1763 |
Treaty of Paris – New France is ceded to Britain.
Royal Proclamation – settlement prohibited west of Appalachian
Mountains – beginning of protests in Thirteen Colonies. |
1774 |
Quebec Act – extends boundaries of Quebec – preserves
French civil laws and seigneurial system of landholding – toleration
of Roman Catholic religion. |
1775 |
Outbreak of American Revolutionary War - American armies invade
Quebec and capture Montreal – Defeat of American armies at Quebec
City. |
1776 |
American Declaration of Independence – Liberation of Montreal
from American occupation – Loyalist troops use Montreal as base
of operations throughout War. |
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November 9 - Lord Dorchester's Declaration - Mark of Honour - U.E.
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1778/79 |
France, Spain and Netherlands enter War on side of American Patriots
against Britain and the Loyalists. Beginnings of Loyalist refugee
migrations to Montreal, Sorel and Machiche (Yamachiche). |
1781 |
Battle of Yorktown (Virginia) – defeat of British and Loyalist
forces by American Patriots, assisted by their European allies. |
1783 |
Treaty of Paris – recognition of independence of United States
of America – Mass exodus of Loyalist refugees from Thirteen
Colonies to Nova Scotia and Quebec – Arrival of some Loyalists
at Missisquoi Bay. |
1784 |
Some Loyalists leave Quebec City for Gaspé to settle around
New Carlisle – Most Loyalists leave Sorel and Montreal for the
upper St. Lawrence River and Bay of Quinte and settle there. Missisquoi
Bay Loyalists are eventually allowed to remain there, paying seigneurial
dues to English seigneurs. |
1791 |
Constitutional Act – Quebec divided into Lower Canada (now
Quebec) and Upper Canada (now Ontario) – elected legislative
assemblies for both the new provinces – Eastern Townships opened
to settlement by Loyalists and others, in freehold land tenure. |
1792 |
Groups of Loyalists, led by Gilbert Hyatt, John Savage, Henry and
John Ruiter, Samuel Willard and others, begin to settle on land grants
in Eastern Townships. |
1802 |
Gilbert Hyatt builds a flour mill at “Hyatt’s Mills”,
at the confluence of St-François and Magog Rivers, the event
seen as the foundation of the City of Sherbrooke. |