1755 in Canada explained
Events from the year 1755 in Canada.
Incumbents
Louis XV[1]
George II[2]
Governors
Michel-Ange Duquesne de Menneville
Louis Billouart
Peregrine Hopson
Hugh Bonfoy
Events
- 1755-75 - William Johnson, British superintendent of Indian affairs in the northern colonies, persuades the Iroquois League to break its neutrality and side with England against France.
- June 16 - Fort Beausejour, garrisoned by 400 Frenchmen, is surrendered to Col. Winslow, of Massachusetts, commanding 2,300, of whom 300 are regulars.
- July: Seven British Colonial Governors form a Treaty with the Iroquois, and project a federal union for carrying on war, under a president to be named by the King.
- July 15 - Announcement, in England, of the capture of French troops on their way to Canada.
- September 8 - Baron Dieskay, with 1,500 French and Indian troops, overcomes Col. Williams, with 1,400 English and Indians, near Fort George. Immediately afterwards, the French attack Col. Johnson's force, barricaded at Fort George, but are repelled, with heavy loss. The two commanders are wounded, and the two opposing Indian chiefs are killed. Baron Dieskay is captured by the English, who dress his wounds and earn his lifelong gratitude by their kindness.
- For his success at Fort George, Col. Johnson is made a baronet, with a grant of 5,000 pounds.
- The Great Expulsion begins. English Expulsion of the French Acadians—who lived and intermarried with Nova Scotia and Cape Breton Mi'kmaqs (many of whom were also taken). Forcibly loaded into ships and deposited randomly along the southern (now American) coasts, many (probably 1/3 to 1/2) died. Some are ancestors of the Cajuns of Louisiana, and a few made their ways back home. Acadians were idealists, hostile to King and Church authority, who lived in peace with the Mi'kmaqs. Neither the French rulers nor the English wanted them.
Deaths
Historical documents
Losing Nova Scotia, with its population and harbours, to French would allow them "to reduce all the English Colonies"[3]
"The limits of Acadia and Canada[...]have served England as a pretence for commencing hostilities," while France has sought peace[4]
Map: lands and waters from Rainy Lake (?) to Grand Banks[5]
In last pre-war negotiations, British insist lower Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River are Anglo-French boundaries, and Six Nations lands are British[6]
Eliminating £1 million fishery (1755) off Cape Breton Island as one source of France's naval power will diminish it as threat to Britain and Europe[7]
Map: French and British colonies and (in pink) territory occupied by British allies "& disputés parles François"[8]
Superintendent of Indian Affairs William Johnson and Kanien’kéhà:ka agree to mutual support despite doubts about each other[9]
With settlement of their land claims, William Johnson expects Six Nations support as war with France begins in North America[10]
Lt. Gov. James De Lancey outlines how troops assembled in New York could attack French in region from Montreal to Fort Duquesne[11]
Priest relates Mi'kmaw practices in feasting, praise, war, and courtship and marriage (Note: "savages" used and cruelty described)[12]
Robert Monckton orders all on Chignecto and Saint John River "not yet submitted" to do so with their arms or "be treated as Rebels"[13]
Charles Lawrence offers £20 rewards for French "deserters" recruiting in Minas and for couriers carrying letters to Father La Loutre[14]
Monckton takes Fort Beauséjour and other Chignecto forts in June, and is ordered to drive surrendering Acadians "out of the country"[15]
Map: Fort Beauséjour and Fort Gaspareaux[16]
Minas Acadians want former rights and neutrality, which Nova Scotia Council finds "arrogant" and condemns point by point (Note: "savages" used)[17]
When Deputies refuse oath before consulting their people, Council arrests them and decides "all such Recusants" should be removed[18]
After further refusal by Acadians to take oath, Council decides to consider "what measures should be taken to send them away"[19]
Instructions sent to local commanders list destinations ranging from Boston and Connecticut to Virginia and North Carolina for expelled Acadians[20]
"Very Disagreable to my natural make & Temper" - At Grand-Pré church, John Winslow orders dispossession and expulsion of Acadians[21]
"[Scene] of Sorrow" - Soldiers march many "Praying, Singing & Crying" Acadian men past women and children to transport ships at Grand-Pré[22]
"[Scene] of woe & Distres" - After weeks of delay, first eighty Acadian families are put aboard transports at Grand-Pré[23]
"Putting a Finishing Stroke to the Removal of our Friends the French" - From Halifax, Winslow orders last Minas Acadians expelled[24]
Lawrence considers proposed legislature impracticable and, given "foolish Squabbles" and "impertin't Opinions," dangerously obstructive[25]
John Rous relates attacking French in their Newfoundland "Encroachments" and sending them to Louisbourg and their ships and cargo to Halifax[26]
"Prudence, spirit, and resolution" - William Johnson made baronet for his leadership in September battle near Lake George[27]
While strengthening Oswego defences, William Shirley looks for support from Six Nations, Mississauga, Ojibwe and Odawa[28]
Sachem Canaghquayeson tells William Johnson ("Brother Warraghiyagey") that Oneida have opened their eyes to French threat[29]
Author describes origin stories (hare, carp, bear) and manitous of Odawa (Note: racial stereotypes used)[30]
Strong French military character ("manners") and "enterprizing manners" of Canada do not measure up to politically advanced British soldier[31]
Geographical difference between Great Lakes and Mississippi River lands and Atlantic seaboard lands gives French advantage over British[32]
Notes and References
- Guéganic (2008), p. 13.
- Web site: 30 December 2015 . George I . 18 April 2016 . Official web site of the British monarchy.
- William Clarke, "One great and indeed main Security" Observations On the Late and Present Conduct of the French With Regard to their Encroachments upon the British Colonies (1755), pgs. 27-9. Accessed 14 January 2022 (See also Clarke's assertion (in pg. 6 footnote) that French encourage Indigenous abduction of British by paying them for abducted, then selling abducted back to British)
- https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.32756/11 "The limits of Acadia and Canada"
- Robert de Vaugondy, Partie de L'Amerique Septent qui comprend La Nouvelle France ou le Canada (1755), McCord Museum. Accessed 13 January 2022
- http://international.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?intldl/ascfr:@field(DOCID+@lit(gcfr0007_0400)) "Copy of the Reply of the English Ministry to the Memoir Communicated by M. le Due de Mirepoix..."
- https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.37785/78 "But there is another object"
- Thomas Kitchin, (Map of the English and French possessions on the North American continent) (text in French; London, 1755), W.K. Morrison Special Collection, Nova Scotia Community College. Accessed 21 November 2021
- https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.37136/177 William Johnson's speech to Kanien’kéhà:ka
- https://archive.org/details/documentsrelativ01newyuoft/page/961/mode/1up Letter of Major-General Johnson to the Lords of Trade
- https://archive.org/details/documentsrelativ01newyuoft/page/989/mode/1up Letter of Lieutenant-Governor De Lancey to Secretary Robinson
- https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.46065/18?r=0&s=1 "It is neither gaming nor debauchery"
- https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.37136/186 "A Proclamation"
- https://archives.novascotia.ca/deportation/archives/?Number=ONEI&Page=241 "Governor Lawrence to Captain Murray"
- https://archives.novascotia.ca/deportation/archives/?Number=ONEI&Page=243 "Extracts from Letter of Gov. Lawrence to(...)Secretary of State"
- http://collections.musee-mccord.qc.ca/en/collection/artifacts/M1673.2 "Plan of the Chignecto Isthmus showing Forts Beauséjour and Gaspareau"
- https://archives.novascotia.ca/deportation/archives/?Number=ONEI&Page=247 "Memorials Signed by the Deputies and a number of the French Inhabitants"
- https://archives.novascotia.ca/deportation/archives/?Number=ONEI&Page=255 Council meeting
- https://archives.novascotia.ca/deportation/archives/?Number=ONEII&Page=263 Council meeting
- https://archives.novascotia.ca/deportation/archives/?Number=ONEII&Page=271 Letters of Charles Lawrence
- https://archives.novascotia.ca/deportation/archives/?Number=NSHSIII&Page=94 "Att Three in the afternoon"
- John Winslow, "Septr 10" (September 10, 1755), Nova Scotia Historical Society; Journal of Colonel John Winslow, pgs. 108-10. Accessed 11 January 2022
- John Winslow, "October 8th" (October 8, 1755), Nova Scotia Historical Society; Journal of Colonel John Winslow, pg. 166. (See Winslow's accounting of 2,600 people aboard nine vessels by October 23, and his record of 698 buildings burned) Accessed 11 January 2022
- https://archives.novascotia.ca/deportation/archives/?Number=NSHSIII&Page=185 "Halifax, Novemr. 29th"
- https://archive.org/details/militaryaffairsi00cumb/page/156/mode/2up "There is nothing I find myself so perplex'd about"
- https://archives.novascotia.ca/deportation/archives/?Number=NSHSIII&Page=147 Letter of John Rous
- https://archive.org/details/documentsrelativ01newyuoft/page/1020/mode/1up "Secretary Robinson to Sir William Johnson"
- https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.47018/121 "1755; The general labours to establish the Indians"
- "At a meeting of the Mohawks, Oneidas, and Tuscaroras" (December 26, 1755), An Account of Conferences held, and Treaties made, Between Major-general Sir William Johnson [and] Indian Nations in North America, pg. 6. Accessed 20 January 2022 https://digitalarchive.tpl.ca/objects/342324/an-account-of-conferences-held-and-treaties-made-between-m (turn to PDF frame 18)
- https://archive.org/details/travelsthroughas00lamb/page/280/mode/2up "The Misilimakinaks"
- https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-06-02-0043 "The military manners of the Noblesse"
- Thomas Pownall, "In considering First the main Continent" "Considerations upon the Scite, Interests, and Service of North America" (1755), Military Affairs in North America; 1748-1765 (1936), pgs. 159-61. (See rest of Pownall's thesis in sections on "Manner" of settlement and "State of the Service(...)arising") Accessed 13 January 2022
