1777 in Canada

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See also:	History of Canada Timeline of Canadian history List of years in Canada

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Events from the year 1777 in Canada.

• Monarch: George III^[1]

• 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

• July 4 – Near Fort Ticonderoga, General Burgoyne offers condonement if colonists lay down their arms.
• September 19 – General Burgoyne's Indian and French allies desert at the battle of Stillwater.
• October 16 – Articles of Capitulation of 5,782 British, under Burgoyne are written.
• October 17 – Though aware of approaching relief, Burgoyne, having promised to capitulate, and fearing annihilation by a threatened attack, signs the capitulation. During its first session the Canadian Council passes sixteen ordinances, adopts English Commercial law, and constitutes itself a Court of Appeal, with final resort to the Privy Council in England.

• In the House of Lords, Lord Camden declares: "If I were an American, I should resist to the last such manifest exertions of tyranny, violence and injustice."
• David Thompson enters Grey Coat School

• June 20 – Jean-Jacques Lartigue, bishop of Montreal (d.1840)

Detailed strategy for British invasion via Lake Champlain includes comment that it's "a mistaken Idea of Humanity" not to employ Indigenous fighters^[2]

Garrisons, military stores, cantonments: Gen. Burgoyne on how invasion of eastern New York should be arranged in Canada (Note: "savages" used)^[3]

United States willing to conquer Britain's possessions jointly with France, giving U.S. Canada and Atlantic colonies plus half of Newfoundland fishery^[4]

"Aukwark (sic), ignorant, disinclined to the service, and spiritless" - On arrival, Burgoyne finds some Canadian troops not ready for duty^[5]

Burgoyne's orders to invasion army warn that enemy "is well fitted by disposition and practice for the stratagems and enterprizes of little war"^[6]

Burgoyne tells Indigenous allies on Boquet River that they must not shed blood after battle or harm prisoners or civilians or scalp any but corpses^[7]

Estimating size of Burgoyne's army, Alexander Hamilton assumes troops guarding Canada are not Canadians, "many of whom are notoriously disaffected"^[8]

Oneidas and "Caghnawagas from Canada" tell Gen. Schuyler that "Missesaques, Hurons & Chippeways" are with John Johnson (Note: "savages" used)^[9]

Failed Fort Stanwix siege and Oriskany battle report mentions allied "chiefs Joseph and Bull," Indigenous impetuousness, and Mississaugas' "slackness"^[10]

Burgoyne blames his failure in part on "the total defection of the Indians [and] the desertion or timidity of the Canadians and Provincials"^[11]

Gov. Carleton reports "turbulent Faction" is behind independence movement, but "Noblesse, Clergy, and [much] of the Bourgeoisie" help restore order^[12]

All men 16 to 60 must serve in Quebec militia and can be penalized for refusal, absence, or disobedience; some over 60 must supply carts and sleighs^[13]

"For the speedy administration of justice" - Quebec governor and council set up civil and criminal courts^[14]

Quebec ordinance prohibits selling rum and other strong liquor to Indigenous people, buying their clothes and arms, and unlicenced trading with them^[15]

Proclamation prohibits export of livestock, grain, flour or "bisquit[...]until it can be exactly ascertained whether [it] may be with safety permitted"^[16]

Quebec City regulations require owners to clean street in front of their buildings weekly, and prohibit on-street slaughtering and other nuisances^[17]

In Quebec City, "a Piece of Rock fell from the Ramparts over Sault-au-matelot Street, forced its Way through a Stable and killed two Horses therein"^[18]

Alexander Simpson of lower town Quebec City seeks return of "A Panese woman named Mary Ann" and offers 40 shilling reward^[19]

"M. Crofton has taken a House[...]where she proposes keeping a School for young Ladies, little Girls, and such little Boys as wear petticoats"^[20]

£4 reward offered for "a Negro man called Bruce[...]since absconded" and suspected of break and enter and theft of "a great quantity of Liquors" etc.^[21]

Gazette printer William Brown offers $4 reward for capture of "A Negro Lad named Joe, born in Africa, about twenty years of age"^[22]

Call for contractors to supply firewood to these garrisons: Quebec City (4,000 cords annually), Montreal (2,000), Trois-Rivières (1,000), Chambly (600)^[23]

Benjamin Marston arrives in Halifax after months of detention in Boston, happy to see his Eliza and hoping "to be able to provide for that dearest Girl"^[24]

Nova Scotia JPs to set "Artificers and Labourers" wages, "taking into Consideration the Circumstances of the Times and Prices of Provisions"^[25]

Concealing "any Stranger or idle wandering Person" can bring fine of £10-20 or 2-4 months in jail, and £40 or 1 year in jail for advising desertion^[26]

Backed by light infantry, Nova Scotia Council member convinces all along Saint John River (including Indigenous people) to take loyalty oath^[27]

In engagement west of Cape Sable, HMS Flora (its crew of "brave British Tars" out-numbered 4 to 1) retakes Royal Navy man of war from two privateers^[28]

Despite Royal Navy protection of Newfoundland trade, London believes Boston's "fleet of privateers" wants to take many ships and destroy rest^[29]

Colonies should not have access to Newfoundland and Labrador fisheries, which employ artificers, shippers and poor people of Britain and Ireland^[30]

After Royal Navy convoy commander improperly presses one of his crew and fails to shepherd ships, George Cartwright sails alone in privateer zone^[31]

"Young fool of a deer caught at last" - When Cartwright's "poor Indian boy Jack" steps on deer trap, Cartwright is fortunately there to release him^[32]

Map: Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Labrador south coast and Gulf of St. Lawrence islands (with numerous rivers and fishing banks)^[33]