Egnell (post) adopted in the 1st Report of the Geographic Board of Canada, 1898. Form of name changed to Egnell (telegraph station) in the 18th Report of the Geographic Board of Canada, 31 March 1924. Name changed to Sheslay (settlement) 21 December 1944 on 104 NE.

Source: BC place name cards, files, correspondence and/or research by BC Chief Geographer/Geographical Names Office.

Egnell (telegraph station on Dominion Government telegraph line) is labelled on "Special map of British Columbia showing the Klondike, Cariboo, Kootenay and other gold fields" contained in The Routes and Mineral Resources of North Western Canada by E.J. Dyer; London, 1898. "Egnell (not Egnelle nor Egnelle's)" identified in 1st Report GBC, 1898.

Source: BC place name cards, files, correspondence and/or research by BC Chief Geographer/Geographical Names Office.

After Albert Egnell, Hudson's Bay Company clerk placed in charge when a trading post was established here [date the post was established is not identified.] "The Hudson's Bay Company in 1891, and again last year, opened the trail [up the Tahltan River] a distance of 30 miles to the south branch of the Taku or Sheslay River, intending to reach Teslin Lake, but subsequently abandoned the idea... At the 35th mile there is a fall 40 feet high, coming down in cascades. The river [Hacket, here called Kat-Kets] falls into the Sheslay or South Fork of the Taku at Egnell's Flat, and there ends the trail built by the HBC, where they have a small post." (Exploration of the North-Western portion of the province, by N.B. Gauvreau, published in Crown Land Surveys, 1892 (Sessional Papers, 1893) p.487-490.). Egnell was mining in 1880s and 90s, probably when the creek and mountain were named; worked for HBC at Lower Post. In the 1892 and 1894 BC Directories, A. Egnell is listed as a fur trader, Liard Post. [note that Egnell's son was also named Albert; at Porters Landing c1910, afterwards at Fort Ware, and died of starvation in winter of 1948-49.]

Source: Provincial Archives' Place Names File (the "Harvey File") compiled 1945-1950 by A.G. Harvey from various sources, with subsequent additions

"We camped at the foot of a trememdous hill where there is an old deserted Hudson Bay Post. We are now 50 miles from Telegraph." (Record of a Trip to Dawson, 1898, being the diary of John Smith (entry for 13 April 1898); Walter N. Sage, editor; published in British Columbia Historical Quarterly, vol 16, Jan-Apr 1952, p.88.

Source: Provincial Archives' Place Names File (the "Harvey File") compiled 1945-1950 by A.G. Harvey from various sources, with subsequent additions

"Albert Egnell is listed as having died 22 June 1900 at Liard Post. His age is given as 'about 65 years' his occupation as 'clerk or agent of HBCo' and his place of birth as Sweden. According to the register, he was 'accidently shot by his son and lived 5 days afterwards'." (Cassiar District: Births, deaths and marriages from 1878-1933, p.75.)

Source: Provincial Archives' Place Names File (the "Harvey File") compiled 1945-1950 by A.G. Harvey from various sources, with subsequent additions