1788 in Canada explained

Events from the year 1788 in Canada.

Incumbents

Governors

Events

Births

Historical documents

Royal assent is coming for bill liquidating Loyalist claims, which amount to almost £1.9 million in property and more than £75,000 in income[5]

It is right and just that Britain sacrificed Loyalists' property for national well-being, and that they should be compensated for their loss[6]

Parliament is likely to investigate "the slave trade, so long a disgrace to every civilized people concerned in it"[7]

Text of act governing trade between British North American and Caribbean possessions and United States of America[8]

Commons debates whether Caribbean colonies can rely on Canada and Nova Scotia to supply them or must also have trade with U.S.A.[9]

British government resolves to give "utmost support" to new North American settlements by importing ship building materials from there[10]

Gov. Gen. Lord Dorchester reports "Upper Country Trade" merchants dispense "profuse credits" and find fur prices high at home but low in London[11]

Government surveyor seeks 100 subscribers for large-scale Gulf of St. Lawrence chart covering Cape Ray to Sept-Îles to Saint John and Canso[12]

Lower Canada

Dorchester pins "animosities [on] old resentments, and enmity," and hopes gradual reform will seem just to both no-change and change-now factions[13]

Both British and Canadian supporters of legislative assembly for Canada say they outnumber and are "not less respectable" than opponents[14]

Backing assembly, "Sidney" says don't deprive people of their rights "merely because it would be difficult to accomplish an equal representation"[15]

Smuggling from U.S.A. includes tea ("most consequential article of inland contraband"), wine by sea, and rum if Canadian price goes up[16]

For sale: "A Handsome Negro Man" (age 22-23) "and a beautiful Negro Woman" (22-23), married to each other and "both of a good constitution"[17]

Missing: "A Negro Man named Caleb," about 26 or 27; "all persons are required not to harbour or employ the said Negro Slave"[18]

Reward $4 for missing "Mulatto fellow named Pascal Puro,[...]about eighteen[...], talks good English, writes and reads,[...]calls himself a f[r]ee-man"[19]

No practising medicine, midwifery or pharmacy in Montreal or Quebec without examination, university degree or past military practice, plus licence[20]

Ordinance requires adjustment to "trains" (long, heavy Canadian sleighs), sleds and carioles that are creating cahots on roadways[21]

Paying members of 2,000-volume Quebec Library are "gentlemen desirous to promote science, and afford amusement and instruction"[22]

Mrs. Chilley's new boarding school for young ladies at Beauport costs 15 guineas/year plus tuition for writing and arithmetic ($4) and French ($3)[23]

"A Distrest Family of Six Females long labouring under difficulties" seeks employment in needlework, coarse or fine[24]

Documents identify Phillip Cook as father of Elisabeth Jones' baby born in Sorel (a.k.a. William-Henry) parish[25]

Upper Canada

On visit to Niagara, Dorchester finds Loyalists thankful for Crown's support and "better circumstanced and happier than before the Rebellion"[26]

U.S. civilian and military development from Ohio River to Lake Champlain make necessary "advancing the Western settlements of this Province"[27]

Settlers to apply through local deputy surveyors general for land at or near Lac Saint-François, Ottawa River, Kingston, Toronto, Niagara and Detroit[28]

Four new districts (Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Nassau and Hesse) established between Lac Saint-François and western limit of Canada[29]

Widow of Loyalist dead soon after their 1788 arrival with 11 children is "Obliged to bind out some of her Children and suffer with the Others"[30]

Butler's Rangers member's wartime wounds include one that never healed, for which he "begs the benefit of one of his Majesty's Hospitals"[31]

Legislative Council considers offer of portage service at Toronto Carrying Place as part of connection between Lake Ontario and Georgian Bay[32]

Dorchester reports on Indigenous affairs, including some involving Joseph Brant, whom people at Grand River are "much dissatisfied with"[33]

Lake Huron map describes Bruce Peninsula as "exceedingly dangerous for Boats or Canoes to go around" because of lack of landing places[34]

Map: Toronto and harbour with lots, common, water depths etc., plus road to "Lake La Clie" (Lac aux Claies, now Lake Simcoe)[35]

Nova Scotia

"Public emergency" extends importation into Nova Scotia of U.S. livestock, bread, various grains, some kinds of lumber etc.[36]

"A Farmer" recalls Halifax's prosperity before 1761 reduced to "unprofitability" by 1772, then revived by 1783 but now lagging again[37]

List of 22 sawmills (including all of 4 in Truro) built 1786-7 with support of £20 government bounty[38]

Petitioner seeks Duke of York's support for grant of Nova Scotia ore bodies his association has found, promising 20% share of profits[39]

"Loyal American refugee" Anglican leaders in Digby tell bishop they have not built church because they spend all they have on homes and lands[40]

Grand jury formally urges Court of Quarter Sessions to prevent any repeat of disorder and fatal violence in recent Halifax election[41]

"Swarm of negroes, amounting to two or 3000" is looking for jobs, having neglected land allotments and "every encouragement to improve them"[42]

"Indentures of a Negro Girl, aged about twelve Years," are for sale; she is "remarkably affable and handy in tending Children"[43]

Writer says minister who enslaves "girl" supports slave trade "in all the cruel and murderous treatment that slaves have ever endured"[44]

Annapolis Loyalist wills three "Negro Girl Slave[s]" (Clarinda, Silvia and Bella) to his daughters Phebe, Mary and Jane, respectively[45]

Widow's will grants "full Freedom and discharge from all Servitude as Slaves" to Black woman Rose, mulatto Agatha and Black man John Bulkley[46]

Painting: Black woodcutter at Shelburne[47]

Advertisement for various goods says payment accepted in skins, furs, well-cured dried and pickled fish, lumber, flaxseed and other N.S. products[48]

London warehouse can access "ships for Exportation, Cask and Bottled Porter and all Sorts of Country Ale and Beer" for Halifax merchants[49]

Academy to open near Windsor with Latin School (tuition £4/year) and English and Mathematical School (£3/yr.), plus room and board (£15/yr.)[50]

Captain Sterling advertises his Halifax school to teach young gentlemen branches of navigation, of which he is master in theory and practice[51]

Bishop of Nova Scotia to deliver sermon "for the Purpose of Cloathing the poor Children who are educated in the Sunday Schools of this town"[52]

New Brunswick

Profile of New Brunswick is long on praise and short on detail, with exception of dispute with U.S.A. over St. Croix River border[53]

Using weir, net etc. in any river, cove or creek outside authorized places will draw fine of £10 or £20 (2nd offence) or £50 (further offences)[54]

Following complaint by sachem, Lt. Gov. Carleton forbids "all persons whatever to settle or occupy" lands of Indigenous people at Richibucto[55]

Mrs. Cottnam's Saint John boarding school teaches young ladies grammar, reading "with propriety," writing (spelling, correctness and hand) etc.[56]

Two missionaries "under the immediate patronage of[...]the Countess of Huntingdon" are to distribute bibles free to Saint John poor people[57]

Quakers in England have sent £500 worth of clothing, tools, cash etc. "to their brethren in this province" (with same amount to Nova Scotia)[58]

Edward Winslow describes sort of woman he and his wife want for teaching their children and "superintending the affairs of a family"[59]

Pacific Coast

Traders coming from northwest coast of North America sell furs at much lower prices than expected in glutted Chinese market[60]

John Meares' visit to Maquilla and his people in Friendly Cove[61]

Print: schooner North West America launched in Nootka Sound (September 20, 1788)[62]

Elsewhere

Mathematical problem for students to solve involves rate and number of revolutions of two "Planets" (satellites) in Earth orbit[63]

Chancellor of the Exchequer tells House of Commons that Newfoundland produced record 200,000 quintals of fish in 1787[64]

To protect creditors, anyone leaving Cape Breton Island must first post notice of that for 3 weeks and obtain pass from government[65]

"Induce them to throw themselves into the Arms of Great Britain" - Loyalist John Connolly's effort to engage people in District of Kentucky[66]

Joseph Amos and 31 Mashpee people of Cape Cod petition Massachusetts General Court for land and rights, or they might move to Nova Scotia[67]

Saint John schooner wrecked in gale (nor'easter?) off Wilmington, North Carolina, with woman and 3 children washed overboard and drowned[68]

Gov. Gen. Lord Dorchester plans to establish 2 settlements in northern Canada for communication with James Bay, and possibly colony of convicts[69]

"Existence is contemptible without its sweets - and those sweets of our existence, are our liberties" - call-to-arms issued and seized in Paris[70]

"The blow so long meditated is at length struck - and the horrors of civil war are spreading with rapidity throughout many parts of France"[71]

France assessed: "The flame of revolt[...]will yet break forth with irresistible rage, and in the end extinguish her monarchy"[72]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kings and Queens of Canada . aem . 24 February 2021 . 11 August 2017.
  2. "Peter Warren Dease", Dartmouth College Library Encyclopedia Arctica, Retrieved August 26, 2016
  3. "Sir Edward Sabine", National Portrait Gallery, Retrieved August 26, 2016
  4. Book: John Rankin. A History of Our Firm: Some Account of the Firm of Pollok, Gilmour and Co. and Its Offshoots and Connections. 1908. author at the University Press of Liverpool. 58–.
  5. "Extract of a letter from [London to Halifax]" and "A Statement of the Claims[....]," The Saint John Gazette, and the Weekly Advertiser Vol. III, Numb. 123 (September 19, 1788), Page 2 of 9 (lefthand page). (See also text of Loyalist claims act in The Saint John Gazette of September 12, 1788) Accessed 22 May 2023
  6. (Joseph Galloway), "Chap. VII; Of the Benefits received by the British Nation, from the Sacrifice made of the Property of the Loyalists," The Claim of the American Loyalists Reviewed and Maintained upon Incontrovertible Principles of Law and Justice (1788), pgs. 110-17 (image 126 of 156). Accessed 30 May 2023
  7. "London, December 10; The slave trade[....]," The Nova-Scotia Gazette, and the Weekly Chronicle Vol. XVIII, No. 1147 (April 1, 1788), Page 2 of 2 (lefthand page, left column). Accessed 23 May 2023
  8. "The following Act of Parliament[....]," The Nova-Scotia Gazette, and the Weekly Chronicle Vol. XVIII, No. 1153 (May 13, 1788), Page 1 of 2 (front page). Accessed 23 May 2023
  9. "London; House of Commons; Monday Feb. 11; American Intercourse Bill," The Nova-Scotia Gazette, and the Weekly Chronicle Vol. XVIII, No. 1150 (April 22, 1788), Page 1 of 2 (front page). Accessed 23 May 2023
  10. "London, March 6," The Nova-Scotia Gazette, and the Weekly Chronicle Vol. XVIII, No. 1152 (May 6, 1788), Page 2 of 2 (lefthand page, left column). Accessed 23 May 2023 (See also Navy-Office notice (pg. 3) that tenders for supplying white pine to Halifax and other navy yards will go out in late 1788)
  11. "From Lord Dorchester to Lord Sydney; Private" (October 14, 1788), Records of Niagara; 1784-9 PDF pgs. 41-2. Accessed 2 June 2023
  12. "To be published by Subscription[....]," The Quebec Gazette, Nomb. 1189 (May 29, 1788), pg. 4. Accessed 31 May 2023
  13. "From Lord Dorchester to Lord Sydney; Private" (October 14, 1788), Records of Niagara; 1784-9 PDF pg. 41. Accessed 2 June 2023
  14. https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.38008/180 "Appendix No. XX; To his Excellency the Right Hon. Guy Lord Dorchester
  15. "To the People" (November 18, 1788), (Quebec) Herald and Universal Miscellany, Vol. I, No. 5, December 22, 1788 Page 7 of 12. Accessed 26 May 2023
  16. "From Lord Dorchester to Lord Sydney" (May 17, 1788), Records of Niagara; 1784-9 PDF pg. 29. Accessed 2 June 2023
  17. "To be Sold together[....]," The Quebec Gazette, Nomb. 1170 (March 27, 1788), pg. 3. Accessed 31 May 2023
  18. "Run away on Sunday[....]" (April 16, 1788), The Quebec Gazette, Nomb. 1170 (April 17, 1788), pg. 2. (See also "Run away" ad (pg. 3) for 13-year-old Ben) Accessed 31 May 2023
  19. "Run away from the Schooner Lucy[....]" (June 3, 1788), The Quebec Gazette, Nomb. 1190 (June 5, 1788), pg. 2. Accessed 31 May 2023
  20. "Anno Vicesimo Octavo Georgii III Regis; Chap. VIII" (April 30, 1788), The Quebec Gazette, Nomb. 1187 (May 15, 1788), pg. 1. (See also list of Quebec District practitioners (pg. 2) and Montreal District practitioners (pg. 3) who will receive licences) Accessed 31 May 2023
  21. "Anno Vicesimo Octavo Georgii III Regis; Chap. IX" (April 30, 1788), The Quebec Gazette, Nomb. 1187 (May 15, 1788), pg. 2. (See also remarks (pg. 3) on creation and enforcement of ordinance) Accessed 31 May 2023
  22. "Quebec, Dec. 29, 1788; Quebec Library," (Quebec) Herald and Universal Miscellany, Vol. I, No. 6, December 29, 1788 Page 1 of 8. Accessed 26 May 2023
  23. "A Boarding School for Young Ladies," (Quebec) Herald and Universal Miscellany, Vol. I, No. 6, December 29, 1788 Page 8 of 8. Accessed 26 May 2023
  24. "A Distrest Family of Six Females[....]," The Quebec Gazette, Nomb. 1189 (May 29, 1788), pg. 2. Accessed 31 May 2023
  25. https://calypso.bib.umontreal.ca/digital/collection/baby/id/5479 Justice of the Peace record of deposition
  26. "From Lord Dorchester to Lord Sydney; Private" (October 14, 1788), Records of Niagara; 1784-9 PDF pg. 40. Accessed 2 June 2023
  27. "From Lord Dorchester to Lord Sydney" (May 17, 1788), Records of Niagara; 1784-9 PDF pg. 30. Accessed 2 June 2023
  28. "Surveyor-General's Office, Quebec, 7th July, 1788," The Quebec Gazette, Nomb. 1196 (July 17, 1788), pg. 3. (See also details (PDF pg. 49) of land allotment procedure) Accessed 1 June 2023
  29. Announcement (July 24, 1788), "Supplement to the Quebec Gazette" The Quebec Gazette, Nomb. 1198, pg. 1. Accessed 1 June 2023
  30. "Fisher, Mary," Land Petitions of the Niagara Settlers "Felker to Fitzgerald" Accessed 5 June 2023
  31. "Bowman, Adam," Land Petitions of the Niagara Settlers "Boughner to Bowman" Accessed 5 June 2023
  32. "Extract from the Quebec Land Book" (May 2, 1788), Records of Niagara; 1784-9 PDF pgs. 26-7. Accessed 2 June 2023
  33. "From Lord Dorchester to Lord Sydney" (October 14, 1788), Records of Niagara; 1784-9 PDF pgs. 38-40. Accessed 2 June 2023
  34. [Gother Mann]
  35. https://digital.library.yorku.ca/yul-1150281/plan-harbour-toronto-proposed-town-and-settlement-1788 "Plan of the Harbour of Toronto with the proposed Town and Settlement 1788"
  36. "Halifax, May 20," The Saint John Gazette, and the Weekly Advertiser Vol. III, Numb. 108 (June 6, 1788), Page 2 of 5. Accessed 22 May 2023
  37. "For the Nova-Scotia Gezette [sic]," The Nova-Scotia Gazette, and the Weekly Chronicle Vol. XVIII, No. 1149 (April 15, 1788), Page 2 of 2 (righthand page, centre column). Accessed 23 May 2023
  38. "List of Saw Mills" (as of November 28, 1787), The Nova-Scotia Gazette, and the Weekly Chronicle Vol. XVIII, No. 1181 (November 25, 1788), Page 2 of 2 (righthand page, centre column). Accessed 25 May 2023
  39. "The humble Petition of Lieutenant Henkelmann in behalf of the Association to His Royal Highness the Duke of York" (1788), Correspondence to, from and regarding Frederick, Duke of York and Albany, 1786-(c.1827) PDF pgs. 11-12, Royal Collection Trust. Accessed 6 June 2023
  40. "St. John, September 9; To the Right Rev. Father in God, Dr. Charles Inglis, Bishop of Nova-Scotia" (September 22, 1788), The Nova-Scotia Gazette, and the Weekly Chronicle Vol. XVIII, No. 1172 (September 23, 1788), Page 2 of 2 (lefthand page, right column). Accessed 25 May 2023
  41. "Halifax, March 18," The Nova-Scotia Gazette, and the Weekly Chronicle Vol. XVIII, No. 1145 (March 18, 1788), Page 2 of 2 (righthand page, left column). Accessed 22 May 2023
  42. "London, July 9; Extract of a letter from[...]Nova-Scotia," The Saint John Gazette, and the Weekly Advertiser Vol. III, Numb. 123 (September 19, 1788), Page 1 of 9. Accessed 22 May 2023
  43. "To Be Sold," The Nova-Scotia Gazette, and the Weekly Chronicle Vol. XVIII, No. 1151 (April 29, 1788), Page 2 of 2 (righthand page, centre column). (See clarification in similar ad (front page) that term of servitude of indentured girl is for sale) Accessed 23 May 2023
  44. James MacGregor, A Letter to a Clergyman Urging him to set free a Black Girl he held in Slavery (1788), pg. 5 (PDF pg. 9). Accessed 30 May 2023
  45. https://archives.novascotia.ca/africanns/archives/?ID=40 "Will of Joseph Totten of Annapolis"
  46. https://archives.novascotia.ca/africanns/archives/?ID=41&Page=200402056 "Will of Ann Cosby (née Winniett) of Annapolis Royal"
  47. William Booth, "A Black Wood Cutter at Shelburne Nova Scotia 1788" Nova Scotia Archives. Accessed 30 May 2023
  48. "John Black, and Co.," The Saint John Gazette, and the Weekly Advertiser Vol. III, Numb. 122 (September 12, 1788), Page 1 of 3. Accessed 22 May 2023
  49. "Fell Parker at his Commissions Warehouse[....]," The Nova-Scotia Gazette, and the Weekly Chronicle Vol. XVIII, No. 1172 (December 2, 1788), Page 1 of 2 (lefthand page, centre column). Accessed 26 May 2023
  50. John Parr and 4 others, "The Managers appointed[....]" (September 22, 1788), The Nova-Scotia Gazette, and the Weekly Chronicle Vol. XVIII, No. 1172 (September 23, 1788), Page 2 of 2 (lefthand page, right column). (See also The Nova-Scotia Gazette, and the Weekly Chronicle (Page 3 of 3 (righthand page, left column) for opening ceremony and details of seminary) Accessed 25 May 2023
  51. "To the Public" (June 17, 1788), The Nova-Scotia Gazette, and the Weekly Chronicle Vol. XVIII, No. 1160 (July 1, 1788), Page 2 of 2 (lefthand page, right column). Accessed 23 May 2023
  52. "On Sunday next[...], a Charity Sermon[....]," The Nova-Scotia Gazette, and the Weekly Chronicle Vol. XVIII, No. 1182 (December 2, 1788), Page 2 of 2 (righthand page, centre column). (See also note (Page 2 of 2 (righthand page, centre column)) reporting almost £45 collected) Accessed 26 May 2023
  53. https://archive.org/details/winslowpapersad100raymuoft/page/359/mode/1up "Progress of New Brunswick"
  54. https://bnald.lib.unb.ca/legislation/act-regulating-fisheries-different-rivers-coves-and-creeks-province "An Act for Regulating the Fisheries in the different Rivers, Coves, and Creeks of this Province"
  55. "1a; 1788: June 28; Prohibition to settle[....]," Indian Affairs Documents University of New Brunswick Archives. Accessed 2 June 2023
  56. "Education for young Ladies," The Nova-Scotia Gazette, and the Weekly Chronicle Vol. XVIII, No. 1183 (December 9, 1788), Page 2 of 2 (righthand page, centre column). Accessed 26 May 2023
  57. "St. John, (New Brunswick) May 27," The Nova-Scotia Gazette, and the Weekly Chronicle Vol. XVIII, No. 1157 (June 10, 1788), Page 2 of 2 (righthand page, left column). Accessed 23 May 2023
  58. "St. John, (New-Brunswick) Sept. 12," The Saint John Gazette, and the Weekly Advertiser Vol. III, Numb. 122 (September 12, 1788), Page 2 of 3 (righthand page, left column). Accessed 22 May 2023
  59. https://archive.org/details/winslowpapersad100raymuoft/page/365/mode/1up Letter of Edward Winslow
  60. George Dixon, A Voyage Round the World; but More Particularly to the North-West Coast of America[...,] The Second Edition (1789), pgs. 300-04 Accessed 29 May 2023
  61. John Meares, Voyages Made in the Years 1788 and 1789 from China to the North West Coast of America (1789), Chaps. IX-XI (pgs. 108-33). (See also summary of Meares visit in his 1790 memorial) Accessed 29 May 2023
  62. https://digitalarchive.tpl.ca/objects/338833/the-launch-of-the-northwest-america-at-nootka-sound-british "The Launch of the northwest America at Nootka Sound, British Columbia, 1788"
  63. Philomathematicus, "To the Printer" (January 1, 1788), The Quebec Gazette, Nomb. 1169 (January 10, 1788), pg. 3. (See also answer of "Tommy Thumb, aged eight" in January 24 Gazette (pg. 3)) Accessed 31 May 2023
  64. "London; House of Commons; May 5," The Nova-Scotia Gazette, and the Weekly Chronicle Vol. XVIII, No. 1163 (July 22, 1788), Page 2 of 2 (lefthand page, centre column). Accessed 25 May 2023
  65. https://bnald.lib.unb.ca/legislation/ordinance-prevent-persons-leaving-island-or-its-dependencies-without-first-having "An Ordinance to prevent Persons leaving this Island or its Dependencies without first having obtained a Pass for that purpose"
  66. Footnote 1, Letter to George Washington (December 18, 1788), U.S. National Archives. Accessed 18 May 2023
  67. https://nativenortheastportal.com/annotated-transcription/digcoll1788073000 "Petition of the Mashpee Indians to the Massachusetts General Court"
  68. "Extract of a Letter from North Carolina, October 25," The Nova-Scotia Gazette, and the Weekly Chronicle Vol. XVIII, No. 1184 (December 16, 1788), Page 2 of 2 (righthand page, centre column). (See also story ("Boston, November 13," Page 2 of 2 (righthand page, centre column)) of Saint John sloop keeled over off New England, possibly in same storm) Accessed 26 May 2023
  69. "September 2; Lord Dorchester[....]," The Nova-Scotia Gazette, and the Weekly Chronicle Vol. XVIII, No. 1178 (November 4, 1788), Page 2 of 2 (righthand page, centre column). Accessed 25 May 2023
  70. "London, June 14," The Saint John Gazette, and the Weekly Advertiser Vol. III, Numb. 122 (September 12, 1788), Page 2 of 3 (lefthand page, right column). Accessed 22 May 2023
  71. "London, June 24; A Private Messenger arrived yesterday at noon from Paris[....]," The Nova-Scotia Gazette, and the Weekly Chronicle Vol. XVIII, No. 1166 (August 12, 1788), Page 2 of 2 (lefthand page, centre column). Accessed 25 May 2023
  72. "Present State of the Continental Powers; France," The Nova-Scotia Gazette, and the Weekly Chronicle Vol. XVIII, No. 1186 (December 30, 1788), Page 2 of 15 (righthand page, left column). Accessed 26 May 2023

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