On May 23, 1825, Peter Skene Ogden led a Snake River Expedition for the Hudson’s Bay Company from Flathead Post to the Bear River, thence into Cache Valley and Ogden’s Hole. Ogden was camped along the Weber River near present-day Mountain Green, Utah, when an American fur brigade leader Johnson Gardner approached him. Ogden wrote of the scene: “This morning Gardner came to my Tent & after a few words of no import, he questioned me as follows[:] Do you know in whose Country you are? To which I answer that I did not as it was not determined between Great Britain and America to whom it belonged, to which he made answer that it had been ceded to the latter & as I had no licence to trap or trade to return from whence I came.” Ironically, neither Ogden nor Gardner had proper claim to the territory they were trapping in, as at the time it was Shoshone land claimed by Mexico, being south of the 42nd parallel. Gardner nevertheless told Ogden, “remain at your peril,” and then went to see the Iroquois (Mohawk/Metis) Freemen trapper John Grey.
John Grey had been trapping with the Hudson’s Bay Company since at least 1818 and owed a considerable debt to the company. In 1824, Grey was able to negotiate his debt from 4,000 livres down to 400, worth about twenty beavers. He was one of the HBC’s trappers who worked for wages but he quickly realized how much more economic and personal freedom he would have as a “free trapper” selling beaver pelts to the highest bidder. Grey, also known by his Indian name Ignace Hatchiorauquasha, was convinced to join the American trappers, as they offered a way to make more money by getting paid more per pelt and thus eliminate his debt. Gardner promised to pay more for furs, 3 dollars and 50 cents per beaver pelt to be exact, and to supply the trappers at a lower cost than the HBC company. Ogden records Grey as having said the following: “I must now tell you that all the Iroquois as well as myself have long wished for an opportunity to join the Americans & if we did not Sooner it was owing to our bad luck in not meeting with them, but now we go & all you Can Say Cannot prevent us.” He continued, saying that “we are now in free Country & have Friends here to Support us & if every man in the Camp does not leave you they do not Seek their own interest." About a dozen of Grey’s fellow freemen left Ogden and joined Gardner. Ogden records that the following day, four British trappers also left to join Gardner. Facing armed men and potential conflict, Ogden broke camp and left on May 25th. The Mohawk/Metis trappers were active throughout the rendezvous era, repaid their HBC debts, and played an influential role in the Rocky Mountain Fur Trade. ]]>