Conrad Gugy
Encyclopedia
The Hon. Conrad Gugy J.P., M.P. (c.
1734 – 10 April 1786), was secretary to Sir Frederick Haldimand
in Lower Canada
, a seigneur and political figure.
, the eldest son of Hans George Gugi (b.1700), of Zuben Thurgau
, a Swiss Captain of the Guards who later joined the Dutch service, and his Dutch wife, Thérèse Reis. Gugy purchased a commission in the Dutch army before joining a newly formed British regiment, the King's Royal Rifle Corps
as a lieutenant in 1756, serving under General James Wolfe
at Quebec
in 1759.
, who became military governor of Trois-Rivières, Quebec
in 1763, to be his secretary. He resigned this position the following year and bought the seigneury of Grandpré with part of the seigneury of Grosbois-Ouest, where he built a manor house. Both seigneures were in Yamachiche, Quebec
. In 1771, he purchased Dumontier, next to Grosbois-Ouest; Frédérick, located behind Pointe-du-Lac, and some lands forming part of Rivière-du-Loup. He was appointed a Justice of the Peace
in 1765.
Gugy remained loyal to the British crown during the American Revolution
, but was nonetheless harassed by various sympathizers of the cause. One of his tenants on his estate at Rivière-du-Loup accused him of threatening to whip anyone who supported the Americans, but his name was cleared after a trial. In 1776, when the Americans were retreating, they burned some buildings on his seigneuries.
In 1778, when refugees started arriving from across the border, with the marked approval of the now Governor of Canada, his old friend Sir Frederick Haldimand
, Gugy erected dwellings and a school on his seigneuries at Yamachiche, Quebec
, to house them. Gugy's reasoning was "to the end of having an eye on them", and this appealed to Haldimand who did not like the idea of the refugees intermingling with the local populace during those uncertain times.
Gugy was appointed to the first Legislative Council of Lower Canada
at its inception in August, 1775, retaining the post until his death. In 1783, he had taken a lease out on the ironworks of Saint Maurice, but died three years later.
Towards the end of his life, the owner of a neighbouring fief claimed that Gugy had been responsible for wilful damage to his property during the construction of buildings for the American refugees. In 1787, Gugy’s seigneuries were put up for auction to pay the damages for which the jury had held him liable. Shortly after, however, the judgement was reversed, and his seigneuries were saved, but it was too late for him. In Sketches of Celebrated Canadians, it was reported that following the verdict,
He gently made his way through the crowd, and, going to his lodgings, without speaking one word, entered his room and locked the door. On its being burst next morning, his cravat
was founded neatly folded upon an arm of the sofa, upon which he lay in a reclining position, stone dead. He had not committed suicide; but, proud and sensative, he was absolutely killed by the humiliation of such a verdict.
Though Conrad Gugy was not married, his seigneuries were left to Elizabeth Wilkinson, who lived with him at his manor house. After her death, by his will, they were to pass to his brother, but as he had predeceased her, they were passed on to Conrad's nephew, Louis Gugy
.
In 1980, a street - Rue Conrad Gugy - was named for him in Yamachiche, Quebec
.
Circa
Circa , usually abbreviated c. or ca. , means "approximately" in the English language, usually referring to a date...
1734 – 10 April 1786), was secretary to Sir Frederick Haldimand
Frederick Haldimand
Sir Frederick Haldimand, KB was a military officer best known for his service in the British Army in North America during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War...
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...
, a seigneur and political figure.
Early life
He was born at The HagueThe Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
, the eldest son of Hans George Gugi (b.1700), of Zuben Thurgau
Thurgau
Thurgau is a northeast canton of Switzerland. The population, , is . In 2007, there were a total of 47,390 who were resident foreigners. The capital is Frauenfeld.-History:...
, a Swiss Captain of the Guards who later joined the Dutch service, and his Dutch wife, Thérèse Reis. Gugy purchased a commission in the Dutch army before joining a newly formed British regiment, the King's Royal Rifle Corps
King's Royal Rifle Corps
The King's Royal Rifle Corps was a British Army infantry regiment, originally raised in colonial North America as the Royal Americans, and recruited from American colonists. Later ranked as the 60th Regiment of Foot, the regiment served for more than 200 years throughout the British Empire...
as a lieutenant in 1756, serving under General James Wolfe
James Wolfe
Major General James P. Wolfe was a British Army officer, known for his training reforms but remembered chiefly for his victory over the French in Canada...
at Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
in 1759.
Life in Canada
He remained in Canada, and having been trained for the Engineers and as an accomplished linguist, he was chosen by Sir Frederick HaldimandFrederick Haldimand
Sir Frederick Haldimand, KB was a military officer best known for his service in the British Army in North America during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War...
, who became military governor of Trois-Rivières, Quebec
Trois-Rivières, Quebec
Trois-Rivières is a city in the Mauricie region of Quebec, Canada, located at the confluence of the Saint-Maurice and Saint Lawrence Rivers. It is situated in the Mauricie administrative region, on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River across from the city of Bécancour...
in 1763, to be his secretary. He resigned this position the following year and bought the seigneury of Grandpré with part of the seigneury of Grosbois-Ouest, where he built a manor house. Both seigneures were in Yamachiche, Quebec
Yamachiche, Quebec
Yamachiche is a municipality in the Mauricie region of the province of Quebec in Canada.-Etymology:The name Yamachiche was first used to identify the Little Yamachiche River which runs through the town. It came from the Native American words iyamitaw and achichki...
. In 1771, he purchased Dumontier, next to Grosbois-Ouest; Frédérick, located behind Pointe-du-Lac, and some lands forming part of Rivière-du-Loup. He was appointed a Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
in 1765.
Gugy remained loyal to the British crown during the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, but was nonetheless harassed by various sympathizers of the cause. One of his tenants on his estate at Rivière-du-Loup accused him of threatening to whip anyone who supported the Americans, but his name was cleared after a trial. In 1776, when the Americans were retreating, they burned some buildings on his seigneuries.
In 1778, when refugees started arriving from across the border, with the marked approval of the now Governor of Canada, his old friend Sir Frederick Haldimand
Frederick Haldimand
Sir Frederick Haldimand, KB was a military officer best known for his service in the British Army in North America during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War...
, Gugy erected dwellings and a school on his seigneuries at Yamachiche, Quebec
Yamachiche, Quebec
Yamachiche is a municipality in the Mauricie region of the province of Quebec in Canada.-Etymology:The name Yamachiche was first used to identify the Little Yamachiche River which runs through the town. It came from the Native American words iyamitaw and achichki...
, to house them. Gugy's reasoning was "to the end of having an eye on them", and this appealed to Haldimand who did not like the idea of the refugees intermingling with the local populace during those uncertain times.
Gugy was appointed to the first Legislative Council of Lower Canada
Legislative Council of Lower Canada
The Legislative Council of Lower Canada was the upper house of the bicameral structure of provincial government in Lower Canada until 1838. The upper house consisted of appointed councillors who voted on bills passed up by the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada. The legislative council was...
at its inception in August, 1775, retaining the post until his death. In 1783, he had taken a lease out on the ironworks of Saint Maurice, but died three years later.
Personality and death
Conrad Gugy was described as a man of "large heart and hospitable to a fault". In those early days in Canada, transport and taverns were rare, but Gugy enthusiastically received travellers, without distinction, into his home and hospitably entertained them. He loved horses, and was known to have made a gift of them to mark the pleasure which he had taken in the society of an occasional guest.Towards the end of his life, the owner of a neighbouring fief claimed that Gugy had been responsible for wilful damage to his property during the construction of buildings for the American refugees. In 1787, Gugy’s seigneuries were put up for auction to pay the damages for which the jury had held him liable. Shortly after, however, the judgement was reversed, and his seigneuries were saved, but it was too late for him. In Sketches of Celebrated Canadians, it was reported that following the verdict,
He gently made his way through the crowd, and, going to his lodgings, without speaking one word, entered his room and locked the door. On its being burst next morning, his cravat
Cravat
The cravat is a neckband, the forerunner of the modern tailored necktie and bow tie, originating from 17th-century Croatia.From the end of the 16th century, the term band applied to any long-strip neckcloth that was not a ruff...
was founded neatly folded upon an arm of the sofa, upon which he lay in a reclining position, stone dead. He had not committed suicide; but, proud and sensative, he was absolutely killed by the humiliation of such a verdict.
Though Conrad Gugy was not married, his seigneuries were left to Elizabeth Wilkinson, who lived with him at his manor house. After her death, by his will, they were to pass to his brother, but as he had predeceased her, they were passed on to Conrad's nephew, Louis Gugy
Louis Gugy
Lt.-Colonel The Hon. Jean-Georges-Barthélemy-Guillaume-Louis Gugy was the Sheriff of Montreal and a seigneur and political figure in Lower Canada, the nephew and heir of Conrad Gugy.-Early life:...
.
In 1980, a street - Rue Conrad Gugy - was named for him in Yamachiche, Quebec
Yamachiche, Quebec
Yamachiche is a municipality in the Mauricie region of the province of Quebec in Canada.-Etymology:The name Yamachiche was first used to identify the Little Yamachiche River which runs through the town. It came from the Native American words iyamitaw and achichki...
.