1782 in Canada explained

Events from the year 1782 in Canada.

Incumbents

George III[1]

Governors

Frederick Haldimand

John Byron

Walter Patterson

Events

Births

Deaths

Full date unknown

Historical documents

American Revolutionary War

Thomas Pownall says Britain needs to defend Quebec and Nova Scotia to supply lumber, fish and livestock to West Indies, and be naval and trade centres[2]

Seneca chiefs expect Crown to give them new homeland after loss of theirs (Note: horrific scalping victim descriptions just above chiefs' message)[3]

Moses Hazen's lengthy plan for invading Canada (Note: "savages" used)[4]

Prisoners released at Montreal report John Johnson taking goods and arms to Indigenous nations on Great Lakes, who are likely "to Streighten our frontier"[5]

Report that Seneca sachem accused British of lying, saying that British have lost war and will sacrifice Seneca, who must look out for themselves[6]

By vote of 194 to 193, House of Commons rejects "motion for an address to his Majesty to put an end to hostilities in America"[7]

Guy Carleton tells Washington that, "if war must prevail, I shall endeavour to render its miseries as light to the people of this continent" as possible[8]

"Remonstrance of the Loyal Refugees at New York to Sir Guy Carleton, on the negociation for a general peace, and craving protection"[9]

Preliminary Britain-U.S.A. peace treaty restores fishing rights, encourages return of loyalists' property and freedom, and prohibits removing "any Negroes"[10]

Lewis Nicola considers republics not as strong as monarchies, and foresees Canada one day becoming monarchy that will "prove too powerful" for U.S.A.[11]

John Adams foresees Britain being "forever at War" with U.S.A. if it retains Canada and Nova Scotia, which would end in Britain's "final Ruin"[12]

"Britain will sustain the expence and America reap the advantage" - Tom Paine says Halifax will be useless after war and Canadian settlers will go south[13]

Canada

Preface (1782) to assessment (1774) of Quebec Act hopes Canadians will follow more enlightened Catholic leadership (Note: anti-Catholic statements)[14]

Canada cost British government almost £5.3 million in 1776-1782, more than its import/export trade amount (and some big expenses yet to be accounted)[15]

British defeat of French fleet brings sailors and others parading Quebec City streets, "and the next morning discover'd a good deal of work for the glaziers"[16]

"Our Assembly" was held in new room built by Levy Solomons; "the Country dances began at eight o'clock and continued till two," to satisfaction of all[17]

Daily except Thursdays, 11-2, young ladies to be taught "Writing, Arithmetic, the Rules for Reading with propriety, the English and French Grammars" etc.[18]

Missing German indentured servant, tailor by trade, "has very much the art and behaviour of a sham beau and has a variety of cloaths;" 5 guinea reward[19]

Shoemaker apprentice missing, "had on when he went away a Blanket Coat, light blue Waistcoat and Breeches very dirty, a Check Shirt much wore[....]"[20]

New 2-storey log house at Chambly fit for tavern or shop, with 3 large rooms on first floor, 4 bedrooms on second, plus garret and "good warm cellar"[21]

Single middle-age man wanted who "can comb Hair, cut wood, dress a beef-stake occasionally, receive messages [and give] as little trouble as possible"[22]

Map: Canada from Lake Superior to Estuary of St. Lawrence, and territory from James Bay to Pennsylvania, with numerous rivers and Indigenous groups[23]

Map: St. Lawrence River from Lake Ontario to Anticosti Island, with hazards and other features and detailed navigation instructions[24]

Nova Scotia

Carleton says 600+ Loyalists moving to Nova Scotia to take up cost-free grants of 600-acres will be "a large accession of strength [and] population"[25]

Agents of Loyalists going to Nova Scotia are to find tract(s) of land free of title dispute, and record aspects of soil, timber, game, rivers etc.[26]

Powder, shot, food and other supplies delivered to needy Mi'kmaq ("poor Indian Woman & family," "Indian family consisting of eight" and "old Indians")[27]

As "detriment to trade, and an encouragement to many idle persons to avoid being employed in useful trades," travelling peddlers must be licensed[28]

Nova Scotia has massive trade deficit with England (approximately 22 to 1) in 1782[29]

People outside Halifax are left too few soldiers to defend them from enemy raids, requiring farmers to either keep watch themselves or hire men at $2/day[30]

"The Americans surprise and pillage the town of Lunenburgh, Nova Scotia"[31]

Prince Edward Island

"The principal settlers on St. John's, Gulf of St. Lawrence, invite the Royal Refugees at New York"[32]

Helen MacDonald tells brother John that she's been extravagant because she was left alone without "rules" and expected brothers would soon return[33]

Newfoundland

In peace talks with France, British ambassador is to "point out in the strongest manner the high national value which is set on" Newfoundland fisheries[34]

"St John's is an excellent good Harbour (though narrow in the Entrance)," but don't confuse it with nearby Quiddy Viddy and its hill "called Cuckold's Head"[35]

Hudson Bay

At York Factory: armourer repairing guns, shipwright and carpenter helving hatchets, tailors making trade clothing, joiner and smith doing odd jobs, etc.[36]

Indigenous people describe "eruption on the skin" raging among their people and causing high mortality in neighbourhood of Cumberland House[37]

French struggle through ice and gales, tides and mud to burn Hudson's Bay Company's Fort Prince of Wales and Fort York (Note: "savages" used)[38]

Elsewhere

At Niagara, John Butler says farmers "have done very well" despite lack of blacksmith and provisions, and some Rangers asking to join them with families[39]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kings and Queens of Canada . aem . 24 February 2021 . 11 August 2017.
  2. Thomas Pownall, Two Memorials, Not Originally Intended for Publication[....] (January 1 and 2, 1782), pgs. 34-43 (Images 43-52). Accessed 2 January 2023
  3. https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-37-02-0132 Message from Seneca chiefs to Gov. Haldimand
  4. https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/99-01-02-08041 Letter of Moses Hazen to George Washington
  5. https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/99-01-02-09476 Letter of William Lord Stirling Alexander to George Washington
  6. https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/99-01-02-09541 Letter of Philip Schuyler to George Washington
  7. https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.51019/95 "1782; February (22)"
  8. "Philadelphia, June 1; Head Quarters, New-York, 7th May, 1782" The Quebec Gazette, Nomb. 884 (August 1, 1782), pg. 1. (See also that Washington hears from Carleton "that the Inroads of the Savages have been checked upon our frontiers") Accessed 5 January 2023
  9. https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.51019/108 "1782; August (20)"
  10. Articles 3, 5-7, Preliminary Articles of Peace (November 30, 1782), Lillian Goldman Law Library, Yale Law School. (See also assertion that U.S. entitled to fish Grand Banks because its people did before war, and no nation can exclude another from any part of sea, and Adams' insistence that fishery rights are so important that U.S. would start new war to keep them) Accessed 2 January 2023
  11. https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/99-01-02-08500 Letter of Lewis Nicola to George Washington
  12. https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/06-13-02-0037 Letter of John Adams to Benjamin Franklin
  13. Thomas Paine, "Postscript" (August 21, 1782), Letter Addressed to the Abbe Raynal[....] (1782), pgs. 64-6. Accessed 4 January 2023
  14. "Introductory Preface" (June 4, 1782), Observations and Reflections, on an Act[...]for the Settlement, of the Province of Quebec (1782), pgs. (i)-ix (Images 10-18). Accessed 2 January 2023
  15. Considerations on the Provisional Treaty with America[....] (1783), pgs. 44-5 (Images 51-2). (See also import/export figures for 1781-2) Accessed 2 January 2023
  16. "Quebec, June 13," The Quebec Gazette, Nomb. 877 (June 13, 1782), pg. 3. Accessed 4 January 2023
  17. "Extract of a Letter from Montreal," The Quebec Gazette, Nomb. 903 (December 12, 1782), pg. 2. (See also (just below this extract) notice for Quebec City assembly, with directions to drivers for one-way movement to and from venue to avoid "disagreeable consequences which frequently happen by Carioles going contrary ways") Accessed 6 January 2023
  18. "Education for Young Ladies" (May 16, 1782) The Quebec Gazette, Nomb. 872 (May 16, 1782), pg. 3. Accessed 4 January 2023
  19. "Run Away from his bail[....]" (July 4, 1782) The Quebec Gazette, Nomb. 882 (July 18, 1782), pg. 2. Accessed 5 January 2023
  20. "Ran Away from[....]" (November 27, 1782) The Quebec Gazette, Nomb. 901 (November 28, 1782), pg. 2. Accessed 6 January 2023
  21. "Avertissemens; To be sold[....]" (December 12, 1782) The Quebec Gazette, Nomb. 904 (December 19, 1782), pg. 2 (right column). Accessed 6 January 2023
  22. "Advertisements," The Quebec Gazette, Nomb. 854 (January 17, 1782), pg. 3. Accessed 4 January 2023
  23. https://digitalarchive.tpl.ca/objects/266335/a-new--accurate-map-of-the-province-of-canada-in-north-amer "A New & Accurate Map of the Province of Canada(....)"
  24. https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3312s.ar023304 "An Exact Chart of the River St. Laurence(...)and all necessary Instructions for navigating that River to Quebec"
  25. https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.35381/10 Letter of Guy Carleton
  26. https://archive.org/details/winslowpapersad100raymuoft/page/77/mode/1up "Exploration Committee"
  27. https://archives.novascotia.ca/mikmaq/archives/?ID=27 "Accounts approved by M. Francklin, Superintendant of Indian Affairs"
  28. https://bnald.lib.unb.ca/legislation/act-restrain-hawkers-pedlars-and-petty-chapmen-not-duly-licensed-trade-travelling-and "An Act to restrain Hawkers, Pedlars, and Petty Chapmen, not duly licensed to Trade, travelling to and fro through the Country"
  29. John Lord Sheffield, "Number X" import/export figures for 1781-2 Observations on the Commerce of the American States (Sixth Edition; 1784), unpaginated (Image 520). Accessed 3 January 2023
  30. "Saturday June 29th, 1782; Address to Lieut. Governor on the defenceless state of the province," Journal and Votes of the House of Assembly for the Province of Nova-Scotia pgs. 174-5 (PDF pgs. 21-2). Accessed 4 January 2023
  31. https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.51019/105 "1782; (July 1)"
  32. https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.51019/112 "1782; November (30)"
  33. https://preserve.lib.unb.ca/wayback/20141205155519/http://atlanticportal.hil.unb.ca/acva/macdonald/en/letters/browse/view.php?id=2664_32&mode=dpl "Letter from Helen MacDonald to John MacDonald, 28 July 1782, Charlottetown"
  34. https://archive.org/details/britishdiplomati49chan/page/188/mode/1up Letter to British ambassador at Versailles from Court of St. James
  35. "Directions for Navigating from Cape Race to Cape Bonavista[....]," pg. 15 (PDF pg. 85), Sailing Directions for the North American Pilot: Containing the Gulph and River St. Lawrence, the Whole Island of Newfoundland[....] (1782). Accessed 4 January 2023
  36. "3rd [January 1782]," York Factory - Post Journal, (PDF pg. 29), Archives of Manitoba. (See also most journal entries for mention of tradesmen and their work) Accessed 6 January 2023
  37. "8th [June 1782]," York Factory - Post Journal, (PDF pgs. 66-7), Archives of Manitoba. (See also more reports of deaths (PDF pgs. 71-4, 76-7, 78-9, 80-1, 91 (note: 72 copied twice)) Accessed 6 January 2023
  38. "Supplement a la Gazette de France (October 29, 1782); Extract of a Letter from the Sieur de la Perouse [to] Minister and Secretary of State for the Marine department" (September 6, 1782), Chart of Hudson's Bay (1782?), pgs. "unnumbered," 687-9. (See also York Factory - Post Journal (PDF pgs. 101-2) for final entries before French attack) Accessed 3 January 2023
  39. "Extract of a Letter from Colonel John Butler[...]Dated at Niagara, June 12th, 1782," Records of Niagara (1927), unpaginated (PDF pgs. 26-7). (See also details (PDF pgs. 29-30) of grist and saw mills to be built) Accessed 6 January 2023

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