1803 in Canada

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Events from the year 1803 in Canada.

• Monarch: George III^[1]

• Parliament of Lower Canada: 3rd
• Parliament of Upper Canada: 3rd

• Governor of the Canadas: Robert Milnes
• Governor of New Brunswick: Thomas Carleton
• Governor of Nova Scotia: John Wentworth
• Commodore-Governor of Newfoundland: Charles Morice Pole
• Governor of St. John's Island: Edmund Fanning

• Thomas Jefferson completes Louisiana Purchase extending U.S. control west of the Mississippi River; federal plans to resettle Eastern tribes beyond the Mississippi soon begin.
• John Colter becomes the fourth man selected by William Clark to join the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
• The XY Company is reorganized under Alexander Mackenzie's name.
• First Canadian Paper Mill is built in Quebec.^[2]

• October 13 – Augustin-Norbert Morin, lawyer, judge, politician and Joint Premier of the Province of Canada (d.1865)
• March 24 – Egerton Ryerson, politician, teacher, principal, Methodist minister (d.1882)
• December 6 – Susanna Moodie, writer (d.1885)

• John Kinder Labatt, brewer and founder of the Labatt Brewing Company (d.1866)

• Nathaniel Pettit (1724 – March 9, 1803) a political figure in Upper Canada.
• Rev. Johann Samuel Schwerdtfeger (1734–1803) The first Lutheran minister in Ontario.^[3]

War returns as British government orders naval ships as well as vessels commissioned by letter of marque to seize ships belonging to French Republic^[4]

Keeping troops "upon their present footing" in Canada and other northern colonies costs about £200,000, but "there are considerable colonial funds"^[5]

Trade is discouraged because colonies are not allowed to directly import wine, oil, fruit etc. in exchange for their fish, lumber etc.^[6]

U.S. envoy Robert R. Livingston has told French "it was necessary to interpose us between them and Canada [to prevent] an attack from that quarter"^[7]

Report in London says U.S.A. has purchased Louisiana from France for $40 million^[8]

Jurisdiction of courts of Upper and Lower Canada is extended to "Indian Territories or Parts of America [outside U.C., L.C. and U.S.A.]"^[9]

With smallpox spreading through city, Gazette recommends "speedy" inoculation with cowpox matter possessed by Quebec City physician^[10]

Reading or writing is limited on average to 5 men in country parishes; only priests, clerks, notaries, attorneys and soldiers need those skills^[11]

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^[12]

Government to pay bounties for hemp production (highest being $10 for ½ arpent, grown and dressed) and sets prices for hemp and hempseed^[13]

To Catholics considering us "Schismatics" and "Protestant Sectaries" thinking us "slaves of authority," Anglicans should offer "superior goodness"^[14]

Treason law is against subverting constitution and "introducing the horrible system of anarchy and confusion which has so fatally prevailed in France"^[15]

When required, "every Rector, Curate, Vicar, or other Priest or Minister doing the Parochial or Clerical duty of any Parish[...]" must read acts publicly^[16]

Suspecting arson in recent Montreal fires, government offers £500 reward for information leading to conviction of arsonist^[17]

Cargo going from Montreal to Michilimackinac includes 9 kegs gunpowder, 3 bags shot and 2 cases guns, all for export via "Ouisconsin" portage^[18]

At Kahnawake mass, "Indians sing or chant very well & the Women in particular have excellent Voices;" clothing has quillwork and beadwork^[19]

"Private Lectures on Geography &c. for Young Ladies only[...]with Globes, Maps, Charts &c. together with a Planetarium, Lunarium, Tellurium &c."^[20]

"A woman of colour lately arrived" advertises in Quebec City to "attend one or more Ladies to any part of Europe"^[21]

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"^[22]

Among exports to Lower Canada in 1802 were 11,400+ barrels of flour and 18,500+ feet of black walnut boards and planks^[23]

Howard Township successful hemp production brings in $1,127 profit from 12 acres of hemp, comparable to income from 65 acres of wheat^[24]

Missionary reports "the 25,000 acres allotted by the British Government for the use of the Christian Indian Congregations [are to be] secured to them"^[25]

Print: "York, the New Capital of Upper Canada, As it appeared in the Autumn of 1803"^[26]

Drawing: Queenston, Upper Canada^[27]

House of Assembly resolution that £200 be paid to "distressed Indians" at £20 per county is not agreed to by Council^[28]

Our first fault "is that in the fall of Adam we lost [the] most prevailing characteristic of [God's] nature and essence, love"^[29]

Politician James DeLancey sues Halifax merchant for harbouring escaped enslaved man Jack, employing him and refusing to return him^[30]

Incoming University of King's College students must have knowledge of Greek and Latin, including Virgil, Horace, "the Greek Testament," Homer etc.^[31]

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^[32]

Sable Island commissioners request detailed report from its superintendent on likelihood of growing food and fishing and sealing there^[33]

New Englander, resident in Horton Township (Wolfville) since 1760, dies at age 107 and leaves more than 100 descendants^[34]

Four "descendents of the Ancient Chiefs of the pockmouche tribe, which are now reduced to only two famillys," receive 200 acres of land each^[35]

Survey of Northumberland County gives population as 479 families (with about 100 in Miramichi) and status of hay crop, fishery, and timber resources^[36]

Legislature news includes bounty paid for hemp and Council voting down bills to finance schools and allow Methodist clergy to perform marriages^[37]

Charlotte County needs help supporting indigent people crossing U.S. border and "sick and maimed Seamen" left on shore "in a suffering condition"^[38]

£200 from Indian fund would spur "man of eminence" to be mathematics professor in proposed academy "of the highest importance to this Country"^[39]

Moravian missionaries upset about "the injury [nearby Europeans] would do to our baptized Esquimaux" drawn to "their uncontrouled behaviour"^[40]

"Esquimaux[...]are not all so firmly rooted[...]in the faith, that they might not[...]enter into some of the ways of the heathen when left to themselves"^[41]

"The Island of Cape Breton is replete with natural advantages far exceeding any other British settlement in North America"^[42]

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^[43]

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^[44]

Churchill post blacksmith found walking in snow complains "of great lowness of Spirits" and "having but little sleep for 14 nights"^[45]

Gardens at Churchill post produce 6¾ tons of "excellent" turnips and 6-700 small but "very fine quality" cabbages^[46]

Chief Maquinna's anger at insults from captain of British trading ship in Nootka Sound leads to his revenge on crew (Note: "savages" used)^[47]