Called also Fort York, now York Factory, and under the French Fort Bourbon (Map 18). Hudson's Bay Co. fort about 5 or 6 miles from Beacon Point at the outlet of Hayes river, on the north bank, Manitoba.

1612-13. Sir Thomas Button wintered at Fort Nelson.

1670 Hudson's Bay Co. erected a small establishment at Hart's Creek, mouth of Nelson river. This fort soon disappeared.

1673 The H. B. Co. traded at Button's wintering place.

1682 Governor Bridger of H. B. Co. erected a fort at Woodchuck Creek up the Nelson river, the fourth of the Company forts on Hudson bay. This fort was seized by Radisson (at that time in the interests of the French) in the spring of 1683. The fort was destroyed and Governor Bridger carried prisoner to Fort Bourbon.

1682 Radisson after destruction of the H. B. Co. fort, built a fort about 15 miles up Hayes river, above the present York Factory and on the right bank of the river, which he called Fort Bourbon. This fort Bourbon was on the site of the later York Factory and above the present York Factory and on the opposite side of the river. Radisson was then acting in the interests of the Compagnie du Nord. Nelson river was then called Bourbon river by the French and the Hayes river Ste. Thérèse.

1684 Radisson (now in the employ of the H.B. Co.) returned and seized Fort Bourbon for the H. B. Co. And it was renamed Fort Nelson, and also called Fort York, and York Factory.

1686 de Troyes captured all the H.B. Co. forts on Hudson and James bays except Fort Nelson, the name of which was now changed to York Fort.

1690 Governor Phipps destroyed the fort to save it from the French.

1691 York fort was rebuilt by the H. B. Co. larger and stronger. It was located about 4 miles from the mouth of Nelson river on the south side of the triangular tongue of land bounded by the two river channels converging. It was a stockaded fort with bastions at the four corners. The river front was protected by earthworks and cannon. The fort had 32 cannon, & 14 swivel guns outside and 53 swivel guns inside. This fort stood for nearly 100 years until finally burned by French in 1782.

1694 Attacked by Iberville and surrendered to the French October 14, 1694. It was renamed Fort Bourbon and the Hayes river called Ste. Thérèse, the fort having been captured on Ste. Thérèse day October 14. The Nelson river was renamed Bourbon river. See maps No. 117 and 18.

1696 Surrendered to the English 31 August 1696.

1697 Attacked by Iberville and surrendered to the French September 1697 and held by them until 1714 when it was handed back to H.B. Co. by terms of the Treaty of Utrecht. See map No. 93.

1782 Captured by French and finally destroyed.

1783 Rebuilt by the H. B. Co.

1788-1795 Moved half a mile upstream to avoid floods to its present location, the work of removing and rebuilding occupying 5 years. Remains of the old fort destroyed in 1782 are still visible. It had been built in the midst of swampy land, covered with low stunted spruce almost impenetrable. The land never thaws more than from 12 to 18 inches in the hottest weather. The work was carried on under Joseph Colen and several of the present buildings were constructed by him 1789. York Factory consists of several buildings arranged around a quadrangle; some being large warehouses, others are residences. The present location is about half a mile above the old fort. York Factory is the great warehouse depot of the Hudson's Bay Co. where a supply of goods etc. is kept on hand to meet the demand of trade for two years. For over two centuries York Factory has been the central supply house for all the H. B. Co. posts of the western country, a great centre of distribution until the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1885. See maps No. 18, 117, 94, 140 & 96.