1794 in Canada

Events from the year 1794 in Canada.

Incumbents

 * Monarch: George III

Federal government

 * Parliament of Lower Canada — 1st
 * Parliament of Upper Canada — 1st

Governors

 * Governor of the Canadas: Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester
 * 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

 * 1794 – Baranov builds first vessel in northwestern America at Voskres-senski on Kenai.
 * Jay Treaty establishes neutral commission to settle border disputes between United States and Canada; restores trade between the United States and British colonies of Canada; also guarantees Indians free movement across the border.
 * June – Close of a session of the Canadian Legislature, which began in November last. Only six acts have been passed. Public accounts are first published for tax-payers' information.
 * June 29 – Petition of Free Negroes.

Births

 * Daniel Tracey, doctor, journalist and politician (died 1832)
 * Oliver Goldsmith, poet (died in 1861)

Deaths

 * March 26 – Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra, naval officer, explorer, administrator (born 1744)

Historical documents
New York newspapers say John Jay picked for negotiation with Britain, and Congress believes outcome will determine whether U.S.A. goes to war or not

London trader reports arrival of John Jay with prospects of British surrender of northwestern U.S. posts and consequences for traders there

George Washington condemns British "agents" for Indigenous "hostilities, the murders of helpless women and innocent children along our frontiers"

Joseph Brant said to have found Indigenous people "disheartened," and "that People interfering caused a Division" that will cost them their country

Jay Treaty calls for British troops to leave U.S. territory, reciprocal free passage across most borders, compensation for British creditors, etc.

Just arriving off Delaware Bay, British warships capture provisions convoy headed for France, including 11 flour-laden ships from U.S. ports

Map: British territory from Upper Canada - Lower Canada border to Newfoundland and southern Labrador (Note: click on image to enlarge it)

When French prisoners of war complain about being locked up with Caribbean Blacks, British tell them revolutionary France declares all men are alike

Elizabeth Simcoe thinks battles dramatized on stage will harden English, making them "become their friends' executioners as the French have been"

Lower Canada
Legislation sets regulations for aliens entering L.C., for detaining persons suspected of treason, and stopping seditious practices

Loyal Associations form in several towns; 658 in Quebec City sign loyalty pledge to maintain Constitution, support government and oppose sedition

Petitions to Gov. Lord Dorchester, signed by 150 Beauce residents, hope to atone for formerly following lead of "seditious characters"

"Atoyataghroughta" of Akwesasne says his people seek peace between U.S.A. and "Indians[...]but Brant[...]puts the Tommyhawk in their hands"

Men 18-60 (including immigrants of 3 months standing) must enroll in militia; families of men killed in action to receive £4 annually

Reward of $20 in New Richmond, Gaspe for return of "Negro Man named Isaac, who[...]speaks good English and some broken French and Micmac"

Advice is to not put children in cradles (because their motion can injure) —- not even if women don't want to be "suckling their children"

River travel between Montreal and Quebec City is "very pretty [but Upper Canada's warmth] gives an idea of comfort to the most uninhabited scenes"

Upper Canada
Long description of U.C.: Kingston, Newark and York/Toronto and their environs, settlement along Yonge St., and trade both to Montreal and to West

Lt. Gov. Simcoe's long report on U.C.: fur trade, smuggling, settlements, agriculture, communications and Indigenous affairs (note: "savages" used)

U.S. President Washington wants to know how residents of Canada (especially in U.C.) would react if U.S.A. and Britain went to war

Before news of Jay Treaty, Simcoe assumes frontier post evacuation and suggests U.C. military plan that will earn Indigenous peoples' respect

With Jay Treaty signed, Simcoe is told to assure Indigenous people that trade links and supplies will increase and new trading posts be developed

Militia (16- to 50-year-olds) may call up others to age 60; limited exemption also for "quakers, menonists and tunkers" who are 50 and older

"[...]nothing since my arrival in this Country has given me more uneasiness than the pernicious use of Spirits by the Inhabitants and Soldiers"

Anglican Bishop of Quebec's long report on Protestant religion in U.C. (especially need for Anglican clergy and churches; note: "savages" used)

Lt. Gov. Simcoe gives 40-year history of British-Indigenous relations to "Indian Nations Assembled"

Mississaugas and Ojibwe people at Lake Simcoe and on Thames River object to surveying as sign their land is being taken from them

Elizabeth Simcoe learns Indigenous people call Big Dipper "a marten[...]with a broken tail," and never kill wolves (as they aren't good eating or value)

Deputy Surveyor General and militia captain Augustus Jones' petition for Burlington Bay lot to make up 1,200 acres is turned down by Council

Ex-lieutenant in "Six Nation Indian Department" seeks land for 70 U.S. families who are "entire strangers to[...]deceptions[...]of Landjobers"

Ex-captain in New York City militia, compensated for war losses with Nova Scotia land "Not answering for a Farmer," petitions for 3,000 acres

Land boards settling Loyalists and veterans abolished; new settlers must be Christian, law-abiding and "inoffensive," and "capable of manual labor"

Richard Pierpoint and 17 other Black people sign Petition of Free Negroes for grant of land in Upper Canada where they can support each other

Moravian missionary on Thames River says that, despite war, "some fruit begins again to appear in the conversion of the Heathen around us"

Painting: tree used as bridge over Don River at Toronto

Nova Scotia
House of Commons debates whether Halifax is nearly defenceless or safe in hands of local militia leads to motion calling for further study

Sketch map of Halifax shows current and proposed defences (Note: click on image to enlarge it)

Though far away, war affects N.S. community by raising prices for labour and British goods and checking "growth of these new plantations"

Captured U.S. privateer "is one of the Nest of Privateers, which, to the disgrace of the [neutral] American Government," sails out of Charleston, S.C.

"Agricola" says N.S. agriculture has advanced to point that meat must no longer be imported from Boston and importation of bread will soon end

Profile of Marine Society of Halifax with its background and goals in saving lives of marine disaster victims

Act validates any past or future real estate conveyance made with her husband by any married woman, as long as judge "acknowledges" it

Reward of $20 for return of "Negro" named Belfast, native of South Carolina, who attempted boarding ship in Halifax harbour bound for Newfoundland

To avoid deterring Blacks from "binding out their Children," Shelburne grand jury seeks return of young indentured servant sold in West Indies

Reacting to extreme markups on English goods, Free Blacks in Sierra Leone threaten white government, which offers to return them to Halifax

At request of lieutenant governor's wife, classic comedy She Stoops to Conquer will be performed at Halifax Theatre

New Brunswick
Lt. Gov. Carleton says war with France is important "to the most essential interests of humanity, and even to the existence of Civil Society"

All white males 16-60 are liable to join militia, with limited exemptions for government officials, clergymen, physicians and Quakers

Miramichi letter-writer says "very little business done here [and hopes] peace may be the means of restoring us to a more flourishing situation"

Saint-John-based schooner sailing from Martinique loses its master and mate to fever, leaving landsmen aboard to find their way as far as Maine

Elsewhere
At John Graves Simcoe's request, Alexander Mackenzie summarizes his 1793 journey from Peace River to Pacific coast and back

"I am so brave, I think I could kill one myself" - Army wife Archange Meredith ready to shoot any Frenchmen who invade England

Archange Meredith in England finds apples very good, but not comparable to Montreal's pome gris, while cherries are better than Detroit's