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Histoire Québec
Captains of Militia
Raymond Ostiguy
Volume 12, Number 3, 2007
URI: https://id.erudit.org/iderudit/11142ac
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La Fédération des sociétés d'histoire du Québec
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1201-4710 (print)
1923-2101 (digital)
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Ostiguy, R. (2007). Captains of Militia. Histoire Québec, 12(3), 22–29.
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_ains of
by R a y m o n d Ostiguy,
wyer a n d m e m b e r of a
Raymond Ostiguy is a lawyer in private practice in Ottawa. He is a member of a number of historical and genea-
logical societies: Société d'histoire de la seigneurie de Chambly, Société d'histoire de la seigneurie de
Monnoir, Société d'histoire du Haut-Richelieu, Société généalogique canadienne-française, Sir John
Johnson Centennial Branch, United Empire Loyalist Association of Canada. He is well known as a researcher at
the Montreal branch of the Archives nationales du Québec (for his persistent attendances, not yet for his
results) and has a passion for the history revealed by archived documents. The comments of renowned Quebec his-
torian Benjamin Suite, especially since they were made and published in English, inspired him to write on the role
and responsibilities of many of his ancestors who served as officers of the militia. Since the ancestor of the Ostiguy
family was also a churchwarden, one can guess what his next project will be.
There are captains of the sea men between the ages of 16 under the French Regime" (pp.
who master merchant ships, and 60 capable of bearing arms 135-146).
captains of the air who pilot collectively made up the mili-
airplanes, captains of industry tia. It is in "The early history of
who wield great power and Militia, 1636-1700" that Suite
influence and of course cap- In the cities (Quebec, Three informs us that: "Each district
tains of the military, officers Rivers and Montreal, each also operated separately; for ins-
who serve in land, sea and air corresponding to a govern- tance the men of Montreal
forces. Captains are found in ment) militiamen were organi- with their blue capotes or great
fire and police departments, in zed into companies by district coats and their blue tuques or
ward politics and even as field and in the rural areas, by knitted worsted caps were
leaders of sports teams. Of that parish. At the head of each known everywhere as Mont-
group, it is the military leader company there was a captain realers, D'Ailleboust, or by the
with his feet solidly on the appointed by the Governor of name of any other commander
ground, but not of the regular the colony. Numbers from a for the time being. Three
regimental type, that interests census approved by Vaudreuil Rivers wore the white capote
us. He is the humble servant of in 1759 disclose a total of 7,511 and the white cap. Quebec
Kings and at least one Queen militiamen in the district of indulged in red attire of the
(Victoria), both of France and Quebec, 1,113 in that of Three same description. Such was
by the Grace of God, Great Rivers and 6,406 in that of the kind of uniform the men
Britain, France', and Ireland, Montreal, in whole a nominal provided for themselves at
but not in His/Her Majesty's force of 15,299 men.'" And how their own expense.""
regular forces. He is the cap- were the militiamen of one
tain of militia. government distinguished By the terms of the treaty of
from their counterparts? Ben- the capitulation for the surren-
The militia or milice has its ori- jamin Suite provides an ans- der of Montreal, the whole of
gins in a letter written in Paris, wer during his second En- the Canadian militia was
April 3, 1669 by King Louis glish-language address to the included among the prisoners
xrv, countersigned by Colbert, Canadian Military Institute in of war. It was officially repor-
addressed to Governor de Toronto on Monday, No- ted to consist of eighty-seven
Courcelles and entitled « Lettre vember 16, 1896. There will be companies in the government
du Roi à Monsieur de Courcelles a third on Monday, January 9, of Montreal, numbering 7,331
pour lui ordonner de diviser les 1911. These two results in arti- men."
habitans du Canada par compa- cles published in English, in
gnies pour faire l'exercice du Volume 1 of Mélanges histori- That is the time when, as histo-
maniement des armes »." It sur- ques, "The early history of rian Hilda Neatby so neatly
vived for one year short of two Militia, 1636-1700" (pp. 127- puts it: "The St Lawrence
centuries. At the outset, all 134) and "Canadian Militia branch of the French Empire
• (Text in English continues on page 24)
HISTOIRE QUEBEC. VOLUME 12 NUMÉRO 3 2007
ains ot Mi itia
r Raymond Ostiguy,
avocat et membre de plusieurs sociétés d'histoire et de généalogie
Raymond Ostiguy est avocat et pratique à Ottawa. Il est membre de plusieurs sociétés d'histoire et de généalc
gie : Société d'histoire de la seigneurie de Chambly, Société d'histoire de la seigneurie de Monnoir, Société d'his-
toire du Haut-Richelieu, Société généalogique canadienne-française, Sir John Johnson Centennial Branch, United
Empire Loyalist Association of Canada. Chercheur bien connu aux Archives nationales du Québec à Montréal
(pour ses fréquentations assidues, mais pas encore pour ses travaux), il est passionné d'histoire, particulièrement
celle que cachent les documents d'archives. Les commentaires du renommé historien québécois Benjamin Suite,
publiés en anglais, l'incitèrent à écrire sur le rôle et les responsabilités de plusieurs de ses ancêtres qui étaient offi-
ciers de milice. Comme l'ancêtre des Ostiguy a été aussi un marguillier de sa paroisse, Saint-Olivier, à Saint-
Mathias-sur-Richelieu, on devine quel sera le sujet de son prochain article.
Résumé français de l'article : les, les citoyens étaient formés en ordonnances de l'intendant et
CAPTAINS OF MILITIA compagnies de quartier, portant devaient tenir main à leur exécu-
le nom des capitaines. [...] Les tion. Ils étaient les délégués du
L'année 1669 marque la date de officiers portaient, avec l'épée, le grand voyer. Ils agissaient, selon
l'organisation officielle de la hausse-col, croissant de cuivre les circonstances, comme syndic,
milice canadienne. Dans une let- doré, qui se fixait à la poitrine, à comme notaire et comme juge. Ils
tre datée du 3 avril 1669, à Paris, la base du cou. Il constituait l'in- étaient les très utiles « Maître
le roi Louis XV ordonne à signe de leur autorité. Jacques » du régime français.
Monsieur de Courcelles de divi- Aussi jouissaient-ils d'une consi-
ser les habitants du Canada par Il faut signaler ici les fonctions dération générale dans la colonie
compagnies pour faire l'exercice du extra-militaires des capitaines de et, de plus, de certains droits et
maniement des armes (Archives milice. Faute de tout système honneurs dans les cérémonies
des Colonies, C11A Vol. 3, pp. 3- municipal, et de l'absence, dans publiques. Ils les méritaient
5). Gustave Lanctôt dans « Les la plupart des seigneuries, d'ins- grandement par les précieux ser-
troupes de la Nouvelle-France », titution judiciaire, ils remplirent, vices qu'ils rendaient, sans rému-
The Canadian Historical Asso- de bonne heure, un rôle fort im- nération, au roi et à la colonie.
ciation, Annual Report, 1926, aux portant. Seuls représentants du
pages 40 à 42, nous donne les gouverneur, ils étaient chargés de Avant lui, en 1920, Benjamin Suite,
informations suivantes : commander leurs concitoyens, dans son article publié en anglais
non seulement pour fins militai- au sujet des capitaines de milice,
Tout citoyen, « habitant, domes- res, mais dans toutes les occa- avoue que « s'il était libre de choi-
tique ou ouvrier », devait faire le sions où il s'agissait du service sir son propre ancêtre, il choisirait
service militaire. [...] Le service du roi, tels que travaux publics, un capitaine de milice avant 1760,
était obligatoire depuis 16 transports des troupes, fournitu- et même jusqu'à 1800 ».
jusqu'à 60 ans, et le milicien res de vivres et de matériaux,
devait s'armer lui-même, c'est-à- transmission de dépêches, publi- L'auteur lui-même n'a pas eu à
dire posséder son fusil. [...] À la cation des ordonnances, etc. faire ce souhait puisque son ancê-
tête des milices de chacun des tre paternel, Dominique Ostiguy,
trois gouvernements, un colonel Leur utilité ne se limitait pas au dit Domigue (1722-1795) et son
assisté de majors et d'aides- seul service du gouverneur. Avec ancêtre maternel, Joseph Carreau,
majors. Quant aux miliciens, ils l'autorisation de ce dernier, de ont été tous les deux capitaines
étaient simplement groupés en qui ils relevaient, ils devinrent de milice et porteurs du hausse-
compagnie par paroisse, l'unité également les indispensables a- col. D'ailleurs, plusieurs descen-
administrative de l'époque, dont gents de l'intendant. Là surtout dants Ostiguy furent officiers de
chacune, selon le chiffre de sa où il n'existait aucun tribunal, milice.
population, comptait une ou plu- ils signifiaient aux particuliers
sieurs compagnies. Dans les vil- les jugements et publiaient les
n September 8, 1760, one week later, as chap-
transferred to the successful tains 10 articles and is to ter 6: "An Act respecting Of-
rival, the English king, and the remain in force for two years. ficers of Militia as Peace Of-
people who lived there became It is said to be "by way of Trial ficers and Inquests to be held
his subjects."" Hence, a trans- and as an Essay towards trai- ^ ^ V b y them in certain cases."
.- :\F
fer (although not really volun- ning Canadians to Obedienc ^''à^aaaaâaaaâafcaaaâaaâaaaaaaB'aaiLj^a^aa9
tary) of power and allegiance by Degrees...".! With that by way of introduc-
but between two different tion to the militia, let us now
branches of the 'Rex Family', It will be extended "tempora- return to the real subject of our
or, from Louis xv, fifteenth of rily" for two more years on historical note, the captains or
the Bourbon lineage to George January 16, 1779 and again on capitaines of militia.
III, third of the Hanover line. January 20, 1781 to April 30,
And thus we shift from capi- 1783 and on February 13,1783 "If I were free to select an
taine to captain or capitaine to April 1785 when it appears ancestor for myself, I would
under the new military and to become a permanent part of choose a captain of militia
civil regimes of Governors the military institutional fa- before 1760 or even u p to
Murray, Gage, Burton and bric. On April 23, 1787, under 1800."
Haldimand. The Hon. James 27 George III, c. 3 an "Act for
Murray will disband the mili- Quartering the Troops" is pas- It is in the inaugural edition of
tia in the fall of 1765. Carleton, sed that will affect the respon- The Canadian Historical Review,
his successor, will, by Pro- sibilities of the militia captains. Volume 1,1920'* that respected,
clamation of Martial Law on
June 9, 1775, order the raising
of militia and the re-commis-
sioning of militia officers and,
"in His Majesty's name [...]
require and command all his
[His] subjects in this Province
[...] on pain of disobedience, to
be aiding and assisting to such
commissioned officers, and
others who are or may be com-
missioned by me, in the execu-
tion of their said commissions
for his Majesty's service. [...]
GOD SAVE THE KING."™
From behind closed doors at
Quebec at a session with the 23
non-elected members (eight
Canadians) of his Legislative
Council, Carleton, later Lord
Dorchester, on March 29, 1777,
in the seventeenth year of the
reign of Lord George the
Third, enacts "An Ordinance
for regulating the Militia of the
Province of Quebec, and ren-
dering it of more general uti-
lity towards the preservation
HISTOIRE VOLUME 12 NUMÉRO 3 2007
?ears, bilingual Que- was not only a military ries of his situation. The first
historian Benjamin Suite personage; he was five or six step taken by General Amherst
1841-1923) pays tribute to other personages, all in the was to put the militia officers
"THE CAPTAINS OF MILI- same man. He was recorder, at the head of their parishes,
(
TIA". It is from that work, as he was superintendent of " > ,and they continued to be for
\e reader will appreciate pre- roads. No government case many years under British rule
sently, that the above quote is before a tribunal was examined the intermediaries between all
derived. Suite informs us without his being present, not- classes and the central power.
about this important perso- withstanding that the official Indeed, as late as the begin-
nage and why, in his own attorney was there also. Any ning of the nineteenth century,
words, he would choose him dealings between the seignior after all representative institu-
as an ancestor, beginning at or the curé and the civil autho- tions had been established,
page 241: rities passed through him. If they retained their position;
an accident happened some- and it was not until 1868 that
The long period during which where, it was the captain of the they finally disappeared. After
the captains of militia in place that wrote the report, 1760 there was no more drill,
Canada retained their position and any action taken subse- but the captain of militia re-
and influence is a proof of the quently was under his mana- mained because of his other
usefulness of the system they gement. If a farmer wished to functions and his recognized
embodied, and the happiness of approach the government or usefulness. The Militia Act of
their choice for the functions the judge, the captain took the 1868 abolished the militia on
they discharged. Every one of affair into his hand. When a paper, and thereby all that had
them was an habitant - the seignior trespassed on the land been kept of the old system.
foremost in his locality for of a farmer, the captain came
intelligence, activity, and good between the two, and his Before concluding on the last
character. He was a true repre- report was considered first of page, Suite adds, at page 244:
sentative of the people, and at all. When the high functiona-
the same time he was an agent ries, such as the governor, the It would not be out of place
of the central power, an intendant, or the judge, travel- nowadays to revive this cus-
homme de confiance, a fac- led, they were invariably the tom, and thus give the people
totum in every sense of the guests of the captain. He had of Canada a disciplinary edu-
word. He dealt directly with even an eye on the mail bags cation, as well as a fit know-
the governor-general, with the and the transport of packages. ledge of all the elements neces-
lieutenant-governor, the jud- He was of more importance in sary to make a soldier. Men of
ges, the curé, the seignior, and the community than is one of the squad, if properly trained,
with every family. He served our members of parliament to- are two years in advance of
without pay, but the honour day. [...J others when they are formed
was great, and no capitaine into companies or battalions.
de la côte would have accep- There was in New France no It is useless and expensive to
ted any remuneration. such thing as a municipal sys- send recruits to camp. Why
tem, but the captain was, to all not prepare the population at
It is a strange oversight on the intents and purposes, a muni- large to enter into company
part of historians that they cipal system by himself. [...] formation with ease and effi-
p
have not, as a rule, seen the WmmM, ciency? The training by which
extraordinary significance of What has been said does not these results can be obtained
the captain of militia in apply only to the days of Fron- costs nothing. There was no
Canadian history. They must tenac. Nothing was changed militia budget for the men of
have been deceived by the mili- after his departure. At the time Frontenac, no expense for uni-
tary aspect of his title. As a of the conquest, the captain of forms or supplies of any sort.
matter of fact, the captain of militia was still in all the glo- Frontenac's was a real militia,
A fml
HISTOIRE QUÉBEC. VOLUME 12 NUMERO 3 2007
to false imitation lished in 1868. Now, jump ahead fifteen years
trmy, such as Canada ha On the Carreau, or maternal to be part of the audience at
today [1920]. It was cheap, side, Joseph Carreau, père, ser- the Military Institute and you
effective, pleasant, and advan- ved as Capitaine au 6e Bataillon will hear Suite make the follo-
tageous to the young men i "ownships le 3 février 1789 for wing remarks about guns
all steps of life afterwards. the Seigneurie de Monnoir.x provided to the "sort of Home
Dexterity, orderliness, self- Guards", as he called the se-
control, good behaviour, polite- Let us return for a mo dentary militia, that came with
ness - these and many benefits the Canadian Military Institute strings attached on the one
were derived from it. I should in Toronto in November, 1896, part, and abuses on the other:
like the reader to read this and seated among the places
paragraph a second time. [...] of the gentlemen military pre- The whole system was a fol-
sent, imagine Suite telling us lows: Every man able to carry
If I were free to select an ances- that: arms received a gun, paid for it
tor for myself, I should choose by instalments, practiced
a captain of militia before 1760 Every man able to bear arms shooting at home constantly
or even up to 1800. was enrolled, and a captain under the guidance of the cap-
chosen amongst the habitants tain or lieutenant of sedentary
— Benjamin Suite was at the head of each parish. militia of his parish, and was
The drill consisted mostly in allowed to use the firelock for
Unlike Benjamin Suite, the shooting, because the success hunting. When war came, the
writer had the privilege, by of a campaign in the wild sedentary move with their own
natural selection, of being born forest of North America depen- dress on. They received no pay.
into a household whose ances- ded principally on the muske- [...] The King found they were
tors, on both his father's and try. The men needed no trai- using his guns for their own
his mother's side, were cap- ning in regard to roaming in sport and support, rather than
tains of militia. The original the bush, paddling canoes, for his service. The thing was
North American founder of camping or snowshoeing - this no joke, but it is amusing
the Ostiguy family, Dominique was a practise already acquired when you follow it.*"
Ostiguy, dit Domingue (1722- by the whole community. No
1795) as well as his eldest sur- wonder that they displayed a Suite, continuing in his 1911
viving son, Pierre (1757-1820), marked skill in all their expedi- address, lists some of the qua-
both served as captains, each tions if we compare this state lities of the Captain and of the
in turn, one succeeding the of things with the lack of simi- Sedentary Militia:
other, of the militia of the lar exercises on the part of the
Division of Chambly at Pointe New England population. [...] The Captain of Sedentary Mi-
Olivier or what today is known The captain, at home, fulfilled litia was revered - even the
as Saint-Mathias-sur-Richelieu. the position of bailiff, carrier of Seigneur of the parish was in
A second son, François Alex- governmental orders &c. He several cases subordinate to
andre (1766-1832), like his was first among the habitants. him. If the Seigneur had power
father and brother before him, All the actual settlers were cal- here, so, also, the Captain had
also wore the hausse-col or led habitants (inhabitants) to power there. The Militia domi-
gorget, the mark of office of the distinguish them from the nated everything - was, in-
captain of militia. Subsequent other French-men engaged in deed, the whole force. Eve-
generations, like those of their trade, military, civil service, rything was subordinate to
forefathers, produced officers &c. The militia received its militarism. There were no
(lieutenants and ensigns) who orders direct from the Royal troops, there was no
served in various militia com- Governor-General through the regimental organization, but
panies of the Comté de Rouville captains of the parishes.xi the whole of the affairs of the
until, as Suite points out, the Colony
colon were under Military
HISTOIRE QUÉBEC. VOLUME 12 NUMÉRO 3 2007
Sfc
e old soldiers of Fran- The second is a very signifi- acted as notary. In return,
could not, clever as they cant work, of approximately e had the privileges of
were, have done what these 150 pages, he authored and walking immediately after
Canadians did, because the which was published June 20, church wardens in reli-
Canadians were accustomed to 1897. It was entitled Histoire de gious processions and of
the work and the Frenchmen la milice canadienne-française^ receiving before other pa-
were not.xi" Wfr^. 1760-1897, Desbarats & Cie, rishioners the bread bless-
WÏM Montreal. And it went beyond ed by the priest and distri-
At the end of his article on the mere publication. It was « Hum- buted during the solemn
Canadian Militia under the blement dédié à S. M. la Reine high mass. He was more
French Regime, at page 142, Victoria à l'occasion de son likely to be the most capa-
Suite provides a "LIST OF OFFI- soixantième anniversaire de règne ble habitant in the parish
CERS, Officers of the Regular par le Colonel et les officiers du than an ineffectual sei-
Militia (colonial troops) who 85' Bataillon de la milice volon- gneur."'"'
attained the rank of captain or taire du Canada ». It is full of
lieutenant, from 1670 to 1760, very minute details about the (2) "The man who command-
nearly all Canadian by birth". activities of the militia bet- ed the tenants of a sei-
Beginning with "Adhémar", ween those years. It even gneury was the capitaine de
he lists, alphabetically, al- contains a reference (at page la côte, de la milice, or even
though without any given 121) to a letter written by de la paroisse; this last des-
names, five hundred and fifty- Captain Pierre Ostiguy from cription shows, as in Fran-
three surnames ending u p the ancestral homestead of ce, how common was the
with "Zely". Pointe-Olivier on October 30, confusion of the parish
1813 to his commander Lieu- with the seigneury. The
Suite concludes his last ad- tenant-Colonel James Finlay. capitaine was appointed by
dress to the members of the the Governor of New Fran-
Canadian Military Institute, Before leaving Benjamin Suite ce, but he really did more
likely amid cigar smoke, fine to explore and conclude with work for the Intendant
brandy served in large crystal other historians, can we safely than for the Governor; for
snifters and controlled applau- conclude that he was a monar- the Governor he keeps a
se, with these words: "Gentle- chist enamoured with militia master-roll of all adult ma-
men, I pay you a compliment officer service rendered to les in the seigneury, forms
in exchange for the compli- His/Her Majesty, defender of them into companies, sees
ment you have paid me in lis- the faith, and so forth? that they get such military
tening to me. Gentlemen, I pre- instruction as is practica-
sent arms."xiv MILITIA CAPTAIN - ROLE, ble, and commands them
RESPONSIBILITIES & PRI- when they are called upon
For those among you desiring VILEGES (a partial listing): to fight; and it must be
to learn more on the history of remembered that this ser-
the colonial military and mili- (1) "This 'capitaine de milice' vice has nothing to do with
tia, and able to follow Suite in had other important issues any feudal obligation in
his mother tongue, two addi- to perform in rural parish- New France. It was, as in
tional references are provided es. As the unpaid represen- France, the king through
for your enjoyment. The first is tative of the Governor and his governor who was
a 30-page article entitled demanding that this service
Intendant, he supervised
"L'Organization militaire du be enforced by the capitaine,
the corvée - work on roads
Canada 1636-1648", which seems a service which was requi-
a comprehensive work publish- or bridges and the trans-
portation of supplies - red from every able-bodied
ed in Des mémoires de la Société
published edicts, adminis- man between the ages of
royale du Canada, deuxième série -
tered minor justice and sixteen and sixty.
1896-97.
WJf
HISTOIRE QUEUE! VOLUME 12 NUMÉROS 2007
For the Intendant the capi- rvernment trusted to see been organized
taine acts as representa- that in material matters captains, lieutenants, and
tive and executive officer: all went well in the sei- sergeants, who had been
it is his job to see that de- gneury.""" entrusted with a variety
crees sent down fror of local duties. The En-
Quebec are made known "But the government did glish found these men
throughout the seigneury, not waver in its belief in most serviceable. Lacking
and, in so far as they the importance of the ca- the education of the priest
concern the seigneury, pitaine: in 1737 Intendant and the social standing of
that they are fully carried Hocquart in a memoir to the seigneur, they were
out; he supervises the ma- the Minister writes that it yet intelligent enough to
king of roads, repairing of is difficult keeping the carry out orders and not
bridges, or collecting of country people in a pro- too proud to receive
supplies for the army in per condition of subordi- them. [...] He had to pro-
time of war; he is suppo- nation, and for this pur- vide men for the various
sed to see to the lodging pose it is most important needs of the army: fuel,
and transportation of offi- to choose as capitaines de straw, transportation; he
cials when they pass côte the wisest habitants had to help with billeting
through the seigneury; and those most capable of troops; he had to receive
and above all he must seeing that orders are o- and forward the weapons
keep the Intendant infor- beyed; the government surrendered to the En-
med as to local conditions should give them every glish, and then to receive
and the opinions and attention necessary to back again those returned
grievances of his fellow maintain them in their for redistribution; he had
habitants. authority. .... But there is to administer oaths of
no doubt that it was the fidelity, supervise repairs
Of course in theory the capitaine and not the sei- to roads and bridges,
seigneur was the most gneur who was trusted by apprehend deserters and
important man in the sei- the government to see other offenders, and give
gneury: the capitaine was that the seigneury was his help when a census of
always second to the sei- kept in proper order."xv" surplus grain must be
gneur in those honours taken or a charitable col-
which the church granted "King's corvée which might lection made. [...] He was
him - the most imposing be extracted at any time the base of the adminis-
pew in church, on the for the building or repair tration of justice, being
right-hand side and four of roads and bridges; the authorized to settle dis-
feet from the altar rails, extent of the corvée was putes by conciliation or
the right to follow imme- controlled by the Grand judicial decision, or to
diately behind the curé in Voyer, and its execution pass them along to the
all religious processions, was usually supervised local English officer. [...] It
the right to be the first by the capitaine."™ is, however, remarkable
layman to receive the sa- that for four or five years
crament and the pain (3) "For the punishment of a small group of English
bénit, or to be sprinkled crime and the settlement officers should have ad-
with the holy water. [...] of civil disputes all dis- ministered the province
though the capitaine tricts used a system of mi- peacefully and with rea-
might rank after the sei- litary courts, based on the sonable efficiency through
gneur in these honours, Canadian captain of mili- the agency of these men
he, and not the seigneur, tia. Under France, the who, with all their native
was the man whom the militia in each parish had ability, were sometimes
A YMHISTOIRE QUÉBEC. 'VOLUME 12 NUMÉRO 3 2007
e to read or write. 36. Where any marks tury re-enactor from the mar-
Serious cases, or appeals of violence are found on ket in Old Montreal for assis-
from militia officers, pas- any dead body, the cap- ting us to step back in time.
sed u p the hierarchy from tain or senior officer of
the local officer to mili- militia may, in his parish,
tary courts sitting in the \tv. summon together six res-
towns of Quebec, Three pectable householders of
Rivers and Montreal.""'* his parish to inspect the
same, and they snail, ac-
Communication to the cording to the opinion of
people of proclamations, such householders, report
ordinances, decrees and the manner and cause of
orders published in such death in writing to
French by the Military the nearest justice of the
Governors of the districts Peace, that a further exa-
of Quebec, Three Rivers mination may if neces-
and Montreal. "The mili- sary be made therein."*"'
tia captains handled Bri-
tish requisitions for fire-
wood, fodder and food, There is more, considerably
for which the military more, but for now, enough.
authorities paid."xx Since a picture is worth a thou-
sand words, here, for the cu-
(6) "OF OFFICERS OF MILI- rious, is what a chosen ances-
TIA AS PEACE OFFI- tor of Benjamin Suite, a captain
CERS (Duty of officers of of militia, might have looked
militia, when marks of like. Note the gorget about the
violence are found on a neck and sword about the belt. Your most faithful, obedietit ana
dead body) [...]." We are grateful to this 21st cen- humble Servant...
(Photo : Raymond Ostiguy)
Notes
George III indeed claimed to be the king of France as well. ginal articles on Canadian history and allied subjects" in recognition
LANCTÔT, Gustave, « Les troupes de la Nouvelle-France », The that there was almost no medium in Canada for occasional work of
historical students apart from "some admirable French-Canadian
Canadian Historical Association Annual Report, (1926), Appendix, p. 45.
periodicals, such as the Bulletins des recherches historiques, the Revue
A History of the Organization, Development and Services of the
canadienne, and Le Canada français."
Military and Naval Forces of Canada From the Peace of Paris in 1763,
to the Present Time, Edited by the Historical Section of the General ' LÉPINE, Luc, Lower Canada's Militia Officers 1812-1815, Société
Staff, Volume I, The Local Forces of New France, p. 38. généalogique canadienne-française, 19%, p. 81.
"The early history of Militia, 1636-1700", in Volume 1, Mélanges *' "The early history of Militia. 1636-1700", op. cit., pp. 132-133.
historiques, Études éparses et inédites de Benjamin Suite, compi- *" "Canadian Militia under the French Regime", in Volume 1, Mélanges
lées, annotées et publiées par Gérard Malchelosse, G. Ducharme, historiques, Études éparses et inédites de Benjamin Suite, compilées,
libraire-éditeur, Montréal, 1918, p. 132. annotées et publiées par Gérard Malchelosse, G. Ducharme, libraire-
Ibid., p. 43. éditeur, Montréal, 1918, p. 139.
NEATBY, Hflda, QUEBEC - The Revolutionalry Age, 1760-1791, The * Ibid., p. 141.
Canadian Centenary Series, MOelland and Stewart Limited, 1966, p. 7. * Ibid., p. 142.
A History of the Organization, Development and Services of the Military *" LANCTÔT, Gustave, A History of Canada, Volume Two: From the Royal
and Naval Forces of Canada From the Peace of Paris in 1763, to the Régime to the Treaty of Utrecht, 1663-1713, Toronto, 1964, p. 204.
Present Time, Edited by the Historical Section of the General Staff, xvi
ADAJR, E. R., "The French-Canadian Seigneury", Canadian Historical
Volume E, 77K Province of Quebec under the Administration of
Governor Sir Guy Carleton, 1775-1778, pp. 53-54. Review, 1954, pp. 193-194.
1 ""M,.,p.l95.
Correspondence from Carleton to Germaine, Quebec, 9 May 1777
- PAC - Colonial Office Records. «'" Ibid., p. 202. f^mj^
.Although thefirstnumber, it was not a wholly new venture; it was a * NEATBY, Hilda, op. cit., pp. 20-22.
continuation of 77ie Review of Historical Publications relating to Canada, - Ibid., p. 13.
already in existence for nearly a quarter of a century. The new Review "' Ordinance enacted under 34 George HI, c. 6, s. 36, proclaimed 11
was to be published quarterly "as a mediumforthe publication of ori- December, 1794.
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