Identified on this site are the Filles du roi, the group of women who were recruited to come to New France between 1663-1673. Much lesser known are the Filles à marier (the “girls to marry” or “marriageable girls”) who came before them. Unlike the Filles du roi, their passage wasn’t paid for by the French crown, nor did they receive the “king’s gift” when they married. They were courageous pioneers indeed, coming to the new world for one purpose alone: the possibility of a better life. This is especially true considering the reputation of New France at the time as a wild and savage land.
The Filles à marier were recruited by individuals, such as merchants or seigneurs, or religious societies such as the Société Notre-Dame de Montréal or the Hôtel-Dieu de Montréal. They signed a contract in France, normally to work as a servant. It was understood, however, that their primary objective once the contract was over was marriage and settlement. The contracts did not include return passage to France. Once the contract was signed, the Fille à marier would board a ship for Québec, from La Rochelle or Dieppe. She normally travelled alone, not as part of a larger, organized group.
These single women could expect a ship voyage of at least 6 weeks with other passengers, crew, animals, water reserves, cannons and hordes of various merchandise. Passengers slept in extremely cramped quarters in the ship’s hold and conditions were far from hygienic, especially when people were overcome with sea sickness. Almost 10% of passengers died on their way to New France.
While fulfilling the duties outlined by their contracts (and waiting to be married), most of the women were housed by religious societies such as the Ursulines in Québec or the Filles de la Congrégation Notre-Dame in Montreal. Others stayed in colonists’ homes.
In this new world, the women faced new dangers that would have been non-existent in France: threats from the Iroquois and long, harsh Canadian winters. The land that colonists were given to settle was most often wooded and needed clearing, and their “home” would have likely consisted of a ramshackle cabin. They also faced the threats of epidemics and other diseases, along with the dangers of childbirth.
So why would a single woman in the 17th century want to cross and ocean and take these enormous risks? In France, women did not have a choice in who they married. Arranged marriages were the norm in all classes of society, with the bride’s family expected to provide a dowry. Should a girl not be able to marry, her only other options were to become a nun or work as a servant. In New France, given the gender imbalance in the colony’s early days, the Filles à marier could have a say in who she married.
Listed under this section are those Fille a’ Marier that are my direct ancestors.