Charles George Bird (1840 - 1918)

Born 14 Feb 1840 in Red River Settlement

Ancestors

Husband of Anne (Hallett) Bird — married 30 Jun 1863 (to 1868) in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, Canada

Husband of Ann Nancy (Halcrow) Bird — married about 13 Feb 1868 in Poplar Point, Portage la Prairie Rural Municipality, Manitoba, Canada [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 21 Dec 1918 at age 78 in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Don Watson [send private message] and Kate Harkness [send private message]

Biography

Biography

Charles Bird was a Canadian First Peoples and member of the Metis Nation.

Charles was born about 1840 and passed away about 1919

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

LISTED: VETERANS AND FAMILIES OF THE 1885 NORTHWEST RESISTANCE Page 54 [1]

Charles was born in the Parish of St Paul, Red River, Manitoba 14 Feb 1840, the son of Joseph Bird and Elizabeth Thomas. (by his Scrip data)

He was first married to Ann Hallett in 1863, who passed away in 1868. A daughter born in 1864 may be attributed to this marriage:

• Elizabeth Born 1864

13 Feb 1868 Charles, then a widower, married Ann Halcrow from St Andrews Red River.

In the 1870 Red River census Charles is listed, and his wife is using the name Nancy. [2] In 1870 and 1876 census Charles and family were living in Poplar Point, Manitoba. Sometime after 1876 the family moved to Saskatchewan.

They lived in the Birch Hills, Saskatchewan area 40 km south-east of Prince Albert. Children:

• Catherine Born 1868
• Charles Thomas. Born 1868
• Joseph. Born 1871
• John Born 1873
• Alfred William. Born 1878 METIS SCRIP [3]
• Victoria Alice. Born 1883 METIS SCRIP [4] AND [5]
• Florence. Born 19 August 1885 Died 1900 METIS SCRIP [6]
• Colin Born 1887
• E Albert B 1890
• Sydney Harold. Born c. 1899

In a Town of Birch Hills document it is noted: "...Charles was the grandson of famous James Curtis Bird [7] who in 1790 was believed to have been in the Birch Hills area collecting large sheets of birch for building and repairing canoes. James was a writer and later Chief Factor for the Hudson Bay Company. Charles George Bird and his 5 sons later settled in the birch hills (in the early 1880’s) just south of the present townsite." [8]

The family appear in the Canada Census of 1881 with 3 children: Alfred, Joseph and appears to be Charles Thomas. No record of other 3 children from pre-1881 [9]

Charles was one of the men who were participants in the 1885 Northwest Resistance. Charles was one of the Half-Breed settlers around Prince Albert who met at St. Andrews school on March 23, 1885. He later sent a motion of support—proposed by Alexander McKay and seconded by Charles Bird—to Louis Riel. However, they did not support a resort to armed conflict. Bird was subsequently arrested by Commissioner Irving and jailed in Prince Albert as a suspected rebel. He was released on May 20 Page 16: [10]

The Henderson Northwest Territories Directory of 1900 lists Charles and his sons Charles Thomas, Joe and William as farmers in the Birch Hills area. [11]

Scrip affidavit for Bird, Charles G.; born: Feb. 14, 1840; father: Joseph Bird (Métis); mother: Elizabeth Thomas; claim no: 2068; scrip No: 10943; date of issue: Oct. 2, 1876; amount: $160

1891 Canada Census lists him as a farmer, living in the Red Deer Hill region of Saskatchewan [12]. He is 51, and living with him are his wife, and 7 of his children.

1906 Canada Census, Charles G is in Birch Hills with his wife, daughter Alice, son Colin, and one grandchild.

He passed away 31 December 1919

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

Quality Sources

• "Collections and Fonds", Reference: RG15-D-II-8-a, Volume number: 1319, Microfilm reel number: C-14925; Item ID number: 1499547, Library and Archives Canada (accessed 9 January 2024), Scrip affidavit for Bird, Ann; wife of Charles G. Bird; born: 1843; father: Joseph Halcrow (Métis); mother: Sophia Cook (Métis); claim no: 2069; scrip No: 10944; date of issue: Oct. 2, 1876; amount: $160; Date: 1870-1885.; Context of this record: Department of the Interior fonds / Dominion Lands Branch / Métis and Original White Settlers affidavits; Date(s): 1870-1885.; Place of creation: Canada; Language of material: English; Finding aid no.: 15-19; Container note(s): C-14925 : Copy No. 1 & C-14925 : Copy No. 2 & C-14925 : Copy No. 3 & C-14925 : Copy No. 4; Source: Government; Former archival reference no.: RG15-D-II-8-a; Conditions of access: Textual records [Consultation90 Open] Volume [RG15] 1319 [Consultation 90 Open] Microfilm reel [RG15] C-14925 [Consultation 90 Open].

• 1906 Canada Census

[13]

• Library and Archives Canada record of Scrip for Charles Bird

[14]

• Bird family history including Charles

[15]

• Births, Marriages and Deaths Recorded in Canada, marriage

[16]

• 1885 Northwest Resistance Movement Biographies byLawrence J. Barkwell

[17]

Scrip record granted to Charles for his deceased daughter - Florence [18]

The genealogy of the first Metis nation : the development and dispersal of the Red River Settlement, 1820-1900, multiple bird entries [19]

Biography of Charles and his immediate family [20]

He was married to Nancy Halcro.

Sources

• "Manitoba, Canada, Census Indexes, 1870", Provincial Archives of Manitoba; Manitoba, Canada; Card Index Nominal Census Returns: Pi - Z 1832-1870, A - Pr 1870, Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 61494 #5049 (accessed 16 December 2023), Charles George Bird (30) spouse in household of Nancy Bird (30) in Poplar Point, Manitoba, Canada.
• "1891 Census of Canada", Year: 1891; Census Place: Red Deer Hill, Saskatchewan, Territories, Canada; Roll: T-6426; Family No: 186; Page number: 42, Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 1274 #3519258 (accessed 16 December 2023), George Bird (51), married, Farmer, head of household in Red Deer Hill, Saskatchewan, Territories, Canada. Born in Manitoba.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/232047353/george-bird: accessed 05 February 2024), memorial page for George Bird (14 Feb 1840–21 Dec 1918), Find a Grave Memorial ID 232047353, citing St. Andrew's Anglican Cemetery, Prince Albert, Prince Albert Census Division, Saskatchewan, Canada; Maintained by VDR (contributor 47292775).