1803 in Canada


Events from the year 1803 in Canada.

Incumbents

Federal government

Governors

Events

Births

Full date unknown

Deaths

Historical documents

War returns as British government orders naval ships as well as vessels commissioned by letter of marque to seize ships belonging to French Republic
Keeping troops "upon their present footing" in Canada and other northern colonies costs about £200,000, but "there are considerable colonial funds"
Trade is discouraged because colonies are not allowed to directly import wine, oil, fruit etc. in exchange for their fish, lumber etc.
U.S. envoy Robert R. Livingston has told French "it was necessary to interpose us between them and Canada an attack from that quarter"
Report in London says U.S.A. has purchased Louisiana from France for $40 million
Jurisdiction of courts of Upper and Lower Canada is extended to "Indian Territories or Parts of America "

Lower Canada

With smallpox spreading through city, Gazette recommends "speedy" inoculation with cowpox matter possessed by Quebec City physician
Reading or writing is limited on average to 5 men in country parishes; only priests, clerks, notaries, attorneys and soldiers need those skills
All resident men 18–60 must enroll in militia and those 40 and under must muster annually and give account of all firearms they have
Government to pay bounties for hemp production and sets prices for hemp and hempseed
To Catholics considering us "Schismatics" and "Protestant Sectaries" thinking us "slaves of authority," Anglicans should offer "superior goodness"
Treason law is against subverting constitution and "introducing the horrible system of anarchy and confusion which has so fatally prevailed in France"
When required, "every Rector, Curate, Vicar, or other Priest or Minister doing the Parochial or Clerical duty of any Parish" must read acts publicly
Suspecting arson in recent Montreal fires, government offers £500 reward for information leading to conviction of arsonist
Cargo going from Montreal to Michilimackinac includes 9 kegs gunpowder, 3 bags shot and 2 cases guns, all for export via "Ouisconsin" portage
At Kahnawake mass, "Indians sing or chant very well & the Women in particular have excellent Voices;" clothing has quillwork and beadwork
"Private Lectures on Geography &c. for Young Ladies onlywith Globes, Maps, Charts &c. together with a Planetarium, Lunarium, Tellurium &c."
"A woman of colour lately arrived" advertises in Quebec City to "attend one or more Ladies to any part of Europe"
At Quebec City, "we were struck with the Grandeur & elevation of the Banks of the River especially where Upper Town's height commands the River"

Upper Canada

Among exports to Lower Canada in 1802 were 11,400+ barrels of flour and 18,500+ feet of black walnut boards and planks
Howard Township successful hemp production brings in $1,127 profit from 12 acres of hemp, comparable to income from 65 acres of wheat
Missionary reports "the 25,000 acres allotted by the British Government for the use of the Christian Indian Congregations secured to them"
Print: "York, the New Capital of Upper Canada, As it appeared in the Autumn of 1803"
Drawing: Queenston, Upper Canada

Nova Scotia

House of Assembly resolution that £200 be paid to "distressed Indians" at £20 per county is not agreed to by Council
Our first fault "is that in the fall of Adam we lost most prevailing characteristic of nature and essence, love"
Politician James DeLancey sues Halifax merchant for harbouring escaped enslaved man Jack, employing him and refusing to return him
Incoming University of King's College students must have knowledge of Greek and Latin, including Virgil, Horace, "the Greek Testament," Homer etc.
Mission schoolmaster, praised for his many years of devoted service, is said in early years to have slept on straw and eaten herring and potatoes
Sable Island commissioners request detailed report from its superintendent on likelihood of growing food and fishing and sealing there
New Englander, resident in Horton Township since 1760, dies at age 107 and leaves more than 100 descendants

New Brunswick

Four "descendents of the Ancient Chiefs of the pockmouche tribe, which are now reduced to only two famillys," receive 200 acres of land each
Survey of Northumberland County gives population as 479 families and status of hay crop, fishery, and timber resources
Legislature news includes bounty paid for hemp and Council voting down bills to finance schools and allow Methodist clergy to perform marriages
Charlotte County needs help supporting indigent people crossing U.S. border and "sick and maimed Seamen" left on shore "in a suffering condition"
£200 from Indian fund would spur "man of eminence" to be mathematics professor in proposed academy "of the highest importance to this Country"

Labrador

Moravian missionaries upset about "the injury would do to our baptized Esquimaux" drawn to "their uncontrouled behaviour"
"Esquimauxare not all so firmly rootedin the faith, that they might notenter into some of the ways of the heathen when left to themselves"

Cape Breton Island

"The Island of Cape Breton is replete with natural advantages far exceeding any other British settlement in North America"
Names of residents with property qualification for grand or petit jury will go on individual slips of paper to be drawn when needed for jury duty
Man fathering child with woman he is not married to must provide support or face fine or jail, and any woman making false claim faces whipping

Hudson's Bay Company

Churchill post blacksmith found walking in snow complains "of great lowness of Spirits" and "having but little sleep for 14 nights"
Gardens at Churchill post produce 6¾ tons of "excellent" turnips and 6-700 small but "very fine quality" cabbages

Elsewhere

Chief Maquinna's anger at insults from captain of British trading ship in Nootka Sound leads to his revenge on crew