Below is my compilation of various history books, census forms, Canadian
and British, Birth & Death Records, UK and Saskatchewan, Cemetery
Records of Rosemary Mack, Canadian Archives material, and various family
histories, from many books, plus my Mom's old scrapbooks, with Estevan
Mercury articles, pictures, Leader Post articles and pictures.
I do not take credit for any of this material, other than the compiling
of it here. Being old history, most over 100 years, I doubt
if it is copyright any more, but if any of the info below is copyright,
and you want to see it removed, please feel free to contact me.
But I hope for the sake of preserving history, this will not happen.
I am not selling this info, I am not profiting in any way on publishing
it here. I am only trying to show all this information in one
place, it took me many hours to accumulate the story for printing here.
I hope you all enjoy it. It is as accurate as I can get it at the
moment. I am sure like everything else I do, there is errors.
I am not perfect. If there is an error, please let me know,
and I will recheck my info, and we will sort it all out. I've seen
lots of so called well researched books, and have found many errors in
them, so I may or may not be wrong. I've noticed the family
histories are the most prone for errors. Usually written by a
granddaughter or grandson, the dates and info passed on, can be fuzzy at
best. I do appreciate their effort to document their family, as an
amateur genealogist, I know what it's like. We all try our best.
If I was paid for this, I would travel the world, to gather the
documents, but for free, this is what you get.
Coal
Mine History in SE Saskatchewan
First to see the
coal in this area, would have been the Natives in the area.
I don't know if there is any record of them using the coal though.
Assiniboine, Chipewans, Sioux,
and Cree, all were here,
as early as the 1700's.
Geological terms, this area is part of the
Paleocene Ravenscrag formation.
Prior to coal being reported in the area, the
First White Men had a few expeditions into this area.
Two Sons of Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, sieur de La Vérendrye(1685-1749)
or Pierre La Verendrye (Sr.) for short, in 1742, were at least close to this area,
on their way west in search of a western sea, or river that flowed west..
They named the Souris River, the St. Pierre river, after their father.
Earlier in 1731, La Vérendrye left Montreal
with three of his four sons,
Jean-Baptiste, Pierre, and François, and
made it as far as Winnipeg,
before turning south to the Missouri river.
In 1742
Pierre La Verendrye (Jr.)
and one of his other brothers,
came exploring and possibly came into this area.
Again nothing documented that I know of.
Rock engravings at Roche Percee show early dates of
1773, to 1810.
Possibly Hudson Bay Company
fur traders who came through the area.
Again not much recorded, in the way of coal deposits.
The Lewis and Clark expedition, in
1804 was exploring
along the Missouri and its tributaries when some of their party
went north to see the Roche Percee rock formations.
No record of finding coal was reported in their records.
No doubt the sand outcropping drew them there.
All of these early explorers used Native Indians as guides,
as well as talking with them, they learned of various things,
that were important to them, such as Roche Percee. The Lewis
and Clark trail passes Roche Percée Natural Arch, seen by Lewis and Clark on
June 6, 1804.
In 1849
Captain John Palliser was near this area,
but not known if he actually made it to see the coal deposits.
It is speculated he did, and the reason he returned in 1857.
The first
"official" written record of the coal deposits came in 1853.
Four United States Railroad surveyors were mapping a route to the Pacific
for a railroad from the Mississippi river, and discovered lignite coal in 1853
along the Souris Valley.
There was nothing done then about the discovery, and their writings.
In 1857 the Palliser Expedition
was sent out by the Canadian Government
to explore that portion of British North America.
They had heard of the Sandstone structure at Roche Percee,
and went 60-70 miles southward from Fort Ellice to see it for themselves.
They reached the Souris Valley on August 21, 1857,
a short distance east of Roche Percee.
a Doctor James Hector (Naturalist)
and Captain John Palliser
were involved.
On the sides of
the valley, a thin seam of lignite coal was exposed.
It was written about, but nothing was ever done.
The
Boundary Commission went through this area
just before the NWMP.
On July 24, 1874, the North-West Mounted Police,
on their march west,
camped at Short Creek, and burned Iignlte coal in their campfires, and
forges.
Still nothing was done about these discoveries and records.
Lots written about the coal, but still no real mines.
Dr. B. M. Dawson in a
1875 report
commented on the rocks at Roche Percee.
The June 1882 discovery, is the
story of the two Pocock brothers,
who came to the Souris (Mouse, St. Pierre) River to shoot non-existent buffalo.
Coming from England, they were told buffalo were everywhere on the plains.
During their "hunt", they encountered some of the main coal seams.
The Pocock brothers were 2 of 14 children.
Sir Sydney (Sid) Job Pocock, son of
Abraham and Lydia Pocock.
was born at Broome Manor Farm, Swindon, England.
Born Sept 13,
1854,
Birth registered in the Highworth District, Wiltshire, England
as Sydney, not Sidney with an i.
It appears his nickname was Sid,
so imagine this was changed to i over the years.
He moved to London in 1875. Sydney Pocock died in 1931.
He, with his
family partners, owned a wholesale dairy business, under the name of Freeth & Pocock,
based in the Kensington district of London England.
In 1881 he lived at 167, Goldbourne Rd. Notting Hill,
Kensington.
His funeral and family info, is in the book Without a Shilling.
It is noted he made many trips to Canada,
and owned considerable land around Winnipeg during his lifetime.
On April 3,
1881 census, he was a visitor at Louisa Freeth's
place,
167 Golborne Rd,
London England, shown
as Sidney here.
One source says Sidney married in 1880,
but 1881 census says he was single.
So many discrepancies in dates here.
He did officially marry bet Apr-June 1891, an Annie Cozens,
Marriage registered in the Greenwich district of London.
They had 6 children.
He was quite an honoured man, as he was visiting
Magistrate for Brixton Prison and in 1917 was appointed a Justice of the Peace for the County of Middlesex where he took his seat
on the bench of the Spelthorne Petty Session.
He was also visiting Magistrate of Pentonville and became chairman of the Visiting Committee in 1929.
This explains the book he wrote- The Prisoner
and the Prison. By Sir Sydney J. Pocock, J.
P.
143 pp. Alston Rivers, London, 1930. He went from a Dairyman to a Judge!
He was supposed to have visited Canada quite often.
I did find a S. J. Pocock, left Liverpool in 1908 for the Montreal port, so
looks like he made one more trip at least, and I am sure many more. I
think he was a very wealthy man, and since half of his family was in Canada, he
would visit often.
His brother George Pocock,
son of Abraham and Lydia Pocock, near the end of May 1880, was in
Emerson MB, Canada,
but his wife and children were still in Chirton, Wiltshire, England.
George was born Aug 30, 1850 at
Forest Farm, Melksham, Wiltshire, England.
He died in 1946 in Emerson MB.
His wife was Eliza Jane, nee Weeks.
He came alone to Emerson,
leaving Liverpool on May 6, 1880
aboard the Circassian.
After a slow passage, he arrived at Point Levis, Canada,
spent all day in customs, then 2 days on the train to Collingwood ON.
He then took a boat to Duluth, Minnesota.
Then 2 more days by train to Emerson MB.
Not an easy trip in those days.
In Apr 4, 1881 Canadian census he is 31 years old, born in 1850,
occupation= Ingenieur, married, English Nationality, Baptist.
Census place Morris, Provencher, Manitoba,
with his wife, 2 sons, & 2 daughters.
He appears in the 1901,1906 and 1911 census as well.
He built and operated a mill in the Emerson area,
as well as buying a mill from the Hudson's Bay co. at West Lynne, across the
river from Emerson.
He was a Miller in England.
Today the only stone house in Emerson MB., is called the Pocock House, ca
1882.
Built as a replica of Mrs. George Pocock`s family home in England.
Mar 29th, 1901- He was declared as a shareholder in the
The Manitoba Central Railway Company Incorporation Act.
He actually declared bankruptcy
once in 1907.
They were not the only members
of the Pocock family to leave England,
but George Pocock was the first I think.
Their brother Albert Avery Pocock born Nov 24, 1856- died Feb 24, 1944 in Nipawin SK.
His Homestead was at SW Sec 20, Tsp 10, Rge 7, W2nd
Their brother
Joshua Pocock,
born Nov 24, 1847, died Mar 28, 1918 in Humboldt, SK,
emigrated in spring of 1906 with his wife, Emily Selina (nee Cox)
and their 12 children, to
the Hillsley district, SK
He left Liverpool England, and destination port was Montreal Canada.
They homesteaded NE of Plunkett., with a family of 12.
Homestead at NE Sec 10, Tsp 36, Rge 24, W2. Joshua's son Edward was already a homesteader in the Hillsley
district. A niece,
daughter of their brother Joshua Pocock,
Alice Selina Campbell (nee Pocock) died Nov 21, 1958 in Weekes, SK.
She came to Canada in 1906.
Alice's brother, Arthur Sydney Pocock 13 Dec 13,
1928 in Humboldt, SK
He also came to Canada in 1906.
So lots of Pocock family members are probably living still
in the Saskatchewan, Manitoba area, and can be proud of these 2 men.
Sydney (Sid) Job Pocock, came to Canada
in 1882,
to visit George,
with investment assets, from his Dairy business,
he was very
interested in farm land and minerals.
George and Sydney left Emerson on June 2, 1882 via horse and buckboard.
Most history books say 1880 when the Pocock brothers, came to Roche Percee,
some 1881, but I think these are wrong.
If George came to Canada by himself,
and left England on May 6th 1880,
and had such a long trip just to get to Emerson,
How in less than 2 weeks did he get Sydney there,
get a horse and wagon,
and everything else he needed for the trip?
That eliminates 1880 in my mind.
Now word on the diary that Sydney wrote
was written on his travels in summer of 1882.
This is why I am now recording 1882,
as the year they came to the Souris Valley.
It still could be 1881, but the diary should be right.
I'll be searching the ship records for the exact year, before I am done.
If I can find a copy of Sydney's diary, it might have more clues in there.
Sydney kept a diary and this was made into a book entitled, Across the
Prairie Lands of Manitoba and the Canadian North-West Publisher: London : E. & S.
Hebert, 1984, cn.d.
ISBN: 0665307144
Filmed from a copy of the original publication held by the
Metropolitan Toronto Library, Canadian History Department. Ottawa:
Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions,1984
Now the book says a Wiltshire
man's travels in the summer of 1882
(I want
to see this book for myself, as I have only seen these excerpts
below)
They covered about 25 miles per day.
Approx 254 miles, one way to Roche Percee.
Imagine the trip from England, this was worse it seems.
They were joined by a homesteader, named Chris Troy
south of the Moose Mountains (49°47’ 102°35’)
An English settlement, Cannington Manor was in this area.
Possibly they were going through there.
There would only be a few wagon trails in those days.
Access to the diary will clarify this possibly.
Chris Troy sadly is glossed over in the history books.
Being more local to the area, he might have had a better
idea on how to get to the Souris Valley, than the 2 Englishmen.
He deserves the same credit for finding the coal,
maybe not in developing it.
Unfortunately I can't locate any personal info on him, as of yet. He
doesn't appear in any census or homestead records. Possibly they got his
name wrong.
The Groups destination was the the Souris River
Valley,
(Also known as the Mouse, or St. Pierre River)
near Roche Percée or “Pierced Rock”,
also known as La Roche Percee, to the Metis,
which was at the junction of a small tributary, named Short Creek.
The Souris River runs nearly 400 miles,
with it's start at Wood Mountain in Canada,
it winds down into North Dakota, and back into Canada,
and empties into the Assiniboine river.
Almost the first ravine they entered,
on the Souris River, near Roche Percee, looking for minerals,
they discovered a small 18ìn thick seam of coal.
They then concentrated on looking just for Coal.
They checked out more ravines, and found even bigger seams.
They loaded 2 large chunks of the coal in their wagon,
and headed back to Winnipeg,
where it was received with great excitement..
The Pocock Coal sample was shipped across the Atlantic by George Pocock,
and entered in the British Empire Exposition at London.
For this exhibit, Pocock received a medal from the Prince of Wales.
George returned to Canada and spent the rest of his life at Emerson.
Sydney was knighted in 1912 and became Sir Sydney
(Sidney?) of Surbiton Hall,
Kingston-on-Thames, Surrey, England.
While this was all going on in England,
a Mr. Hugh McKay Sutherland, President of the Winnipeg and Hudson Bay Railway and Steamship Company,
from Winnipeg,
came west, with several men
to see what all the excitement was about for himself.
He actually started to ship coal to Winnipeg,
the same year as the Pocock Brothers returned to Winnipeg, 1882,
via log barges built from trees on the river bank, on the Mouse, or Souris river as it is known now.
He
was the first to mine the coal, ending up with a 70 ft tunnel.
But the river was not always high enough for the loaded barges.
Also they claimed the coal was not of good enough quality to mine. Lignite
coal is the least quality of all the coal family. They obviously had
access to better coal elsewhere.
This scheme failed, but Hugh Sutherland was instrumental
in building the Hudson Bay Railway from Winnipeg north.
Imagine he had plans to ship this coal maybe out on this railroad?
Mr Hugh McKay Sutherland
was born in New London,
P.E.I.,
on the 22nd of February, 1843,
his family having originally come from Sutherlandshire,
Scotland.
His family moved to oxford county Ontario after PEI.
he was the superintendent
of Public Works in the North-West,
from 1874 until 1878.
In 1878 he moved to Winnipeg and entered the lumber business.
He was elected in 1882, MP for Selkirk with the Liberals.
He lived at 81 Roslyn Road, Sutherland House, in Winnipeg. torn down in 1958 to make way for apartments.
My father-in-law, Paddy Twomey, actually lived in one of these apartments a few
years ago, before his death. Great view of the Red River, and across from
the Manitoba Parliament buildings.
The first real productive Coal Mine in this area was
at Roche Percee in 1891. Shafts as deep as 90 feet down
were dug in that era. The Hassard Mine was its name,
was owned by Hugh Hassard.
Some history books say his name was Robert Hassard.
which fits nicely with the Robert J. Hassard
who ended up in the Bienfait mines, but that is incorrect.
His name is clearly Hugh in the land grant papers.
view it here
One source says Hugh Hassard, an
early settler in the area, was digging into the bank to make a stable, when his
shovel hit coal.
This mine is mentioned in the book Trooper in the far North-West
written by NWMP officer Corporal John George Donkin., chapter 23.
Him and another officer, constable Stewart, stayed at Mr Hassard's one winter.
He describes the mine as being in a ravine in front of the house.
Mr. Hassard had a hired man at the time, and had dug a 100 ft tunnel
in an 8ft seam of coal, using picks and felling axes.
In this chapter is an excerpt from the Feb 1888 Leader Post.
Here is a good clue, as it says Mr. H.
Hassard was working this mine.
The Leader Post correspondent describes the mine,
"coming across the prairie there is a deep ravine,
down in this hollow buried under the lofty bank is the mine"
Coal was sold at $1.00 / ton to the local settlers,
some as far away as 80 miles. I've read articles as far as Carlyle and beyond
came for this coal. Caravans of wagons were seen at this time.
Corporal Donkin describes the location of Hassard's white washed house,
2 miles from the Frontier line, on the north side of the Souris River.
Hassard also had a kiln, and was selling lime at 20 cents/bushel.
He had a stable a short distance from the house, using the cut bank as a back.
Hassard also had a few log buildings thatched with straw or manure.
He had cows, sheep and some ponies.
The NWMP had a small barrack room attached to the house.
He writes that there was a deep coulee running down to the Souris,
which had a bend at this point, which doesn't help much,
since the Souris bends everywhere.
No where does it say Robert Hassard.
Another source says the first owner sold his interests and moved to the southern United States,
which totally explains why I can't find him in any Canadian census in 1901 or
1906.
An interesting side note, this Mr Donkin, went back to
England after he paid his way out of the NWMP, wrote the book, and obviously
fell on hard times, as he died penniless. All he did to serve Canada, and
this was his reward. Sad but true.
So now we know Hugh and Robert J. Hassard,
were 2 different persons.
There was a Hugh Hassard born in 1851 in Ireland,
in the 1881 Canadian Census, age
30.
Shown as a farmer, Church of England (Anglican).
Census place= Dufferin, Marquette, Manitoba.
In 1911 census he was 61, born April 1950, in Ireland.
His wife was Jane Robinson, age 25, in 1881.
In 1911 census she was 56, born in 1855. Dufferin Manitoba was not far from Roche Percee area.
Now here we see the name Robert, a son, age 2 in 1881,
Would make him born in 1879 approx.
Not giving up on my search, I finally hit pay dirt,
same as Hugh did, with his coal mine.
I found the family history in a book
"Cypress Hills Country".
They came from Larne Ireland in 1873.
Larne is in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.
They must have spent a few years in the Ontario area.
as the 2 oldest daughters were born there.
Between 1877 and 1879 they came to Manitoba,
settling at Moose Mountain, they say,
45 miles from Emerson MB. (The same Moose Mountain as above I think)
Can not locate this on any map of Manitoba,
nor is it listed in the Canadian Geo names site.
Note- an early settler's name of Hassard,
was used for a lake in this area.
Located at 9-5- W2 11 miles from Arcola. I think this might be our Hugh
Hassard family
| Latitude - Longitude : |
49° 47' 00" N - 102° 35' 00" W |
In 1882 they came to the Roche Percee area.
Now if I was a betting man, I would bet, Hugh Hassard,
seen the Pocock brothers, on their way back to Emerson,
and eventually Winnipeg, with their 2 large Coal samples.
He either seen them or heard about their find. If he lived in the Moose
Mountain area, as I speculate, he might have known Chirs Troy, and maybe this
was his hired man?
Hugh seen this as his opportunity to get in there,
set up a homestead, and mine some coal,
before the Pocock boys returned from England.
An Irishman beating an Englishman!
But at the same time Hugh Sutherland a Scot entered the picture.
What a mixture, if I do say so myself.
I just don't think this was a pure coincidence.
Something made him come to this area from Dufferin.
After a few years, (we know after 1895 from above),
Hugh Hassard took his family to Alabama USA.
Then in 1901, per the family history,
he came back to settle in the area of
Josephsburg, north of Elk Water Lake, in Alberta,
eventually selling milk in Medicine Hat..
The 1911 census says he came to Canada in 1909,
not 1901 as the history book says.
They are not in the 1901 or 1906 census, so 1909 looks accurate.
He eventually moved into the city of Medicine Hat, before 1911 census,
and in 1912
became the first Librarian at the new Public Library.
He was instrumental in starting an Unemployment Bureau in the city.
If that wasn't enough, he was the Local Meteorologist,
with all the instruments on his roof.
Now if this isn't movie material, I don't know what is!
Amazing, go from Farming, to Coal Mining, to Dairy Farmer,
to Librarian, to Meteorologist.!
Then having one of your sons carry on on the Coalfields,
owning or operating many mines.
Hugh Hassard died at his home, Oct 1929 age 79.
Imagine the stories this man could tell!
He is buried in Medicine Hat with his wife.
She died Oct 1933, age 77.
They actually had 11 children.
Elizabeth was 10 years old in 1881 census,
born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
and Martha is shown age 4, in 1881, born in Ontario.
She was actually born Jan 15, 1877,
in Prince Arthur's landing, now Port Arthur,
Thunder Bay District, Ontario, Canada
Robert,
(Robert J. Hassard)
was born on the homestead, near Morden Manitoba.
He is shown age 2 in 1881 census, born abt 1879.
It says, "He owned and operated the
Coalfields at Bienfait
for many years, until he retired"
He died suddenly in 1952 in Medicine Hat.
Now we know 100% they WERE related.
Father and son!
They had a son James, born Oct 1880, at Morden MB. He was 5 mo old in 1881 census.
James (Jim) Hassard went to school in Bienfait..
James's son Robert P. Hassard worked in the Bienfait Mines
for Robert J. Hassard, his Uncle. another Robert!
Nothing in the Manitoba Vital stat records for Robert or James births,
which is a bit strange.
George was born at Moose Mountain,
and daughter Annie was born at Moose Mountain also.
William Hassard was born on the Coalfields Homestead, at the mine location, in the old log house.
He lived and died in the United States.
Then they must have built a stone house at the mine site,
as the next 3 were born there.
Hugh Henry, born Sept 9, 1892, in the new Stone house.
Claude was born Nov 1900, in the Coalfields, in the new Stone House.
Claude became the World Champion Bronc rider in the States.
Albert (Bud) was also born July 1903, in the Stone house.
Hugh's daughter
Jane (Jean) was born July 1899, near Birmingham Alabama.
Wonder why they went to Alabama?
His mine was later to become the Souris Valley
Coal Co. mine
in 1895, with a 8ft coal seam. Located on
SE 1/4 of Sec 4. tp2, Range
6, W2nd, east of Roche Percee.
According to
Roy
Sanderson's map, it was located north of the Taylorton Cemetery. He
has a great photo of Hugh Hassard
here.
So between the old Stone Taylorton Store, and the Cemetery, there should be a
mine, and remnants of an old stone house, and kilns. I give Roy a lot
of credit, for saving the history of this area. (note these links are NOT my
sites.)
This mine was sold to the Taylor
family of Winnipeg
and renamed Western Dominion
Collieries ltd. This is the name that Taylorton
comes from.
One source on the Pocock story,
says it was Jim and Tom Taylorton
that started a mine in 1887.
I received an e-mail Mar 16/99
from a possible? relative of this family. His grandfather's brother John
Taylor is rumoured to have a town named after him in SE Sask. John Taylor
came over to Canada in late 1800's, from Norfolk England, Coal country for sure!
Another
version said THE JOHN TAYLOR FAMILY who came from Winnipeg Manitoba, but
John was only one of seven sons of Richard, and he was appointed to
manage the mine only. Another of Richard's sons was
R.R. Taylor Jr. All of this info comes from a family source,
Kaye Taylor, wife of Delbert G. Taylor, who is the Great-Grandson of
Richard Radcliffe Taylor. Also adding info was Rhonda, Kaye
and Delbert's daughter. I thank them all very much for this update
on history.
As further proof if any is needed, a
book written in 1906,
about his life and this business.
Now we know it was named after
Richard Radcliffe Taylor Sr.
Deep Seam Coal Mining
A mine could not open without the
proper permits. Mine Inspectors from the government were constantly
looking for mines operating without the proper paper work. They also did
safety inspections of the working mines.
First an owner or operator had to
obtain mineral rights for the land. Owning the surface land was not
enough. They had to have a pit boss that would constantly survey the area,
to ensure they were mining on their own property. He was also responsible
for the safety of the mine, width of the pillars left, and properly timbered as
they went deeper.
The best grade of Lignite coal
in this area was about 100 feet below the surface. They dug an entry from
a hillside, on the bank of the Souris River, at a slope, or an angle, down to
reach this seam. Thickness of the seam was up to 14 feet (4.27 mtrs), but
averaging 6-7 ft.. the entry was 8 ft (2.4 mtrs) wide, down to the vein,
then 2 entries were driven into the vein, with 24 ft (8 yds) (7.3 mtrs) wide
rooms at right angles on either side of these. Pillars of coal, 6 ft (1.8
mtrs) wide were left between these rooms to support the roof, and then cross
cuts were made for air circulation. This form of mining was called
the Conventional Room-and-Pillar Method,
also known as Bord and Pillar method in England, was
used in many parts of the world, prior to this area. It is one of
the oldest forms of underground mining known. It creates a grid like
pattern underground. They did not do retreat mining, as was used in some mines
later on. Bord (also spelled board) is another term for a coal roadway, or
side gallery, or room, It was
probably a system invented in England.
As they dug deeper, air shafts were
dug to the surface to supply air to the mine deep underground. They used a
fan at the bottom of the slope to circulate the air. They used
these fans at noon and evening after they used black powder shot to extract the
coal, to evacuate the thick smoke it generated. Some mines used children
to open and close big doors in a rapid manner, to create air movement.
They used electric cutting and shearing machines later on, which made it a
little safer.
All work was done by the light of the carbide lamp, worn on a cloth hat by the
underground miner. No breathing apparatus, no air quality testing
stations. No real safety equipment of any kind.
Light rails were laid, and coal was loaded into
mini coal cars, then towed by horses to the bottom of the slope. My dad's
job underground was looking after horses that did this job. The larger
mines used vertical shafts to raise the coal to the surface on a hoist.
They only used the slope for the men to enter and exit the mine. They also
used electric trolleys, rather than horses to tow the cars, which were also
larger than the first mines in the area.
There you have it in a nut shell, the abbreviated version of how the Coal Mines
were developed in SE Saskatchewan, and a very basic description of their
operation method. |
