1801 in Canada explained
Events from the year 1801 in Canada.
Incumbents
George III[1]
Federal government
3rd (starting January 8)
3rd (starting May 28)
Governors
Robert Milnes
Thomas Carleton
John Wentworth
James Gambier
Edmund Fanning
Events
Births
Full date unknown
Deaths
- December 28 – Samuel Holland, army officer, military engineer, surveyor, office holder, politician, and landowner (b.1728)[2]
Historical documents
Proclamation announces ceasefire in war between United Kingdom and France and requires return of vessels taken in following 5 months off North America[3]
"The Admiralty Board has given orders for the general introduction of the cow pox into the Navy"[4]
Lower Canada
Trois-Rivières wants to hire teacher and set up school to teach two "indispensably necessary" languages and "first principles" of sciences[5]
New "Royal Institution for the Advancement of Learning" is to set up free school in any township or parish, with inhabitants providing schoolhouse[6]
Gazette printer has for sale "the Encyclopedia Britannica, the latest edition, elegantly bound in Calf, gilt and lettered, price £40"[7]
British society's awards to hemp growers in Lower Canada include first prize (gold medal or 50 guineas) for largest acreage of hemp production[8]
Corporation is created to supply Montreal area "with good and wholesome Water," with penalties set for "annoying the water" in springs and reservoirs[9]
Government may support by grants to religious communities foundlings and persons jobless by "a temporary or lasting derangement of intellect"[10]
Because barring testimony from people who are third cousins or closer in relation often impedes civil justice, cousins-german is new such criterion[11]
Call for contractors to build replacement bridge over Jacques-Cartier River, spanning 60 feet French and with 16 feet French width[12]
Women guilty of high treason or of committing or counselling petit treason are to be hanged (instead of former penalty: death by burning)[13]
Eighteen-year-old man kills woman and her daughter ("seven months gone with child by him") with axe; suffering 4 blows, daughter dies 2 days later[14]
François Blanchet is elected to American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia along with two Swedish physicians and New York politician[15]
"Wanted a young girl of about 13 or 14 years, belonging to English parents, to attend upon Children in a decent family"[16]
Montreal's ancient and crumbling walls are to be replaced with streets, squares etc.[17]
Trois-Rivières resident provides brief history of House of Brunswick-Lüneburg out of "profound respect due to His Majesty"[18]
Cape Diamond Brewery can deliver porter, burton and mild ale and table and small beer in hogsheads and other barrel sizes[19]
Upper Canada
Lt. Gov. Peter Hunter praises "zeal and liberality" of Assembly in promoting hemp cultivation, "so strongly recommended to us by our Parent State"[20]
Same duties are to be paid for goods imported from U.S.A. as are charged on goods from Britain[21]
For their "comfort" and "better regulation," no rum or spirits should be sold or bartered to "Moravian Indians" on Thames River (Orford Township)[22]
Local authorities are to establish market in Kingston "where butchers meat, butter, eggs, poultry, fish, and vegetables shall be exposed to sale"[23]
Nova Scotia
"Long wished-for [bank in [[History of Halifax, Nova Scotia|Halifax]]] is pregnant with many advantages to the commercial interests of the Province"[24]
Joint legislature committee's questionnaire collects information on Indigenous people "for us to form some plan for the settlement of the Indians"[25]
"Engineers have been sent out to Halifax[...]to construct two docks in that port as speedily as possible for the reception of 74[-]gun ships"[26]
Commissioners of poor in Halifax area are to keep males "picking oakum or rasping wood" and females making clothes, spinning, knitting, weaving etc.[27]
Before their trial, father and son give their stories of events leading to death of Black woman Jude (and are acquitted of murder charge)[28]
Slave owner sells for £39 "certain Negro boy named Jack [who was born in my house to parents who are] both my property"[29]
John Wiswall writes to missionary society his plans for increasing glebe farm income by clearing more land and renting out projected house and barn[30]
Woman's words of faith include "let us fear God for his power, trust him for his wisdom, love him for his goodness, praise him for his greatness[....]"[31]
Simeon Perkins regrets departure of brother ("not very likely We Shall ever See each other again") and woman who nursed family through smallpox[32]
Painting: view of Halifax[33]
New Brunswick
Inflation's effect on middle class is especially hard on Loyalists with fixed incomes not increased since 1783 and only enough to barely feed families[34]
Call for contractor(s) to deliver to Saint John harbour 300 masts (with no less than 22-inch diameters), yards and bowsprits in following May[35]
Noille Bernard, Thomas Squatehan and 16 other Wolastoqiyik, "destitute of land," request land grant in Tobique-Restigouche area (note: "savages" used)[36]
Request to Jonathan Odell to aid Indigenous people who are obstructed from travelling on Tabusintac River or fishing for salmon or eels on it[37]
Odell orders removal of Little Southwest Miramichi River fish net harming Mi'kmaq (some of whom have "made considerable improvements as Planters")[38]
If unable to support themselves, any jailed debtor may after 14 days apply to have their creditor provide them "weekly maintenance"[39]
Saint John government authorized to put tax on dogs of no more than 5 shillings per year per dog to be "applied for the support of the Poor"[40]
Armed brig sails to find French privateer, and it is "to the honor of the Inhabitants of this City" that so many quickly volunteered to be crew[41]
Seamen of John Black & Co. of Saint John have deserted and $30 reward for each is offered to informant(s), whose names can be kept secret[42]
New book of British American sacred music includes "principles of Vocal Music in a plain and concise manner" and psalm and hymn tunes[43]
"Rags! Rags! Rags! Cash or Books given for clean Linen and Cotton Rags at [Gazette printer's] Office"[44]
Western interior
Alexander Mackenzie says "very great and essential advantages may be derived by extending our trade from one sea to the other" (Note: "savage" used)[45]
Map: Edition of Siksika chief Akutkomikimaan's map of Rocky Mountain Indigenous people that sketches their locations, mountains and rivers[46]
Hudson's Bay Company
Kitternawaggan and brother bring Moose Factory more than 100 made beaver, having "dextriously evaded" Canadian traders on their way down river[47]
Indigenous people add 11 deer to 2,000 lbs. of venison in store at York Factory; "I hope [it] will set want at defiance for this Winter"[48]
York jobs include 11 men hunting and fishing, 15 men making firewood and timbers in woods, and 3 tailors making clothing for "English and Ind[ian]s"[49]
Elsewhere
Canadians should try "the pure and free air of the United States" to escape "overbearing tyranny" in social class dominated Upper and Lower Canada[50]
Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr, "decidedly attached to the present Republican government in France," are U.S. President and Vice President[51]
William Henry Harrison tells Jefferson goods are brought from Canada via Illinois River into Louisiana and smuggled into U.S.A.[52]
Detroit Moravian missionary says "no Indian understands (how) to trade" and explains how deals are affected by prices and grain pests[53]
Certificate: Detroit Masonic lodge declares Master Mason William Shaw fit to join any Masonic body[54]
Notes and References
- Web site: 31 December 2015 . George III . 18 April 2016 . Official website of the British monarchy . Royal Household.
- http://www.lowensteyn.com/Samuel_Holland/index.html Samuel Holland, Canada's first Surveyor-General
- "A Proclamation" (October 12, 1801), The Quebec Gazette, December 24, 1801 pg. 3. (See also Prince Edward Island resident explaining how British governments switch from war to peace) Accessed 30 April 2024
- "London, Oct. 7," The Quebec Gazette, January 1, 1801, Cahier 1 pg. 1. (See also Edward Jenner's An Inquiry into(...)the Cow Pox (1801) and Thomas Paytherus' A Comparative Statement (on) the Cow Pox (1801)) Accessed 29 April 2024
- https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.9_00938_9/145 "Saturday, 7th February, 1801; A Petition(...)
- https://bnald.lib.unb.ca/legislation/act-establishment-free-schools-and-advancement-learning-province An Act for the Establishment of Free Schools and the Advancement of Learning in this Province
- "Lately Imported from London[....]" (July 30, 1801), The Quebec Gazette, July 30, 1801 pg. 3. Accessed 29 April 2024
- "Account of Certain Premiums Offered in 1801" (April 9, 1801), The Quebec Gazette, July 23, 1801 pg. 1. Accessed 29 April 2024
- https://bnald.lib.unb.ca/legislation/act-supplying-city-montreal-and-parts-thereunto-adjacent-water8th-april-1801 An Act for supplying the City of Montreal and the parts thereunto adjacent with Water
- https://bnald.lib.unb.ca/legislation/act-relief-insane-persons-and-support-foundlings-8th-april-1801 An Act for the Relief of Insane Persons and for the Support of Foundlings
- https://bnald.lib.unb.ca/legislation/act-relief-insane-persons-and-support-foundlings-8th-april-1801 An Act to amend an Article of the Code Civile(...)which directs and fixes the Degrees of affinity and consanguinity of Witnesses in Civil Suits
- "Jacques Cartier Bridge" (December 17, 1800), The Quebec Gazette, January 1, 1801, Cahier 1 pg. 4. (See also three contracts offered by province (pg. 1)) Accessed 29 April 2024
- https://bnald.lib.unb.ca/legislation/act-discontinuing-judgment-which-has-been-required-law-be-given-against-women-convicted An Act for discontinuing the Judgment which has been required by Law to be given against Women convicted of certain Crimes(....)
- "Quebec, Thursday, 24th September, 1801; On Friday last was executed[....]," The Quebec Gazette, September 24, 1801, Cahier 1 pg. 4. Accessed 29 April 2024
- "Quebec, March 4," The Quebec Gazette, January 1, 1801, Cahier 1 pg. 4. (See also brief notice (pg. 4) of Blanchet receiving Lower Canada medical licence, and his articles here (pg. 3) and here (pg. 4) on medical matters) Accessed 29 April 2024
- "Wanted a young girl[....]," The Quebec Gazette, December 31, 1801, Cahier 3 pg. 3. Accessed 30 April 2024
- https://bnald.lib.unb.ca/legislation/act-removing-old-walls-and-fortifications-surround-city-montreal-and-otherwise-provide An Act for removing the old Walls and Fortifications that surround the City of Montreal, and otherwise to provide for the Salubrity, Convenience and Embellishment of the said City
- "Three Rivers, 1st December, 1801," The Quebec Gazette, December 10, 1801, Cahier 1 pg. 4. Accessed 30 April 2024
- "Cape Diamond Brewery" (April 29, 1801), The Quebec Gazette, May 7, 1801, Cahier 1 pg. 4. Accessed 29 April 2024
- "Upper Canada, York, Saturday, July 11th," The Quebec Gazette, July 30, 1801 pg. 2. (See also Hunter's proclamation (pg. 2) nominating two commissioners to distribute hemp seed and pay bounties to "deserving Cultivators and Exporters of Hemp") Accessed 29 April 2024
- https://bnald.lib.unb.ca/legislation/act-granting-his-majesty-his-heirs-and-successors-and-uses-province-duties-goods-and An Act for granting to(...)this Province the like Duties on goods and merchandize brought into this Province from the United States of America as are now paid on goods and merchandize imported from Great Britain and other places
- https://bnald.lib.unb.ca/legislation/act-prevent-sale-spirituous-liquors-and-strong-waters-tract-occupied-moravian-indians An Act to prevent the sale of Spirituous Liquors and strong waters in the tract occupied by the Moravian Indians on the River Thames in the Western District
- https://bnald.lib.unb.ca/legislation/act-empower-commissioners-peace-midland-district-their-court-general-quarter-sessions An Act to(...)establish and regulate a Market in and for the Town of Kingston(....)
- "Halifax, March 19," The Quebec Gazette, May 7, 1801, Cahier 1 pg. 3. Accessed 29 April 2024
- https://archives.novascotia.ca/mikmaq/archives/?ID=56 Circular letter with "list of queries about the Mi'kmaq"
- "London, March 4; Engineers[....]," The Quebec Gazette, May 7, 1801, Cahier 1 pg. 2. Accessed 29 April 2024
- https://bnald.lib.unb.ca/legislation/act-better-management-and-relief-poor-halifax An Act for the better management and relief of the Poor of Halifax
- "Examination of Samuel Andrews, Esq. for his part in 'willfully and maliciously murdering a black woman called Jude,'" pgs. 1–2 and son's examination pgs. 3–4 Nova Scotia Archives. Accessed 22 April 2024
- Quoted in The Slave in Canada (1898; unpaginated). Accessed 2 May 2024
- https://archives.acadiau.ca/node/869 Journal of Rev. John Wiswall
- https://archives.acadiau.ca/node/5251 "Correspondence to Edward Manning from Charlotte Forsythe, October 7, 1801"
- "Wednesday, April 29th," Diary of Simeon Perkins; April, 1801, pg. 301 Nova Scotia Archives. Accessed 22 April 2024
- George Parkyns, "View of Halifax from George's Island" (1801), Toronto Public Library. Accessed 22 April 2024
- "Letter from Mather Byles to Edward Winslow" (July 2, 1801), pg. 3 University of New Brunswick Library. Accessed 24 April 2024
- "Wanted for His Majesty's Service[....]" (July 21, 1801), The Saint John Gazette, and General Advertiser (August 1, 1801), pg. 2. (See also "Take Notice" (pg. 2) demand of mast labourers that they be paid one-third more) Accessed 25 April 2024
- https://web.lib.unb.ca/archives/finding/ia/trans_10.html "Transcription for Indian Affairs; Document #10"
- https://web.lib.unb.ca/archives/finding/ia/ia_17.html "Indian Affairs; Document #17"
- https://web.lib.unb.ca/winslow/fullimagerecord.cgi?id=10600&level=3 "Letter from Jonathan Odell to Duffey Gillas"
- https://bnald.lib.unb.ca/legislation/act-support-and-relief-confined-debtors-passed-21st-february-1801 An Act for the Support and Relief of confined Debtors
- https://bnald.lib.unb.ca/legislation/act-further-and-better-support-poor-city-saint-john-passed-11th-february-1801 An Act for the further and better support of the Poor in the City of Saint John
- "Saint John, Saturday, August 15, 1801," The Saint John Gazette, and General Advertiser (August 15, 1801), pg. 3. (See also comment (pg. 3) on privateers near Boston: "We shall probably hear further of those piratical fellows in a short time.") Accessed 25 April 2024
- "30 Dollars Reward" (October 31, 1801), The Saint John Gazette, and General Advertiser (November 7, 1801), pg. 3. Accessed 26 April 2024
- "Sacred Music" (September 1, 1801), The Saint John Gazette, and General Advertiser (September 5, 1801), pg. 3. Accessed 26 April 2024
- "Rags! Rags! Rags!" The Saint John Gazette, and General Advertiser (January 10, 1801), pg. 3. Accessed 24 April 2024
- Alexander Mackenzie, "Preface" (November 30, 1801), A General History of the Fur Trade from Canada to the North-West, pg. x (See also map (1801) of Mackenzie's routes to Arctic Ocean (1789) and Pacific Ocean (1793)) Accessed 22 April 2024
- Peter Fidler, "An Indian Map of the Different Tribes that inhabit on the East & West Side of the Rocky Mountains with all the rivers & other remarkbl. places, also the number of Tents etc." (February 7, 1801), Archives of Manitoba. Accessed 1 May 2024
- "[October] 5th [1801] Monday," Moose Factory post journal, 1801-1802 frame 6, Archives of Manitoba. Accessed 3 May 2024
- "1801 Octr. 28 Tuesday," York Factory post journal, 1801-1802 frame 12, Archives of Manitoba. Accessed 3 May 2024
- "1801 Decr. 7th Monday," York Factory post journal, 1801-1802 frames 15–16, Archives of Manitoba. Accessed 3 May 2024
- An Address to the People of the Canadas (1801?), pg. 9 (Image 16). (See also U.S. politician's opinion that Canada is like Britain in its forms of monarchy, aristocracy and hierarchy) Accessed 22 April 2024
- "Halifax, January 3" The Saint John Gazette, and General Advertiser (January 17, 1801), pg. 4. Accessed 24 April 2024
- https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-36-02-0149 William Henry Harrison to Thomas Jefferson
- "Dealings with Moravian Indians" (May 6, 1801), The John Askin Papers; Volume II: 1796-1820 (1931), pgs. 535–6. Accessed 17 April 2024
- https://vitacollections.ca/notlheritage/2753130/data "Declaration from Zion Lodge, No. 10, Lower Canada, dated 1801"