William Aird: (? - ?)
He was living in L'Assomption, Quebec in the
1780's as a former soldier in the 70th regt. and was married to Jane (?).
They had a daughter named Elizabeth (b.Oct.1786).
In the spring of 1777 he financed Robert Aird
trading venture out of Michilimackinac.
George Aird: (? - 1805)
He was buried in St.Louis, Missouri on 1 April
1805.
James Aird: (? - 1819)
He was born in Ayrshire, Scotland and married
Grey Cloud (daughter of Dakota Chief Wabasha).
They had a daughter named Margaret (Mahkpiyahotowin/Grey Cloud II) (1793-1850)
who married Thomas G.Anderson about 1805 and later married Hazen Mooers.
He was trading on the Upper Mississippi River
(Wabasha's Dakota village) as early as 1783. In the winter of 1785/86
he was apart of Jean Perrault's trading venture
at a post on the Leaf River with Roch [in the spring of 1785 he was licensed
out of Michilimackinac with Robert Aird]. For the winter of 1786/87, James
Aird is located at Prairie Du Chien (trading on the St.Peters /Minnesota
River) and is associated with Charles Paterson,
Etienne-Charles Campion and others in the "General
Co. of L.Superior and the South" (also known as the "General Society")
other traders in the firm were; Charles Chaboillez
Sr., John Sayer, [the firm was gone in 1788].
That season he loaned his interpreter, Joseph
Rocque, to Joseph Ainse who was on his peace
mission to the Dakota & Ojibwe. James Aird, Charles Paterson and other
traders wrote a petition (10 Aug.1787) to commandant Thomas Scott accusing
Joseph Ainse of selling Indian Department presents for profit. The winters
of 1787/88 he was trading on the St.Peters River (Minnesota River) [Etienne
Campion arrived at his post on 25 October 1787].
James next shows up as arriving at Mackinac
with his brother George Aird on 29 May 1803, from the River St.Peters (Minnesota
River). In August of 1804 he signed an agreement/partnership with Robert
Dickson, Allen C.Wilmet, Murdoch Cameron, John Lawe & Jacob Frank,
forming R.Dickson & Company with competitors Jacques Porlier, Noel
Rocheblave, Grignon brothers, Louis Beaupre,
Charles Reaume, etc... Another agreement is signed
on 24 June 1806 between the R.Dickson & Company [Robert Dickson, James
Aird, also for his late brother George Aird, Jacob Franks and Wilmot] and
the James and Andrew McGill & Company [James McGill, for his late brother
Andrew McGill, Thomas Blackwood and Francis DesRivieres of Montreal], the
former was indebt to the latter. During this period James was incharge
of the Missouri trade for the firm , where he met (3 Sep.1806) Lewis &
Clark between the mouth of the Vermilion River
and the mouth of the Big Sioux River (on the Missouri) - returning from
the their expedition to the Pacific Ocean. [the following is from the Lewis
& Clark journal] "...We landed and found a Mr.James Airs, a partner
of a house at Prairie du Chien, who had come from Mackinau by the way of
P.d.C. and St.Louis, with a license to trade among the Sioux for one year...After
so long on interval, the sight of anyone who could give us information
of our country was peculiarly delightful and much of the night was spent
in making inquiries into what had occurred during our absence. We found
Mr.Airs a very friendly and liberal gentleman...(sep.20) we reached the
little French village of La Charette, which we saluted with a discharge
of four guns and three hearty cheers. We landed and were received with
kindness by the inhabitants, as well as by some traders from Canada [two
young Scotchmen in the employ of Mr.Aird], who were going to traffic with
the Osages and Ottoes..."
He was trading on the Missouri in 1806/07
(Ramsey Crooks, his clerk and future head of the Amer.Fur Co. was waiting
for him at St.Louis in June of 1807). Thomas Blackwood at Mackinac writes
to J.& A.McGill & Co.(30 jul.1807): "...yesterday Mr.Aird arrived
30 days from St.Louis and has brought his furs with him, but not enough
to pay...he gave into the Company's Store at St.Louis the remainder of
his Goods, which he says may be near to L200 Currency...From what Mr.Aird
says it appears there will be difficulties in the way of traders going
to the West of the Mississippi, it is however believed here that they will
be got over, as the Indians must have supplies which the Americans cannot
for the present furnish...". By August of 1807 James is leaving Mackinac
again, bound for St.Louis and the Missouri with his employee, Bellair,
for the winter of 1807/08. By the winter of 1810/11, James is back trading
above the Falls of St.Anthony with Robert Dickson.
During the War of 1812, Aird seems to have
remained neutral and continued in the business of trading while his partner,
Robert Dickson, becomes more committed to the British war effort. Dickson
takes time to write from Mackinac, another partner in the firm, Jacob Franks,
on 8 Sep.1812 "...Detroit was taken by Gen.Brock on the 16th of last month.
Gen.Hull, with 2,400 men, laid down their arms. The American regulars are
all gone to Quebec; but the Kentucky militia have been allowed to go home...Poor
Hanks, having been detailed by Hull, was cut in two and died instantly.
Col.Proctor, of the Forty-First, commands at Detroit. Gen.Brock staid only
24 hours there and is gone to attack Niagara...Troops are arriving daily
from England...Gen.Brock's force, Indians, militia and regulars, did not
exceed 1500...A large re-enforcement of Americans coming to Detroit, with
170 wagons,were also included in the capitulation. Gen.Brock has acquired
much glory and the Americans, after their vain boasting, are covered with
disgrace...Dispatches from Madison to Bonaparte had been intercepted...There
has been a terrible affair at Baltimore. A general, 2 captains and 30-40
individuals, have been killed by the mobs...Berthelot and LaCroix arrived
2 days ago...Mr.Lawe will proceed with it (boat to La Baye) to the Mississippi
until he meets Mr.Aird and they will arrange for his wintering...Mr.Wilmot
is still here...".
After the war Aird is reported to be starving
on the River St.Peters in March of 1815 and the next season began trading
for the new firm of American Fur Company, continuing to trade with them
on the River St.Peters until his death. Hazen Mooers writes to Ramsey Crooks
of the American Fur Co., on 28 Dec.1818 of James poor health at Prairie
du Chien - he died there on 27 Feb.1819.
John Aird: (1720 - ?)
He was married to Anna/Janet Campbell (daughter
of Alexander & Agnes) in 1738 at Riccarton, Ayr, Scotland and they
were probably the parents of the above. Their children were: Janet
(b.1740, Kilmarnock, Ayr, Scotland) (m.Alexander Carr), Margaret
(b.1741, Kilmarnock, Ayr, Scotland), Mary (b.1743, Kilmarnock, Ayr,
Scotland), Ann (b.1747, Kilmarnock, Ayr, Scotland), William
(b.1749, Kilmarnock, Ayr, Scotland), John (1751-1815) (m.Janet Hunter
in 1778), Robert (1753-1806) (m.Janet Findlay in 1782), Elizabeth
(b.1755, Kilmarnock, Ayr, Scotland), Hugh (b.1756, Kilmarnock, Ayr,
Scotland), James (b.27 Nov.1757, Kilmarnock, Ayr, Scotland), George
(b.1759, Kilmarnock, Ayr, Scotland) & Andrew (b.1761, Kilmarnock,
Ayr, Scotland).