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Events from the year 1785 in Canada.
In Commons debate, one speaker says claim Canada and Nova Scotia can supply all West Indies' needs is "groundless," and another totally disagrees[2]
Massachusetts report calls cod fishery in Nova Scotia "inconsiderable;" Newfoundland too dependent on U.S.; and French "no great hand" at it[3]
British Americans warned that British preference for colonies' whalers and trade to West Indies will be lost if U.S. is allowed same advantages[4]
Get-rich-quick hopes of exporting to U.S. "are evaporating in bankruptcy;" Americans are "inhabitants of an exhausted country [never] able to pay"[5]
John Adams says U.S. issues with Britain, whether western posts or other matters, are made worse by states' treatment of loyalists[6]
Prime Minister Pitt receives Commons support to pay £150,000 (raised through lottery) to Loyalists to cover some of their various claims[7]
Charleston, S.C. gives Loyalists 3 extra months beyond what's allowed under peace treaty to regain their property before they must leave[8]
Albany newspaper on punctuality of return of Indigenous-held captives compared to British withholding western posts (Note: "savage" used)[9]
Petition from "greatest part of the inhabitants" of Canada asks for house of assembly, though spirit of independence is "much to be feared"[10]
John Adams speculates that Carleton, Haldimand, Hamilton and Brant are in London to discuss various issues with British government[11]
Comprehensive ordinance mandates jury trials "in actions of a commercial nature and personal wrongs to be compensated in damages"[12]
Lt. Gov. Henry Hamilton thanked by 80 Montreal merchant and trading firms for jury trial ordinance and facilitating "Trade to the Indian Country"[13]
65th Regiment will relieve 8th in Canada, and join 29th, 31st, 34th, 44th and 53rd regiments[14]
For sale: Mont-Louis seigneury about 100 leagues below Quebec City, considered "best on the river St. Lawrence for carrying on the Cod Fishery"[15]
More than £540 was raised for poor in 1784 to care for 71 people in Hôtel-Dieu, with medical expenses of £187+ and £166+ for food, bedding etc.[16]
London fund of £40,000 "ready for immediate advancement" in loans of £200 or more based on security of borrowers' life insurance policies[17]
Quebec City barrister offers to assess security of funds anyone wishes to lend for 1-2 years or provide in form of annuity[18]
For sale: "Negro-wench" (26; "understands thoroughly every kind of house-work") with her child, "stout Negro-boy" (13), and horse, cariole and harness[19]
Elizabeth McNiell offers $6 for return of "Negro Man named Cuff [who] has some scars on his temples and a scar on one of his hands"[20]
After death of child hit by log thrown off cliff into lower-town Quebec City, people should not drop sticks and stones there (Note: wound described)[21]
Noting "disadvantages" of young women seeking "a polite and liberal Education," teacher will show they can shine in "Literary World" as much as males[22]
Montreal's "variety of amusements" include private concerts for "the Cream of the Town" that lead to jealousy and duelling[23]
William and Charlotte Goudges apologize for injuring "the Character of Miss Peggy Shankle[...]by wrongfully accusing her of stealing"[24]
Petition calls for district west of Montreal that, though under government of Canada, will have British laws and regulations Loyalists favour[25]
Lt. Gov. Henry Hope suggests Loyalists' rations continue until 1786 harvest because they have planted all this year's grain crop[26]
Six Nations superintendent says 1,000 are living on Grand River "in a very promising state," though settlers among them are disorderly[27]
John Deserontyon's disappointment at Haldimand and Brant, and "Love & Care" for his women, children, and Loyalists ("whose Cause is ours")[28]
Gov. Haldimand recommends indulging Haudenosaunee because U.S. is trying to woo them back, but "Western Indians" require less indulgence[29]
Montreal merchant, owner of islands opposite Cataraqui "granted to his ancestors," advises settlers not to clear or build on his land[30]
Hector St. John de Crèvecoeur describes Niagara Falls, including long, difficult descent to rocks below Horseshoe Falls[31]
"Thoughtfull" warns in letter-to-the-editor that lack of paper money will lead to province's "wretchedness" in trade and agriculture[32]
As West Indian merchants seek commerce with U.S., "it is highly necessary we should [compete] at all points" (timber, fish, cattle etc.)[33]
One ship in port has 123 barrels of oil from whaling off Brazil, and another's owner to be first "gentleman" to take province's produce to England[34]
Too little relief for Loyalists is caused by "poverty" rather than lack of will, and delay in getting each claim's exact information[35]
British commissioners have arrived "to enquire into the Losses and Services" claimed by Loyalists unable to be present in England[36]
Halifax official has "abundance of distressful stories" from N.S. and N.B. of danger of starvation from "shortness of provisions"[37]
"Lawless outrage" - £20 reward offered for information leading to conviction of person(s) who destroyed gates of turnpike on Sackville Bridge[38]
Fewer suspects to be jailed when cases of "simple Larceny" or not involving life or limb are tried in special Justice of the Peace courts[39]
Shelburne Chamber of Commerce unanimously agrees to establishment of loan bank[40]
Shelburne-Annapolis link to be funded by subscription, with 50 acres along road to "be allowed" for every pound subscribed (£20 limit)[41]
Description of timber, fishery and livestock around what is now Digby County, where "the Settlers are generally Poor but industrous"[42]
1,500-acre Windsor-area farm for sale, with brew and bake houses, grist mill, granaries and orchards; livestock and "farming utensils" also for sale[43]
Surveyor informs Gov. Parr that Blacks have settled on 1-acre lots near Digby, and should not be forced to move and "begin anew"[44]
Black preacher John Marrant publishes his life story before leaving London for Nova Scotia, where he will found Methodist church in Birchtown[45]
Edward Winslow describes his "three black servants or slaves" (editor's footnote), Caesar, Frank and Juba[46]
Recently "was tried and convicted Anthony Johnston, and Henry Graham, two Negro Men for a Rape," and also "a Negro Woman" for theft[47]
"To Be Sold; A stout Negro Girl about Nine Years old, for further Particulars enquire of the Printer"[48]
"Negro Man" John Gibson alias John Boocher sought by Halifax man offering $10 reward[49]
Report that statehood convention is being organized in Maine, where people prefer Nova Scotia to Boston as trading partner[50]
Learn dead reckoning and finding latitude and longitude by celestial means without spending time on theory of "little Use to seamen in General"[51]
Mrs. Mollierre announces school where girls can learn French and mantle-making business; also offers French lessons for ladies[52]
"A Wom[a]n with good Breast of Milk, Wants a Nurse Child. Enquire of the Printer"[53]
"The cultivation of social love" - Minister encourages Masons to pursue their tradition of charity and benevolence[54]
William Ellis and 13 others of Windsor thank 54th Regiment leaders for treating their soldiers so well that they never abused townspeople[55]
Nova Scotia official Edward Winslow tells his wife they can finally prepare to move to New Brunswick, where he will work in provincial government[56]
New Brunswick Loyalist (from Virginia) praises N.B. geography, timber resources, shipbuilding, fishery and grazing, and their prospects[57]
Saint John, N.B. charter grants only white residents liberties of "freemen" and restricts Black economic activity as mayor sees fit[58]
Miramichi too underpopulated to make government job there pay, so Benjamin Marston considers "going into the Commission business" to sell goods[59]
Bills of sale of enslaved Black man Josiah Cutten show Montrealer buys him for £32/10 and "gray Horse" in February and sells him for £50 in March[60]
Rules established for firefighters' organization in Parrtown, Saint John (Note: few pages are missing)[61]
60-year-old John Hall, 18-year Irish Black resident, petitions for land he was cheated of by neighbour's fraud; Council says pursue claim in court[62]
Although veterans are granted 20 acres of land and sergeants 30, Sgt. Thomas Peters of Black Pioneers and 13 comrades receive 1 acre each[63]
"I have been this winter almost [sic] at Deaths door" - William Fisher, former servant, has received no land or provisions since being freed[64]
Privy Council finds confiscation of John Macdonald's and other Proprietors' land was illegal and "Purchasers[...]are liable to heavy damages"[65]
Quakers allowed to affirm instead of swear oath in court, but not allowed to give evidence in criminal prosecutions[66]
Painting: "Founding of Sydney, 1785;" reproduction of William Booth's watercolour (August 1785)[67]
Males may get sentence of up to 1 year in coal mines in addition to receiving burn in hand for grand larceny and whipping for petty larceny[68]
Persons owed £5 or less can seek summary judgment against their debtors in weekly court of commissioners appointed to hear such cases[69]
All sales of game (venison, moose, bear, hare, rabbit, partridge, pigeon, duck or other waterfowl) in Sydney must be at public market[70]
Bill to temporarily restrict U.S. trade to Newfoundland to bread, flour and livestock, and that only in British-built and -owned ships[71]
Admiral John Campbell reports more than 50 merchant ships have sailed from Newfoundland to "Lisbon, Oporto, Alicant, &c."[72]
Three lives and 7,000 quintals of fish lost as ship from Newfoundland founders on Caparica shore near Lisbon; rest of crew saved "with great difficulty"[73]
Report from Boston that British frigates fired on U.S. fishers on Grand Banks[74]
George Cartwright finds "incredible" slaughter of penguins and other birds happens on Funk Island, and fears they will be nearly wiped out[75]
Cartwright finds convicts brought to Labrador from Newgate Prison "so intolerably idle that nothing but severity can induce them to do their work"[76]
Master of Hudson's Bay Company sloop hears Inuit have many wolf and deer skins and are "very glad" to know there will be annual trade[77]
Census (by or for Daniel Claus) lists Indigenous nations, mostly between Lake Huron and Lake Winnipeg[78]
Loyalist says that situation is "very unpleasant" in New York because of "Imposts, Rents, enormous Taxes &c we poor Tories have got to pay"[79]
Congress to compensate Canadians Pierre Ayotte, James Livingston and Thomas Walker for services to Continental Army and revolutionary cause[80]