Bayfield, Charles

Bayfield was born in North America and described in Hudson’s Bay Company records as a ‘Native’. He entered the service of the Company at Fort Vancouver at the age of 17 in 1841 where he served two years as an apprentice before being appointed middleman. In 1844 he was transferred to Fort Nisqually where he served one year as a middleman and one year as a cooper. In 1846, following a brief stint at Fort Victoria, he returned to Fort Vancouver where he remained until 1849 when it is believed he was drawn to California by the gold rush.

Sources:

• Abstract of Servants' Accounts (Fort Vancouver – Columbia District). B./223/g/7. Hudson's Bay Company Archives.
• Evans, Mike. "Charles Bayfield." BC Metis Mapping Project. http://ubc.bcmetis.ca/hbc_bio_profile.php?id=MTY5.