Finding Gabriel Guilbaut in the North West Company Records
Finding Gabriel Guilbault in the
North West Company Records
From Lac La Pluie on the Ontario-Minnesota border to the vast Athabasca district in present-day Alberta—the North West Company Account Books reveal where Gabriel Guilbault spent the final years of the fur trade wars, documenting the "invisible" chapter of his life as a voyageur.
Research Subject
When I searched the North West Company Account Books Name Index for "Guilb," I wasn't sure what I'd find. Gabriel Guilbault had married Marie Josephte Abitakijikokwe at Oka in 1801, legitimizing four children born during their years together "à la façon du pays." After her death in 1813, he remarried in 1815. But where was he during those years when parish registers show him only as "voyageur"? The NWC records answered that question—and raised new ones.
The North West Company Account Books Name Index (1795-1827) at the Archives of Manitoba. A search for "guilb" reveals Gabriel Guilbault in three separate records—and also shows "Paul Guilbeau" at the same locations in 1820-1821. The database contains 3,791 names from the fur trade era.
What the Records Reveal
Gabriel Guilbault in the NWC Account Books
| Year | Name as Recorded | Record Type | Location | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1816 | Guilbeau, Gabriel | NWC Ledger | Company-wide (folio 414) | F.4/32 |
| 1820 | Guilbault, Gabriel | Lac La Pluie Blotter | Rainy Lake District | F.4/29 |
| 1821 | Guilbeau, Gabriel / Gilbian Gabriel | Athabasca General Blotter | Athabasca District | F.4/37 |
Three records. Three different document types. Three different locations across five years. Each clerk spelled his name differently—Guilbault, Guilbeau, Gilbian—a reminder that French-Canadian names were often phonetically interpreted by different record keepers. But the trail is unmistakable.
The Actual Records
Through the Archives of Manitoba, I was able to access the actual account books where Gabriel's name appears. These documents—handwritten ledgers from over 200 years ago—preserve the details of his daily transactions and wages.
Record 1: At the Rainy Lake Gateway
Reference: F.4/29, Reference 35
Document Type: A blotter—a daily rough ledger recording transactions as they happened at this specific post.
What the Record Shows: A detailed account of goods Gabriel purchased on credit—clothing, provisions, tobacco, and equipment. The 18th-century handwriting is challenging to read, but identifiable items include cloth capotes (hooded coats), bread, butter, tobacco, gun flints, and various supplies essential for wilderness survival. The total balance of 188 livres is confirmed in the next record.
Record 2: The End of the NWC
Reference: F.4/37, Reference 100
Document Type: A "general blotter"—aggregating accounts from multiple posts within the vast Athabasca district.
By Balance .......................... 44.11
To Sundries at Lac la Pluie ......... 188
[Various goods listed]
3 Pints rum ......................... 90
1821:
To Wages ............................ 450
To Balance .......................... 336
692.10 | 692.10
1821 By Balance ..................... 336
Settled
The Smoking Gun: "To Sundries at Lac la Pluie - 188"
This single line proves Gabriel's transfer from Rainy Lake to Athabasca. His account balance of 188 livres—matching the Lac La Pluie blotter total—was carried forward when he moved deeper into the wilderness. The records cross-reference perfectly across two separate documents.
Record 3: Multi-Year Employment
Reference: F.4/32, Folio 414
Document Type: A formal company-wide ledger tracking accounts over multiple years.
Gabriel's Final Account: 1821
Gabriel ended his NWC career with the company OWING HIM 336 livres—not the other way around. Many fur trade workers ended up in debt, trapped in a cycle of purchasing goods on credit and working off what they owed. Gabriel avoided this trap. His 450 livres in wages (high for a voyageur, suggesting seniority or valued skills) and careful spending meant he walked away from the fur trade with money in his pocket. The word "Settled" and the "X" mark next to his name in the index confirm his account was closed when the NWC merged with the HBC in 1821.
The Paul Guilbeau Question
One of the most intriguing discoveries in these records is the repeated appearance of "Paul Guilbeau" (also spelled Gibault, Guilbian) at the same locations as Gabriel:
Paul Guilbeau in the NWC Records
| Year | Name | Location | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1820 | Gibault Paul | Lac La Pluie Blotter (ref 33) | F.4/29 |
| 1820 | Guilbeau, Paul | NWC Ledger (folio 396) | F.4/32 |
| 1821 | Guilbian Paul | Athabasca General Blotter (ref 144) | F.4/37 |
Paul Guilbeau appears in the Lac La Pluie index just two entries above Gabriel (ref 33 vs. ref 35). He then appears in the Athabasca index in 1821—the same district, the same year. After this blog post was written, Quebec parish research resolved the question completely.
Paul Guilbault was born 23 April 1761 at Notre-Dame-de-Montréal — one year to the day before Gabriel's own 23 April 1762 baptism at L'Assomption. Both were sons of Charles Gabriel Guilbault père (1731–1784) and Marie Charlotte Morin, confirmed by PRDH baptism records (#296685 for Paul). The 1783 Varennes marriage register places Gabriel present as a witness at Paul's wedding — "fils de Gabriel Guilbeau et de Charlotte Morin" in the text. Thirty-seven years later, the brothers were paddling together in the Athabasca country.
Paul's Athabasca account (F.4/37, pages 106 and 117) contains one additional discovery: a credit entry reading "By Lieut Franklin — 100." This is almost certainly Lieutenant John Franklin, then conducting his first overland Arctic expedition (1819–1822), whose route passed directly through the Athabasca district where Paul and Gabriel were working. Verification is in progress against Franklin's expedition financial records at the National Archives (UK). The full brother proof and Franklin discovery are documented in the case study.
The Geography of a Voyageur's Life
Gabriel Guilbault's records trace a life lived across thousands of miles of waterways. Understanding the geography helps us understand both the man and the documents that preserve his story.
Gabriel's World: Four Thousand Miles of Canoe Routes
From the St. Mary's Rapids where he met Marie Josephte, to the mission at Oka where they married, to the remote posts where he spent his final working years—Gabriel's life followed the water.
Sault Ste. Marie was a crucial link on the fur trade network connecting the interior to Montreal. Voyageurs and traders traveled these routes regularly—leaving the interior in spring, returning in autumn. The journey from the St. Mary's Rapids to Oka followed established waterways: across Lake Huron, up the French River, across Lake Nipissing, down the Ottawa River to the Montreal region. A trip of several hundred miles, taking weeks by canoe, but a route Gabriel would have known intimately from years of paddling trade goods and furs.
While country marriages were recognized in fur trade communities, Catholic traders often sought formal church ceremonies to legitimize their families in colonial records. The Sulpician mission at Oka offered permanent religious infrastructure—and formalizing the marriage gave Gabriel's children legal standing, inheritance rights, and access to French-Canadian society. The 1801 ceremony wasn't unusual; it was part of the rhythm of fur trade life, where families moved between the pays d'en haut and the settlements along routes the voyageurs knew by heart.
After Marie Josephte's death in 1813 and his remarriage in 1815, the NWC records show Gabriel moving progressively deeper into the interior: Lac La Pluie in 1820, Athabasca in 1821. At nearly 60 years old, he was still following the canoe routes—still living the voyageur life he had known for three decades.
A Pattern Emerges
The records show Gabriel moving progressively further into the interior: from company-wide ledgers (1816) to Lac La Pluie (1820) to Athabasca (1821). At nearly 60 years old in 1821, he was still working in one of the most demanding and remote regions of the fur trade. This was a man who had spent decades in the canoe brigades—and who continued the only trade he knew even after losing his wife.
Placing Gabriel in Context
Gabriel Guilbault's Life: Key Events
Source: Calculated from later records
Source: Children's ages at 1801 legitimization
Source: Oka marriage record
Source: Parish register
Source: Parish register
Source: Parish register
Source: Parish register
Source: Parish register
Source: HBCA NWC Account Books
Source: HBCA NWC Account Books
Source: HBCA NWC Account Books
Source: Québec/Fonds Drouin/St/St-Benoît/1830/1833/ © Drouin Institute
How to Research Your Own Ancestor
The NWC Account Books Name Index is freely searchable online, and accessing the actual records has become easier than ever. Here's how I found Gabriel—and how you can search for your own voyageur ancestors.
Step-by-Step Guide
Search the NWC Name Index
Go to manitoba.ca → Archives of Manitoba → HBCA Resources → Name Indexes → North West Company Account Books (1795-1827). Search for your ancestor's surname—and try spelling variations. The database contains 3,791 names.
Note the Reference Codes
Record the reference codes (e.g., F.4/29, F.4/32) and any folio numbers. These are essential for requesting the actual documents. The codes tell you which volume and page contain your ancestor's records.
Check for Digitized Records
Search the Keystone Archives Descriptive Database using the reference codes to see if records have been digitized. Many NWC account books are now available online as searchable PDFs—I was able to access F.4/29 and F.4/37 immediately.
Request Research Assistance
For records not yet digitized, contact the Archives of Manitoba directly. In my case, they scanned F.4/32 and sent it within days. You can also use the Manitoba Genealogical Society (mbgenealogy.com) or the Archives' "Researchers for Hire" list.
Understand the Context
Research the locations where your ancestor worked. Knowing that Lac La Pluie was a transportation hub, or that Athabasca was a remote and competitive district, helps you understand your ancestor's experience and interpret the records.
Why This Research Matters
These records document the "invisible" years of Gabriel's life—the years when he was absent from Quebec parish registers, deep in the pays d'en haut. They reveal that he continued as a voyageur into his late 50s, working through the most turbulent period in fur trade history. And they prove definitively that he was there when the North West Company ended—his account marked "Settled" in the final year of the company's existence.
Related in This Series
The North West Company: A Genealogist's Guide →
Historical overview of the NWC, the Pemmican War, the Battle of Seven Oaks, and how to access fur trade records.
The Full Case Study
The Voyageur Years: Gabriel Guilbault in the NWC Records →
The complete case study with full methodology, the Paul brother proof through seven parish documents, and the "By Lieut Franklin — 100" discovery in the Athabasca account. Includes all three HBCA volumes and the 188-livre cross-post evidence chain.
Related Sources: Parish registers of L'Annonciation d'Oka, Sainte-Anne-de-Rigaud, and St-Paul-de-Joliette (BAnQ / FamilySearch).
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