York Factory
One of the principal establishments of the Hudson's Bay
Company, near the mouth of Hayes River, north bank. The first trading
post here, or near here, was Fort Nelson, built in 1669. Throughout the
eighteenth century, this was the principal post of the Company, in
charge of a governor, with a considerable staff. It was the
starting-point of the explorations of Henry Kellsey in 1692, of Anthony
Hendry in 1754, and of Matthew Cocking in 1772, and was the gateway to
the vast interior country, the recognized route being the Hayes River.