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X.Y. Company

Fur Trade, Hist.

DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

Entry from the DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

This entry may contain outdated or offensive information, terms, and examples.

a Montreal-based fur company formed in 1798 by disaffected Northwesters and absorbed by the North West Company in 1804, so called because its packs were labelled XY to keep them distinct from those of its competitor, which were marked N.W.

See: Little Company,New Company,New N.W. Company,pottie(def. 1),X.Y.

Quotations

1800

There is also another fort . . . belonging to the X. Y. Company, under which firm, a number of merchants of Montreal and Quebec, &c. now carry on a trade into this part of the country.

1803

Both the North-West Companies (Old North-West Co. and X Y Company. Ed.) have vessels in the Upper Lakes (neither of them on Ontario). . . .

1966

The XY Company, or New Northwest Company, was organized in 1798 by a number of independent traders to compete with the N. W. Co. and H. B. Co. It established a number of posts in Alberta before being absorbed by the N. W. Co. in 1804.