1738 in Canada
{{short description|none}}
{{Refimprove|date=September 2023}}
{{Year in Canada|1738}}
{{History of Canada}}
Events from the year 1738 in Canada.
Incumbents
=Governors=
Events
- Smallpox strikes the Cherokee in the U.S. Southeast, killing almost half the population. Smallpox also reaches tribes in western Canada.{{Citation needed|date=October 2017}}
- Esther Brandeau, in the guise of a cabin boy, is the first known Jewish woman to arrive in Canada. Eventually she is deported to France for failing to embrace the Roman Catholic religion.
- Fort Rouge (the fort), built on the Assiniboine River near the Forks.
- Fort La Reine, one of the forts of the Pierre Gaultier de Varennes et de La Vérendrye western expansion, was built. It was located on the Assiniboine River near where present day Portage la Prairie stands.
- Pierre Gaultier de Varennes et de La Vérendrye travelled southwest from Fort La Reine to the area of the Missouri River in what is now North Dakota.
Births
- June 25 - Thomas Peters, black soldier and leader (died 1792)
Historical documents
New York colonial officials describe French military assets[http://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol44/pp126-142 "268 iii Answer to four queries referred by the Lieut.-Governor and Council of New York to Commissioners of Indian Affairs"] (February 4, 1738), Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 44, 1738. Accessed 7 October 2017
New York lieutenant governor warns against new French settlement and treaty with Senecas for fort that will end trade at Oswego[https://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn84024358/1738-10-16/ed-1/seq-3/ "New-York, October 23"] The New-York Gazette ("From October 16, to Monday October 23, 1738"), image 3. Accessed 16 August 2021
Regarding greater settlement of Nova Scotia, Council gives reasons it has not been possible (and it is not because they are military men)[https://archives.novascotia.ca/heartland/archives/?Number=Two&Page=120 "Council to Philipps"] (June 10, 1738), Nova Scotia Archives; Governor's Letter-Book, Annapolis, 1719-1742, pgs. 120-1. Accessed 12 August 2021
Settlers with cattle have arrived on Sable Island, and will "Succour, Help and Releive[sic]" any shipwreck victims tossed up there[https://archives.novascotia.ca/heartland/archives/?Number=Two&Page=219 "Proclamation for Settling Sable Island"] (April 10, 1738), Nova Scotia Archives; Commission Book, 1720-1741, pgs. 219-20. Accessed 12 August 2021
Tired of "meeting daily and almost constantly" to address litigious people's "frivolous and undigested Complaints," Council sets sittings[https://archives.novascotia.ca/heartland/archives/?Number=Two&Page=177 "Proclamation to the Inhabitants of N.S."] (January 13, 1738), Nova Scotia Archives; Commission Book, 1720-1741, pgs. 177-8. Accessed 12 August 2021
Lieutenant governor Armstrong tells official to act with "Lenity, Good humour and[...]live as Peaceably and Quietly with all men as possible"[https://archives.novascotia.ca/heartland/archives/?Number=Two&Page=115 "Armstrong to Mangeant"] (March 2, 1738), Nova Scotia Archives; Governor's Letter-Book, Annapolis, 1719-1742, pgs. 115-16. (See advice to another official for [https://archives.novascotia.ca/heartland/archives/?Number=Two&Page=118 "Civility, Tenderness and good Nature"]) Accessed 12 August 2021
Many of 8,000 men in Newfoundland fishery are "fresh land-men" who through hard work and weather "become pretty good sailors"[https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.20114/8?r=0&s=1 "In the years 1738, to 1741"] Considerations on the State of the British Fisheries in America and their Consequence to Great Britain (1745), pgs. 3-5. Accessed 11 August 2021
Newfoundland will begin prosecuting capital offences, sparing testifiers expensive trip to British court and loss of year's fishing[https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol44/pp59-74 "148 Council of Trade and Plantations to the King"] (April 13, 1738), Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 44, 1738. Accessed 31 December 2020
Newfoundland governor reports opposition to Irish Catholic immigrants for criminality and danger they pose to Protestants in any war[https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol44/pp59-74 498; 498 i 55 and 65 Captain Philip Vanbrugh to Council of Trade and Plantations] (November 6, 1738), Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 44, 1738. Accessed 31 December 2020
Cree promise La Vérendrye they will not trade at York Factory, and he builds fort at portage on which people "go to the English"[https://content.wisconsinhistory.org/digital/collection/aj/id/7010 Journal in the Form of a Letter Covering the Period from the 20th of July 1738(...)to May, 1739, Sent to the Marquis de Beauharnois] Journals and Letters of Pierre Gaultier de Varennes de la Vérendrye and His Sons, with Correspondence between the Governors of Canada and the French Court, Touching the Search for the Western Sea (1927), pgs. 299-300, 303-5
Program of events celebrating Pierre Gaultier de la Vérendrye's 1738 arrival in what is now Winnipeg[http://peel.library.ualberta.ca/bibliography/6240/1.html "1738; 1938; Souvenir Programme of the La Vérendrye Bi-Centennial Celebration"] Accessed 30 December 2020
Chief factor at Churchill reports that many "Northern Indians" were "put to such Streights in the Winter" that many "perished with Hunger"[https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.9_02954/61?r=0&s=3 "From Richard Norton, Churchill River, August 17, 1738"] Report from the Committee Appointed to enquire into the State and Condition of the Countries adjoining to Hudson's Bay, pg. 272. Accessed 11 August 2021
Correspondents discuss apparent but not yet accepted need to find Northwest Passage, and ways to increase enthusiasm for it[https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.35076/124?r=0&s=2 Letters X-XIV] Appendix, Remarks upon Capt. Middleton's Defence (1744), pgs. 100-7. Accessed 11 August 2021
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Canadian history}}
{{Canada early year nav}}
{{North America topic|1738 in}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:1738 In Canada}}