Events from the year 1787 in Canada.
Incumbents
- Monarch: George III
Governors
- Governor of the Canadas: Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester
- Governor of New Brunswick: Thomas Carleton
- Governor of Nova Scotia: John Parr
- Commodore-Governor of Newfoundland: John Elliot
- Governor of St. John's Island: Edmund Fanning
Events
- HBC David Thompson wintered with Piegans on Bow River.
- Prince William Henry (future William IV) lands at Quebec.
- At an investigation into judicial abuses, it is stated that one judge takes wine to excess, before taking his seat on the Bench; and that another habitually disregards the pertinent French law and applies the law of England.
- The Toronto Purchase occurs.
Births
- February 10 – John McDonald, businessman and political figure (d.1860)
- February 12 – Norbert Provencher, clergyman, missionary and Bishop (d.1853)
- November 12 – Pierre-Flavien Turgeon, Archbishop of Quebec (d.1867)
- November 9 – William MacBean George Colebrooke, lieutenant governor of New Brunswick (d.1870)
Deaths
- April 14 – Benjamin Frobisher, fur-trader (b. 1742)
Historical documents
Complaints from British America "that their trade is very much injured and impeded" by lack of quick link with Britain; packets to be added
Congress says new constitution creates national authority (including treaty-making) superior to all state laws (hint: anti-loyalist ones)
Regarding Canada - New Brunswick boundary, Gov. Lord Dorchester calls who gets what land "very immaterial" except as it affects border with U.S.A.
Lower Canada
Merchants tell Legislative Council that province suffers from mixing "the custom of Canada, the general laws of France [and English law]"
Many of 15,000 British-born in Canada are Loyalists "wholly ignorant of the French laws," which won't protect them or commercial rights
Council forms committees to address various topics of government reform, and committees solicit opinion from every district of Canada
Former governor Haldimand learns tight-lipped Gov. Lord Dorchester is part of "confusion reigning in Canada," and Quebec Act is "in danger"
"In less than half a Century [most] of the Landed property in this Province will be in the hands of the English, [who] possess all the Trade"
Dorchester warns Sydney that U.S. military build-up may have as one objective attacking British frontier posts, which are in weak condition
Infantry regiment said to be going to Quebec after Dorchester decides "deranged state of the government" in U.S.A. means more troops needed
Dorchester "is regulating and exercising" militia; Montreal writer says "people are militia mad" and buying uniforms "with great avidity"
Dorchester orders free trade of domestic products (furs excepted) with U.S.A. by way of Lake Champlain, subject to British trade rules
Commissioners of American Claims ask Loyalists who submitted claims under 1783 claims act to meet them in Montreal or Quebec City
George Davison tells Haldimand "the posts have this year returned 7,500 pounds of beaver and 1,600 martins," and St. Maurice Forges are productive
Report that leaders of Shays Rebellion petitioned Dorchester for asylum and were turned down as former enemies of Britain, and now not so much
$20 reward for "Negro Wench" Bett, about 18, speaks English, French and German well, and is "big with child and within a few days of her time"
Free lecture series at seminary running October-March on mathematics (arithmetic, algebra, geometry etc.) and March-August on military affairs
Trials and joys of sailing from Montreal to Quebec City
Stuffed skin once covered body that could "much mischief do, / It by the ladies too was much caress'd, / What more, Beau-reader, can be said of you?"
Upper Canada
Legislative Council, claiming Great Lakes soil is fit for hemp and flax, says "policy requires that this great Country should be peopled"
Mississaugas give up land on north side of Lake Ontario by signing "indenture," but land area and payment amount are not filled in until years later
When British ask Six Nations their attitude to retaining frontier posts, chiefs rather ask how British will address and support their alliance
Five nations' (Kanien’kéhà:ka, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga and Delaware) deed for "a farm each" on Grand River for 10 Indian Department officials
Former New Jersey judge, fined more than £1,000 for loyalty to King, seeks "a Captain's allowance of Lands" in 1787 petition
Nova Scotia
Along with "barbarity" and "ferocity," Indigenous people are described as valuing expressiveness and sense of right and wrong
Birchtown "negroes[...]have been found extremely useful to the white inhabitants, chiefly in reducing very considerably the price of work"
Bishop of Halifax says colonies are blessed with inflow of "respectable and industrious inhabitants" and favourable trade and development policies
Newcomer finds Nova Scotia "a miserable country" dependent on Boston for mutton, poultry and fruit, New York for flour and Ireland for pork
Shelburne resident says 131 infant baptisms and 17 burials of under-2-year-olds in 1786 shows "salubrity of our climate"
Almost all whalers out of Halifax have had great success in last year, benefitting them and whole province
Trade and fishery superintendent at Canso finds U.S. fishers violating treaty and harming British trade by selling own country's goods
Thomas Jefferson warns French foreign minister that putting duty on Nantucket whale oil will only drive those whalers to Nova Scotia
Fees established for various judicial roles and services, including 1 shilling for jurors and 2/6 per day plus 3p mileage for witnesses
Law requires record of servant's wage and term; JPs can fine misbehaving servant up to 5 shillings and fine master for serving liquor to servant
Extra packet ordered by British postmaster general to sail to Halifax with mail for British settlements because of "great increase of trade"
Halifax town meeting votes to raise £82 to pay debts from "maintenance of the Poor" and £100 for next 6 months of maintenance
"On Account of the Severity of the Winter, a Number of Officers of the Army intend performing a Play for the Benefit of poor confined Debtors"
Windsor residents' gratitude to leaders of 60th Regiment at Fort Edward for "goodness of their Discipline, and[...]their Hearts"
Grand jurors report on excessive drinking among "lower sort of people" in Halifax, blaming too great number of liquor licences issued
Ship hits hidden rock off Jeddore Head and sinks in 5 minutes; one passenger "was almost drown'd" before getting into boat, but died hours later
When young man dies in winter weather on Liverpool-Shelburne road, search party has "utmost Difficulty" separating his faithful dog from corpse
Gazette printer announces German-language almanac for 1788 and newspaper to be published starting January 1
Singing school to open for Halifax "young Gentlemen and Ladies" (over 10 years old) to learn "the Rules of Psalmody" for 3 months
New Brunswick
All age 16-50 to join militia company or regiment, and "upon an alarm, invasion, insurrection or rebellion," Quakers and those age 51-60 must join too
No deed or other land conveyance can deny right of dower to any wife unless she signs such deed and informs judge that she did so freely
Only "causes" of divorce allowed are "precontract by words in the present Tense, and frigidity or impotence and consanguinity"
While Gov. Lord Dorchester is for guarding against "menaces of the Indians," he advises showing them civility, kindness and justice
Upon swearing oath, debtor confined in jail for 14 days may go free and any creditor blocking such release must pay prisoner's maintenance
Payments to be made for certain government roles and services, including treasurer, printer, and speaker, and Assembly house's rent and fuel
"Mama, why don't you help me and give me Bread?" - Widowed Loyalist complains bitterly about "neglect and starvation" suffered by her family
Suspicion that New Brunswick deputy postmaster general broke seals on letter to Nova Scotia governor stirs cross-border controversy
Map: Saint John River from Bay of Fundy to Fredericton, with plan of Saint John city
Land grant draft lease is made out to 31 Black men rent-free for 10 years with certain requirements for clearing and working land
Moses Simpson and 3 other Black men petition for land assigned to them that they could not work when provisions were cut off after 2 months
Black woman Eve ("excellent" housework) and her child Suke sent to N.B. by New York loyalist under attainder who can't sell her at home
Reward for missing "Abraham, a Run-Away negro boy, about 16[,] has a pleasant countenance, is very talkative, tall[...]but well proportioned"
"Wanted immediately, A smart active Lad, About eight or ten years of age, as an apprentice to learn the trade of a Chimney-Sweeper."
Cape Breton Island
All "Monies, Provisions, building Materials, Clothing, Stores" etc. for government use are to be accounted for, or else £10 fine plus damages
Cape Breton inhabitants to be "immediately enrolled" in militia "for preserving from encroachment[...]the extensive Fisheries on this Coast"
Perjury (even by "unlawful procurement [or] sinister Persuasion") can draw £20 fine or cutting off of both ears, plus 6 months in prison
Three-year scarcity of fish prompts law against dumping fish offal within 3 leagues of shore (onshore dumping in intertidal "landwash" excepted)
Taking trees reserved for Royal Navy masts and timber can lead to fine of up to £100 or six months in prison, and burning woods is felony
Moose or caribou hunting for skins only punishable by £5 fine, unless meat kept for personal or local use or sold at public market
Elsewhere
John Johnson on importance to Britain of nations (Six Nations, Wyandot, Delaware, Shawnee) involved in confrontations with U.S. settlers
Independent and powerful Vermont, negotiating and foreseeably confederating with Canada, poses threat to New York
Separatist "Provinces of Maine and Sagadahock[...]pass what Acts they please" to keep their ports open to British lumber trade
Description of depression conditions in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where lack of trade leaves ships unused (even unrigged) and unsaleable
Congress rejects request of Canadian refugees on Lake Champlain for provisions, with exception of 12-month supply for "aged and infirm"
Drawing: Moravian mission with Inuit houses, Hopedale, Labrador
Alexander Mackenzie and partners endure violence from established fur traders for 2 years before forming Northwest Company with them
"Barbarous and uncultivated" - British traders stop at Haida Gwaii and find people "the most expert and rapacious thieves," but good carvers
"That the King of France has banished the Parlement of Paris for daring to think and speak the truth[...]is thought will occasion an insurrection"
Report says astronomer William Herschel discovered erupting volcano on Moon, though in "last lunation[...]he saw nothing of it"
References
