Need Advice

[hungryjohn]

I'll tell ya'll about my heritage and maybe you folks can help me figure out a persona that might fit.

To begin, on my mother's side of the family, I am a decendant of Jean Lafette. His illigetemate son, who was born in Canada, became an employee of the Hudson Bay Company. During his employment with HBC he married a Chippewa woman named Loo-anna-lee. Ther is no documentation on this. Just stories handed down one generation to the next. So all I've got is what I listed above, some time as a free trapper, and there must have been some children. Best I can figure, this must have all been in the period of 1820 to 1840 time period.

My father's side of the family has even less info. All I really know is that my father was a half-breed Cherokee who's own father came from Oklahoma. So, Dry-Ball, I can probably get away with calling you Uncle. 

Now , with that in mind, and remembering that I live in Eastern Washington, could some of you please throw out a few suggestions? I'ld sure appreciate it.

John

[Dryball]

I am honored, my nephew John!

Dennis

[old salt]

John
   With the information given you can work on 3 different personas.
      1. An employee of the HBC
      2. An employee of one of the fur companies.
      3. A free trapper.

   Any of the 3 would be time and location correct. Once you have made the decision as to which you want to portray you can go from there.
   First I would look around and see what there is in the way of muzzle loading clubs in that area. It is good to have a support group to help you find the gear you will need.
   Now as tell the folks that come to me here, study what your would have had available to him at that time and location. You can tie up a lot of money quick in thing that may not fit if you are not careful. This is where a club will come in handy. You can usually find someone who is down sizing or changing there persona, or at least knows some on who is, they can help you find the gear you need at a better price than if you go out a buy retail. 99.9% of the folks in this hobby will bend over backwards to help a new person get started.
   The most important thing to remember  is
   DO NOT BE AFRADE TO ASK GESTIONS

[hungryjohn]

Well, as it turns out, in 1810 the NothWest Company established the Spokane House. I happen to live only 7 miles from the site of the old fort and can get some information from the interpetive center there.

Unfortunately, The only group I've managed to locate in this area is an outfit called Friends of Spokane House. They do get together once a year at the site of the old fort to show folks what things looked like back then, but are mostly committed to rebuilding the old fort (if others will fund it for them). Other than that I can't seem to get any other response from them.

I guess the other option is to go on my own and see what evolves out of what I learn and am able to afford. Perhaps a free trapper that was magically transported to the future and came back with a Hawkins rifle with cap lock to boot. Nah.

[old salt]

John

    Take it that you already have a Hawken rifle,
   You might run this scenario past the folks at Spokane House. You are the second son of a prominent French-Canadian family {at that time the first son would have gotten inheritance and the rest maybe a small sty pence if any thing} So you used you small inheritance to out fit your self in St. Louis. That would mean your time frame would have to be after 1825,
   You might look at

http://www.wamuzzleloaders.org/events/monthly_shoots.htm

Form this list you maybe able to find a club that will help you .

[Red Badger]

To add my 2¢...

So far i have found in my portyal of a Wisconsin area hunter & trapper in the 1810-1820 time period that a lot of people are willing to forgive the minor transgression of carrying a Cabella's Hawkin Caplock rifle as long as I am trying to get the rest of my persona into historical correctness.  You can always look for a period correct flintlock as time and money allow... 

[hungryjohn]

Funny there would be mention of the time of 1825 or later. The Spokane House was abandoned in 1826 due to a depletion of beaver in the area. But a new fort was built just before then just 100 miles north at what is now Colleville Washington.

And yes, all I've got is a galdurned cap gun. At least I have all the parts to end up with a Traditions idea of what one looked like. It was given to me by a well meaning friend that though I might be able to correct the mistakes he made while trying to make it look better. I would love to get a flinter, but with my credit rating paying with a card just ain't in the cards and my low income keeps me from saving the cost of something even marginally decent.

So it's beginning to look like a little later time for me. Fortunately, there were still a few Mountain men wandering around these parts as late as the 1870's.

[kit_carson]

there were quite a few mountain men still wandering around from the rockies to all points west! keep in mind john johnston didnt even come on the scene untill 1847 and he and his genration trapped and did there thing into the 1880's