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| s:v_sim [2025/01/04 13:51] – created sallyr | s:v_sim [2025/05/10 16:53] (current) – sallyr |
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| Vincent Collier Sim (1855 - 1885) | Vincent Collier Sim (1855 - 1885) |
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| Vincent Sim was born in England, possibly near Bledlow and Windsor where his sister Frances Mary Sim lived.((“Frances Mary Sim fonds.” The Anglican Church of Canada, General Synod Archives collections., 2019 website: https://www.anglican.ca/archives/holdings/fonds/francis-mart-sim-fonds/)) He was the fifth child of William and Eliza Sim. He attended a preparatory school in 1875 and the Church Missionary Society College in Islington, London in 1876. In 1877, he was ordained an Anglican Deacon by the Bishop of Rupert’s Land and was appointed to the Athapascan Mission with an annual stipend of £150. He remained at this Mission until 1881 when he was sent north to learn Tukudh [Gwich’in] and assist Archdeacon Robert McDonald.((“Sim, V.C. (Vincent Collier) Rev., 1855-1885” Archives Society of Alberta, 2022 website: https://albertaonrecord.ca/sim-v-c-vincent-collier-rev-1855-1885-001;isaar?sf_culture=en)) Vincent Sim travelled north to Fort McPherson with Reverend Thomas Henry Canham. Sim graduated from the Church Missionary Society College the year before Canham and their friendship dated from that time in England.((Marjorie Almstrom, “The Venerable Thomas Henry Canham.” Prepared for Ven. And Mrs. K. Snider as background for the 100th anniversary of the mission at Selkirk, 26 July 1992. Old Log Church Museum files.)) | Vincent Sim was born in England, possibly near Bledlow and Windsor where his sister Frances Mary Sim lived.((“Frances Mary Sim fonds.” The Anglican Church of Canada, General Synod Archives collections., 2019 website: https://www.anglican.ca/archives/holdings/fonds/francis-mart-sim-fonds/)) He was the fifth child of William and Eliza Sim. He attended a preparatory school in 1875 and the Church Missionary Society College in Islington, London in 1876. In 1877, he was ordained an Anglican Deacon by the Bishop of Rupert’s Land and was appointed to the Athapascan Mission with an annual stipend of £150. He remained at this Mission until 1881 when he was sent north to learn Tukudh [Gwich’in] and assist Archdeacon Robert McDonald.((“Sim, V.C. (Vincent Collier) Rev., 1855-1885” Archives Society of Alberta, 2022 website: https://albertaonrecord.ca/sim-v-c-vincent-collier-rev-1855-1885-001;isaar?sf_culture=en)) |
| Sim spent several months at Fort McPherson and then went to Rampart House in 1882 to establish a mission – the first parish in the Diocese of the Yukon.((“Sim, V.C. (Vincent Collier) Rev., 1855-1885” Archives Society of Alberta, 2022 website: https://albertaonrecord.ca/sim-v-c-vincent-collier-rev-1855-1885-001;isaar?sf_culture=en)) He met Joseph Hodgson, Hudson’s Bay Company clerk in charge of Old Rampart House, at Fort McPherson as Sim was leaving to take up his position.((Colin Beairsto, "Making Camp: Rampart House on the Porcupine River." Prepared for the Yukon Heritage Branch, March 1997:71-73.)) | |
| | Rev. V. Sim was sent to Canada with money from the CMS Extension and Enlargement Fund created in 1880.((Walter Vanast, “The Mackenzie District: Significant historical dates concerning Catholic and Anglican endeavours, explorers, etc.” Draft 2, 1999. McGill Intellectual Property. Academia website.)) Sim graduated from the Church Missionary Society College the year before Thomas Canham [who also ended up in the north] and their friendship dated from that time in England.((Marjorie Almstrom. “The Venerable Thomas Henry Canham.” Prepared for Ven. And Mrs. K. Snider as background for the 100th anniversary of the mission at Selkirk, 26 July 1992. Old Log Church Museum files.)) Sim spent several months at Fort McPherson and then went to Rampart House, Alaska in 1882 to establish a mission.((“Sim, V.C. (Vincent Collier) Rev., 1855-1885” Archives Society of Alberta, 2022 website: https://albertaonrecord.ca/sim-v-c-vincent-collier-rev-1855-1885-001;isaar?sf_culture=en)) |
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| In the spring of 1883, Sim was living at LaPierre House and came down the Porcupine River to Rampart House, Alaska from the Peel River to await the breakup. He was very busy as the Indigenous trappers were bringing in their winter’s fur. He left on June 15th and returned on August 25th travelling with three Tukudh speakers in a bark canoe. The went down the Porcupine stopping at groups along the way but never stopping long as rations were short. The buildings at Fort Yukon are still standing and are occupied by Chief Sanyooli. The chief gave them a generous welcome and they feasted, partly at Sim's expense. They did not stay long as the salmon had not arrived, ducks and geese were scarce, and no moose had been killed. Everyone crowded around and wanted to buy books.((Correspondence from Reverend Vincent Sim, "Education in Alaska." Yukon Archives, Coutts Coll. 78/69 MSS 080 f.41.)) [Archdeacon Robert McDonald’s translations of the bible, Book of Common Prayer, and hymnals.] | In the spring of 1883, Sim was living at LaPierre House and came down the Porcupine River to old Rampart House from the Peel River to await the breakup. He was very busy as the Indigenous trappers were bringing in their winter’s fur. He left on June 15th and returned on August 25th travelling with three Tukudh speakers in a bark canoe. The went down the Porcupine stopping at groups along the way but never stopping long as rations were short. The buildings at Fort Yukon are still standing and are occupied by Chief Sanyooli. The chief gave them a generous welcome and they feasted, partly at Sim's expense. They did not stay long as the salmon had not arrived, ducks and geese were scarce, and no moose had been killed. Everyone crowded around and wanted to buy books.((Correspondence from Reverend Vincent Sim, "Education in Alaska." Yukon Archives, Coutts Coll. 78/69 MSS 080 f.41.)) [Archdeacon Robert McDonald’s Gwich'in translations of the bible, Book of Common Prayer, and hymnals.] |
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| Sim and his companions paddled hard [up the Yukon River] for four days before coming to another party and the Upper Ramparts. The head man was the eldest son of Sanyoolyi. He had two wives. Before Sim left, he had convinced the chief to give up one of his wives. Two men from this camp travelled with Sim for the next 300 miles to receive religious instruction. Three more days brought them to a band of Hän Hwëch’in (River Indians) or Gens des Fous, as they are also known. These were the first local people Sim saw who lived in houses. This was probably only in the summer, as they moved about in the winter. They welcomed Sim and provided him with a large tent.((Correspondence from Reverend Vincent Sim, "Education in Alaska." Yukon Archives, Coutts Coll. 78/69 MSS 080 f.41.)) | Sim and his companions paddled hard [up the Yukon River] for four days before coming to another party and the Upper Ramparts. The head man was the eldest son of Sanyoolyi. He had two wives. Before Sim left, he had convinced the chief to give up one of his wives. Two men from this camp travelled with Sim for the next 300 miles to receive religious instruction. Three more days brought them to a band of Hän Hwëch’in (River Indians) or Gens des Fous, as they are also known. These were the first local people Sim saw who lived in houses. This was probably only in the summer, as they moved about in the winter. They welcomed Sim and provided him with a large tent.((Correspondence from Reverend Vincent Sim, "Education in Alaska." Yukon Archives, Coutts Coll. 78/69 MSS 080 f.41.)) |
