1776 in Canada

• Governor of the Province of Quebec: Guy Carleton
• Governor of Nova Scotia: Mariot Arbuthnot
• Commodore-Governor of Newfoundland: John Montagu
• Governor of St. John's Island: Walter Patterson

• Colin Campbell, army officer and colonial administrator (d.1847)

Maj. Gen. Schuyler tells Washington that attempt to take Quebec City has failed, Brig. Gen. Montgomery is dead and reinforcements required in Canada[2]

Maryland delegate to Congress recommends Catholic fellow delegate and himself to go to Canada to rally support and raise troops for rebel cause[3]

Commander in occupied Montreal on "many Enemies in this province" (especially clergy), locals commissioned to his forces, and need of heavy arms[4]

Washington emphasizes to Arnold importance of victory in Canada to "crown our virtuous struggles" and "Render the freedom of [our] Country secure"[5]

"Jean Baptist or Ogaghsagighte" and others chiefs, sent by Kahnawake and other First Nations, tell Washington they can send fighters to Schuyler[6]

Montrealer Preudhome La Jeunesse wants Congress to send agents to explain to clergy and gentry their goals in war and their friendship toward Canada[7]

Arnold says his army struggles with smallpox, poor clothing and worse pay, attractions of deserting, and "Trouble of Reconceleing [with] Inhabitants"[8]

Benjamin Franklin, Chase and Carroll sent to form executive commission in Canada and urge Canadians to unite with and adopt American democracy[9]

Logistical, strategic and political challenges "for our little Army and for the Poor Canadians who have taken part with the United Colonies"[10]

John Adams admits "we have been a little tardy in providing for Canada[;] however We have been roused at last, and I hope have done pretty well"[11]

Commissioners in Montreal find Continental money worthless, their people no longer trusted and Congress thought bankrupt and its cause desperate[12]

With newly arrived reinforcements, Gov. Carleton routs rebel force that has besieged Quebec City for five months and seizes their blockade ships[13]

British plans were to include sending Burgoyne with 10,000 troops (Hessians, Hanoverians and British) to Canada to join up with Gage on Hudson River[14]

John Adams says simply, "Our affairs in Canada are in a confused and disastrous situation. But I hope they will not be worse."[15]

Brig. Gen. Sullivan reports "men Women & Children Leaping & Clapping their hands" as he arrives at Sorel to meet British thrust up St. Lawrence River[16]

Maj. Gen. Schuyler receives word that army's attack on British at Trois-Rivières has been defeated, and it must retreat to St.-Jean for return home[17]

Believing "there has been very gross Misconduct in the Management of our Affairs in Canada," Congress orders general inquiry into officers involved[18]

Sullivan reports from upper Richelieu River that his retreat to Lake Champlain is threatened by smallpox pandemic in his troops (Note: "savages" used)[19]

"How happy for us" - Montreal residents congratulate Gov. Carleton and "the brave and loyal Citizens of Quebec" for victory over rebels[20]

"Extraordinary efforts of resolution" - With larger naval force, Carleton defeats Brig. Gen. Arnold to regain control of Lake Champlain[21]

Congress sends home Canadians captured unarmed, but makes Luc de la Corne and another agree not to take up arms against U.S. or aid its enemies[22]

Map spanning regions from Lac St.-Pierre to Cape May, including Montreal, Lake Champlain and eastern Six Nations territories[23]

"A Declaration would have influenced our Affairs in Canada" - John Adams says his pro-reconciliation and anti-independence colleagues lost Canada[24]

Governor, lieutenant governor, chief justice and Council (or any five of them) make up Quebec's new court of appeal[25]

In dispute with governor, Peter Livius accuses Carleton of bypassing Council (by August 8, 1776 order), with five favourites making major decisions[26]

Praise for Carleton's humanity "towards our deluded Countrymen who have been either bullied or betrayed into the present unnatural Rebellion"[27]

With end of U.S. occupation, Gazette printer William Brown happily renews ties with subscribers to "The Most Innocent Gazette in the British Dominions"[28]

Grain in storage and big current crop allow reopening of general wheat exportation, but restrictions remain on shipping flour, biscuits and livestock[29]

"A Citizen of Quebec" requests effective market regulation and prevention of "Huxtering, Engrossing, Forestalling, &c.[...]at a great Height in this City"[30]

Carleton finds nothing to fear from Canadians during prosperity and nothing to hope from them (besides honourable few) during times of distress[31]

Instruction offered "Young Gentlemen[...]in various Literature," including "Locke on the human Understanding,[...]Milton, Shakespeare, Pope, Gay, &c."[32]

Peter Fitzgerald disclaims marriage to (and debts of) "a Woman lately arrived from Halifax, in Nova-Scotia, who calls herself Mary FitzGerald"[33]

"I hate the Climate where Rebellion + Fanaticism are ingendred" - Loyalist disowns revolutionary Massachusetts in letter to Edward Winslow[34]

Cumberland County, Nova Scotia resident tells Washington that many there support Colonies and all Acadians do, but troops must be sent to help them[35]

"The rebels[...]obliged Gen. Howe to quit Boston" - British troops and loyalists leave Boston for Halifax[36]

Lt. Gov. Arbuthnot, noting inflation despite departure of fleet and army, declares anyone charging more than set prices for food to be "Extortioners"[37]

Report from Halifax that "a considerable body of rebels" are besieging Fort Cumberland and "people in Halifax are in great consternation"[38]

Arguing how low-cost pre-war governments in North America were, Adam Smith points to Nova Scotia's £7,000 "a year towards the publick expences"[39]

Nova Scotia law allows local court to fine ("amerce") township residents who neglect to vote funds to support local poor people[40]

Haligonian seeks "a Negro Woman named Florimell [who] wears a Handkerchief round her Head, has Scars in her Face[...]and is not very black"[41]

Rev. John Breynton of Halifax sells "Negro Woman Called Dinah about twenty five years of age" to Peter Shey of Falmouth for £23/6/8[42]

"I have learned sorcery, and I have practised it, but that is the road to the greatest darkness" - Inuk named Kingminguse is baptised at Nain[43]

George Cartwright's instructions for building foot bridge, one of his many practical projects for living in Labrador[44]

"Mountaineer" (Innu) way of hunting deer with musket allows them to fire shots more quickly, but "they generally over-charge" with too much gunpowder[45]

Getting "burnt" by touching cold metal, Cartwright recalls lines from "Hudibras": "And many dangers shall environ, The man who meddles with cold iron"[46]

At their meeting, Six Nations and "seven Tribes" from Canada agree to remain neutral, though some (Senecas, Mohawks) are ready "to act against Us"[47]

Maj. Gen. Schuyler's early June correspondence on "Attack of the upper Indians against our Western Frontiers" in New York (Note: "savages" used)[48]

Massachusetts General Court signs treaty with Mi'kmaq and "St John's Indians" to recruit fighters for "Service of the United States" (Note: see footnotes)[49]

Thomas Jefferson tells fellow Virginian that Congress has so strongly warned Six Nations against attacking that they "keep their people in quiet"[50]

Letter from Albany says Kanien’kéhà:ka sachems objected to Schuyler's expedition against John Johnson, but admitted it was allowed under their treaty[51]

Henry on Prairies: "The country was[...]a continued level, without a single eminence; a frozen sea, of which the little coppices were the islands"[52]

Henry listens to Assiniboine players of drums, gourds etc. with women singing - "the sweetness of their voices exceeded whatever I had heard before"[53]

"When they move, the sounds keep time, and make a fantastic harmony" - Assiniboine and Cree women put small bells and deer hooves on skirt hems[54]

Chipewyans from Lake Athabasca canoe down to Henry's post on upper Churchill River to trade 12,000 beaver skins (plus slaves) over three days[55]

Continental Congress agent at French court to acquire (along with uniforms and weapons) £40,000 worth of "goods for presents to the Indians"[56]

"I can see thee, My Father; can talk with thee and can invoke thy mercy" - "Sioux chief" shares pipe with Carleton (Note: "savages" and "squaw" used)[57]

Illustration: "Key for Benjamin West's 'Death of General Wolfe'" has detail of figures in painting, including Brig. Gen. Monckton and surgeon Mr. Adair[58]