The long journey for a body's burial

The story of Augustus Richard Peers

The story of Augustus Richard Peers begins in Lymington, England, where he was born in 1820.

When he was 22, he entered into the service of the Hudson’s Bay Company as an apprentice clerk.

Leaving England on the Prince Rupert, he landed at York Factory on Aug. 18, 1842.

The first autumn and winter with the Hudson’s Bay Company passed easily and on April 11, 1843, he left York Factory for Norway House. His final destination was to be Fort Simpson, in the Mackenzie River Delta.

He arrived at Fort Simpson on Aug. 20, and remained there until June 18, 1844.

At this point, he was sent to take charge of Fort Norman, where he arrived on June 20.

After the trading season of 1847-48, he was transferred to take charge of the Peel River Post. He arrived there on Sept. 16, 1847.

He remained there until the day he died, Sept. 16, 1847. It is not said in the sources what he died of, beyond a severe illness.

When he knew he was not going to recover, he said he did not want to be buried at Fort McPherson.

Peers died soon after.

While his request not to be buried at Fort McPherson was mostly honoured, his body was not taken south to Fort Simpson for six years.

Roderick MacFarlane and a friend took Peer’s body and coffin on a dog sled journey of 1,200 kilometres along the banks of the Mackenzie River.

As they travelled, wild animals approached the sled looking for meat. As they approached, MacFarlane stated a voice told the dogs to run. The dogs did, and the wild animals scattered.

The two men and the coffin finally made Fort Simpson and both claimed that the ghostly presence they felt and heard was that of Peers himself.

One night, while sleeping at Fort Simpson, Macfarlane stated a ghostly presence came at him and his companion. He said,

“so very suddenly and scaringly that I instantly covered my face with my blanket and remained speechless.”