Narcisse Fallardeau

Narcisse Falardeau was born according to his gravestone on the 5th of September 1818, is a native of Quebec, and died 26th November 1888 at Fort Langley and is buried in the Fort Langley Municipal Cemetery.

Narcisse worked for the HBC as an employee starting in 1837 as the HBC records of 1838 for Servants states "Narcisse Falerdeau is from Lachine, works as a middleman at Fort Langley and has one year of service and his contract expires in 1841".

In his 1841 record he is age 24, from the Parish of Berthier, works as a middleman in For Langley and has 4 years service. He has a credit of 10/13/5 and his wages were 17 pounds. He continues with the HBC until 1863.

In 1862 his record states that he is from Berthier, is a Labourer at Fort Langley, has a credit of 18/6/2 and his wage was 25 pounds. He has a credit throughout his whole employment with HBC so it is easy to say that he was most likely a frugal man.

According to Bruce Watson, Narcisse spent most of his time with his family in the kitchen of the Big House of the fort, as cook or servant to James Murray Yale.

In 1846, in response to the establishment of the international border, Fallardeau, along with 17 others, unsuccessfully laid claim to 640 acres (1 square mile) of land around Fort Nisqually, land to which the Hudson's Bay Company/Puget Sound Agricultural Company held possessory rights. Like many, he could not write as his February 15, 1850 contract (HBCA A. 32/28) was signed with an "x". He appeared to work until 1863 and appeared on the 1863-64 sundries account without wages but with a credit of £ 311.2.2 carried over from the previous outfit.

The family of Fallardeau seems to have many spellings depending on where the name is mentioned.

In Nooksak Tales and Trails by P.R. Jeffcott, published 1949 it was spelled "Feledow".

In his will, written a few months before his death it was he has signed with an X, but written beside is "Fallardeau".

On his grand daughter, Catheine Taylors baptismal entry it is "Falardo".

In a publication called Fort Langley 1827 - 1927, a century of settlement in the Valley of the lower Fraser River, by Denys Nelson it is spelled "Fallerdo".

In the 1881 BC census it is "Fillidoe".

In the late 1930's a "Mr. Flowerdew" according to a diary is a guest of my great grandfather, Otway Wilkie - a descendant perhaps?

According to Donald E. Waite, Narcis was on hand when Fort Langley was rebuilt a few miles up river starting October 1838 by James Murray Yale. Sometime during this era Narcis took a wife from the Kwantlen band that originally lived in the area where the BC penitentiary was situated in New Westminster. The tribe summered on McMillan island and eventually stayed there for the protection of the Fort.

Narcisse wife was Tlhepartenate, or Helen/Elen depending on the documents and presumably sister to Staquoisit (better known James Gabriel). The Helen/Elen confusion probably arises from a language problem of Indian and French giving information to an Englishman or Scotsman. Most documents she is Ellen and there are girl grandchildren called Ellen. Ellen was alive and living in New Westminster with her daughter Mary Worley in 1901. She died 28th December 1905 at the age of 85. It is unknown where she is buried, but since the coroner was in New Westminster it is likely she is buried near there.

Narcisse and Helen/Elen produced eight children, six daughters and two sons:

i.	Harriet born about 1839 married Daniel KILCUP about 1860. John KILCUP was born in the Langley area and the remaining eleven children were born in Whatcom County, Washington. Harriet died in Lynden, WA 17 October 1918.
ii.	Catherine, my great great grandmother was born about 1841 married James TAYLOR 26 July 1858 and produced seven children. She died shortly after the birth of her last child 30 December 1874. She is buried in the Fort Langley Municipal Cemetery.
iii.	Matilda born 27 February 1844 married 19 May 1863 George REHBERGER in New Westminster and was the mother of some thirteen children. She died most likely in Washington State on the 10th December 1926.
iv.	Louisa born about 1848 married Henry WEST about 1866 and went to the states with REHBURGER and KILCUP, but returned to the property next to Narcisse about 1881. There were approximately 14 offspring. Louisa died at Fort Langley on the 6th of April 1902.
v.	Noel born about 1851 married Annie or Angelique KWA-ELNA. It is unknown when Noel died, but their known children were Louisa who married Thomas DOWNEY; Frank who married Elizabeth CHARLEY; and George who married Theresat SIALIA later known as Theresa THOMPSON.
vi.	Narcisse christened 11 September 1853 was godfather to Catherine TAYLOR daughter of Catherine FALARDEAU and James TAYLOR. Little else is known about him.
vii.	Rosalie born 1862 married 9 June 1884 one James IBBOTSON. Together they had six known children Rosalie died in Vancouver the 30th of Nov 1944.
vii.	Mary or Marie was born 25 April 1865 married first William WORLEY in June of 1884 and had 10 known children. Her second husband was Benjamin Bernard McALLISTER who she married 26 July 1919. It is unknown when she died.

After leaving the HBC Narcisse's occupations are cobbler and farmer. Narcisse owned a minimum of 50 acres along the Fraser River which he left to two daughters, Rosalie Ibbotson and Mary Worley; and a grandson named Frank Fallardeau. At the time of the writing of the will Narcisse was residing at the Langley Sawmill which belonged to his son-in-law Henry West.

Employee	Contact Person
Narcisse FALARDEAU see also: James TAYLOR	Tannis Pond tannis@mars.ark.com

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