Jonathan Carver
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CAPTAIN JONATHAN CARVER In reading the record of Thoreau’s 1862 visit to Minnesota, bear in mind that Thoreau was not traveling blind, but had carefully considered the record of previous visits to that region. “NARRATIVE HISTORY” AMOUNTS TO FABULATION, THE REAL STUFF BEING MERE CHRONOLOGY “Stack of the Artist of Kouroo” Project Jonathan Carver HDT WHAT? INDEX JONATHAN CARVER JONATHAN CARVER 1710 April 13, Thursday (Old Style): Jonathan Carver was born in Weymouth, Massachusetts. The family would relocate to Canterbury, Connecticut. He would prepare to become a cordwainer. NOBODY COULD GUESS WHAT WOULD HAPPEN NEXT Jonathan Carver “Stack of the Artist of Kouroo” Project HDT WHAT? INDEX JONATHAN CARVER JONATHAN CARVER 1746 Jonathan Carver got married with Abigail Robbins. This couple is believed to have produced 7 children. Eventually he would abandon his family in America and in London would begin a new family, producing two additional children. DO I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION? GOOD. Jonathan Carver “Stack of the Artist of Kouroo” Project HDT WHAT? INDEX JONATHAN CARVER JONATHAN CARVER 1755 Jonathan Carver joined the colonial militia at the start of the French and Indian War. During the conflict in America he would study surveying and cartographic techniques. LIFE IS LIVED FORWARD BUT UNDERSTOOD BACKWARD? — NO, THAT’S GIVING TOO MUCH TO THE HISTORIAN’S STORIES. LIFE ISN’T TO BE UNDERSTOOD EITHER FORWARD OR BACKWARD. “Stack of the Artist of Kouroo” Project Jonathan Carver HDT WHAT? INDEX JONATHAN CARVER JONATHAN CARVER 1761 Jonathan Carver became captain of a Massachusetts regiment. THE FUTURE IS MOST READILY PREDICTED IN RETROSPECT “Stack of the Artist of Kouroo” Project Jonathan Carver HDT WHAT? INDEX JONATHAN CARVER JONATHAN CARVER 1763 At the end of the Seven Years’ War, having served in the English Channel and then the Mediterranean, Samuel Hearne left the British navy. His activities during the following three years are unknown. Jonathan Carver quit the colonial army with a determination to explore the territories that had been acquired by the British as a result of the French and Indian War. THE FUTURE CAN BE EASILY PREDICTED IN RETROSPECT “Stack of the Artist of Kouroo” Project Jonathan Carver HDT WHAT? INDEX JONATHAN CARVER JONATHAN CARVER 1766 Spring: Initially Jonathan Carver had been unable to find a sponsor for his proposed explorations of the territories that had been acquired by the British in consequence of the French and Indian War, but in this year he obtained a contract from Royal Governor Major Robert Rogers authorizing him to lead an expedition to find a western water route to the Pacific Ocean — a Northwest Passage that would win the vast gold prize held out by King and Parliament. The expedition embarked from Fort Michilimackinac in large fur-trading canoes, to travel along the well-utilized trade routes that had been established by the French. The expedition passed along the northern coast of Lake Michigan, cut across what has now become the Door County peninsula of Wisconsin, and proceeded along the western edge of a bay until reaching the small French settlement at what has now become Green Bay, Wisconsin. They were able to resupply at a French monastery near what is now De Pere, and continued up the Fox River to a native village at the north end of Lake Winnebago at what has now become Appleton. Continuing up the Fox River, the canoes eventually arrived at “Grand Portage” (what has now become Portage, Wisconsin), linking the Fox River with the Wisconsin River (thus enabling fur cargoes to pass down the Mississippi River to New Orleans and be shipped to Europe). The expedition crossed to the Wisconsin River and then traveled down the Mississippi River, emerging at the great trade encampment of Prairie du Chien. Rather than turn south towards New Orleans, the expedition then turned north into what has now become Minnesota. CHANGE IS ETERNITY, STASIS A FIGMENT May 20, Tuesday: Jonathan Carver left Boston for Fort Michilimackinac on the Great Lakes, as draftsman and mapmaker for the expedition into the territories acquired by the British in consequence of the French and Indian War. Late Summer: The expedition of Jonathan Carver reached the Saint Anthony Falls at what has now become Minneapolis, Minnesota. After spending some time with the tribe near the falls it turned south and traveled down the Mississippi River toward a suitable place to spend the winter. Jonathan Carver “Stack of the Artist of Kouroo” Project HDT WHAT? INDEX JONATHAN CARVER JONATHAN CARVER December 7, Sunday: The expedition of which Jonathan Carver was a member reached the Minnesota River. Winter: The expedition of Jonathan Carver waited out the cold weather in a Lakota tribal village of the region that has now become eastern Iowa (in his journal he termed these natives “Naudowessies”). HDT WHAT? INDEX JONATHAN CARVER JONATHAN CARVER 1767 Spring: The expedition of Jonathan Carver was joined by James Tute and James Stanley Goddard, sent to accompany them on their exploration. They visited what is now known as “Carver’s Cave” and proceeded up the Mississippi River through what has now become Minnesota and Wisconsin, winding up at Grand Portage on Lake Superior in the expectation that the Royal Governor Major, Robert Rogers, would have supplies waiting there for them. Instead of supplies they got handed a chiding letter about their expenses. Unable to proceed, they were forced to return toward Fort Michilimackinac. August 29, Saturday: The Jonathan Carver party arrived back at Fort Michilimackinac. There they became aware that their sponsor, Royal Governor Major Robert Rogers, was being suspected of a treasonous plot against Britain. December 6, Sunday: Royal Governor Major Robert Rogers was arrested on a charge of treason and clapped into solitary confinement in irons. He would endure the winter in the unheated guardhouse while in all likelihood Jonathan Carver was nearby, writing up a manuscript journal of the expedition to explore the former French territories. HDT WHAT? INDEX JONATHAN CARVER JONATHAN CARVER 1768 Spring: The first ship of the season took Jonathan Carver and Robert Rogers from Fort Michilimackinac to Detroit, with Carver travelled in a passenger cabin while Rogers sat in the hold of the ship upon its ballast rocks. Rogers would be court-martialed in Montréal and although he would be cleared of all charges, would never be able to return to his position as Royal Governor. Carver would return in this year to Boston. Although Carver would submit an invoice of his expenses, payment would be refused with the explanation that Rogers in commissioning such an expedition had acted outside his authority. September 12, Monday: Jonathan Carver put an advertisement in the Boston Chronicle, to raise funds to publish his journals. HDT WHAT? INDEX JONATHAN CARVER JONATHAN CARVER 1769 February: Jonathan Carver sailed to dun the British government for compensation for his expenses in exploration, and also for the grand golden reward for having traced out a potential Northwest Passage. Abandoning his wife Abigail Carver with his family in the colonies, he would never see her again. He would spend the balance of his life in England, perennially dunning anyone in the government who would grant him an audience, and would in fact achieve two separate crown grants although he would not set eyes on the grand golden reward that had been offered by King and Parliament for identifying a Northwest Passage. While struggling at this lobbying endeavor in London, he would author his travel book and begin a new family. HDT WHAT? INDEX JONATHAN CARVER JONATHAN CARVER 1774 In London, Jonathan Carver married bigamously with a widow, Mrs. Mary Harris, by whom he would produce two additional children. WHAT I’M WRITING IS TRUE BUT NEVER MIND YOU CAN ALWAYS LIE TO YOURSELF Jonathan Carver “Stack of the Artist of Kouroo” Project HDT WHAT? INDEX JONATHAN CARVER JONATHAN CARVER 1778 Jonathan Carver’s TRAVELS THROUGH THE INTERIOR PARTS OF NORTH AMERICA IN THE YEARS 1766, 1767, AND 1768, an immediate success. We must now notice, however, that the book as published differs remarkably from its still-existent manuscript. In particular he never mentions that he had been hired to conduct this exploration, and entire chapters that are absent from the narrative manuscript amount to nothing better than his notes from reading the accounts of Charlevoix, Adair, and La Hontan. JONATHAN CARVER HDT WHAT? INDEX JONATHAN CARVER JONATHAN CARVER 1779 A 2d London edition of Jonathan Carver’s TRAVELS THROUGH THE INTERIOR PARTS OF NORTH AMERICA IN THE YEARS 1766, 1767, AND 1768 (more than 30 such editions have now seen publication, which is at least 29 more reprintings than this suspect material is worth). In addition, the London publication of his A TREATISE ON THE CULTURE OF THE TOBACCO PLANT; WITH THE MANNER IN WHICH IT IS USUALLY CURED ADAPTED TO NORTHERN CLIMATES AND DESIGNED FOR THE USE OF THE LANDHOLDERS OF GREAT BRITAIN, which urged repeal of two acts dating to the time of King Charles II which still prohibited the cultivation of tobacco in Britain. In addition, the London publication of his THE NEW UNIVERSAL TRAVELLER; CONTAINING A FULL AND DISTINCT ACCOUNT OF ALL THE EMPIRES, KINGDOMS, AND STATES, IN THE KNOWN WORLD ... COMPRISING ALSO AN INTERESTING DETAIL OF THE MANNERS, CUSTOMS, CONSTITUTIONS, RELIGIONS, LEARNING, ARTS, MANUFACTURES, COMMERCE, AND MILITARY FORCE, OF ALL THE COUNTRIES THAT HAVE BEEN VISITED BY TRAVELLERS OR NAVIGATORS, FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE WORLD TO THE PRESENT TIME: ACCOMPANIED WITH A DESCRIPTION OF ALL THE CELEBRATED ANTIQUITIES, AND AN ACCURATE HISTORY OF EVERY NATION. FROM THE EARLIEST PERIODS ... (Printed for G. Robinson, in Paternoster-row). HDT WHAT? INDEX JONATHAN CARVER JONATHAN CARVER 1780 January 31, Monday: Jonathan Carver died in poverty in London.