New France circa 1740

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Abstract

Depicted on this map is the extent of New France at its territorial height circa 1740 prior to its great territorial losses to British North America. Also shown on the map are the territorial claims, administrative divisions, and the distribution of population and settlement (including fur trading posts) circa 1740. This map along with British North America circa 1823 shows the settlement and population in Canada for two important periods in Canadian history prior to Confederation.

NEW FRANCE circa 1740 represents the geographic extent of New France at its height prior to its great territorial losses to British North America. The geo-political boundaries of New France in relation to British North America are explored and discussed in relation to: Territorial Claims, Internal Divisions, European Settlement, and European Population.

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Jacques Cartier, claiming Canada for France at Gaspé in 1534, in a Montreal newspaper rendition done in 1908.

Territorial Claims

French and English territorial claims in North America circa 1740 were based on different interpretations of the Treaty of Utrecht (1713) as well as on prior discoveries, native alliances and on land grants issued from time to time by their respective sovereigns. Interior boundaries were not settled by the Treaty but were supposed to be negotiated by a commission in 1714.

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Historical Map: 1744 A New Map of Part of North America (Arthur Dobbs and Joseph La France)

This commission met in 1714 but was unable to come to any agreement. The Treaty had given the "…bay and straits of Hudson, together with all lands, seas, sea coasts, rivers and places situated in the said bay…" to Britain. The point of debate was how far into the interior these bounds should go. In 1714, on the urging of the Hudson’s Bay Company, Britain suggested a boundary that ran from Grimmington Island (Lat. 57° 51´ N) on the Labrador coast, through the centre of Lake Mistassin to the 40th parallel stretching indefinitely to the west. This was rejected by France.

On the maps of the period, France conceded to Britain roughly the Hudson Bay lowlands. France recognized as British Territory all the lands lying within the Atlantic watershed of the Kennebec River.

The Treaty assigned Newfoundland and its offshore islands to Britain. France retained fishing and landing rights (but not the right to establish settlements), along the north shore between Pointe Riche and Cape Bonavista. All islands in the Gulf of St. Lawrence were assigned to France.

On the mainland, the Treaty assigned to Britain "… all of Nova Scotia (or Acadia), with its ancient boundaries…" as well as territorial waters from "…the coast of Nova Scotia to east within 30 leagues beginning from the island commonly called Cape Sable Island inclusively, stretching along toward the Southwest".

Internal Divisions

The settled parts of New France were divided into five gouvernements or administrative districts (Québec, Trois-Rivières, Montréal, Île Saint-Jean (present day Prince Edward Island), Île-Royale (now Cape Breton Island)), each with a governor, intendant (civil administrator) and other government, judicial and ecclesiastical functionaries. The governor of Québec was also governor-general of Canada and as such representative of the king in New France. Officially, all the gouvernements came under the authority of the governor-general and the intendant at Québec.

Of the settled areas, Acadia-Nova Scotia was in an anomalous position. It was almost exclusively occupied by people of French origin but because of the vague wording of the Treaty of Utrecht both the British governor from Annapolis Royal and the governor from the Île Royale attempted to exert influence and control over the population; neither of them successfully.

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Historical Map - Partie de l'Amérique Septent qui comprend La Nouvelle France ou le Canada (Gilles Robert de Vaugondy)

European Settlement

St. Lawrence Valley

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Historical Map - 1755 Carte de l'Amérique Septentrionale (Jacques-Nicolas Bellin)

In 1740, the population of the St. Lawrence Valley stood at about 44 000, of which 18 000 lived in the gouvernement of Québec, 4000 in the gouvernement of Trois-Rivières and 22 000 in the gouvernement of Montréal. The major towns within that area were Québec (4600), Trois-Rivières (378) and Montréal (4200). Île Royale had a permanent population of about 4000, of whom 1500 lived in Louisbourg, while Île Saint-Jean, where colonization was just beginning, had a population of about 500. Both areas attracted a transient population of fishermen who would swell their population by about twenty-five percent during the summer months.

The Acadian population was about 8000, living in several clusters of agricultural settlements. There were no major towns, the largest being the British fort at Annapolis Royal with a garrison of just over 100 men, a few merchants and administrators.

Interior West of Montréal

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Historical Map - 1755 Carte de l'Amérique Septentrionale (Jacques-Nicolas Bellin)

The interior west of Montréal (Pays d’en haut) was regarded as Aboriginal territory. Trade at specific posts was granted for specified periods either in the form of monopolies or licences (congés) by the governor general and the intendant at Québec. Commandants were appointed to each district directly responsible to the governor general. The strategic Lake Ontario forts were under direct control of agents of the crown. In summer, the resident population of the Pays d’en haut, composed of soldiers (approx. 250), traders (approx.150) and settlers, mainly at Détroit (approx. 120), was increased by about 350 traders and voyagers, largely from the Montréal area.

Domaine du Roi

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Historical Map - 1755 Carte de l'Amérique Septentrionale (Jacques-Nicolas Bellin)

The Domaine du Roi stretched from Les Éboulements to Baie de Moise stretching along the north shore of the St. Lawrence. The trading and fishing concessions within it were leased from the crown for specified periods at a set rate. The permanent European population of the area may have been 150, doubling during the fishing and sealing season.

In the eastern part of the Domaine du Roi, the rugged coast of the Côte du Nord was subdivided into a series of trading, fishing and sealing concessions, which were leased from the crown. The main concentration of settlement was in the southern reaches of the Strait of Belle Isle. It is probable that the permanent population of the area was under 300 people but increased to perhaps 1500 during the fishing season.

Fishing concessions were also leased along the Gaspé coast, except between Cap d’Espoir and Cap des Rosiers which was free. The population of the Gaspé may have been 500, doubling during the fishing season.

Rupert’s Land

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Historical Map - 1755 Carte de l'Amérique Septentrionale (Jacques-Nicolas Bellin)

Rupert’s Land was governed by the Governor and Committee of the Hudson’s Bay Company in London. The area was divided into five districts each containing one post whose affairs were run by a chief factor who met regularly in council presided over by a local governor to discuss and implement orders from London. The permanent population of the five posts was probably less than 100, consisting of traders, skilled artisans to keep the post in order and repair trade goods, and labourers.

Newfoundland

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Historical Map - 1755 Carte de l'Amérique Septentrionale (Jacques-Nicolas Bellin)

Both Rupert’s Land and Newfoundland were regarded as areas for resource exploitation where settlement was not to be encouraged. Nevertheless, by the 1740s Newfoundland had a permanent population of some 4000, which rose to 6000 during the fishing season. Of the many small ports along the east coast, St. John’s was the largest with about 800 people. Administration was by a governor responsible to the British Board of Trade. Since the governor was also the commander of the Royal Navy, the escort that protected the fishing fleet, he was only present in the summer months.

European Population

The British colonies along the Atlantic coast north of Virginia had a population of about 623 000, while the area now occupied by Canada had a permanent European population of about 62 000 of which 58 000 lived in New France and Acadia.

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Historical Map: 1755 Partie Occidentale de la Nouvelle France ou du Canada (Jacques-Nicolas Bellin)

Both Britain and France had densely settled core areas within the territories they claimed, governed by effective administrations, and vast peripheral areas slated for the commercial exploitation by a largely non-resident population for the benefit of the home country.

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Figure 1. Population of New France circa 1740 (by region)

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Figure 2. Population of British North America 1740 (by region)

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Figure 3. Estimated Population in British North America and New France circa 1740