgson? Was it the choice of the children or the parents?
• Why was his first son born in England, when his wife was a Native of the Country? Who would give permission for her to sail to England one year and back home with a child the next?
• Why did the HBC transport the country wife of a, at the time, minor official to and from England to give birth especially when they officially forbid such liasons?
• It was also reported that James, the son born in England, returned at a later date to be educated there. Was this, too, a radical departure from procedure?
• At a slightly later date, there was a teacher sent to Fort Albany to teach the local children. Was this done at the other forts at this time as well?
• John was reported to be very supportive of the HBC even after his firing. Why?

There are many questions that swirl around the identity of John's country wife but I will leave that story for another time.