1747 in Canada explained

Events from the year 1747 in Canada.

Incumbents

• French Monarch

Louis XV^[1]

• British and Irish Monarch

George II^[2]

Governors

• Governor General of New France

Charles de la Boische, Marquis de Beauharnois then Roland-Michel Barrin de La Galissonière

• Colonial Governor of Louisiana

Pierre de Rigaud, Marquis de Vaudreuil-Cavagnial

• Governor of Nova Scotia

Paul Mascarene

• Commodore-Governor of Newfoundland

James Douglas Bt

Events

• 11 February – At the Battle of Grand Pré, Col. Arthur Noble's detachment of British troops from Massachusetts, face off against a French and Mi'kmaq force under Nicholas Antoine Coulon de Villiers. Noble and around 70 of his soldiers were killed.^[3]
• Marguerite d'Youville (Born Varennes, Quebec October 1701 Died December 28, 1771) founds the Sisters of Charity or the Grey Nuns of Montreal.
• Roland-Michel Barrin de La Galissonière was appointed to be Governor of New France.^[4]

Births

• Sir John Thomas Duckworth, a naval officer who became the governor of Newfoundland: February 9, 1747 (England) - Aug 31, 1817.^[5]
• Samuel Gale, a surveyor and land agent in Lower Canada (Quebec): born in England Oct 14, 1747.^[6]

Deaths

• January 18: Michel Bégon, commissary of the Marine, councillor in the parlement of Metz, France, inspector general of the Marine, intendant of New France, intendant of Le Havre, of the admiralty of Normandy, and of naval forces (b.1667)
• August 8: Madeleine de Verchères, daughter of François Jarret, a seigneur in New France, and Marie Perrot (b.1678); Madeline (alt spelling) achieved recognition when, as a young girl, she successfully fought off Iroquois attackers and helped to save Fort Vercheres (Quebec).^[7]

Historical documents

Louisbourg fell because of French failings that should not be expected to happen again, and peace will likely see it returned to France^[8]

"Seems to be a degree of treason" - Trade carried on with impunity from Rhode Island, New York and Philadelphia with New France^[9]

From as far away as Philadelphia, Benjamin Franklin fears seeming weakness of British will turn Six Nations and other Indigenous against them^[10]

New England troops at Minas defeated but parolled in Winter 1747 by French, whose supporting fleet from France is destroyed in May^[11]

Referring to Sable Island cranberries, author calls that fruit "a most exquisitely agreeable acid sauce for all roast meats"^[12]

Thousands of caribou cross Hayes River, though they have been scarce because Indigenous people kill females before their calves are born^[13]

"Both Factory Servants and Indians" hunt geese in "Goose Moon" (new moon nearest March 25) in swamps along Hudson Bay^[14]

"The Indians do not express so much Art in any thing, as they do in the Make of these Canoes[, and] are very dexterous in the Use"^[15]

Beliefs held by Hudson Bay region Indigenous people, including those that lead them to attack Inuit and other peoples^[16]

"The Flesh of the Buffalo tasted of Musk" - Northwest Passage seekers shoot muskox bull, and ill crewmen feel better after eating it^[17]

Intendant Hocquart donates building materials for new Tadoussac church, and priest agrees to celebrate mass every St. Anne's Day for him^[18]

External links

• Historic plaque, 1747 attack at Grand Pre

Notes and References

1. Guéganic (2008), p. 13.
2. Web site: 30 December 2015 . George I . 18 April 2016 . Official web site of the British monarchy.
3. Web site: Attack at Grand-Pré National Historic Event . 27 May 2024 . Parks Canada.
4. Web site: Biography – BARRIN DE LA GALISSONIÈRE, ROLAND-MICHEL, Marquis de LA GALISSONIÈRE – Volume III (1741-1770) – Dictionary of Canadian Biography.
5. Web site: Biography – DUCKWORTH, Sir JOHN THOMAS – Volume V (1801-1820) – Dictionary of Canadian Biography.
6. Web site: Biography – GALE, SAMUEL (1747-1826) – Volume VI (1821-1835) – Dictionary of Canadian Biography.
7. Web site: Heritage History - Homeschool History Curriculum. 2013-12-31. https://web.archive.org/web/20131231202136/http://www.heritage-history.com/www/heritage.php?Dir=characters&FileName=devercheres.php. 2013-12-31. dead.
8. https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.54343/48?r=0&s=1 "All Queen Ann's War"
9. William Douglass, footnote A Summary, Historical and Political, of the[...]British Settlements in North-America; Vol. I (1755), pg. 307. Accessed 2 November 2021
10. (Benjamin Franklin), Plain Truth (November 17, 1747), U.S. National Archives. Accessed 3 November 2021 https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-03-02-0091 (scroll down to "And is our Country")
11. William Douglass, "His design was to quarter at Minas" A Summary, Historical and Political, of the[...]British Settlements in North-America; Vol. I (1755), pgs. 324-6. (See also French account (in English) of battle) Accessed 2 November 2021
12. William Douglass, footnote A Summary, Historical and Political, of the[...]British Settlements in North-America; Vol. I (1755), pg. 335. Accessed 2 November 2021
13. https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.51795/24?r=0&s=1 Caribou migration
14. https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.51795/37?r=0&s=1 Goose hunting
15. https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.51795/44?r=0&s=1 Birchbark canoes
16. https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.51795/47?r=0&s=1 "We are now speaking of these People"
17. https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.51795/286?r=0&s=1 "Some of the Boats People"
18. Journal of Father Coquart (1747), The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. LXIX. Accessed 3 November 2021 http://moses.creighton.edu/kripke/jesuitrelations/relations_69.html (scroll down to Page 137)