Embargos and smuggling; 1812

by Mary Ducharme  (April 2012)

In the war years between 1812 and 1815, the American embargo forbidding trade with British North America made everyday life difficult for civilians. But there was another side to this coin. While prices were inflated during the war, there was enormous profit to be made by those daring enough to risk being caught. The penalty was hanging, or other execution, but there was good understanding between Americans and Canadians along the border and rarely did they betray each other.

If you lived in Hemmingford and other border communities at the beginning of the 19th century, you did your shopping in Champlain, across the border because there were no stores yet established here. Your grain was taken to Judge Moore’s grist mill, also at Champlain. Sawn lumber was obtained in Champlain though most people were still using logs to construct their homes. To purchase your goods, you had the option of trading potash and alcohol (made from potatoes) instead of cash – commodities illegal after the embargo.

Among the goods smuggled to the Americans were beaver pelts and wolf skins, potash, salt, and coveted manufactured goods from England, which the embargo made hard to come by legally in the States. While salt was previously imported from England directly to the States, now it was only sent to Canada.

Robert Hoyle established a store at the border on the Quebec side to supply settlers of Odelltown and Hemmingford with essential goods, including timber. He and William Bowron also contracted to supply beef to the soldiers on Ile aux Noix. They bought the cattle from the American farmers along the line and smuggled them across through trails in the woods, especially near Hinchinbrooke. At a pre-arranged spot, the cattle were delivered to Canadian drovers, who were paid, and all happily went on their way.