James Tod (seigneur)
Encyclopedia
James Tod was a seigneur
, businessman and political figure in Lower Canada
.
around 1742 and settled at Quebec City
around 1774. Tod was involved in the importing and exporting of goods; he established a general store and also sold goods wholesale to other merchants. He purchased furs for export and was involved with the fisheries in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence
and the grain trade. He acquired additional property in the town and built a wharf and warehouse. In 1792, he purchased the seigneury of Rivière-de-la-Madeleine, which was known for its salmon
fishing. In the same year, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly
for Devon. Although he generally voted with the British party, he supported a measure to maintain a register where legislative matters introduced in English would be translated into French
. He won the contract in 1794 to supply the Royal Navy
at Quebec. In 1796, with others, he acquired the seigneuries of Grosse-Île and Grandville. Tod also managed the seigneury of Saint-Gilles on behalf of a Montreal
lawyer. He also owned a schooner. Tod was a member of the local militia, becoming captain in 1804. Because he was obliged on occasion to extend credit his customers, he was affected by the financial difficulties of others and often found himself owed money when they became insolvent. In 1807, Tod was forced into bankruptcy himself and had to sell most of his property. He was able to continue on in business on a smaller scale but moved into rented quarters.
Seigneurial system of New France
The seigneurial system of New France was the semi-feudal system of land distribution used in the North American colonies of New France.-Introduction to New France:...
, businessman and political figure in Lower Canada
Lower Canada
The Province of Lower Canada was a British colony on the lower Saint Lawrence River and the shores of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence...
.
Career
He is thought to have been born in ScotlandScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
around 1742 and settled at Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
around 1774. Tod was involved in the importing and exporting of goods; he established a general store and also sold goods wholesale to other merchants. He purchased furs for export and was involved with the fisheries in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence
Gulf of Saint Lawrence
The Gulf of Saint Lawrence , the world's largest estuary, is the outlet of North America's Great Lakes via the Saint Lawrence River into the Atlantic Ocean...
and the grain trade. He acquired additional property in the town and built a wharf and warehouse. In 1792, he purchased the seigneury of Rivière-de-la-Madeleine, which was known for its salmon
Atlantic salmon
The Atlantic salmon is a species of fish in the family Salmonidae, which is found in the northern Atlantic Ocean and in rivers that flow into the north Atlantic and the north Pacific....
fishing. In the same year, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
The Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada was the lower house of the bicameral structure of provincial government in Lower Canada until 1838. The legislative assembly was created by the Constitutional Act of 1791...
for Devon. Although he generally voted with the British party, he supported a measure to maintain a register where legislative matters introduced in English would be translated into French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
. He won the contract in 1794 to supply the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
at Quebec. In 1796, with others, he acquired the seigneuries of Grosse-Île and Grandville. Tod also managed the seigneury of Saint-Gilles on behalf of a Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
lawyer. He also owned a schooner. Tod was a member of the local militia, becoming captain in 1804. Because he was obliged on occasion to extend credit his customers, he was affected by the financial difficulties of others and often found himself owed money when they became insolvent. In 1807, Tod was forced into bankruptcy himself and had to sell most of his property. He was able to continue on in business on a smaller scale but moved into rented quarters.