The US to 1877
Hist 1301-104
John Askin Life
My name is John Askin but people also know me as “1the court of Kent”. I was born in North
Ireland but came to Albany, New York with the British in 1758. In there, I rapidly entered the business of
the fur trade, which later took me to become leader in the fur trade organization in New France. My
position is as of a loyalist supporting the British during the period of the American Revolution war. After
succeed in Canada, I was moved to Detroit where I opened the “Miamis company“ however, I suffered
conflicts with the natives and the rough competitors made the animal population to decline and I suffered
a big hit in my economy because of this. I moved on to shipping commerce and as a “shipper” I signed a
contract with the North West company to trade flour and corn. This business made me a wealthy man. I
had two spouses, one of them was unofficial because she was an Indian slave. I had 9 kids, 3 with
“Manette” (Indian Slave), and 6 with “Marie-Archange Barthe”. I also adopted a slave kid. During the
Revolution War, the British appointed me to an office of “Justice of the peace” and after the British
surrendered my office was moved to western upper Canada. After that, I became lieutenant-colonel for
the local militia. I finally died In Canada in 1815 and my children took control over my belongings and
businesses.
As a loyalist, John Askin strongly supported the British and French because they were their
principal way of commerce and trade. He constantly had contact with the British army during the 1760’s
to 1780’s supplying them with furs and coats for the tough winters in the Canada region along with other
goods. He was settled in the Fort Michilimackinac which had access to the Mississippi river. The fort was
not intended for military purposes but rather a trading post. From 1758 to 1761 the fort was in hands of
the French until they loss the “French-Indian War” and then the British took control of the Fort.
1 Askin, John. The John Askin Papers, volume 2 . Detroit, Michigan: Detroit Library Commission, 2001. Pg 3
1
Askin believed that the Revolution was meant for the British to expand their territory and form a
New England. Since he was present during the “French-Indian War”, he liked the fact that British took
control over the Michilimackinac Fort because he was friends with British Colonels, Generals, and
Lieutenants which he kept a tight relationship with through letters and commerce. John Askin did not
participated on neither of both sides during the “French-Indian War” but, supported British over the
French side. The role he played was to trade furs and goods with the British.
Even though John Askin was no born in England, he believed that he was British or close to be
British but never a colonist or French. Before the “French-Indian War”, “2liberty for him was a right that
everyone should have regardless of the skin color, cultural background, nationality, or political interests”.
“3He bought a child from a slave and raise him until he was able to win his bread by his own”. As a trader,
Askin appealed for a fair treatment for everyone and the freedom of doing commerce with Colonists,
Natives, French, and British. After this war, John ideology changed and now believed that British should
be the dominant empire of the whole territory and commerce should be me more open for those who
