Page:Francis Heron Fur Trader Other Herons.pdf/2

30 At Meeting of Council, in 1836, the following record appears:

"Mr. Chief Trader Heron's intemperate habits having of late become so notorious as to be the subject of general remark among all classes throughout the country, Resolved: That a circular be addressed to the different gentlemen in charge of the district to state in writing what may have come to their knowledge in regard to his habits in that respect, and requiring Mr. Heron to appear at next sitting of council."

Owing to Mr. Heron's absence this hearing was later continued until 1838. No further action appears to have been taken.

Archibald McDonald, writing on January 25, 1837, says:

"I am anxious to close my private correspondence as a very disagreeable task is just imposed on me by order of Council to collect evidence and make out affadavits from our men here in the case of that unhappy man Heron."

A clerk, James Heron, probably a brother, was at Fort Alexander in July, 1817, and was with Simpson in 1828. In 1828 Archibald McDonald mentions him as, embarking for the Athabasca and later as suceeding Mr. McGillwary at Fort Chipiwayan. He was assigned to Fort Chipiwayan for 1832-1833 and directed to accompany the boats the next season to Norway House and then to proceed to York Factory. He was retired from the service in 1832.

Heron's death is reported in a letter of Archibald McDonald. While at Fort Colville, Francis Heron contracted a marriage alliance with a half-breed girl of the Colville tribe, whose father was a white man named Clark. The only white man of that name known to the writer to have been in that section of the country prior to 1820-was the Astor partner, stationed at Spokane House, 1812-1814. At Nisqually, in 1834, George Heron a son, was born. After Francis Heron's departure for England in 1835 the mother and son moved to the Willamette Valley.

Francis Heron, evidently possessed many sterling and likeable qualities. Capt. N. J. Wyeth, in his journal at Fort Colville, March 12, 1833, mentions him as one of the chief-traders of the Hudson's Bay Company, to whom he was under lasting obligation.