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1756 in Canada

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1756
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Events from the year 1756 in Canada.

Incumbents

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Governors

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Events

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  • France sends two battalions to Canada, with provisions, and 1,300,000 livres, in specie, which has the effect of depreciating the paper currency by 25 per cent.
  • March - A Canadien force of 300 captures Fort Bull, between Schenectady and Oswego, and puts the garrison to the sword.
  • May - Montcalm reaches Quebec with 1,400 soldiers.
  • The Canadiens, suffering from smallpox and famine, are burthened with the support of their Indian allies.
  • Saturday August 14 - Though opposed to attacking any British fort, Montcalm, at the head of 3,100 regulars, Canadiens and Indians, captures Fort Oswego, - a success attributable, mainly, to his intercepting a message to General Webb, commanding 2,000 men in the vicinity. Colonel Mercer is killed. The garrison (1,780) and about 100 women and children are taken prisoners.
  • The Marquis de Montcalm assumes a troubled command of French troops in North America. (The Seven Years' War between Britain and France begins in Europe).

Births

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Deaths

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Historical documents

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British declaration of war against France mentions encroachment "particularly in our province of Nova Scotia" and French troop buildup[3]

William Johnson delivers some French prisoners to Six Nations to compensate for death of Hendrick and others at Battle of Lake George[4]

Johnson's advice to Six Nations includes gathering nations in and being "unanimous in your councils, and also in the field"[5]

French align with Indigenous interests by localizing trade, alliance and influence, and expanding to forts and "real command over the country"[6]

Rogers' Rangers reconnoitre French-held Ticonderoga and Crown Point, and prisoner discloses Marquis de Montcalm's arrival from France[7]

British sloop and companions chased by four large French schooners on Lake Ontario before escaping into Oswego[8]

Lengthy narration of Montcalm's capture of Oswego forts in August and analysis of British mismanagement leading to it[9]

"Best constructed of any in our possession" - Pallisaded Fort Eagle is built with moat near Oswego, but torn down after Oswego's fall[10]

"The main Point" - Lord Loudoun advises Duke of Cumberland to mount campaign against Quebec City by way of St. Lawrence River[11]

Evangelical society wishes to teach "a few Indian Boys" at its New York school, but difficulties (including war) prevent it[12]

Halifax oppressed by military establishment that makes all laws (including by-laws), takes government jobs and even seizes firewood[13]

Indigenous people in Nova Scotia favour French "caressing and courting them," in contrast to violent British (Note: "savages" used)[14]

Rangers sent to Saint John River find transport taken by Acadians who had overwhelmed its crew, but ship burned before rangers can retake it[15]

Acadians gathered under French command outside peninsular Nova Scotia, along with Mi'kmaq and "St. John Indians," number 1,500 men[16]

Gov. Shirley says Massachusetts will not suffer "unreasonable Burthen" of Acadians sent there, but "enable and induce" their self-support[17]

Notice in Bristol, England newspaper of arrival of hundreds of Acadian deportees sent from Virginia, and of local welfare payments made to them[18]

Board of Trade "extremely anxious" that lands vacated by expelled Acadians be soon settled for "future strength and Prosperity of the Colony"[19]

Secretary of State Henry Fox tells Charles Lawrence to improve Chignecto forts and reinforce garrisons with troops coming from Ireland[20]

References

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  1. ^ Guéganic (2008), p. 13.
  2. ^ "George I". Official web site of the British monarchy. 30 December 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  3. ^ John Entick et al., "His Majesty's declaration of war against the French King" (May 17, 1756), The General History of the Late War; Vol. I (1763), pgs. 390-4. (See also French war declaration against British, and war timeline) Accessed 17 January 2022
  4. ^ "At a meeting of 586 of the six nations and their allies" (February 18, 1756), An Account of Conferences held, and Treaties made, Between Major-general Sir William Johnson [and] Indian Nations in North America, pgs. 24-5. Accessed 20 January 2022 https://digitalarchive.tpl.ca/objects/342324/an-account-of-conferences-held-and-treaties-made-between-m (turn to PDF frame 36 - "Brethren of the Onondagas[...]")
  5. ^ "At a meeting of the six nations" (February 23, 1756), An Account of Conferences held, and Treaties made, Between Major-general Sir William Johnson [and] Indian Nations in North America, pgs. 41-3. Accessed 20 January 2022 https://digitalarchive.tpl.ca/objects/342324/an-account-of-conferences-held-and-treaties-made-between-m (turn to PDF frame 53; see also (at frame 58) Six Nations' assertion of importance of trade to alliance with British, even for remotest nations)
  6. ^ Thomas Pownall, "Appendix; Section I; A Memorial: Stating the Nature of the Service in North America(...), 1756" The Administration of the Colonies (1765), pgs. 13-16. Accessed 21 April 2022
  7. ^ "June 28, 1756"Journals of Major Robert Rogers (1765), pgs. 20-2. (See also brief description of Ticonderoga) 18 January 2022
  8. ^ "Eyewitness Account of Naval Engagement off Oswego" (July 2, 1756), New York [City] Mercury (July 26, 1756). Accessed 20 January 2022
  9. ^ John Entick et al., "The siege of Oswego resolved upon" The General History of the Late War; Vol. I (1763), pgs. 473-89. (See Peter Williamson's narrative of being wounded and falling prisoner at Oswego, and engineer Patrick Mackellar's timeline of his experience up to surrender; also see one author who blames William Shirley for British setbacks in New York, and another who supports him) Accessed 17 January 2022
  10. ^ "In the succeeding year" An Impartial Account of Lieut. Col. Bradstreet's Expedition to Fort Frontenac (1759), pg. 13. Accessed 18 January 2022
  11. ^ "12. I have in my Letter" (October 2, 1756), Military Affairs in North America; 1748-1765 (1936), pgs. 235-6. (See Cumberland replies that expedition planned for Louisbourg should lead to "the main Point") Accessed 22 January 2022
  12. ^ "However in the Beginning of the Year 1756" An Answer to[...]Observations on[...]the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, pg. 40. Accessed 19 January 2022
  13. ^ "I have therefore" An Account of the Present State of Nova-Scotia (1756), pgs. 2, 6-9. Accessed 17 January 2022
  14. ^ "At present these savage nations" "Letter from Mons. de la Varenne[....]" (Louisbourg, May 8, 1756), An Account of the Customs and Manners of the Micmakis and Maricheets Savage Nations, &c. (1758), pgs. 84-90. Accessed 19 January 2022
  15. ^ "Governor Lawrence to Governor Shirley" (February 18, 1756), Nova Scotia Documents; Acadian French, pgs. 296-8. Accessed 20 January 2022
  16. ^ "Extract of a Document entitled, 'Remarks relative to the State of the Forces in Nova Scotia'" (March 30, 1756), Nova Scotia Documents; Acadian French, pgs. 298-9. Accessed 20 January 2022
  17. ^ "Govenor Shirley to Legislature of Massachusetts" (February 13, 1756), Nova Scotia Documents; Acadian French, pgs. 295-6. Accessed 27 January 2022
  18. ^ "On Friday last arrived" "Bristol, June 26," Bristol Journal (June 26, 1756), Centre d'études acadiennes, Université de Moncton. (See also Lawrence's "Circular to the Governors on the Continent" asking them not to allow Acadians to return north) Accessed 16 January 2022
  19. ^ "Extract from Letter Lords of Trade to Governor Lawrence" (July 8, 1756), Nova Scotia Documents; Acadian French, pgs. 300-1. Accessed 20 January 2022
  20. ^ "Henry Fox to Governor Charles Lawrence" (August 14, 1756), Military Affairs in North America; 1748-1765 (1936), pg. 222. (See Cumberland makes "1200 Soldiers draughted from Ireland" available to Loudoun) Accessed 21 January 2022
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