What Was Métis Scrip?
Métis Scrip was a way for the Canadian Government to make right the displacement of the Métis from their lands in Manitoba. The first issuance of Métis Scrip was shortly after the formation of Manitoba. The other major dissemination of Métis Scrip was from the North-West Half-Breed Commissions -Orders In Council in 1885. For this second issuance, to be eligible for scrip, the claimant had to have been a resident of the North-West Territories, outside the limits of Manitoba, at the time the region was ceded to the Dominion of Canada – that is, the 15th of July, 1870.
The Script system wasn’t a system that worked well for anyone in the end. It was rife with fraud and speculators praying on uneducated Métis people to swindle them out of the scrip they had been issued.
Plan of River Lots “Outer Two Miles” Headingly
Below are a number of examples of scrip that was issued to my family members. The scrip affidavits primarily come from three parishes in Manitoba, the postage stamp version. One parish being Headingly, another is Poplar Point and the last parish being St. Andrews.
Family (Métis) Scrip Notes & Scrip Affidavits
Scrip Note
No.11076, $160
William Bird Jr., Issued Oct 2, 1876 for $160 of Dominion Lands. Cancelled Scrip, Jun 26, 1878.
Great Grandfather
Scrip Note
No.7076, $160, Form 9398, Ref No. HB18, $160
William Bird the Younger(Jr.), Issued Ottawa Aug 5, 1885 for $160 of Dominion Lands. Issued in accordance with terms of the Order in Council March 30, 1885.
Great Grandfather
Scrip Note
No.11081, $160
Mary Jane “Harriet” Bird, Issued Oct 2, 1876 for $160 of Dominion Lands. Cancelled Sept 27, 1879.
2nd Great Grandmother
Scrip Note
No.11080, $160
William Bird Sr., Issued Oct 2, 1876 for $160 of Dominion Lands.
2nd Great Grandfather
Scrip Note
No.11043, $160
James Sutherland Sr., Issued Oct 2, 1876 for $160 of Dominion Lands.
3rd Great Grandfather
Scrip 11043, James Sutherland Sr.
Scrip Note
No.11044, $160
Maria Sutherland (Bird), Issued Oct 2, 1876 for $160 of Dominion Lands.
3rd Great Grandmother
Scrip Affidavit
Affidavit No. 2421, Claim 2065, Scrip No. 10940
William Bird Sr., Sworn Aug 17, 1876, Poplar Point
3rd Great Uncle
Scrip Note
No.10940, $160
William Bird Sr., Issued Oct 2, 1876 for $160 of Dominion Lands.
3rd Great Uncle
Scrip Note
No.10941, $160
Mary Jane Bird, Issued Oct 2, 1876 for $160 of Dominion Lands. Cancelled Scrip, Jan 26, 1886.
3rd Great Aunt
Scrip Affidavit
Affidavit No. 2422, Claim 32206 1/4, Scrip No. 11075
Joseph Bird, Sworn Aug 17, 1875, Poplar Point
3rd Great Uncle
Scrip Note
No.11075, $160
Joseph Bird, Issued Oct 2, 1876 for $160 of Dominion Lands.
3rd Great Uncle
Scrip Affidavit
Affidavit No. 61, Claim No. 54
Scrip Issued May 1, 1876
William Cromartie, Sworn Aug 24, 1875, St. Andrews
2nd Great Grandfather
Scrip Affidavit
Affidavit No. 60, Claim No. 55
Scrip Issued May 1, 1876
Mary Ann Cromartie(nee Hourie), Sworn July 24, 1875, St. Andrews
2nd Great Grandmother
Scrip Affidavit
Affidavit No. 25, Claim No. 13
Jane Ballendine(nee Hourie) sworn July 21, 1875, St. Andrews
2nd Great Aunt
Scrip Affidavit
Affidavit No. 119, Claim No. 133, Scrip Nos. 1009-1016
Scrip Issued May 1, 1876
George Hourie, (via Widow), Sworn July 23, 1875, St. Andrews
3rd Great Grandfather
Scrip Notes
Nos.1009-1016, $160
George Hourie (Heirs, via widow), Issued Oct 2, 1876 for $160 of Dominion Lands in $20 notes to split amongst his heirs. Claimed by his second wife and widow Elisabeth for his living heirs. See notes on the affidavit Claim No. 119 or 133.
Claim No 133 St Andrews Affidavit 119
3rd Great Grandfather
Scrip Affidavit
Affidavit No. 118, Claim No. 134, Scrip Nos. 1017-1024
Scrip Issued May 1, 1876
Elizabeth Hourie (widow of George Hourie) , Sworn July 23, 1875, St. Andrews
3rd Great Step-Grandmother
Scrip Notes
Nos.1017-1024, $160
Elizabeth Hourie (widow of George Hourie) – Scrip number 1017-1024 – Amount 160.00$ (20.00$ each). Issued May 1, 1876. Cancelled Oct 10, 1881
Claim No 134 St Andrews Affidavit 118
3rd Great Step-Grandmother
Scrip Affidavit & Note
Affidavit No. 359, Claim No. 229 Form J, HB285, $160
Department of the Interior, Canada. Northwest Half-Breed Commission, Scrip Issued May 21, 1885
James Bird Jr.(James Joke), Sworn May 21, 1885, Calgary, Alta
Also swearing to James Bird’s Identity: James Sanderson and Alexander McKay of Medicine Hat, Alta
North-West Half-Breed Commissions -Orders In Council
3rd Great Uncle
Scrip Notes
Nos.10477, $160
Ellen Cook (widow of Jeremiah “Jerry” Cook) – Scrip number 10477 – Amount 160.00$. Issued Sept 20, 1876. Cancelled Jan 15, 1878
Claim No 1567 Headingly Affidavit No 1721
4th Great Grandmother
Scrip Affidavit
Affidavit No. 3222, Claim No. 5
Laetitia Brown (nee Cook), Sworn Aug 17, 1875, Headingly
3rd Great Aunt
Scrip Affidavit
Affidavit No. 3233, Claim No. 11
George Cook, Sworn Aug 11, 1875, Headingly
3rd Great Uncle
Scrip Affidavit
Affidavit No. 3293, Claim No. 20
Harriet McKenzie (nee Cook);, Sworn Aug 12, 1875, Headingly
3rd Great Aunt
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