Events from the year 1807 in Canada.
Incumbents Monarch: George III
Federal government Parliament of Lower Canada: 4th Parliament of Upper Canada: 4th
Governors Governor of the Canadas: Robert Milnes Governor of New Brunswick: Thomas Carleton Governor of Nova Scotia: John Wentworth Commodore-Governor of Newfoundland: John Holloway Governor of Prince Edward Island: Joseph Frederick Wallet DesBarres
Events The slave trade is abolished in the British Empire, although slavery continues in the colonies. The Embargo Act aims at keeping US ships out of European conflicts. David Thompson crosses Rockies and builds a trading post at headwaters of Columbia River. NWC Upper Kootenay House is built by David Thompson. In the spring John Colter joins Manuel Lisa at the Platte River who winters on Yellowstone River at the mouth of the Bighorn River. The British ship Leopard searches the U.S. Chesapeake for deserters, kills some of the crew and takes Radford, who is hanged. Pending satisfaction, the United States close their ports to British ships, though reparation is tendered. Thomas Jefferson signs bill banning all foreign trade following British attacks on American shipping. Election of Ezekiel Hart in Trois-Rivières during a by-election on April 11. Horse racing was introduced to Quebec, following the arrival of Sir James Craig. The first race took place in July 1807.
Births May – William Workman, businessman and municipal politician (d.1878) August 31 – John Young, 1st Baron Lisgar, Governor General (d.1876) October 4 – Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine, politician (d.1864) December 14 – Francis Hincks, politician (d.1885)
Full date unknown Joseph Casavant, manufacturer of pipe organs (d.1874)
Deaths July 20 – Jean-Marie Ducharme, fur trader (b. 1723)
Historical documents Imported from Canada at Port of London "last week" were skins of 216,000 deer, 186,000 beaver, 125,000 raccoons, 54,000 marten, 15,000 wolves etc."From a late London Print; There were imported[....]," National Intelligencer, and Washington Advertiser (May 8, 1807) Library of Congress. Accessed 9 September 2024
Some "paragraphs relating to the differences with Great Britain[...]extracted from the Official paper of the American Government" allude to war"Quebec, Sept. 3, 1807; The following paragraphs[....]," The Quebec Gazette, September 3, 1807, Cahier 1 pg. 3, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. (See also U.S. article (pg. 4, bottom) saying Canada not worth keeping by British nor winning by U.S.A.) Accessed 26 August 2024
Boston report says U.S. force ready for foreign duty is smaller than Canada and Nova Scotia forces, and French resist raising Canadian militia"Extract from the Boston Repertory[....]" / "Extract of a letter from a Gentleman in Canada[....]," The Quebec Gazette, October 29, 1807, Cahier 1 pg. 2, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 29 August 2024
Publication of Heriot's Travels through the Canadas is timely because it shows what would "in all probability" be lost in war with U.S.A."Analyses of New Voyages and Travels, Lately Published in London" Travels through the Canadas (1807?), pg. 1 (Image 6). Accessed 20 August 2024
Michilimackinac reports revolt led by man assuming "the character of a Manitou or prophet" to rouse Indigenous people (Note: "savages" used)"New York, September 16; Extract of a letter from[...]Fort Michillimakinak[....]" (July 24, 1807), The Quebec Gazette, October 8, 1807, Cahier 1 pg. 4, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. (See also in message to Congress (pg. 4, right column top), President Jefferson says "military precautions" not necessary among Indigenous peoples) Accessed 27 August 2024
Quebec Gazette reports on "good authority that the whole of the Indian nations" in U.S.A. would seek to ally with Britain in case of war"Quebec, Sept. 3, 1807; (To the above intelligence[....]," The Quebec Gazette, September 3, 1807, Cahier 1 pg. 3, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 26 August 2024
Britain reluctantly signs treaty with U.S. that does not let Canadian and Hudson's Bay Company traders operate in LouisianaLetter to James Madison from James Monroe (January 3, 1807), U.S. National Archives. Accessed 6 September 2024
Canadian Courant says British traders are harassed at U.S. inland ports with "extortionary Duties" and "quibbling difficulties""Subjects of complaint against the United States relating to British America[....]," The Quebec Gazette, October 29, 1807, Cahier 1 pg. 2, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 29 August 2024
Halifax court-martial finds Royal Navy sailor guilty of deserting while his ship was in U.S. port (which had led to Chesapeake–Leopard Affair)The Trial of John Wilson, Alias Jenkin Ratford, for Mutiny, Desertion, and Contempt(....) (1807?). (See also initial coverage (pg. 2, under "Quebec, 2d July, 1807") of incident by U.S. newspaper, and Quebec Gazette editorial (pg. 2, under "Quebec, 23d July, 1807") on incident, and (...)Enquiry into the Question of the Chesapeake, and the Necessity and Expediency of War (1807)) Accessed 20 August 2024
Lower Canada Argument for bank in L.C. includes need to supplement cash with banknotes (especially for trade with U.S.), and for "punctuality" in merchants' deals"To the Editor of the Quebec Mercury," The Quebec Mercury, January 5, 1807 pg. 2, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. (See also criticism of this argument) Accessed 22 August 2024
Quoted in translation, Le Canadien says "Anti-Canadians, who have an interest in misrepresenting us," falsely claim they are not loyal to King"Montreal, November 19, 1807," The Canadian Gazette, November 19, 1807 pg. 3, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 30 August 2024
U.S. preparations for war have prompted similar measures in L.C., including 20% of militia (men 18–50) levied, their "zeal manifested""Quebec, Sept. 3, 1807," The Quebec Gazette, September 3, 1807, Cahier 1 pg. 3, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. (See also "A gentleman from Quebec(....)"(4th column) reports "plains before" Quebec City are cleared, cannon and military stores are collected and soldiers are paid "to encourage them") Accessed 26 August 2024
Exporting "Gun-powder, Ammunition, Arms and warlike Stores" to non-British territories prohibited and approval required to remove from any magazineProclamations (August 12 and 19, 1807), The Quebec Gazette, August 20, 1807, Cahier 1 pgs. 1–2, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 26 August 2024
Upcoming weekly Montreal newspaper is announced "to every patriot and friend of his country who sincerely wishes its welfare and prosperity""Proposals for Printing in the City of Montreal, a Weekly News-paper[....]" (March 30, 1807), The Quebec Mercury, April 6, 1807 pg. 112, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. (See also first issue of The Canadian Gazette) Accessed 23 August 2024
Montreal Island farmer says wheat exports are limited by European supply (except during "scarcity"), lack of Canadian shipping, and poor quality"Mr. Brown[....]," The Canadian Gazette, November 12, 1807 pg. 4, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 30 August 2024
Insurance allows fire victims to rebuild and "re-establish themselves;" premium is lower in generally stone-built Montreal and Quebec City"Phoenix Assurance Office, Montreal[....]," The Quebec Gazette, May 7, 1807, Cahier 2 pg. 4, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. (See also breakdown (pg. 4) of premiums in timber-built towns) Accessed 26 August 2024
Their employer's ad in newspaper says 5 indentured servants have left him, taking tools and owing him money, and that no one should employ them"Whereas Robert Knox, Millwright[....]" (April 30, 1807), The Quebec Gazette, April 30, 1807, Cahier 2 pg. 2, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. (See also Quebec Mercury (pg. 144) in which five answer that employer has given too little money for provisions and firewood, and made other breaches of contract; and also see statement (pg. 4) denying what five stated) Accessed 23 August 2024
"Engaged and bound" – Contract ties 20-year-old worker to Northwest Company for five years"Before the Subscribing Public Notaries for the Province of Lower Canada[....]" (April 22, 1807), Pioneer Papers – No. 1 (1908), pgs. 45-6 (frame 118). Accessed 9 September 2024
Master carpenter Jean-Baptiste Bédard is granted exclusive right to erect bridges according to his two government-approved designs (described)An Act to grant to Jean Baptiste Bedard the exclusive right and privilege of erecting Bridges in this Province, according to the models therein mentioned (April 16, 1807), British North American Legislative Database, 1758–1867. (See also painting of "new bridge") Accessed 19 August 2024
Law authorizes Quebec Benevolent Society, whose members pay to support themselves in "Sickness, Old Age and Infirmity," and widows and childrenAn Act for the encouragement and relief of certain persons therein named and others, and authorising them to associate themselves by the name of the “Quebec Benevolent Society,” under certain Restrictions, Rules and Regulations(....) (April 16, 1807), British North American Legislative Database, 1758–1867. Accessed 19 August 2024
"Le Canadien affects to dread being falsified, alias anglified; that is, he objects to his base metal being plated with gold""Le Canadien affects to dread[....]," The Quebec Mercury, January 26, 1807 pg. 7 (right column), Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. (See also Boston newspaper's advice (pg. 55, bottom centre) that "tranquil and happy" Canada adopt "a spirit of forbearance, conciliation and candour") Accessed 22 August 2024
"The Canadians find that they have got the whiphand of the English" in L.C., with their majority in and right to speak French in assembly"The Canadians find(....)" (March 1807), Letters from Canada written during a residence in the years 1806, 1807, and 1808[....] (1809), pg. 101 (frame 118), University of Michigan. Accessed 9 September 2024
New York dentist at Quebec City coffeehouse transplants teeth, sets "Natural and Artificial ones" and arrests "decay of those partly destroyed""D. Rosseter, Dentist[....]," The Quebec Gazette, September 3, 1807, Cahier 1 pg. 4, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 26 August 2024
New Quebec City resident is tired of servants, whether rural women or soldiers' wives, who are incompetent and impertinent"Mr. Cary, Sir --[....]" (April 7, 1807), The Quebec Mercury, April 20, 1807 pgs. 123–4, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 23 August 2024
Frances Brooke's "fine drawings of the happy state of Canada [are] wondrous captivating in a novel," but her times were as scandalous as now"Mr. Editor[....]," The Quebec Mercury, April 27, 1807 pg. 130, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 23 August 2024
In December in Quebec City, "we have all assumed our winter dresses; furs and flannels are substituted for nankeens and muslins""Letter XIII" (December 1807), Letters from Canada written during a residence in the years 1806, 1807, and 1808[....] (1809), pg. 164 (frame 182), University of Michigan. Accessed 9 September 2024
Former backwoodsman, now living in Montreal, blames his earlier vanity and lack of manners for his ill-success in beau monde"Mr. Cary, I am one[....]," The Quebec Mercury, April 20, 1807 pg. 124, Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 23 August 2024
Painting: French Canadians in circle dance"La Danse Ronde, Circular Dance of the Canadians (Québec)" (1807), Toronto Public Library. Accessed 21 August 2024
Painting: French Canadians dancing minuet"Minuets of the Canadians (Québec)" (1807), Toronto Public Library. Accessed 21 August 2024