Genevieve (Batoche) Watson (1850 - 1939)

Born 15 Apr 1850 in St Paul Des Cris, St. Paul, Alberta

Ancestors

Wife of Louis Watson — married 29 Jul 1880 in Battleford, Saskatchewan

Descendants

Died 17 Apr 1939 at age 89 in Frog Lake, Unipouheos 121, Alberta, Canada

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Don Watson [send private message]

Biography

Genevieve (Batoche) Watson was a Canadian First Peoples and member of the Metis Nation.

Genealogical Proof Standard I believe this profile satisfies the 5 proof elements

c1850-1854 - Genevieve is born. Genevieve was born about 1850-1854 as documented on her scrip and by her sister In a later census she claims to have been born on a reserve in Saskatchewan. Although she claims her mother was Indian, her mothers Metis Scrip indicates Metis.

1853 Genevieve is baptized by the famous Father Albert Lacombe. Page 7 of her Scrip application.

1870 In a declaration regarding her father's estate, Genevieve has written she was married to a Northwest at the time.

1877 son Joseph was born at Saddle Lake.

1880 she married Louis Watson (Norwest, Northwest) in a church ceremony in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, attended by Louis' father and mother

1880 August 3 Genevieve (Band 17), her mother (Band 16), and 82 others who had been paid treaty as a member of the Papaschase Band were moved by government to the new "Edmonton Stragglers Band" mostly women and children.

1882 son Henry Louis was born at Fort Saskatchewan

1884 son Thomas was born

c1886 son Joseph is born (he is listed as living in her Scrip application) Husband Louis is living in Prince Albert.

1886 She withdrew from Edmonton Stragglers Treaty (no longer a treaty indian) and she was then granted Metis Scrip value of $ 240. She is listed with the Metis from Battleford, and later may have moved with others to the Enoch Cree First Nations reserve to live.

1889 or 1891 The Scrip Claim 3302 of her son Thomas Northwest states Louis Norwest left Genevieve. 1893 Louis Norwest married a Sarah Hourie in Saskatchewan.

1911 She is living with son William in Alex Alberta, she is 49, married (no information to support) and says born in 1862

1918 On death of her son Henry Louis Norwest, Genevieve was presented with the Canadian armed Forces Memorial Cross, now called the Silver Cross. She wrote the inscription for his permanent grave — “may his soul rest in peace” — and received a $20 monthly pension from the Canadian government.

1926 census documents her living, as Jeneve, with son William (Bill) in Iron Creek region of Camrose. She is 60, Cree, and a widow. Based on birthdate, she would have been 72.

1939 April 17 Genevieve passed away on the Unipouheos 121 reserve of the Frog Lake First Nation in Alberta.

I am not, at this time, researching this profile further DON

Quality Sources

• Archives and Library Canada, Archives / Collections and Fonds record of Metis Scrip, Geneviève; address: Red Deer Crossing; claim no. 149; born: 1850 at St. Paul des Cris; http://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.redirect?app=fonandcol&id=1506437&lang=eng&q=rg15%20scrip%20genevieve%20batoche

• Lawrence Barkwell "Battleford Metis Scrip Claims record under Batoche (Page 4) https://www.scribd.com/document/119898599/Battleford-Metis-Scrip-Claims

• Archives and Library Canada, Archives / Collections and Fonds record of Metis Scrip, sister Agnes alternate birth date (page 6) https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/home/record?app=fonandcol&IdNumber=1497218&new=-8585562750160194586

• Metis Nation Database 1870 declaration by Genevieve as heir to fathers estate https://www.metisnationdatabase.ca/view.php?file_path=NWScrip/LAC/RG15/Vol723/File388505/637.jpeg

• Metis Nation Database 1886 Metis Scrip documents including her discharge from treaty https://www.metisnationdatabase.ca/view.php?file_path=NWScrip/LAC/RG15/Vol1334/GenvieveBatoche/p006.jpg

• Record of being a member of Papaschase First Nation and receiving treaty payments https://www.metismuseum.ca/media/document.php/14254.Edmonton%20Stragglers.pdf

• Battleford Metis Scrip Claims by Lawrence J. Barkwell, Metis at or from Battleford Saskatchewan who applied for scrip. https://www.scribd.com/document/119898599/Battleford-Metis-Scrip-Claims

• The Canadian Encyclopedia © 2023 | Historica Canada, medal and pension https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/henry-norwest

• Census of Canada 1911 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L98W-QWYV?i=469&cc=2143998

• 1926 Canada Census https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/home/record?app=census&IdNumber=73052180

• Record of her passing https://provincialarchives.alberta.ca/sites/default/files/2018-11/deaths-n-1935-1939.pdf