REPORT 2000-150

THE KING'S HOSPITAL - ASSORTED DOCUMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH

LOUISBOURG'S BLOCK 13 ROYAL HOSPITAL

A CHRONOLOGY

1713 - 1960

BY

ERIC KRAUSE

KRAUSE HOUSE INFO-RESEARCH SOLUTIONS

AUGUST 21, 2000

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1759 - 1761; 1763; 1766 - 1768; 1776; 1785 - 1786; 1832; 1849; 1862; 1893; 1901; 1908; 1931

MAP 1759 - 01

PLAN DE LA VILLE DE LOUISBOURG EN LISLE ROYAL

43 hôpital

Plan 1759-1 illustrates the following:

(A) HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PLAN

(I) HOSPITAL (Rue D'Orléans)

(1) The [Rue D'Orléans/Rue D'Estrées east] right aisle/right pavilion, the [Rue D'Orléans] hospital and the [Rue D'Orléans/Rue Dauphine west] left aisle/left pavilion

(a) A north extension on the [Rue D'Orléans/Rue Dauphine west] left aisle/left pavilion

(b) Slate roof

(II) BAKERY/WASH-HOUSE (Rue Royalle and Rue D'Estrées)

(1) The [Rue Royalle/Rue D'Estrées east] pavilion, housing the bakery/wash-house

(a) Shingled roof

(III) STABLES/STOREHOUSE/MENAGERIE (Rue Royalle and Rue Dauphine)

(1) The [Rue Royalle/Rue Dauphine west] pavilion, housing the stables

(a) Shingled roof

(IV) PERIMETER PROPERTY FENCES

(1) Three perimeter fences - Rue Royalle, Rue D'Estrées, and Rue Dauphine - with a Rue Royalle gateway

(V) LANDSCAPE FEATURES

(1) The terrace, with its steps and ramps (steps)

MAP ND 229 [1759 - APRIL 07 to 1759 - DECEMBER 30]

The grand Hospital

According to the Gibson Clough Journal, plan ND-229, dated Salem, February 2, 1764, illustrates the following:

(A) HIGHLIGHTS OF THE ELEVATION

(I) HOSPITAL (Rue D'Orléans)

(1) The south (Rue D'Orléans) elevation of the hospital, the west (yard) elevation of the [Rue D'Orléans/Rue D'Estrées east] right aisle/right pavilion, and the east (yard) elevation of the [Rue D'Orléans/Rue Dauphine west] left aisle/left pavilion

(a) With their associated exterior features

(i) The [Rue D'Orléans] hospital entry door frontispiece

(II) BAKERY/WASH-HOUSE (Rue Royalle and Rue D'Estrées)

(1) The south (yard] elevation of the [Rue Royalle/Rue D'Estrées east] pavilion, housing a bakery and wash-house

(a) With its associated exterior features

(III) STABLES/STOREHOUSE/MENAGERIE (Rue Royalle and Dauphine)

(1) The south (yard) elevation of the [Rue Royalle/Rue Dauphine west] pavilion, housing a stable

(a) With its associated exterior features

(IV) PERIMETER PROPERTY FENCES

(1) Three perimeter fences - Rue Royalle, Rue D'Estrées, and Rue Dauphine - with a south (yard) elevation of the Rue Royalle gateway

1759 - MARCH 20

[PRÉCIS OF THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT]

1759 - MARCH 24

[PRÉCIS OF THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT]

Payment for the hospital on the Expedition to Louisbourg, 25 Dec. 1758 to 24 Mar. 1759, £94.10.0.

Payment for the hospital at Louisbourg, for the same time, £56.19.0. ⁽⁸⁰⁷⁾

1759 - MAY 03

[PRÉCIS OF THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT]

Louisbourg.. Pay list of artificers for work done on the Grand Hospital and Brewery in April. £59.3.6.⁽⁸⁰⁸⁾

1759 - SEPTEMBER 16

[PRÉCIS OF THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT]

Hospital in North America, to stoppages received for His Majesty's Hospital at Louisbourg; £88.4.2.⁽⁸⁰⁹⁾

1760

COMMISSAIRE-ORDONNATEUR ... Le détail et l'administration des hôpitaux regarde aussi l'ordonnateur ... ⁽⁸¹⁰⁾

1760

According to Pichon:

PERES DE LA CHARITÉ

L'hôpital est desservi par six freres de la charité. En verité il n'y a pas de soldats choisis au hazard, qui ne menent une vie plus honnête que ces gens là ainsi que les recollets. Ils paroissint ne pas même soupçonner que la charité soit une vertu recommandable ...

Ils ont la maison la plus vaste, la plus solide et la plus commode de la colonie. Ils ont aussi trois differentes habitations dans les meilleurs endroits de l'isle où ils élevent des volailles et de betail; toutes choses qui les mettoient bien en état de faire leur devoir auprès des malades s'ils le voulent ...

ces freres de la charité font encore la fraude infame de choisir les drogues selon leur intérêt, et non selon la bonté qu'elles doivent avoir ...

Commes ils sont chirurgiens, medecins et apotecaires pour toute la colonie, ils sont perpetuellement à errer dans les maisons, et Dieu sçait ce qu'ils y font; je crois du moins que s'il y a des femmes qui ne s'en poaignent pas, il y auroit bien des maris qui auroient à se plaindre.⁽⁸¹¹⁾

1760 - JANUARY 13

[PRÉCIS OF THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT]

Theop. Paske, Lt. in the 15th Reg't to Amherst ? Gives a brief explanation of why he went to Boston. He had been left at Louisbourg with the care of the Gen'l Hospital.⁽⁸¹²⁾

1760 - MARCH 27

[PRÉCIS OF THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT]

Jas. Murray to J. Amherst. Dated Quebec. Passing reference to Louisbourg and the hospital accounts of the 15 regiment.⁽⁸¹³⁾

1760 - MAY 02

A M. De Ruis:

[PRÉCIS OF THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT]

A compte de 22328" 16s 4d qui restent dus aux religieux de Louisbourg pour le parfait payement du prix des nourritures pensemens et medicamens qu'ils ont fournis aux soldats malades et blesses, soignés a l'hopital de l'Isle Royale, pendant le siege ....⁽⁸¹⁴⁾

1760 - MAY 30

Au Procureur Syndic de l'ordre des freres de la Charité a Paris

[PRÉCIS OF THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT]

J'ay donne ordre, mon Reverend Per, a M. Perichon Tresorier general des colonies de remettre au port de Rochefort un fonds de 22,328 16 4 pour le parft ayement des nourritures et medicamens que les religieux de votre ordre a l'Isle Royale y ont founis aux soldats de Louisbourg en 1758. Mais, quoque cette remise soit ordonne a Rochefort, ou la decharge pour ce Tresorier doit etre expedice, vous pourres vous arranger ensemble pour qu'il vous fasse ce payement a Paris. ⁽⁸¹⁵⁾

1761 - SEPTEMBER 21

[PRÉCIS OF THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT]

Port of Halifax shipping return In Bound. Sloop NANCY (Lemuel Bowles) from Louisbourg with sundry hospital stores. ⁽⁸¹⁶⁾

1763 - MAY 09

[PRÉCIS OF THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT]

Secretary to Navy Board. To report on Capt. Darby's application regarding men who were left sick at the hospital at Louisbourg.⁽⁸¹⁷⁾

YEAR: 1766

MAP 1766 - 01

Plan 1766-1 illustrates the following:

(A) HIGHLIGHTS OF THE ELEVATION

(1) The north elevation of the hospital with its bell tower is visible.

MAP 1767 - 01 and MAP 1767 - 01A

A PLAN of LOUISBOURG Surveyed and Drawn for HIS EXCELLENCY THE HONBLE. MAJOR GENERAL THOS. GAGE Commander in Chief of His Majesty's Forces in America &c. By Ensn. George Sproule of the 59th. Regt ....

M. Grand Hospital much out of repair

N.B. The houses Colour'd Red are built with Stone and those Colourd yellow, with wood, The parts dotted Green represent Gardens

Plan 1767-1and 1767-1a illustrate the following:

(A) HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PLAN

(I) HOSPITAL (Rue D'Orléans)

(1) The stone [Rue D'Orléans/Rue D'Estrées east] right aisle/right pavilion, the stone [Rue D'Orléans] hospital and the stone [Rue D'Orléans/Rue Dauphine west] left aisle/left pavilion

(a) A north stone extension on the [Rue D'Orléans/Rue Dauphine west] left aisle/left pavilion

(2) M. Grand Hospital much out of repair

(II) BAKERY/WASH-HOUSE (Rue Royalle and Rue D'Estrées)

(1) The stone [Rue Royalle/Rue D'Estrées east] pavilion, housing the bakery/wash-house

(III) STABLES/STOREHOUSE/MENAGERIE (Rue Royalle and Rue Dauphine)

(1) The stone [Rue Royalle/Rue Dauphine west] pavilion, housing the stables

(a) With two wooden extensions

(IV) PERIMETER PROPERTY FENCES

(1) Three perimeter fences - Rue Royalle, Rue D'Estrées, and Rue Dauphine, possibly of masonry - with a central Rue Royalle gateway

(V) LANDSCAPE FEATURES

(1) The terrace, without its steps and ramps

(2) Two fenced-in yards - Eastern portion

(3) One fenced-in garden - Western portion

1767

Captain William Owen on a tour of Cape Breton in 1767 with Lord William Campbell aboard the R.N. Ship The Mermaid referred to:

.. at two O'clock in the afternoon keeping the northshore on Lighthouse point close on board we entered Louisbourg Harbour and anchored with the best bower in 10 fathom, the Grand Battery N b E the Island Battery SE 1/2E and L'Hopital du Roi SW b W ...

(June 3) the 3d we dined on shore with Major Milward and the corps of officers of the 59th Regiment, the whole of which we found in garrison here [Louisbourg] except one company at Placentia in Newfoundland, and another at the Island of St. Jean.

(June 4) The town of Louisbourg... it is near half a mile in length, and two in circuit; the houses are for the most part built with stone, the streets are regular and broad, with a large parade at a little distance from the citadel, the inside of which is a fine square of 200 feet every way. The Governor's and Intendant's houses, the Church, Nunnery, Hospital and Barracks were good buildings when the place was possessed by the French, but were now going fast to decay.... ⁽⁸¹⁸⁾

1767 - NOVEMBER 05

Gage [?], writing to Milward, noted:

The Crown will not pay rent for the Lodgement of the Soldiers, nor must the Barrack Master think of making any such Charge, of course if the Houses the Soldiers occupy have been used as Barrack here-to-fore; and they cannot be accomodated without them in the Places alloted for them, they must remain where they are, and refuse payment. If on the other hand, the Citadel, the Grand Hospital, the Ordnance and Victualling Stores alloted for Barracks are sufficient to Quarter the Troops, and that they occupy Houses in the Town for their own Convenience and ease, Its a private Affair that I have nothing to so with and they must pay for them, themselves. ⁽⁸¹⁹⁾

MAP 1768 - 01

A PLAN of the TOWN OF LOUISBOURG Corrected to the 10th of August when His Majesty's Troops were withdrawn

The Yellow denotes Houses built with Materials Wood

The Red denotes Houses built with Stone ...

65 grand Hospital

Plan 1768-1 illustrates the following:

(A) HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PLAN

(I) HOSPITAL (Rue D'Orléans)

(1) The stone [Rue D'Orléans/Rue D'Estrées east] right aisle/right pavilion, the stone [Rue D'Orléans] hospital and the stone [Rue D'Orléans/Rue Dauphine west] left aisle/left pavilion [#65]

(a) A north stone extension on the [Rue D'Orléans/Rue Dauphine west] left aisle/left pavilion [#65]

(i) Shown in red

(II) BAKERY/WASH-HOUSE (Rue Royalle and Rue D'Estrées)

(1) The stone [Rue Royalle/Rue D'Estrées east] pavilion, housing the bakery/wash-house [#65]

(i) Shown in red

(III) STABLES/STOREHOUSE/MENAGERIE (Rue Royalle and Rue Dauphine)

(1) The stone [Rue Royalle/Rue Dauphine west] pavilion, housing the stables [#65]

(i) Shown in red

MAP 1768 - 01A

A PLAN of the TOWN OF LOUISBOURG Corrected to the 10th of August when His Majesty's Troops were withdrawn

The Yellow denotes Houses built with Materials Wood

The Red denotes Houses built with Stone ...

65 grand Hospital

Plan 1768-1a illustrates the following:

(A) HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PLAN

(I) HOSPITAL (Rue D'Orléans)

(1) The [Rue D'Orléans/Rue D'Estrées east] right aisle/right pavilion, the [Rue D'Orléans] hospital and the [Rue D'Orléans/Rue Dauphine west] left aisle/left pavilion [#65]

(a) A north extension on the [Rue D'Orléans/Rue Dauphine west] left aisle/left pavilion [#65]

(II) BAKERY/WASH-HOUSE (Rue Royalle and Rue D'Estrées)

(1) The [Rue Royalle/Rue D'Estrées east] pavilion, housing the bakery/wash-house [#65]

(III) STABLES/STOREHOUSE/MENAGERIE (Rue Royalle and Rue Dauphine)

(1) The [Rue Royalle/Rue Dauphine west] pavilion, housing the stables [#65]

1768 - APRIL 11

Milward, writing to Gage, noted:

... I beg leave to observe to your Excellency that the several Houses which the officers of this Garrison now occupy, have been us'd as Barracks, since the Taking of the place, and Repair'd By the Government as such, and as the Citadel, Grand Hospital, ordinance, and Victualling Stores will not afford them any accomodations, I presume they are to Continue in their Respective Houses, without paying any Rent ... ⁽⁸²⁰⁾

1768 - JUNE 22

Milward, writing to Gage, noted;

... The Citadel, Grand-Hospitall, Ordance and Victuiling Stores, are so much out of Repair (the Estimates of which i have transmitted to your Excellency about two years ago) that they are unfit for the Reception of any officers without puting the government to a Great Expence; the best way to Quarter the officers is according to your Directions ... [i.e. in the houses in the town as assigned by the Barracks Master]⁽⁸²¹⁾

1768 - JUNE 25

According to Milward, writing to Gage:

Herewith I send to your Excellency a Return of the New Regulated Quarters for the officers of the Four Companys of the 59th Regiment, quartered here with the staff of the Garrison ... and as for the Grand Hospital, there is but sufficient accomodations for the sick ... ⁽⁸²²⁾

1768 - AUGUST 10

Following the departure of the garrison, the Lieutenant Governor, Michael Franklin, wrote to the Earl of Hillsborough, on September 26, 1768, enclosing a plan of the Town of Louisbourg together with an actual state of the publick Buildings and other houses, corrected to the tenth of August last when His Majesty's Troops were withdrawn from thence ...

He was referring to Maps 1768-1/1768-1a when he defined the following terms:

(1) Those Houses called in Good repair want much expense to make them really so

(2) Those called Tolerable are much out of repair

(3) Those called Bad have had for the most part the Floors partitions and windows taken away for fuel

(4) Those called in Ruins are totally irrepairable but yet the Materials will be of use to the Settlers who may have them

He then described each building according to the following criteria:

(1) No. of the plan

(2) Built of stone

OR

(3) Built of wood

(3) In what repair

(4) Whether occupied by the French as private or public buildings

(5) By whom at present occupied

The state of the town of Louisbourg, on the 10th of August 1768:

The General Hospital [#65] was described as being in a bad condition and built of stone.⁽⁸²³⁾

1758 - AUGUST 13

According to the following:

... Camp at Louisbourg 13th Aug 1758

A Report of the Conditions of the Works of Louisbourg and the Method of repairing them ...

Publick Buildings ... The Great French Hospital has receiv'd some Damage but will be soon made Wind & Weather tight ⁽⁸²⁴⁾

1776 - AUGUST 28

[PRÉCIS OF THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT]

Order in Council, 28 Aug., 1776; grants a pension to Chas. White, surgeon sometime at the hospital at Louisbourg.⁽⁸²⁵⁾

1785 - JUNE 06

[PRÉCIS OF THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT]

Island of Cape Breton, Sydney, 06 June, 1785. J.F.W. Des Barres to Sir George Younge. Comments on the hospital on Cape Breton.⁽⁸²⁶⁾

1786 - JUNE 24

There was only one land grant in the Old Town of Louisbourg during 1784-1787. This grant was made to Abraham Cuyler, Esq.r of the town of Sydney:

all that certain Town Lott ... in the Town or Harbour of Louisbourg ... in the Breadth in Front and Rear fifty feet, and in Depth on each side One Hundred feet, and ... Bounded as follows: Beginning at the South West Corner of King Street fifty feet to a small Pile of Stone, thence North Towards the Waterside fifty feet, thence West one Hundred feet to the Place where it first Begun, and has such shape form and Marks as Appear by the Plot there of hereunto Anexed, Together with Waters, Profits Commodities Appurtences and Hereditaments whatsoever ...

... within Three years After the date hereof ... [to] Erect on the said Lott ... a good Dwelling House to be at least Twenty feet in Length and sixteen feet in Breadth ... ⁽⁸²⁷⁾

1786 - AUGUST 25

Cuyler did not keep the lot in his possession long, for on August 25, 1786, he leased the lot to Edward Rowe for one year:

... messuage House and Lott of ground Situate lying and being in the Town of Louisbourg ... in Breadth in front and Rear Fifty feet and in Depth on each side One Hundred feet ... Bounded as follows - Beginning at the South West Corner of Kings Street thence Easterly along a street that leads to the General Hospital One Hundred feet thence North towards the Water Side fifty feet Thence West one Hundred feet to King Street Thence South along said King Street fifty feet to the place where it Begun. ⁽⁸²⁸⁾

MAP ND - 246 [1832]

PLAN OF THE HARBOUR OF LOUISBURG and the TOWN & FORTIFICATIONS when it surrended to THE BRITISH FORCES

Plan ND-246 illustrates the following:

(A) HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PLAN

(I) HOSPITAL (Rue D'Orléans)

(1) A poor representation

1849

Abraham Gesner in his book of 1849 reads thus:

The high walls that bustled with cannon, the ditch, the glacis, and portcullis, have almost disappeared -- the bomb-proofs and magazine have become sheepfolds, and the stronghold of the French in America is a heap of rubbish, overgrown the lichens. I had an opportunity of visiting the ruins of Louisbourg, the ancient capital of Canada, in November last ... The arched places of arms and bomb proofs of the citadel are still entire. Three of them are sheepfolds -- another is occupied by a fisherman for a cabbage cellar, and time has encrusted the ceilings with small stalactites. The foundations of the barracks, chapels, the nunnery, hospital, and other public buildings are still perfect ...⁽⁸²⁹⁾

1862

Abraham Gesner gave a brief description of the ruins and pinpointed habitation on the Fortress as consisting of six fishermen's families:

The city is now occupied by six families of poor fishermen; two stories of the hospital remain, as do the foundations of the Governor's house and other public buildings, with much of the massive masonry of the bomb-proofs and bastions ...⁽⁸³⁰⁾

1893

John Milne Gow in his history of Cape Breton described the desolate Fortress ruins, referring to the remaining seven casemates, the mounds, outlines of works, depressions marking the position of some old cellar, and the few solitary sheep nibbling thier scanty subsistance from the deserted soil. He spoke of the remains of the hospital and the nunnery as being distinguishable among the surrounding ruins.⁽⁸³¹⁾

MAP 1901 - 1

LAND PLAN OF OLD LOUISBOURG

(A) HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PLAN

(1) Properties intersect where Rue Royalle, Rue St. Louis and the Block Thirteen Hospital once existed

1908

According to J. S. McLennan:

... The ruins of the hospital stand up, and it is probable a little excavation might reveal some of the more elaborate ornamentation of the town gates.⁽⁸³²⁾

1931 - NOVEMBER 11

According to a letter of J. Clarence Webster:

Our plans include the following: - ...

"3. Marking all the streets, with both the French and English names.

"4. Removing rubbish heaps and outlining foundations of the Citadek, Governor's Garden, Hospital, Churches and other importnat buildings

"5. Opening certain of the streets so that they will be in a condition to be used. In this way it will be possible to drive from the Dauphin Gate to Rochefort Point.

"6. Marking all important buildings ... ⁽⁸³³⁾

ENDNOTES

806. War Office 34, Volume 64, March 20, 1759, f. 189.

807. Audit Office 01, Bundle 1505, Roll 213, [March 24, 1759].

808. Treasury 1, Volume 396, May 3, 1759.

809. Audit Office 3, Volume 672, September 16, 1759.

810. Thomas Pichon, Lettres sur le Cap Breton, 1760, Lettre XI.

811. Thomas Pichon, Lettres sur le cap Breton, 1760, Lettre XII

812. War Office 34, Volume 82, January 13, 1760, f. 14.

813. War Office 34, Volume 1, March 27, 1760, ff. 39-44.

814. B, Volume 112-2, May 2, 1760, p. 468.

815. B, Volume 112-1, May 30 1760, p. 215.

816. Treasury 1, Volume 411, September 21, 1761.

817. Admiralty 2, Volume 535, May 9, 1763, p. 452.

818. William Owen, "Narratives of American Voyages and Travels of Capt. William Owen, R.N. and the Settlement of the Island of Campobelle in the Bay of Fundy 1766-1771 (part 2) " in Bulletin of the New York Public Library, Volume 35, Number 2 (February, 1931).

819. Gage Papers, November 5, 1767.

820. Gage Papers, April 11, 1768.

821. Gage Papers, June 22, 1768.

822. Gage Papers, June 25, 1768.

823. C.O. 217, Volume 25, September 26, 1768, pp. 140-154, 135-148; PANS, Volume 43, Document 53, September 26, 1768.

824. 824.C.O. 5, Volume 53, August 13, 1758, ff. 182-192v.

825. Admiralty 1, Volume 5168, August 28, 1776.

826. War Office 01, Volume 03, June 6, 1785, f. 567.

827. Sydney Registry of Deeds, Book A, June 24, 1786. p. 46.

828. Sydney Registry of Deeds, Register B, p. 300.

829. Abraham Gesner, The Industrial Resources of Nova Scotia (Halifax, n.p. 1849), p. 302.

830. Abraham Gesner, Canadian Journal, New Series, 1862, Volume 7.

831. John Milne Gow, Cape Breton Illustrated ... (Toronto: W. Briggs, 1893), pp. 146-152.

832. J.S. McLennan, A Notable Ruin: Louisbourg. A paper read before the Nova Scotia Historical Society, 10 November 1908, Published by the Society, 1909.

833. Louis Effingham De Forest (editor), Louisbourg Journals 1745 (New York: The Society of Colonial Wars in the State of New York, 1932), Appendix VI, pp. 226-227.

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