1760 in Canada

Events from the year 1760 in Canada.

Incumbents

• French Monarch: Louis XV<ref>Guéganic (2008), p. 13.</ref>
• British and Irish Monarch: George II (died October 25),<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> George III (starting October 25)<ref name="rh">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Governors

• Governor General of New France: Pierre François de Rigaud, Marquis de Vaudreuil-Cavagnal
• Colonial Governor of Louisiana: Louis Billouart
• Governor of Nova Scotia: Charles Lawrence
• Commodore-Governor of Newfoundland: James Webb
• Governor of the Province of Quebec: Jeffery Amherst

Events

• Sunday April 20 – Seven thousand French troops start to recapture Quebec.
• Monday April 28 – Murray's 7,714 troops retire to the Citadel, after fighting the Canadiens outside the walls of Quebec. The French prepare to besiege.
• Friday May 9 – The belligerents, of each nationality, expect a fleet bringing troops and supplies. An approaching frigate proves to be British.
• Thursday May 15 – Two more British war-ships arrive. The British win a naval battle near Quebec.
• Saturday May 17 – The French raise the siege of Quebec.
• Sunday 6 July – Commencement of the Montreal Campaign by General Jeffery Amherst
• Saturday September 6 – Amherst arrives at Montreal.
• September 6 to September 7 – A council of war, at Montreal, favors capitulation.
• Monday September 8 – Amherst's, Murray's, and Haviland's commands, around Montreal, are about 17,000.
• The articles of capitulation are agreeable to the French, except that they do not concede "all the honors of war" or "perpetual neutrality of Canadiens."
• De Levis threatens to retire to St. Helen's Island and fight to the last; but the Governor orders him to disarm.
• Fortress Louisbourg demolished by the British.
• Fall of Montreal and surrender of Great Lakes and Ohio Valley French forts to English. Lord Jeffery Amherst starts a "get tough with Indians" policy, including the first biological warfare --smallpox-infested blankets. Amherst granted some Seneca (originally his allies) lands to his officers. Odawa chief Pontiac (and the Delaware Prophet) organize a resistance preaching return to traditional Indian customs. The 1761 draft Proclamation (to English governors), and the Royal Proclamation of 1763 (with a large Indian country in what's now the U.S. Great Lakes/Midwest) were part of the English Crown's attempt to mollify the Indians. Neither proclamation of undisturbed Indian lands was followed by settlers or the Crown.
• The British Conquest. General James Murray is appointed first British military governor of Quebec.

Births

• November 10 – William Black, Methodist minister (d.1834)

Deaths

• January 22 : Paul Mascarene, governor of Nova Scotia

Historical documents

To avoid frostbite, orders are issued that Quebec City garrison be supplied with moccasins "for any duty whatsoever"<ref>John Knox, "1760. January, from the 1st. to the 6th." An Historical Journal of the Campaigns in North-America, for the Years 1757, 1758, 1759, and 1760; Vol. II, pg. 238. (See also summary of winter effort to cut thousands of cords of wood, and description of dogs and men hauling wood and water from lower to upper town, plus print of "Newfoundland Dog") Accessed 9 March 2022</ref>

French train for planned escalade of Quebec City by climbing ladders against snow walls, "to the great amusement of the women and children"<ref>John Knox, "1760. January 16th. to the 20th." An Historical Journal of the Campaigns in North-America, for the Years 1757, 1758, 1759, and 1760; Vol. II, pgs. 246-7. (See failure and end of ladder practice; see also that deserter says one dollar "would induce even the Officers[...]of the miserable French army to follow my example," and also that Montrealers are in good spirits though necessities are expensive and troops on short rations) Accessed 10 March 2022</ref>

British destroy gristmill and granary supporting Hôtel-Dieu nuns, who are threatened with banishment if they continue to correspond with French<ref>John Knox, "(1760. March.) From the 21st. to the 31th." An Historical Journal of the Campaigns in North-America, for the Years 1757, 1758, 1759, and 1760; Vol. II, pg. 276. (See also "Abbess of the Augustine convent" reprimanded for spreading rumours) Accessed 10 March 2022</ref>

French force of 10,000 repels attack of James Murray's 3,000 troops near Quebec City (its garrison having lost thousands to scurvy and winter)<ref>(John) Dobson, "April 28 (1760). The Chevalier de Levis" Chronological Annals of the War; From Its Beginning to the Present Time (1763), pgs. 125-6. (See strategy and details of Murray's attack, plus description of battle and aftermath by nun in general hospital; see also recipe for "hemlock-spruce" infusion found to fight scurvy, and accounting of women working for garrison and fact that not one has become ill) Accessed 7 March 2022</ref>

"In the greatest confusion" - French abandon trenches outside Quebec (along with artillery, baggage etc.) when British ships arrive and attack<ref>(John) Dobson, "May 16 and 17 (1760)" Chronological Annals of the War; From Its Beginning to the Present Time (1763), pgs. 126-7. Accessed 7 March 2022 (See details)</ref>

Governor General Vaudreuil stretches truth about Canada's prospects for victory in letter to militia commanders<ref>"Marquis de Vaudreuil, to his militia officers" (June 3, 1760), The General History of the Late War; Vol. IV (1763), pgs. 436-8. Accessed 8 March 2022</ref>

Merchant at Quebec City expects no sale of goods shipped in "untill some decisive blow is struck[...]to open[...]a free Commerce with the Inhabitants"<ref>Letter of John Gray (June 9, 1760), Collection Centre d'archives de Québec. (See also daily market established where locals sell soldiers fish, veal, dairy etc.) Accessed 9 March 2022</ref>

Ursulines' agent in France regrets he's not able to send them assistance they need, but glad British "are making a very humane use of their victory"<ref>"Letter of Father Alain de Launay to the Reverend Mother Depositary of the Ursulines of Quebec" (Paris, April 19, 1760), The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents; Vol. LXXI (1901). http://moses.creighton.edu/kripke/jesuitrelations/relations_71.html (scroll down to Page 29) Accessed 9 March 2022</ref>

Warships from Louisbourg destroy French supply ships waiting at Restigouche because British squadron has preceded them up St. Lawrence River<ref>Letter of Lord Colville (September 12, 1760), Miscellaneous Correspondence, in Prose and Verse, pg. 531. (See details of this action on July 9) Accessed 7 March 2022</ref>

North American commander-in-chief Jeffery Amherst relates 7-week campaign down St. Lawrence (with scores drowned in rapids) to take Montreal<ref>Letters of Maj. Gen. Amherst (August 26 and September 8, 1760), Miscellaneous Correspondence, in Prose and Verse, pgs. 526-30. (See this source and this source for further details; see also 1760 painting of British taking French ship on upper St. Lawrence) Accessed 7 March 2022</ref>

Murray relates month-long campaign up St. Lawrence to Montreal, gaining submission of parishes along way (except Sorel) as French retreat<ref>Letter of Brig. Gen. Murray (August 24, 1760), Miscellaneous Correspondence, in Prose and Verse, pgs. 530-1. Accessed 7 March 2022 (See also Murray warns priests not to meddle, and defenders not to allow "savages" to attack, and also Knox' assessment of relative wealth along upper St. Lawrence)</ref>

"The Canadians are surrendering every-where" - British column from Quebec learns they are "terrified" of Johnson's approaching Indigenous fighters<ref>John Knox, "Sept. 1st. (1760)" An Historical Journal of the Campaigns in North-America, for the Years 1757, 1758, 1759, and 1760; Vol. II, pg. 381. (See also "The regulars now desert to us in great numbers" and "eight Sachems of different nations" surrender their people) Accessed 14 March 2022</ref>

Amherst announces Vaudreuil's and Canada's capitulation, noting French-aligned Indigenous people "shewed the utmost Complaisance to our Army"<ref>General Orders (September 9, 1760), Miscellaneous Correspondence, in Prose and Verse, pg. 567. (See Amherst's refusal to negotiate capitulation because of encouragement of "savages to perpetrate the most horrid and unheard of barbarities in the whole progress of the war;" see also visual allegory of Canada surrendering its crown to King George III; and also Huron-British Treaty of 1760) Accessed 7 March 2022</ref>

Text of capitulation specifies continued enslavement of "Negroes and Panis" by their French and Canadian owners, except those made prisoner<ref>Article XLVII, "Articles of Capitulation between[...]Amherst [and] Vaudreuil[....]," The London Gazette Extraordinary (October 6, 1760), 7th pg., Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Accessed 16 April 2022</ref>

Lt. John Knox tours Montreal and is more impressed with its gardens and "gay and sprightly" inhabitants than its defences<ref>John Knox, September 14, 1760 An Historical Journal of the Campaigns in North-America, for the Years 1757, 1758, 1759, and 1760; Vol. II, pgs. 453-5. (See also his long descriptive tour of entire St. Lawrence River and Gulf) Accessed 14 March 2022</ref>

At conference with William Johnson, people of Kahnawake request liquor be banned, trade regulated, priests subsidized and home ground preserved<ref>The Treaty of Kahnawake of 1760 (Montreal, September 16, 1760) "taken from The Sir William Johnson Papers, Volume XIII, pages 163-166" (See also Akwesasne and Mississauga hunters "well pleased" with surrender of Canada, and also Six Nations, Delaware and Shawnee protecting British soldiers "from the insults of the enemy Indians" plus list of nations aiding Johnson) Accessed 7 March 2022</ref>

Military governors are authorized to commission current militia officers and have them collect civilian arms and settle minor disputes<ref>"Placart de Son Excellence Monsieur le Général Amherst" (French with English translation; September 22, 1760), Documents Relating to the Constitutional History of Canada, 1759-1791 (1907), pgs. 31-3. (See also on next pages "Ordinance Establishing Military Courts") Accessed 16 March 2022</ref>

"We now have none to make us afraid" - Boston sermon celebrates conquest of Canada, where "our Religion & Liberty" can now be propagated<ref>Thomas Foxcroft, "An Acquisition this" Grateful Reflexions on the signal Appearances of Divine Providence[....] (October 9, 1760), pg. 30. (See also different interpretation of victory as ending "infinite inconveniences" and Benjamin Franklin's argument for keeping Canada) Accessed 8 March 2022</ref>

Robert Rogers sends message to Detroit commandant to remove French garrison, and assures Wendat sachems that he comes in peace<ref>Robert Rogers, Letter to Capt. Beletere(sic) (November 19, 1760), Journals of Major Robert Rogers (1765), pgs. 217-20. Accessed 9 March 2022 (See also Rogers' description of his encounters with Pontiac)</ref>

Rogers accepts surrender of Detroit, directs capture of French forces south to Ohio River and makes treaty with Indigenous nations<ref>Robert Rogers, "I landed" (November-December, 1760), Journals of Major Robert Rogers (1765), pgs. 228-30. Accessed 9 March 2022</ref>

For France, climate and expense of Canada make it "not worth their asking" in peace negotiations, unless to further contend for colonies<ref>Douglas and Bath, "The Truth of the Matter is" A Letter Addressed to Two Great Men, on the Prospect of Peace; And on the Terms necessary to be insisted upon in the Negociation (1760), pgs. 30-1. Accessed 16 March 2022</ref>

Indigenous people mention canoe routes between Fort Toronto and Lake Huron and to Thames River and Lake St. Clair<ref>Robert Rogers, canoe routes Journals of Major Robert Rogers (1765), pgs. 206-7. Accessed 9 March 2022</ref>

Nova Scotia Council to deport hundreds of Acadians from Chignecto region and Saint John River to make room for settlers from Europe<ref>Nova Scotia Council meeting (March 10, 1760), Nova Scotia Documents; Acadian French, pg. 313. Accessed 9 March 2022</ref>

"Peace and Friendship" treaties signed or renewed by Nova Scotia government and Mi'kmaw, Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet), and Passamaquoddy peoples<ref>"Copy of Authenticated Copy of 'Treaty of Peace and Friendship concluded by the Governor... of Nova Scotia with Paul Laurent, Chief of the La Heve tribe of Indians'" (March 1760), and treaty with "Tribes of Passamaquody and St. Johns River Indians" (February 23, 1760). Accessed 9 March 2022</ref>

"Great Incouragement to Industry" - Nova Scotia's bounties on hay, hemp, flax and oats, plus "good and sufficient Stone Wall" on Halifax Peninsula<ref>"An Act for further extending of Bounties and Premiums" (1760), 34 George II - Chapter 19, British North American Legislative Database, 1758-1867. Accessed 7 March 2022</ref>

Because of dung and garbage that butchers leave in streets, Halifax will have public slaughterhouse to provide meat to public market<ref>"An Act for building a publick Slaughter House in the Town Halifax, and for regulating the same" (1760), 34 George II - Chapter 13, British North American Legislative Database, 1758-1867. Accessed 7 March 2022</ref>