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1777 in Canada

Events from the year 1777 in Canada.

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1777
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Decades:
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Incumbents

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Governors

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Events

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  • July 4 – Near Fort Ticonderoga, General Burgoyne offers condonement if colonists lay down their arms.
  • September 19 – General Burgoyne's Indian and French allies desert at the battle of Stillwater.
  • October 16 – Articles of Capitulation of 5,782 British, under Burgoyne are written.
  • October 17 – Though aware of approaching relief, Burgoyne, having promised to capitulate, and fearing annihilation by a threatened attack, signs the capitulation. During its first session the Canadian Council passes sixteen ordinances, adopts English Commercial law, and constitutes itself a Court of Appeal, with final resort to the Privy Council in England.

Full date unknown

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  • In the House of Lords, Lord Camden declares: "If I were an American, I should resist to the last such manifest exertions of tyranny, violence and injustice."
  • David Thompson enters Grey Coat School

Births

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Deaths

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Main article: deaths in 1777
Further information: Category:1777 deaths

Historical documents

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American Revolutionary War

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Detailed strategy for British invasion via Lake Champlain includes comment that it's "a mistaken Idea of Humanity" not to employ Indigenous fighters[2]

Garrisons, military stores, cantonments: Gen. Burgoyne on how invasion of eastern New York should be arranged in Canada (Note: "savages" used)[3]

United States willing to conquer Britain's possessions jointly with France, giving U.S. Canada and Atlantic colonies plus half of Newfoundland fishery[4]

"Aukwark (sic), ignorant, disinclined to the service, and spiritless" - On arrival, Burgoyne finds some Canadian troops not ready for duty[5]

Burgoyne's orders to invasion army warn that enemy "is well fitted by disposition and practice for the stratagems and enterprizes of little war"[6]

Burgoyne tells Indigenous allies on Boquet River that they must not shed blood after battle or harm prisoners or civilians or scalp any but corpses[7]

Estimating size of Burgoyne's army, Alexander Hamilton assumes troops guarding Canada are not Canadians, "many of whom are notoriously disaffected"[8]

Oneidas and "Caghnawagas from Canada" tell Gen. Schuyler that "Missesaques, Hurons & Chippeways" are with John Johnson (Note: "savages" used)[9]

Failed Fort Stanwix siege and Oriskany battle report mentions allied "chiefs Joseph and Bull," Indigenous impetuousness, and Mississaugas' "slackness"[10]

Burgoyne blames his failure in part on "the total defection of the Indians [and] the desertion or timidity of the Canadians and Provincials"[11]

Canada

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Gov. Carleton reports "turbulent Faction" is behind independence movement, but "Noblesse, Clergy, and [much] of the Bourgeoisie" help restore order[12]

All men 16 to 60 must serve in Quebec militia and can be penalized for refusal, absence, or disobedience; some over 60 must supply carts and sleighs[13]

"For the speedy administration of justice" - Quebec governor and council set up civil and criminal courts[14]

Quebec ordinance prohibits selling rum and other strong liquor to Indigenous people, buying their clothes and arms, and unlicenced trading with them[15]

Proclamation prohibits export of livestock, grain, flour or "bisquit[...]until it can be exactly ascertained whether [it] may be with safety permitted"[16]

Quebec City regulations require owners to clean street in front of their buildings weekly, and prohibit on-street slaughtering and other nuisances[17]

In Quebec City, "a Piece of Rock fell from the Ramparts over Sault-au-matelot Street, forced its Way through a Stable and killed two Horses therein"[18]

Alexander Simpson of lower town Quebec City seeks return of "A Panese woman named Mary Ann" and offers 40 shilling reward[19]

"M. Crofton has taken a House[...]where she proposes keeping a School for young Ladies, little Girls, and such little Boys as wear petticoats"[20]

£4 reward offered for "a Negro man called Bruce[...]since absconded" and suspected of break and enter and theft of "a great quantity of Liquors" etc.[21]

Gazette printer William Brown offers $4 reward for capture of "A Negro Lad named Joe, born in Africa, about twenty years of age"[22]

Call for contractors to supply firewood to these garrisons: Quebec City (4,000 cords annually), Montreal (2,000), Trois-Rivières (1,000), Chambly (600)[23]

Nova Scotia

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Benjamin Marston arrives in Halifax after months of detention in Boston, happy to see his Eliza and hoping "to be able to provide for that dearest Girl"[24]

Nova Scotia JPs to set "Artificers and Labourers" wages, "taking into Consideration the Circumstances of the Times and Prices of Provisions"[25]

Concealing "any Stranger or idle wandering Person" can bring fine of £10-20 or 2-4 months in jail, and £40 or 1 year in jail for advising desertion[26]

Backed by light infantry, Nova Scotia Council member convinces all along Saint John River (including Indigenous people) to take loyalty oath[27]

In engagement west of Cape Sable, HMS Flora (its crew of "brave British Tars" out-numbered 4 to 1) retakes Royal Navy man of war from two privateers[28]

Newfoundland

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Despite Royal Navy protection of Newfoundland trade, London believes Boston's "fleet of privateers" wants to take many ships and destroy rest[29]

Colonies should not have access to Newfoundland and Labrador fisheries, which employ artificers, shippers and poor people of Britain and Ireland[30]

Labrador

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After Royal Navy convoy commander improperly presses one of his crew and fails to shepherd ships, George Cartwright sails alone in privateer zone[31]

"Young fool of a deer caught at last" - When Cartwright's "poor Indian boy Jack" steps on deer trap, Cartwright is fortunately there to release him[32]

Etc.

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Map: Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Labrador south coast and Gulf of St. Lawrence islands (with numerous rivers and fishing banks)[33]

References

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  1. ^ "Kings and Queens of Canada". aem. 11 August 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  2. ^ Anonymous, "Remarks on the Conduct of The War - from Canada" (March 5, 1777), U.K. Royal Archives. Accessed 30 September 2022 (See also alleged plot to send Canadian and Indigenous force through New Hampshire to cut Ticonderoga communications)
  3. ^ John Burgoyne, "Thoughts for conducting the War from the Side of Canada" (February 28, 1777), A State of the Expedition from Canada (1780), Appendix pgs. ii-iv (Images 158-60). Accessed 3 October 2022 (See also Schuyler letter footnote 2 with captured British spy's disclosures of Burgoyne's early June preparations for invasion)
  4. ^ "The American Commissioners to Vergennes" (March 18, 1777), U.S. National Archives. Accessed 11 October 2022
  5. ^ John Burgoyne, Letter of John Burgoyne (May 14, 1777), A State of the Expedition from Canada (1780), Appendix pg. x (Image 166). Accessed 3 October 2022
  6. ^ "Camp at River Bouquet, June 20th, 1777," A Supplement to the State of the Expedition from Canada, Containing General Burgoyne's Orders(....) (1780), pgs. 11-14. Accessed 5 October 2022
  7. ^ John Burgoyne, "Substance of the Speech of Lieutenant-General Burgoyne to the Indians in Congress (near) River Bouquet (June 21, 1777), A State of the Expedition from Canada (1780), Appendix pgs. xii-xiii (Images 168-9). (See also Burgoyne's opinion that "lower Canadian Indians" are unruly children, but "Outawas and other remote nations [are] more brave and more tractable") Accessed 4 October 2022
  8. ^ Letter of Alexander Hamilton (July 29, 1777), U.S. National Archives. (See also New York Council letter footnote 1 with British prisoner's statement that Burgoyne has 400 Canadians and 400 Indigenous people) Accessed 11 October 2022
  9. ^ Schuyler letter to John Hancock in footnote 1 (August 8, 1777), U.S. National Archives. Accessed 11 October 2022
  10. ^ Letter of Col. St. Leger to Lt. Gen. Burgoyne (Oswego, August 27, 1777), A State of the Expedition from Canada (1780), Appendix pg. xliii (Image 202). (See St. Leger's charges of cowardice and treason in this report, and also narrative of action by Ft. Stanwix commander, and also part (beginning on page 9 of 142) of Journal of Richard McGinnis for narrative of local loyalist settler friendly to Brant and harassed by rebels) Accessed 4 October 2022
  11. ^ "Gazette" of a letter of Gen. Burgoyne (October 20, 1777), A brief Examination of the Plan and Conduct of the Northern Expedition in America, in 1777 (1779), pg. 32 (See also "General Disposition of the Army" (scroll down to Page 8) for listing of "Canadian companies of Monin and Busherville" (Boucherville?)) Accessed 3 October 2022
  12. ^ Letter of Carleton to Colonial Secretary (May 9, 1777), Documents Relating to the Constitutional History of Canada; 1759-1791; Part II (2nd edition; 1918), pgs. 676-7. Accessed 7 November 2022
  13. ^ "An Ordinance for regulating the militia(....)" (March 29, 1777), Ordinances made and passed by the Governor and Legislative Council of the Province of Quebec (in English and French; 1777), pgs. 57-68. Accessed 30 September 2022
  14. ^ "An Ordinance for establishing courts of civil judicature(....)" (February 25, 1777) and "An Ordinance for establishing courts of criminal jurisdiction(....)" (March 4, 1777), Ordinances made and passed by the Governor and Legislative Council of the Province of Quebec (in English and French; 1777), pgs. 1-8 and 39-44. Accessed 30 September 2022
  15. ^ "An Ordinance to prevent the selling of strong liquors to the Indians(...)" (March 29, 1777), Ordinances made and passed by the Governor and Legislative Council of the Province of Quebec (in English and French; 1777), pgs. 47-56. Accessed 30 September 2022
  16. ^ "By Sir Guy Carleton," The Quebec Gazette, Nomb. 603 (May 8, 1777), pg. 2. (See also July proclamation (pg. 4) allowing some exports to Atlantic provinces and West Indies, and October proclamation (pg. 3) allowing "free exportation of Wheat") Accessed 6 October 2022
  17. ^ "Regulations for the Police," The Quebec Gazette, Nomb. 603 (May 8, 1777), pg. 4. Accessed 6 October 2022
  18. ^ "Quebec, March 20," The Quebec Gazette, Nomb. 603 (March 20, 1777), pg. 4. Accessed 6 October 2022
  19. ^ "Whereas some evil-minded[...]N.B. Ranaway[....]" (September 8, 1777), The Quebec Gazette, Nomb. 628 (September 11, 1777), pg. 3. Accessed 7 October 2022
  20. ^ "Advertisements," The Quebec Gazette, Nomb. 607 (April 17, 1777), pg. 4. Accessed 6 October 2022
  21. ^ "Advertisements; Montreal" (September 15, 1777), The Quebec Gazette, Nomb. 629 (September 18, 1777), pg. 3. Accessed 7 October 2022
  22. ^ "Advertisements; Ranaway from the Printing-office[....]," The Quebec Gazette, Nomb. 639 (November 27, 1777), pg. 3. Accessed 7 October 2022
  23. ^ "Avertissemens; Whereas it is necessary[....]" (December 8, 1777), The Quebec Gazette, Nomb. 641 (December 11, 1777), pg. 3. Accessed 7 October 2022
  24. ^ "Benjamin Marston's Diary: 1776-1787" (March 18, 1777), University of New Brunswick Archives. Accessed 6 October 2022 https://web.lib.unb.ca/Texts/marston/marston3_mod.html (scroll down to "18th 1777-03-18")
  25. ^ "An Act for restraining the exorbitant Price of Labour" 17 George III, Chapter 8 (1777). Accessed 30 September 2022
  26. ^ "An Act for more effectually preventing the Desertion of Seamen and Soldiers(...)in this Province" 17 George III, Chapter 9 (1777). Accessed 30 September 2022
  27. ^ "Halifax, June 3," The Quebec Gazette, Nomb. 623 (August 7, 1777), pg. 3. Accessed 7 October 2022
  28. ^ "Quebec, August 7; Extract of a letter, dated Canso, July 14th, 1777," The Quebec Gazette, Nomb. 623 (August 7, 1777), pg. 3. (See also detailed and rather different account of this engagement) Accessed 7 October 2022
  29. ^ "The ships for the protection[....]," The Quebec Gazette, Nomb. 639 (November 27, 1777), pg. 2. Accessed 7 October 2022
  30. ^ "Section IV(...)Newfoundland and Northern Fisheries" Essays[...]on the Real and Relative Interests of Imperial and Dependent States (1777), pgs. 23-5. Accessed 30 September 2022
  31. ^ C.W. Townsend (ed.), "Sunday, May 4, 1777," Captain Cartwright and His Labrador Journal (1911), pgs. 214-15 Accessed 6 October 2022
  32. ^ C.W. Townsend (ed.), "After which, merely by accident[....]" (November 30, 1777), Captain Cartwright and His Labrador Journal (1911), pg. 220 Accessed 6 October 2022
  33. ^ "An Exact Map of Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Gulf and River St. Laurence, and Coast of Labradore; From the Latest Observations" (1777), Library of Congress. Accessed 12 October 2022
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