Born in Sorel-Tracy, Quebec, Canada, he was the 6th son of Captain Samuel Anderson, loyalist, and Deliverance Butts. He bacame an Indian agent and officer for over 45 years in the Indian Department. When he was four years old the family moved to New Johnstown (Cornwall) in 1783. At 16 in 1795 he was apprenticed to Thomas Markland, a Kingston merchant. At 21 in 1800 he was trading with the Indians on Mackinac Island, America, in Michigan. At 22, he came to Prairie du Chien in search of the fortune he thought to be made in Indian fur trade. There he worked for James Ayrd, and that's when he met James' daughter, Margaret. They resided at Big Stone Lake according to Jane Anderson, his daughter, and other Indian Natives. The narratives of Captain Anderson locate that each winter was spent in "Indian country". At 26 in 1805 he married the thirteen year old half-blood daughter of James Ayrd and Grey Cloud, Margaret Ayrd. Margaret kept his difficult winter quarters and bore him two children. They had a son, Angus, in 1806 and a daughter, Jane, in 1810. By 1810 he had a reputation with the natives for honest dealing, by virtue of the aid of his marriage to Margaret and the importance of family to the Native communities. For 14 years he traded furs, cooking utensils and artifacts in the upper Mississippi River valley, usually based at Prairie du Chien, on the Mississippi. He transferred activities to point up the Minnesota River at Lac qui Parle in 1808. By 1814 he was to be found lower down on the river near St. Paul. Twice during these years he hunted buffalo at Big Stone. In the spring of 1814, at 35, the call of the War of 1812 was continually upon him and he left his wife and children behind to enlist in the English army. At this point Grey Cloud [Margaret Ayrd] returned to her family. He led in the capture of Fort McKay at Prairie du Chien and the fight at Rock Island Du Shane during the War of 1812. After the war, Thomas refused American citizenship and Grey Cloud refused to leave her native land.
So he returned to eastern Canada to later at age 41, marry 24 year old Elizabeth Ann Hamilton in 1820 and to settle permanently in Coldwater, Canada. His second wife asks Thomas to send for his two Native children and give them the formal education she felt they were entitled to. She and Thomas had seven children from 1821 to 1836. 1816 to 1839 he had the pay and rank of captain. He was summoned to (York) Toronto to settle and civilize 3 Chippewa tribes He built mills, houses and schools and maintained his family there for 9 years working on this project. He then worked for the government in Toronto until his retirement June 30 1858 at 79 years of age, which was also the day his wife died. As trader and government employee he had close association with the Indians for 58 years. He was a shrewd judge of character and was devoted to the Indian interests and was highly regarded by them. He wrote copious articles, journals and reports; many were printed after his death which occurred at 95 and 3 months of age.
So he returned to eastern Canada to later at age 41, marry 24 year old Elizabeth Ann Hamilton in 1820 and to settle permanently in Coldwater, Canada. His second wife asks Thomas to send for his two Native children and give them the formal education she felt they were entitled to. She and Thomas had seven children from 1821 to 1836. 1816 to 1839 he had the pay and rank of captain. He was summoned to (York) Toronto to settle and civilize 3 Chippewa tribes He built mills, houses and schools and maintained his family there for 9 years working on this project. He then worked for the government in Toronto until his retirement June 30 1858 at 79 years of age, which was also the day his wife died. As trader and government employee he had close association with the Indians for 58 years. He was a shrewd judge of character and was devoted to the Indian interests and was highly regarded by them. He wrote copious articles, journals and reports; many were printed after his death which occurred at 95 and 3 months of age.
Born in Sorel-Tracy, Quebec, Canada, he was the 6th son of Captain Samuel Anderson, loyalist, and Deliverance Butts. He bacame an Indian agent and officer for over 45 years in the Indian Department. When he was four years old the family moved to New Johnstown (Cornwall) in 1783. At 16 in 1795 he was apprenticed to Thomas Markland, a Kingston merchant. At 21 in 1800 he was trading with the Indians on Mackinac Island, America, in Michigan. At 22, he came to Prairie du Chien in search of the fortune he thought to be made in Indian fur trade. There he worked for James Ayrd, and that's when he met James' daughter, Margaret. They resided at Big Stone Lake according to Jane Anderson, his daughter, and other Indian Natives. The narratives of Captain Anderson locate that each winter was spent in "Indian country". At 26 in 1805 he married the thirteen year old half-blood daughter of James Ayrd and Grey Cloud, Margaret Ayrd. Margaret kept his difficult winter quarters and bore him two children. They had a son, Angus, in 1806 and a daughter, Jane, in 1810. By 1810 he had a reputation with the natives for honest dealing, by virtue of the aid of his marriage to Margaret and the importance of family to the Native communities. For 14 years he traded furs, cooking utensils and artifacts in the upper Mississippi River valley, usually based at Prairie du Chien, on the Mississippi. He transferred activities to point up the Minnesota River at Lac qui Parle in 1808. By 1814 he was to be found lower down on the river near St. Paul. Twice during these years he hunted buffalo at Big Stone. In the spring of 1814, at 35, the call of the War of 1812 was continually upon him and he left his wife and children behind to enlist in the English army. At this point Grey Cloud [Margaret Ayrd] returned to her family. He led in the capture of Fort McKay at Prairie du Chien and the fight at Rock Island Du Shane during the War of 1812. After the war, Thomas refused American citizenship and Grey Cloud refused to leave her native land.
So he returned to eastern Canada to later at age 41, marry 24 year old Elizabeth Ann Hamilton in 1820 and to settle permanently in Coldwater, Canada. His second wife asks Thomas to send for his two Native children and give them the formal education she felt they were entitled to. She and Thomas had seven children from 1821 to 1836. 1816 to 1839 he had the pay and rank of captain. He was summoned to (York) Toronto to settle and civilize 3 Chippewa tribes He built mills, houses and schools and maintained his family there for 9 years working on this project. He then worked for the government in Toronto until his retirement June 30 1858 at 79 years of age, which was also the day his wife died. As trader and government employee he had close association with the Indians for 58 years. He was a shrewd judge of character and was devoted to the Indian interests and was highly regarded by them. He wrote copious articles, journals and reports; many were printed after his death which occurred at 95 and 3 months of age.
So he returned to eastern Canada to later at age 41, marry 24 year old Elizabeth Ann Hamilton in 1820 and to settle permanently in Coldwater, Canada. His second wife asks Thomas to send for his two Native children and give them the formal education she felt they were entitled to. She and Thomas had seven children from 1821 to 1836. 1816 to 1839 he had the pay and rank of captain. He was summoned to (York) Toronto to settle and civilize 3 Chippewa tribes He built mills, houses and schools and maintained his family there for 9 years working on this project. He then worked for the government in Toronto until his retirement June 30 1858 at 79 years of age, which was also the day his wife died. As trader and government employee he had close association with the Indians for 58 years. He was a shrewd judge of character and was devoted to the Indian interests and was highly regarded by them. He wrote copious articles, journals and reports; many were printed after his death which occurred at 95 and 3 months of age.
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In loving memory of . . .
"For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again. Even so them also that sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him"
