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The following records provide information on the Nabaise Family.
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1838
The Census at Oxford House
No. 14, Nappaish, Head of Family, with a wife, 2 sons, and a daughter living with him. (PAM, HBCA, B.239/z/10, fo. 41, Oxford House Census, 1838, mf. 1M903) Nappaish had two sons with him and three other sons [No. 15, 16, and 17 below] listed separately.
No. 15, Mee nah way hoot, Son of No. 14, single. (PAM, HBCA, B.239/z/10, fo. 41, Oxford House Census, 1838, 1M903) According to his baptismal record, he was born circa 1826, but in fact he may have been born earlier than that. In the absence of birth records, Missionary James Evans often had to guess at how old his converts were
No. 16, Wee yas see passeau, Young Nappaish, Head of Family, with a wife and a son. (PAM, HBCA, B.239/z/10, fo. 41, Oxford House Census, 1838, mf. 1M903) This man was recorded as No. 27 “Napesis” on the Norway House Census in 1838. He was probably “Napis” who worked as a fisherman for the HBC in 1833-1834.
No. 17, Wapistan or Marten, Son of No. 14, single man. (PAM, HBCA, B.239/z/10, fo. 41, Oxford House Census, 1838, mf. 1M903)
The Census at Norway House
No. 22, Miskeecunit, Head of Family, 2 wives, 4 sons, 3 daughters. (PAM, HBCA, B.239/z/10, fo. ?, Norway House Census, 1838)
No. 27, Napesis, Son-in-law of No. 22, with a wife, and no children. (PAM, HBCA, B.239/z/10, fo. ?, Norway House Census, 1838) This man was Wee yas see Passeau, or Young Nappaish, No. 16 on the Oxford House Census. Since he had married a daughter of “Miskeecunit,” Napesis probably trapped with his father-in-law in the Norway House District before returning to Oxford House where his son was born.
1838/1839
13 May 1838, Nappaish and his son the Martin arrived at the post. Nappaish was described as an old fellow, a steersman on of the freight boats. (PAM, HBCA, B.156,a/17, fo. ?, Oxford House Journal, 1838-1839, mf. 1M116)
1840
No. 93, William Vqh [Naa-pay-s], aged 10 years, baptised by James Evans at Oxford House on 6 August 1840. (PAM, GR 1212, Item 10, Norway House Wesleyan Methodist Mission, Register of Baptisms, 1840-1889) This was one of the sons of “Nappaish” mentioned on the Oxford House Census of 1838. Only he and his brother Peter were baptized from the Naa-pay-s Family at that time.
No. 94, Peter Vqh [Naa-pay-s], aged 7 years, baptised by James Evans at Oxford House on 6 August 1840. (PAM, GR 1212, Item 10, Norway House Wesleyan Methodist Mission, Register of Baptisms, 1840-1889) This was the other son of “Nappaish” mentioned on the Oxford House Census of 1838.
1842/1843
14 October 1842, “Nappaish’s Son arrived for a few Goods for his father” (PAM, HBCA, B.156/a/22, fo. 14d, Oxford House Journal, 1842-1843, mf. 1M116)
9 February 1943, “Two of Nappaishs and two of Etheneskees Sons arrived with furs” (PAM, HBCA, B.156/a/22, fo. 25d, Oxford House Journal, 1842-1843, mf. 1M116)
30 May 1843, “Nappaish and his party arrived today.” (PAM, HBCA, B.156/a/22, fo. 38, Oxford House Journal, 1842-1843, mf. 1M116)
1843
No. 378, 28 May 1842, Agnes, daughter of aSounZt [May-chi-ki-kwah-nay-p(b)] of Norway House, aged 20 years, was baptized by James. Evans. (PAM, GR 1212, Item 10, Norway House Wesleyan Methodist Mission, Register of Baptisms, 1840-1889) Agnes became the wife of Andrew Vqh.
No. 395, Mark Vqh [Naa-pay-s], aged 48 years, baptised by James Evans at Norway House. 8 Oct 1843. (PAM, GR 1212, Item 10, Norway House Wesleyan Methodist Mission, Register of Baptisms, 1840-1889) This was Mark/John, the patriarch of the Nabaise Family.
No. 397, John sVWnQt [Mi-nah-wee-way-t], son of Mark and Martha Vqh [Naa-pay-s], aged 17 years, son of Mark and Martha, baptised by James Evans at Norway House, 8 Oct 1843. (PAM, GR 1212, Item 10, Norway House Wesleyan Methodist Mission, Register of Baptisms, 1840-1889) This was No. 15, “Mee nah way hoot,” son of “Nappaish” on the 1838 Census at Oxford House. He married Eliza Muchikekwanape.
No. 398, Andrew aVQnunolB [May-nah-way-kwah-ki-si-n], aged 19 years, son of Mark and Martha Vqh [Naa-pay-s], baptised by James Evans at Norway House, 8 Oct 1843. (PAM, GR 1212, Item 10, Norway House Wesleyan Methodist Mission, Register of Baptisms, 1840-1889) This is probably “Wapistan,” or “Martin” who was No. 17 on the 1838 Census at Oxford House.
No. 403, Martha, wife of Vqh [Naa-pay-s], aged 36 years, baptised 8 October 1843 at Norway House by James Evans. (PAM, GR 1212, Item 10, Norway House Wesleyan Methodist Mission, Register of Baptisms, 1840-1889) Martha/Nancy would have been older than 36 years, if she were mother to all of Nabaise’s children.
1844
No. 65, Andrew Napase Vqh boatman, Rossville, married Agnes Machekekanape (ISo"unZt) 11 Mar 1844 by James Evans. (PAM, GR1212, Item 13, Oxford House Wesleyan Methodist Register, Marriages, 1855-1893, and Norway House, Marriages, 1840-1846)
No. 422, John Vqlh [Nah-pay-si-s], baptised by William Mason at Norway House, 1 Sep 1844. (PAM, GR 1212, Item 10, Norway House Wesleyan Methodist Mission, Register of Baptisms, 1840-1889) This is probably Wee yas see passeau, or Young Nappaish, a son of old Nappaish, who appeared as No. 16 on the Oxford House Census of 1838.
No. 495, Fanny Vqh [Naa-pay-s], aged 3 weeks, daughter of Andrew and Agnes, baptised by James Evans at Norway House, 19 Oct 1844. (PAM, GR 1212, Item 10, Norway House Wesleyan Methodist Mission, Register of Baptisms, 1840-1889)
1846
No. 88, John Vqh [Na-pay-s], labourer, Rossville, married Eliza aSo"unZt [May-chi-ki-h-kwah-nay-p], 22 April 1846 by James Evans. [PAM, R145, GR1212, Item 13, Oxford House Wesleyan Methodist Mission, Register of Marriages, 1840-1893, including Norway House Marriages 1840-1847] Andrew Vqh was married to Eliza’s sister Agnes, and John Napasis was married to a third sister. In other words, three Vqh [Na-pay-s] brothers were married to three aSo"unZt [May-chi-ki-h-kwah-nay-p] sisters.
1848
No. 647, Donald Vqh [Naa-pay-s], aged 1 week, son of John and Eliza, baptised by William Mason at Ross Ville [Norway House], 23 Jan 1848. (PAM, GR 1212, Item 10, Norway House Wesleyan Methodist Mission, Register of Baptisms, 1840-1889) Donald was the son of John Naa-pay-s and Eliza Muchikekwanape, and apparently the only child they raised.
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