# 1796 in Canada

Events from the year 1796 in Canada.

## Incumbents

* Monarch: George III

### Federal government

* Parliament of Lower Canada: 1st (until May 31)
* Parliament of Upper Canada: 1st (until June 3)

### Governors

* Governor of the Canadas: Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester then Robert Prescott
* Governor of New Brunswick: Thomas Carleton
* Governor of Nova Scotia: John Wentworth
* Commodore-Governor of Newfoundland: John Elliot
* Governor of St. John's Island: Edmund Fanning
* Governor of Upper Canada: John Graves Simcoe

## Events

* About 600 Jamaican Maroons are deported from Jamaica to Nova Scotia. They helped rebuild the Halifax Citadel. In 1800, most petition to be sent to Sierra Leone, Africa.
* York officially becomes the capital of Upper Canada.

## Births

* March 10 – Julia Catherine Beckwith, author (d.1867)
* May 5 – Robert Foulis, inventor, civil engineer and artist (d.1866)
* May 8 – Jean-Baptiste Meilleur, doctor, educator and politician (d.1878)
* June – Thomas Brown Anderson, merchant, banker and politician (d.1873)
* December 17 – Thomas Chandler Haliburton, author, judge and politician (d.1865)

### Full date unknown

* John Redpath, Scots-Quebecer businessman and philanthropist, Born in Earlston, Scottish Borders, Scotland. (d.1869)

## Deaths

* July 10 – Joseph Fairbanks, merchant and political figure in Nova Scotia. (b. 1718)

## Historical documents

Secretary of War informs Gov. Gen. Lord Dorchester that U.S. Army detachments are ordered "to take possession of the forts to be evacuated"
To objections to British subjects' right to stay on in evacuated forts, one writer says they number fewer than 3,000, most of them French Canadians
Bostonians narrowly support petition asking U.S.A. to observe Jay Treaty terms to ensure value of U.S. merchant property taken by British is restored
British preparation to evacuate western posts and French capture of U.S. vessel put American hostility toward Britain and France in "a kind of equipoise"
U.S. merchants are already benefitting from Jay Treaty guarantee of "free trade with Canada," sending "large supplies of foreign goods" for specie and furs

### Lower Canada

At election time, look for "wisdom, knowledge, and experience[...]in the higher classes of Society, [not] a Carpenter or a Cook or Blacksmith"
Concerned about treason and sedition, Lieutenant Governor and Executive Council order all subjects of France who have arrived since 1794 to leave L.C.
At treason trial, prosecution witness claims accused told him he "was there for the purpose 'of bringing about a revolution in Canada'"
Importing fresh or salted beef and pork as well as hog lard from U.S.A. is to be allowed because "it is expedient[...]for and during a limited time"
Any "Guide, Conductor, Canoeman, Batteauman or Winterer" to Upper Canada or "Indian Country" must have written, notarized agreement with client
Blank forms available for insurance policies, bills of exchange, bills of lading, bonds, powers of attorney, attestations, apprentice's indentures etc.
After French privateer schooner captures brig in Gulf of St. Lawrence, fog clears and Navy frigate retakes brig but loses privateer in fog
Surgeon "will prescribe for[...]the most inveterate venerial [sic] complaints; Hysterics or Mal de Maerice, [and contagious] mal de la baye St. Paul"
Having been severely beaten by her husband, Mrs. Smith refuses reunion and will carry on running military mess in Quebec City herself
Books in Quebec Library include "Blackstone's Commentaries; Bentham on Morals and Legislation; Priestley on Air; and Smith's Wealth of Nations"
Jobseeker knows "all kinds of Housewifery, is well skill'd in puff'd and rais'd Paste, and capable of pickling and preserving; and also[...]good Butter"
Elizabeth Simcoe describes her intense fear while descending "Rapids of the Cedars" and Lachine rapids on St. Lawrence River
Year-old body of drowned woman found on Île aux Oies with pair of pockets containing cucumber and melon seeds, wheat grains and silver money
Canadian Theatre in Quebec City mounts Le Bourgeois gentilhomme; tickets available "at Mr. Lehoullier Perfumer's opposite to Ferguson's Hotel"

### Upper Canada

Lt. Gov. Simcoe speech notes U.C.'s loyalty "during a period of awful and stupendous events [threatening] all that is valuable in civil society"
Young man seeking land is son of man with "extensive Commerce until reduced by the sudden revolution in the markets at the Close of the war"
Rodolph Roch, German who served under Riedesel, wants 300 acres for self and widow of soldier "hanged by the Americans on the Mohawk River"
Land petitioner seeks 48,000-acre grant for 38 Irish immigrants amounting to 1,200 acres each in single settlement on Thames River
Joseph Brant upset that Grand River land granted to "Five Nations" doesn't belong to them and that creation of townships has "destroyed" hunting
Camcommenania and nine other "principal Chiefs, Warriors and People of the Chippewa Nation" sell tract on Thames River near "Deleware Village"
Negig and twelve other "principal Chiefs, Warriors and People of the Chippewa Nation" sell tract along St. Clair River and Chenail Ecarté River
Elizabeth Simcoe describes log building on Don River with 16 ft. pine pillars in portico, called "Castle Frank" after her son Francis

### Nova Scotia

With prices beyond ability of poor to pay, contributions needed for purchase of firewood for them, and bread prices should be further regulated
Lt. Gov. Wentworth says difficulties of Blacks brought to N.S. in 1783 have changed to health and happiness as they mostly provide for themselves
Merchant Jonathan Fowler of Digby sells "a female Negro Child named Cathranie about two years old" to John Crosscup of Granville for £5
Just arrived "about 500 Maroon negroes from Jamaica, with two gentlemen[...]to superintend the settlement of those blacks in this Province"
To connect with eastern N.S., private company authorized to gather funds for construction of Halifax Harbour drawbridge and charge tolls for 99 years
Apple River farmers, because of "deadness of the times," are in Halifax to "raise Stocks and lay in Stores" while others try to take their land
Five landowners apply for additional land in intertidal zone (amounting to 103 acres) at edge of their properties in Annapolis County
Counties authorized to set bounties and other regulations for killing wolves, bears, "loup cervier" (Canada lynx) and "wild cats" (bobcat?)
Reward of $100 for Duncan Macdonald, described as "a Highland Scot [with] the broad Highland accent and Pronunciation," and wanted for murder
Minister of Wilmot Church of England congregation explains financing of church construction by sale of pews and annual assessment on pew owners
During Sunday service in Truro, spark from Rev. Cock's chimney sets fire to his roof, and high wind pushes fire to destroy more than dozen barns
Ship sailing to Passamaquoddy struck by lightning "which so shattered her main and mizen masts[...]that they were rendered entirely useless"
Phebe Moody contracted "to keep a light in the light house at the entrance of [Halifax] Harbour"
Drug and medicine store has in stock "Salt Petre; Insinglass; Sago and salep; Essence of: Coltsfoot; Peppermint; Pennyroyal; Bergamot" etc.
Damage done to Dartmouth pastures, streets and lanes rooted up by pigs running loose causes court to restrict their movements and impose fines
St. Patrick's Day levee sees Prince Edward, Lt. Gov., Council and Assembly members in "sociability and good humour [of] liberal and enlarged minds"

### New Brunswick

Ships coming to Saint John carrying contagious disease to be inspected and possibly quarantined (up to 40 days), with £200 fine for infractions
Black man Robert Ross, not given land since Loyalist arrival, wants 200 acres of "broken" land for him to find enough good land to improve
George Leonard, Christopher Billop and Abraham de Peyster are among pallbearers at funeral of Jonathan Sewall Sr.
Acadians say that at poll, candidate Stair Agnew required them to take oath which would cause them to "abjure their Religion and be forever lost"
James Glennie, long-time provincial assembly member and critic of N.B. elite, is given Freedom of the City in Saint John
Elizabeth Sweeny, 16, dead of smallpox "notwithstanding she had been innoculated three different times some years back"
Prince Edward asks Lt. Gov. Carleton for "any tall, handsome Soldiers of your Provincial Corps who should volunteer to enter into my regiment"

### Elsewhere

Lt. Gov. Fanning notes Saint John Island's prosperity from "vast annual Increase" in produce exports and "valuable Articles of Wheat and black Cattle"
Kahnawake, Akwasasne and other Seven Nations of Canada leaders drop New York land claim for £1,233 6/8 one-time payment and yearly £213 6/8
Town burned and destroyed at Bay of Bulls, Newfoundland by French fleet, and elsewhere people held by French are returned under flag of truce
Homebound Elizabeth Simcoe lessens fear of meeting French warships by playing cards and taking peppermint for "an excruciating headache"
Hudson's Bay Company headquarters tells Moose Factory that war in Europe restricts number of men and goods they can send, including liquor
"Scene of horrors" - Ice driven by gale rapidly causes flood at Fort Albany, crushing bateau and threatening livestock
From Trento, General Buonaparte reports French Army's Italian successes in detail and dramatic fashion ("Cavalry sabred the Advanced Posts")
"I made the signal for a general chase" - Commodore Horatio Nelson reports on his squadron's capture of French convoy in Mediterranean Sea