1739 in Canada
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{{Year in Canada|1739}}
{{History of Canada}}
Events from the year 1739 in Canada.
Incumbents
=Governors=
Events
- Joseph La France begins to explore between Lake Superior and Hudson Bay.
- Census of New France counts 42,801 inhabitants.{{cite web|url=http://estat.statcan.gc.ca/cgi-win/cnsmcgi.exe?Lang=e&ESTATFile=/ESTAT/English/A17394.HTM|title=1739 - Census of New France|work=Statistics Canada|access-date=2018-08-23|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708151636/http://estat.statcan.gc.ca/cgi-win/cnsmcgi.exe?Lang=e&ESTATFile=/ESTAT/English/A17394.HTM|archive-date=2012-07-08|url-status=dead}}
Births
- February 23: Jean-François Hubert, bishop of Quebec (d. 1797)
- August: Alexander Henry the elder, fur trader, merchant, militia officer, jp, and author (d. 1824)
Deaths
- May 19: Marie Barbier de l'Assomption, sister of the Congrégation de Notre-Dame (born 1663)
= Full date unknown =
- Thomas Bird, Hudson's Bay Company chief at Albany Fort
Historical documents
After trouble trading with French, Joseph La France canoes from Sault Ste. Marie to York Factory with scores of beaver pelts[https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.9_02954/32?r=0&s=3 "Number II"] (Narrative of Joseph la France), Appendix to the Report on the State and Condition of the Countries adjoining to Hudson's Bay; &c., pgs. 243-6. Accessed 6 January 2021
J.P. Aulneau's mother learns that Sioux who killed him have been defeated so often that they have sued for peace (Note: "savages" used)Letter of Fr. Luc François Nau to Madame Aulneau (October 12, 1739). Accessed 18 August 2021 http://moses.creighton.edu/kripke/jesuitrelations/relations_69.html (scroll down to Page 33)
Lengthy rationale for greater settlement of Nova Scotia comprises fishery, naval stores, agriculture and French threat[https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol45/pp234-273 "544 Representation by Lieut-Governor Lawrence Armstrong to the King"] (1739 or earlier), Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 45, 1739. Accessed 20 August 2021
Spain having committed "depredations" and "many cruelties and barbarities" to British without compensation, letters of marque are to be issued[https://archives.novascotia.ca/heartland/archives/?Number=Two&Page=127 Letter and warrant] (June 15, 1739), Nova Scotia Archives; Governor's Letter-Book, Annapolis, 1719-1742, pg. 127. Accessed 18 August 2021
Of more than £250,000 owed Britain by Spain for ships illegally taken, £8,000 is for five ships from Newfoundland (perhaps among others)[https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.20101/13?r=0&s=1 "Spain to Great Britain; July 1739"] The Profit and Loss of Great Britain in the Present War with Spain (1741), pg. 8. Accessed 7 September 2021
Governors of Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and 13 other colonies (plus leader of Georgia) notified of King's declaration of war against Spain[https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol45/pp192-215 436 Circular to governors regarding war declaration against Spain] (October 29, 1739), Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 45, 1739. Accessed 20 August 2021 (See [https://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn84024358/1739-02-05/ed-1/seq-2/ "His Majesty's Declaration of War against the King of Spain"])
Nova Scotia governor details province's military assets, which are much weaker than on neighbouring Île-Royale (and Acadie and Canada)[https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol45/pp174-191 "368 i A state of the province of Nova Scotia by Maj-Gen Richard Philipps, governor"] (September 5, 1739), Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 45, 1739. (Scroll down to another opinion "As to the state of the garrison at Canso" under 374) Accessed 20 August 2021
President of N.S. Council says Annapolis Royal vulnerable to French capture because fort weak and troops mostly raw and undisciplined[https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol45/pp234-273 "507 President John Adams to Commissioners for Trade and Plantations"] (December 10, 1739), Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 45, 1739. Accessed 20 August 2021
Board of Trade member offers plan of forces to use for Spanish Caribbean expedition, including "old soldiers" from Nova Scotia regiment[https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol45/pp234-273 "515 Martin Bladen to Lord Harrington"] (December 14, 1739), Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 45, 1739. Accessed 20 August 2021
Canso's 9 or 10 resident families build/maintain stages for and give support to 70 summer visitors from New England (Piscataway to Falmouth)[https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol45/pp215-234 472 Capt. Temple West's answers to queries re Canso fishery] (received November 21, 1739), Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 45, 1739. Accessed 20 August 2021
French fishery off Nova Scotia described in great detail, including use of province's Atlantic shore (prohibited to British fishers)[https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol45/pp174-191 374 i "A state of the French fishery at Cape Breton"] (July 9, 1739), Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 45, 1739. Accessed 20 August 2021
Nova Scotia lieutenant governor Lawrence Armstrong commits suicide after "a long time frequently Afflicted with Melancholy fitts"[https://archives.novascotia.ca/heartland/archives/?Number=Two&Page=128 Letters of John Adams] (December 8, 1739), Nova Scotia Archives; Governor's Letter-Book, Annapolis, 1719-1742, pgs. 128-9. Accessed 18 August 2021
Lt. Gov. Clarke of New York says people fear war with Spain will bring in France, and urges defence build-up and presents for Six Nations[https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol45/pp153-174 356 George Clarke to Commissioners for Trade and Plantations] (August 30, 1739), Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 45, 1739. (See rationale for Six Nations presents in [https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol45/pp234-273 "522 Commissioners for Trade and Plantations to Committee of Privy Council"]) Accessed 19 August 2021
"A rupture with France is mentioned in the newspapers as a thing we are to expect" - N.Y. Assembly votes money for extensive defence works[https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol45/pp215-234 "486 Lieut-Governor George Clarke to Commissioners for Trade and Plantations"] (November 30, 1739), Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 45, 1739. Accessed 20 August 2021
Clarke says that though French claim all land in Great Lakes watershed, boundary through Lakes is more than they can expect[https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol45/pp90-111 "178 Lieut-Governor George Clarke to Commissioners for Trade and Plantations"] (May 24, 1739), Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 45, 1739. Accessed 19 August 2021
Clarke says "peopling" of country north of Saratoga with recently arrived British families will strengthen frontier and trade[https://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn84024358/1739-03-27/ed-1/seq-2/ Speech of Lt. Gov. Clarke to General Assembly] (March 27, 1739), The New-York Gazette ("From March 27, to Monday April 2, 1739"), image 2. Accessed 23 August 2021
Clarke warns of need to resist French settlement of property between Crown Point and Albany long since purchased from Indigenous people[https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol45/pp112-130 219-220 Correspondence of Lt. Gov. Clarke] (June 1739), Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 45, 1739. Accessed 19 August 2021
Governor of Canada insists on claim to Great Lakes watershed, but gifts local claim near Crown Point to "Mohawks and his own Indians"[https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol45/pp215-234 485 iv Letter of N.Y. Indian commissioners to Lt. Gov. Clarke] (undated 1739), Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 45, 1739. Accessed 20 August 2021
New Hampshire lieutenant governor warns of province's "very defenceless condition," including fort that can't even keep cattle out[https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol45/pp130-153 "290 Lieut-Governor David Dunbar to Commissioners for Trade and Plantations"] (July 25, 1739), Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 45, 1739. (See [https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol45/pp153-174 322]: advice that N.H. needs its own governor) Accessed 19 August 2021
Arthur Dobbs thinks discovery of Northwest Passage might make possible intercepting Spain's Acapulco ships from California to Panama[https://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.35076/134?r=0&s=1 "No. XVII"] (October 30, 1739), Remarks upon Capt. Middleton's Defence (1744), pg. 110. Accessed 24 August 2021
References
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