1750 in Canada explained

Events from the year 1750 in Canada.

Incumbents

• French Monarch

Louis XV^[1]

• British and Irish Monarch

George II^[2]

Governors

• Governor General of New France

Jacques-Pierre de Taffanel de la Jonquière, Marquis de la Jonquière

• Colonial Governor of Louisiana

Pierre de Rigaud, Marquis de Vaudreuil-Cavagnial

• Governor of Nova Scotia

Edward Cornwallis

• Commodore-Governor of Newfoundland

Francis William Drake

Events

• 1750s: Hudson's Bay Company Saskatchewan River region, reached by trade drummers sent out with goods to tempt the Indians to York.
• c. 1750: The Ojibwa begin to emerge as a distinct tribal amalgamation of smaller independent bands.
• German immigrants begin to arrive in numbers at Halifax.
• Hidatsa villages, site of ancient trading fair, now with both French and Hudson's Bay representatives present each summer.

Births

• James Glenie, army officer, military engineer, businessman, office holder, and politician (d.1817)
• Simon McTavish, fur trader and dealer in furs, militia officer, office holder, landowner, seigneur, and businessman (d.1804)

Deaths

• October 14: Richard Philipps, military officer, governor of Nova Scotia (b.1661)

Historical documents

• British ambassador complains to French about forts built on Isthmus of Chignecto by de la Jonquière (hostilities ensue)^[3]
• Map: Fort Beauséjour on Isthmus of Chignecto^[4]
• Edward Cornwallis reports that French intend to secure Chignecto with fortification and oath of allegiance (Note: "savages" used)^[5]
• Cornwallis reports that Canadians threaten Acadians "with a general massacre[...]if they remain in the province" (Note: "savages" used)^[6]
• Cornwallis advises Minas Basin Acadians they are deceived by Canadians "to lead you to your ruin" (Note: "savages" used)^[7]
• British captain reports on naval engagement with French ships carrying arms and provisions to Indigenous people along Bay of Fundy^[8]
• British ambassador says French unjustifiably occupy land from Chignecto to Saint John River before bilateral commission settles boundary^[9]
• Letter from Father Le Loutre about movement of families to western Acadia and impatient wait for boundary decision (Note: "savages" used)^[10]
• French answer British allegations by saying they seek good relations but intend to defend their land against British aggression^[11]
• Though at same latitude, Nova Scotia not "so agreeable" as southern France because of cold and fog, which forest-clearing would remedy^[12]
• Many in Halifax died of cold in winter of 1750 for lack of houses, and snow lying about tents "was enough to move the Heart of Stone"^[13]
• Pehr Kalm's visit to Niagara Falls facilitated by French at Fort Niagara after he shows with passports that he is not a British officer^[14]
• Reports say Detroit has hundreds living on 30-40 farms "in a fine champaign country," and villages of Wendat, Potawatomi and Odawa^[15]
• To find Northwest Passage, sail east from Asia to "where it is probable the Weather is milder, and the Seas clearer of Ice"^[16]

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. https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.56267/17?r=0&s=1 "It is proper to observe"
4. http://collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/en/collection/artifacts/M1673.1 "Plan of the western part of the Chignecto Isthmus showing Beauséjour Fort and the surrounding area"
5. https://archives.novascotia.ca/deportation/archives/?Number=ONEI&Page=181 "Govr. Cornwallis to Duke of Bedford"
6. https://archive.org/details/britishdiplomati49chan/page/9/mode/1up Note to Earl of Albemarle, British ambassador to France
7. https://archives.novascotia.ca/deportation/archives/?Number=ONEI&Page=185 Letter of Edward Cornwallis
8. https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.37136/62?r=0&s=3 "An Extract of a Letter from Capt. Rous"
9. https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.34807/43?r=0&s=1 "Memorial concerning Nova Scotia"
10. https://archives.novascotia.ca/deportation/archives/?Number=ONEI&Page=193 "From M. Loutre to M. Bigot, Commissary of New France"
11. https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.37136/70?r=0&s=3 "A Memorial in Answer to the Complaints made by England"
12. https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.44277/9?r=0&s=1 "As to the Climate"
13. John Wilson, "Many unfortunate People" A Genuine Narrative of the Transactions in Nova Scotia, Since the Settlement, June 1749[....], pg. 10. Accessed 1 December 2021
14. https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-04-02-0010 "To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Kalm, 2 September 1750"
15. https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.37998/238?r=0&s=1 "But at le Detroit"
16. Henry Ellis, Considerations on the Great Advantages which would arise from the Discovery of the North West Passage (1750), pg. 5. Accessed 6 December 2021