1740 in Canada

Template:Short description Template:More citations needed Template:Year in Canada Template:History of Canada Events from the year 1740 in Canada.

Incumbents

• French Monarch: Louis XV<ref>Guéganic (2008), p. 13.</ref>
• British and Irish Monarch: George II<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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Governors

• Governor General of New France: Charles de la Boische, Marquis de Beauharnois
• Colonial Governor of Louisiana: Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville
• Governor of Nova Scotia: Paul Mascarene
• Commodore-Governor of Newfoundland: Henry Medley

Events

• 1740s: The Mandan Indians west of the Great Lakes begin to trade in horses descended from those brought to Texas by the Spanish. Itinerant Assiniboine Indians bring them from Mandan settlements to their own territories southwest of Lake Winnipeg.
• 1740-1748:<ref>Template:Citation</ref> The War of the Austrian Succession, with the American counterpart King George's War.

Deaths

• August 20 : François-Louis de Pourroy de Lauberivière, bishop of Quebec (b. 1711).

Historical documents

Description of making and using Mi'kmaw canoes, both moosehide (in past) and birchbark currently used<ref>"Mi'kmaq Canoes" (translation of ca. 1740 letter), from Ruth Holmes Whitehead, "The Old Man Told Us: Excerpts from Micmac History, 1500-1950" (Halifax: Nimbus Publishing Ltd., 1991). Accessed 26 August 2021</ref>

Woman in Montreal who needs money sells enslaved 20-year-old Pawnee named Manon for 300 livres "in receipts from the Beaver trade"<ref>"Sales contract for a slave from the panis (Pawnee) nation" (translation; September 7, 1740), Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 26 August 2021</ref>

In spring and summer, Joseph La France canoes Rainy Lake and Lake of the Woods, meeting Monsoni Ojibwe and "Sturgeon Indians"<ref>Arthur Dobbs, "On the South-west Side of the Lake(...)" An Account of the Countries adjoining to Hudson's Bay (1744), pgs. 33-4. Accessed 31 August 2021</ref>

Suffering from gout, Jesuit ministers to Indigenous people, parish of 400 and distant members of his flock near Montreal (Note: "savages" used)<ref>Letter of Father Luc François Nau (October 2, 1740), The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. LXIX. Accessed 31 August 2021 http://moses.creighton.edu/kripke/jesuitrelations/relations_69.html (scroll down to Page 45)</ref>

Council president Paul Mascarene "notifies the Indians and inhabitants" of Nova Scotia that King has declared war on King of Spain<ref>"Notice of Declaration of War" (May 15, 1740), Nova Scotia Archives; Commission Book, 1720-1741, pg. 236. Accessed 30 August 2021</ref>

To preserve "Indulgence they have heitherto Enjoyed," Acadians are reminded to conform to government orders and decisions<ref>"Mascarene to the Deputies" (May 27, 1740), Nova Scotia Archives; Governor's Letter-Book, Annapolis, 1719-1742, pgs. 133-4. Accessed 27 August 2021</ref>

Mascarene letter (summary) ends with warning to Acadians to be loyal or face reaction that "will involve the innocent with the guilty"<ref>"Mascarene to Bergeau" (July 7, 1740), Nova Scotia Archives; Governor's Letter-Book, Annapolis, 1719-1742, pg. 137. (See Mascarene to Bourg for elaboration) Accessed 27 August 2021</ref>

Acadian deputies to handle "restless spirits" so that "community may not make itself suspected, and avoid the ruin which may overtake it"<ref>"Memoire pour Monsieur; 4" (May 27, 1740), Nova Scotia Archives; Commission Book, 1720-1741, pg. 241. Accessed 30 August 2021</ref>

Mascarene specifies some civil service roles, and is concerned that in "these thirty years past," Protestants have not peopled Nova Scotia<ref>Mascarene to Board of Trade ("received 19 Nov. 1740"), Nova Scotia Documents; Acadian French, pgs.110-11. Accessed 31 August 2021</ref>

Handling Acadians' need for new land when it is allowed only to Protestants means letting them take land anyway or expelling them<ref>Mascarene to Secretary of State (November 15, 1740), Nova Scotia Documents; Acadian French, pgs.108-10. Accessed 31 August 2021</ref>

Fearing unauthorized priest will direct when "a stroke" is to be given their government, Council decides his community must expel him<ref>Steps taken against Father St. Poncy (September 18, 1740), Nova Scotia Archives; Minutes of H.M. Council, 1736-1749, pgs. 32-3 Accessed 30 August 2021</ref>

Priests forbidden to excommunicate "Whereby to Deprive His Majesty's Subjects[...]of Assistance or means To Procure their Livelyhood"<ref>"Proclamation Regarding Romish Priests" (July 3, 1740), Nova Scotia Archives; Commission Book, 1720-1741, pg. 242. Accessed 30 August 2021</ref>

Mascarene advises missionary priest of King's supremacy over both Catholic Church and his conduct in Nova Scotia<ref>"Mascarene to des Enclaves" (July 4, 1740), Nova Scotia Archives; Governor's Letter-Book, Annapolis, 1719-1742, pg. 135. (See following two entries (pgs. 135-6) for details of government policy on religion) Accessed 27 August 2021</ref>

Mascarene reports that some shippers into and out of Nova Scotia are not clearing with port authorities<ref>"Mascarene to Wm Pegrum, Surveyor Gen." (June 7, 1740), Nova Scotia Archives; Governor's Letter-Book, Annapolis, 1719-1742, pgs. 134-5. Accessed 27 August 2021</ref>

"Succeeded far above our Expectations" - "Indian trade" at Oswego has undercut prices at Montreal by half and increased trade fivefold<ref>"From J. A. Esq; to Mr. P. C. of London, shewing the Success of the Measures taken at that Time" (New York, 1740), The History of the Five Indian Nations of Canada (1747), pgs. 42-4. Accessed 26 August 2021</ref>

"Be always on your Guard" - Hudson's Bay Company urges Bay staff to be prepared for (probably unlikely) attack by Spanish<ref>"Extract of a Letter to the chief Factor and Council, at Prince of Wales's Fort" (May 1, 1740), Report[...]into the State and Condition of the Countries adjoining to Hudson's Bay (1749), pg. 282. Accessed 26 August 2021</ref>

Given war with Spain and perhaps France, chief factor at Prince of Wales Fort cancels next year's northern expedition in order to augment defences<ref>"From Richard Norton and Council" (August 9, 1740), Report[...]into the State and Condition of the Countries adjoining to Hudson's Bay (1749), pg. 273. Accessed 26 August 2021</ref>