April 29 –
Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Chase and Rev. John Carroll, a
Jesuit, urge Canadians to send delegates to Congress, promising toleration. Franklin brings a printer and press, for a newspaper, to mould public opinion. Canadians regard Franklin as an enemy, and the priests remind Father Carroll that, unlike some of the Provinces, Britain tolerates the Romish Church.
May 6 – As a British fleet is in sight, the
Continental Army, before
Quebec, weakened by disease, retires from a superior enemy, who await reinforcements, behind strong walls.
June 8 – Attempting to surprise Three Rivers, General Thompson, with 200 of 1,800 Americans, is taken prisoner.
June 16 – Arnold's force has retreated from Montreal.
June 18 –
General Burgoyne finds that the Continental Army has evacuated St. Johns.
The eleventh Article of "Confederation and Perpetual Union" provides that: "Canada, according to this Confederation, and joining in the measures of the United States, shall be admitted into, and entitled to, all the advantages of this Union; but no other Colony shall be admitted to the same, unless such admission be agreed to by nine States."
October 11 – The British are victorious on
Lake Champlain.
October 13 – On Lake Champlain, Arnold runs part of his fleet ashore, to avoid capture.
The Jesuits' College, at Quebec, converted into barracks.
Washington emphasizes to
Arnold importance of victory in
Canada to "crown our virtuous struggles" and "Render the freedom of [our] Country secure"[5]
"Jean Baptist or Ogaghsagighte" and others chiefs, sent by
Kahnawake and other First Nations, tell Washington they can send fighters to Schuyler[6]
Montrealer Preudhome La Jeunesse wants Congress to send agents to explain to clergy and gentry their goals in war and their friendship toward Canada[7]
Arnold says his army struggles with
smallpox, poor clothing and worse pay, attractions of deserting, and "Trouble of Reconceleing [with] Inhabitants"[8]
British plans were to include sending Burgoyne with 10,000 troops (
Hessians, Hanoverians and British) to Canada to join up with
Gage on Hudson River[14]
John Adams says simply, "Our affairs in Canada are in a confused and disastrous situation. But I hope they will not be worse."[15]
Brig. Gen. Sullivan reports "men Women & Children Leaping & Clapping their hands" as he arrives at
Sorel to meet British thrust up St. Lawrence River[16]
Maj. Gen. Schuyler receives word that army's attack on British at
Trois-Rivières has been defeated, and it must retreat to
St.-Jean for return home[17]
Believing "there has been very gross Misconduct in the Management of our Affairs in Canada," Congress orders general inquiry into officers involved[18]
"A
Declaration would have influenced our Affairs in Canada" - John Adams says his pro-
reconciliation and anti-independence colleagues lost Canada[24]
Canada
Governor, lieutenant governor, chief justice and
Council (or any five of them) make up Quebec's new court of appeal[25]
In dispute with governor,
Peter Livius accuses
Carleton of bypassing Council (by August 8, 1776 order), with five favourites making major decisions[26]
Praise for Carleton's humanity "towards our deluded Countrymen who have been either bullied or betrayed into the present unnatural Rebellion"[27]
With end of U.S. occupation,
Gazette printer
William Brown happily renews ties with subscribers to "The Most Innocent Gazette in the British Dominions"[28]
Grain in storage and big current crop allow reopening of general wheat exportation, but restrictions remain on shipping flour,
biscuits and livestock[29]
"A Citizen of Quebec" requests effective market regulation and prevention of "
Huxtering,
Engrossing, Forestalling, &c.[...]at a great Height in this City"[30]
Carleton finds nothing to fear from
Canadians during prosperity and nothing to hope from them (besides honourable few) during times of distress[31]
"The rebels[...]obliged
Gen. Howe to quit Boston" - British troops and loyalists
leave Boston for Halifax[36]
Lt. Gov. Arbuthnot, noting inflation despite departure of fleet and army, declares anyone charging more than set prices for food to be "Extortioners"[37]
Report from Halifax that "a considerable body of rebels" are
besieging Fort Cumberland and "people in Halifax are in great consternation"[38]
Arguing how low-cost pre-war governments in North America were,
Adam Smith points to Nova Scotia's £7,000 "a year towards the publick expences"[39]
Nova Scotia law allows local court to fine ("
amerce") township residents who neglect to vote funds to support local poor people[40]
Haligonian seeks "a
Negro Woman named Florimell [who] wears a Handkerchief round her Head, has Scars in her Face[...]and is not very black"[41]
"I have learned
sorcery, and I have practised it, but that is the road to the greatest darkness" -
Inuk named
Kingminguse is baptised at Nain[43]
George Cartwright's instructions for building foot bridge, one of his many practical projects for living in Labrador[44]
"Mountaineer" (
Innu) way of hunting deer with
musket allows them to fire shots more quickly, but "they generally over-charge" with too much
gunpowder[45]
Getting "burnt" by touching cold metal, Cartwright recalls lines from "
Hudibras": "And many dangers shall environ, The man who meddles with cold iron"[46]
Indigenous nations
At their meeting,
Six Nations and "seven Tribes" from Canada agree to remain neutral, though some (
Senecas,
Mohawks) are ready "to act against Us"[47]
Maj. Gen. Schuyler's early June correspondence on "Attack of the upper Indians against our Western Frontiers" in New York (Note: "savages" used)[48]
Henry on
Prairies: "The country was[...]a continued level, without a single eminence; a frozen sea, of which the little
coppices were the islands"[52]
Henry listens to
Assiniboine players of drums, gourds etc. with women singing - "the sweetness of their voices exceeded whatever I had heard before"[53]
"When they move, the sounds keep time, and make a fantastic harmony" - Assiniboine and Cree women put small bells and deer hooves on skirt hems[54]
Continental Congress agent at French court to acquire (along with uniforms and weapons) £40,000 worth of "goods for presents to the Indians"[56]
"I can see thee, My Father; can talk with thee and can invoke thy mercy" - "
Sioux chief" shares
pipe with
Carleton (Note: "savages" and "squaw" used)[57]
^"To John Adams from Samuel Chase" (January 12, 1776), U.S. National Archives. (See also
details of this initiative, and its good prospects but need for tact as expressed in Adams' letters
here and
here and also see
Congress's letter to "Inhabitants of the Province of Canada") Accessed 12 September 2022
^"To George Washington from Brigadier General John Sullivan (June 5-6, 1776), U.S. National Archives. (See also
Washington's hope that Canadians' friendliness will lead to conciliation with them, but also his warning that they are "an Ingenous, artfull people, and very capable of Finesse & cunning") Accessed 16 September 2022
^"To His Excellency Guy Carleton" (June 25, 1776), The Quebec Gazette,
Nomb. 578 (September 26, 1776), pg. 1. (See also
reference in London (June 15) to Quebec sources saying "Canadians have flocked in abundance to the King's Standard") Accessed 27 September 2022
^Proceedings between Sir Guy Carleton[...]and Peter Livius, Esquire, Chief Justice of [Quebec] (1779),
pgs. 17-18 Accessed 7 September 2022
^"The following Orders" (August 4, 1776), The Quebec Gazette,
Nomb. 576 (September 12, 1776), pg. 1. Accessed 27 September 2022
^"To the Publick," The Quebec Gazette,
Nomb. 571 (August 8, 1776), pg. 3. Accessed 26 September 2022
^"A Proclamation" (August 30, 1776), The Quebec Gazette,
Nomb. 576 (September 12, 1776), pg. 1. Accessed 27 September 2022
^"A Card," The Quebec Gazette,
Nomb. 576 (September 12, 1776), pg. 3. (See also
"Quebec, December 5; A Card" calling out merchants selling necessities at 200% profit) Accessed 27 September 2022
^Letter of Carleton to Colonial Secretary (September 28, 1776), Documents Relating to the Constitutional History of Canada; 1759-1791; Part II (2nd edition; 1918), pgs. 675-6. Accessed 12 September 2022
^"Belmont Fortune [(Forten in later issues)], A.B.," The Quebec Gazette,
Nomb. 574 (August 29, 1776), pg. 2. Accessed 27 September 2022
^"Avertissemens; Whereas a Woman" (September 5, 1776), The Quebec Gazette,
Nomb. 576 (September 12, 1776), pg. 3. (See also
Mary's proof of marriage to Peter) Accessed 27 September 2022
^"Extract of a Letter dated Boston Harbour, New-England, March 18" and following news items, The Quebec Gazette,
Nomb. 572 (August 15, 1776), pg. 2. Accessed 26 September 2022
^The Moravians in Labrador (1833),
pgs. 127-30 Accessed 20 September 2022
^George Cartwright, "To construct a Bridge across a River[...]for foot passengers to cross upon,"
Additions to the Labrador Companion (turn to Item 12), Library and Archives Canada. Accessed 12 September 2022
^C.W. Townsend (ed.), "Thursday, September 12, 1776," Captain Cartwright and His Labrador Journal (1911),
pgs. 208, 210 Accessed 22 September 2022
^C.W. Townsend (ed.), "Monday, January 15, 1776," Captain Cartwright and His Labrador Journal (1911),
pg. 187 (See also
"Sunday, January 28, 1776" and Cartwright's preference for Labrador winters) Accessed 22 September 2022
^Alexander Henry the elder, "On the seventh [of February, 1776]," Travels and Adventures in Canada and the Indian Territories[....] (1809),
pg. 277 Accessed 8 September 2022
^Alexander Henry the elder, "II. The time was now passed in dancing," Travels and Adventures in Canada and the Indian Territories[....] (1809),
pg. 296 Accessed 8 September 2022
^Alexander Henry the elder, "Their dress is of the same materials," Travels and Adventures in Canada and the Indian Territories[....] (1809),
pg. 306 Accessed 9 September 2022
^Alexander Henry the elder, "The course of the river," Travels and Adventures in Canada and the Indian Territories[....] (1809),
pgs. 321-4 Accessed 9 September 2022
^Letter to embassy in Paris (August 16, 1776), British Diplomatic Instructions, 1689-1789; Volume VII, France, Part IV, 1745-1789 (1934), pgs. 151-2. Accessed 7 September 2022
^F.V. Melsheimer, Journal of the Voyage of the Brunswick Auxiliaries[....] (1891), pgs. 171-4. Accessed 20 September 2022