“Today wed Charlotte Small.” David Thompson wrote those words in his journal. Few could have imagined how long he would honor that commitment to Charlotte Small. We stand here at Mount Royal Cemetery in Montreal. This is the final resting place of David Thompson and Charlotte Small. Their story is one of enduring love and partnership. It helped shape modern Canada.
David Thompson was a surveyor, map maker and explorer. Charlotte Small was a Métis woman. She joined David on his expeditions. Charlotte was born September 1, 1785. Her father was North West Company investor Patrick Small. Her mother was a Cree woman.
Charlotte and David married on June 10, 1799. The wedding took place at Île-à-la-Crosse, Saskatchewan. Together, they had 13 children. Charlotte often traveled with David. They journeyed from the Rockies to Quebec. Charlotte traveled farther with David. She traveled 3+1⁄2 times farther than Lewis and Clark.
European explorers often abandoned their wives. They left their children for new lives in Canada or Europe. David Thompson remained faithful to Charlotte. He stayed by the side of his lovely wife. He provided for her and their 13 children. They were married for 58 years.
The couple arrived in Quebec in 1812. They had five small children then. David had his family baptized. He and Charlotte exchanged vows on October 30, 1812. They legally became husband and wife. This was rare for the time. Many country wives were abandoned. Charlotte’s mother had been one of them.
David and Charlotte faced hardships. Two of their children died young. They experienced poverty and discrimination. Charlotte was David’s constant support. In their later years, they walked together. They watched the stars. They remembered their days in the North Saskatchewan. They recalled their time living at the Mountain House. Their children cared for them in their old age. Eliza, their youngest, found rooms for them after they were evicted.
David Thompson died early in 1857. Charlotte died a few months later on May 4, 1857. She was 71 years old. David’s Great Map would give vision to the nation of Canada. His journals are classics and treasures today. David and Charlotte are buried here together.
Charlotte Small Thompson represents Indigenous women. These women formed partnerships with fur traders. They lived during the 18th and 19th centuries. Charlotte helped David map extensive lands and waterways. She brought knowledge of language, culture, and survival skills. She assisted her husband capably. Their first child’s birth was a signature event. Fanny was born at Rocky Mountain House on June 10, 1801. It was a precursor to the Métis nation.
David Thompson explored and mapped much of Canada. Charlotte Small supported him for nearly 60 years. This pillar names David Thompson as the World’s Greatest Geographer. It references Charlotte as the Woman of the Paddle Song. Their enduring love is a great Canadian story. It shaped modern Canada.