Trapped in the Frozen Labrador

This past week has been one of the coldest I have seen in years. Our entire winter has been like that except for our typical January thaw which lasted all of a few days. This past weekend has been filled with high winds, low windchills, snow, freezing rain and ice pellets. There was no getting away from it. However, it did remind me of how fortunate we are in 2014 that we can protect ourselves from the elements. It is the reason I have chosen John Salter Sr. for this post.

One of the most unforgiving lands is that of Labrador. Summer is deep in black flies while winter spreads her snowy freeze. Yet there is something so very seductive about the beauty of it all. The Labrador side of the Strait of Belle Isle is dotted with names that pay homage to the french past; L'Anse Amour, L'Anse au Loup, West St. Modeste and Forteau are examples.

The early 1700's saw merchant companies coming to the Straits, as it commonly known, to fish and return to Europe with their catch. Eventually others from the Channel Islands, Newfoundland and Quebec arrived and continued this exploitation. The merchants did not treat these fishers well and many left and settled along the various small communities. One of these livyers was my gr. gr. grandfather, John Salter. While I have been unable to determine his original birthplace, I believe he was one of the Jerseymen that came to fish and trap in the second half of the 1800's.

John met and married Lavinia Roberts on October 10,1870 in Forteau. They had two sons; the oldest, my gr. grandfather George and his younger brother John Jr. John Sr. supported his family as did most of the men on the Straits by selling his fish to various merchants and the furs he trapped to the Hudson Bay Company. It was the latter that would bring John to his untimely death.

The date is February 1881 and the time of year when trappers were eager to get furs for the Hudson Bay Company. A good fur was invaluable to a family. It would help in ensuring a good winter. John went out to set his traps and to check others he set on his last venture out to the land. The day's weather was fine and looked promising but the harsh Labrador environment can have a sudden change at any time. Such was the case for John as a blizzard ensued. Unable to see for the white out conditions he searched for shelter to shield himself from the elements. When he didn't return, a search party set out to find him. Near death, John was brought back to Forteau where he succumbed to exposure. As inscribed in a bible given to Lavinia by Mr. Thomas Wright, a family friend, John Salter passed away at 5 minutes past 3 o'clock in the morning on February 12, 1881.

John Salter Sr. - pioneer, livyer, husband, father - died at the age of 41.

John Salter Death Record Family Bible