GEN-FR-L Archives
Archiver > GEN-FR > 1999-04 > 0923106776
From: <>
Subject: Re: KINGS' GIRLS~F1LLE' DE ROYALE'
Date: Fri, 2 Apr 1999 21:32:56 EST
Hi All,
Just adding my two cents worth:
A BIT OF HISTORY: The King's Daughters
Before 1660, the first girls who went to Canada looking for a husband were
known as "filles de marier" or marriageable daughters. They were few in
number and often earned their passage by a contract of indenture. After 1663
the French royal authorities became concerned with the peopling of the colony
and the King himself directed the recruitment of young women of good quality
for this purpose. Hence the appellation, Les Filles du Roi or daughters of
the King, called by many "The Kings Girl's."
Having been selected by recommendation of her parish priest, the girl was
promised a dowry from the King ... 50 livres if she married a soldier or
habitant, or 100 livres if she married an officer. But what did the girl
receive before leaving France? The one thing most of the girls had in common
was poverty, hence a real need to be outfitted. To the above grant were added
100 livres; 10 for personal and living expenses, 30 for clothing and 60 for
passage. In addition, the following; a small hope chest, 1 head-dress, 1
taffeta handkerchief, 1 pair of shoe ribbons, 100 sewing needles, 1 comb, one
spool of white thread, 1 pair of stockings, 1 pair of scissors, 2 knives,
1000 pins, 1 bonnet, 4 lace braids and 2 livres in silver money. On ar-rival,
the girls were provided with clothing suitable to the climate and provisions
from the King's warehouse.
The men eagerly awaited the girls and the selection process was a hurry up
affair. Nevertheless, the girl could pick and choose; often exercising her
prerogative a few times over. When the match had been made, the newly married
couple was given 50 livres to buy provisions plus an ox and a cow, 2 pigs, 2
chickens, 2 barrels of salt meat and 11 crowns in money. Thus provided for,
some 852 of these Kings "daughters" arrived in New France between 1663 and
1673. Without exaggeration, it can be said that these women created a nation
from which millions of us have peopled both Canada and the United States.
Nineteen of my 6th, 7th, and 8th great-grandmothers were "King's Daughters."
Jackie Hostage/VA
JOYAL dit LAFRENIERE, GIROUX, BADAILLAC, DANIS, FORCIER, GINGRAS, HERTEL,
PELLETIER, PINSONNEAU, RAYMOND, TRUDEAU, others
<A
HREF="http://www.familytreemaker.com/users/h/o/s/Jackie--Hostage/">Giroux-Joya
l Home Page
</A>
This thread: