One of the issues raised during Benjamin Franklin's visit to Montreal in April 1776 was the lack of confidence in the financial soundness of the Colonies: Franklin was trying to pay with Confederate Dollars, which no Montrealer would accept. He had to find gold to cover his expenses for the rest of the trip. Excellent post again Patrick ! https://allthingsliberty.com/2015/01/franklins-failed-diplomatic-mission/
Thanks for this. An ancestor of mine was a French Canadian from Trois Rivieres who came down and joined George Washington's Continental Army in 1776, and eventually became a career Army officer. His father had served with Montcalm in the previous war.
He kept no diary, and I really don't know his motivations at the time. I always just assumed he really REALLY didn't like the British, while his fellow Quebecois saw the American colonists as more of a threat to their way of life than the British, who had pretty much left them alone after the fall of New France.
I had not thought about the lack of a civic structure in Quebec, though. It does make sense.
If you ever come across primary sources about your ancestor or any other French Canadian from that period, please let me know. My plan is to continue researching this era. Thanks.
'A life of heart as opposed to a life of head.' I liked that reference to the difference between the French and the Americans.
Tocqueville's writing is always insightful and opens a great historical window into folkways and local customs.
One of the issues raised during Benjamin Franklin's visit to Montreal in April 1776 was the lack of confidence in the financial soundness of the Colonies: Franklin was trying to pay with Confederate Dollars, which no Montrealer would accept. He had to find gold to cover his expenses for the rest of the trip. Excellent post again Patrick ! https://allthingsliberty.com/2015/01/franklins-failed-diplomatic-mission/
Thanks Jonathan for the link to the Journal of the American Revolution about Franklin's diplomatic enterprise to Montréal.
Fascinating era !
Thanks for this. An ancestor of mine was a French Canadian from Trois Rivieres who came down and joined George Washington's Continental Army in 1776, and eventually became a career Army officer. His father had served with Montcalm in the previous war.
He kept no diary, and I really don't know his motivations at the time. I always just assumed he really REALLY didn't like the British, while his fellow Quebecois saw the American colonists as more of a threat to their way of life than the British, who had pretty much left them alone after the fall of New France.
I had not thought about the lack of a civic structure in Quebec, though. It does make sense.
Amazing story !
Fascinating family story you have there.
If you ever come across primary sources about your ancestor or any other French Canadian from that period, please let me know. My plan is to continue researching this era. Thanks.