Filles a Marier (Marriageable Young Girls) (1634-1662)

When the Company of 100 Associates began their settlement scheme, their plan of recruiting only families proved to be too costly, so instead they signed on single men; tradesman and labourers; who would be indentured for three years. However, this meant that more than 80% of the colonists were men, so even if they decided to stay at the end of their term, there was little hope of them starting a family, unless they chose a Canadian girl. But, since her family would never allow her, or her children, to leave their village; the company directors needed to avoid this from happening.

So instead, they began recruiting "marriagable young girls", who would first sign a contract in France and then be given passage and a small dowry to become the wife of a Quebec settler. You might wonder why these young girls (many under 16), would risk the dangers and hardships, which by now most of France were well aware of; but believe it or not; for many it was the best option.

At the time, marriages were arranged, so if the girl's family did not have the means to provide a sutable dowry, her only option was to become a nun, if she was Catholic; or marry beneath her station. In the case of the young Filles a Marier, though a marriage contract must be signed before departure, she had every right to refuse the union, once she met her husband-to-be. As a matter of fact, many of them did just that, and were provided safe passage home.

Source: www.oocities.org/ weallcamefromsomewhere/ Kebec/ filles_marier.html

 

 

  Vincente DESVARIEUX (DEVARIEUX) (abt. 1624, Rouen, France - 2 January 1695, Château-Richer, Québec, Canada (La Visitation-de-Notre-Dame de Chateau-Richer))

  Marie-Madeleine DROUILLARD (abt. 1636, , France - 17 February 1719, Champlain, Québec, Canada (Notre-Dame-de-la-Visitation))

  Madeleine DUBOIS (abt. 1640, La Rochelle, Charente-Maritime, Poitou-Charentes, France - 5 March 1721, Beauport, Québec, Québec, Canada (Notre-Dame-de-la-Nativité-de-Beauport))

  Marie-Madeleine DUPONT (abt. 1633, , France - 28 October 1696, Québec, Québec, Canada (Quebec City))

  Marie-Madeleine DUTEAU (5 July 1649, La Rochelle, Charente-Maritime, Poitou-Charentes, France - bet. 1689-1694, Cap-de-la-Madeleine, Québec, Canada (Sainte-Marie-Madeleine))
(Pierre DUTEAU & Jeanne PERRIN)

  Louise DUVAL (abt. 1640, Paris, France - , )

  Suzanne DUVERGER (abt. 1643, Paris, France - , )
(Jean-Jacques DUVERGER & Suzanne DUVAL)

  Anne ÉMARD (22 October 1627, , France - 17 January 1700, Lauzon, Lévis, Québec, Canada (Saint-Joseph-de-la-Pointe-de-Lévy))

  Françoise FAFARD (1621, , France - 13 January 1702, Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, Québec, Canada (Beaupre))
(Jean FAFARD & Elisabeth THIBAULT)

  Marie FERRA (FERET) (abt. 1642, , France - 17 February 1713, Saint-Jean-de-l'Île-d'Orléans, Québec, Canada )

  Marie-Madeleine FRANCOISE (1633, , France - 23 March 1707, Batiscan, Québec, Canada (Sainte-Geneviève-de-Batiscan) (Saint-François-Xavier))

  Geneviève GAMACHE (13 October 1636, , France - 5 November 1709 , L'Islet, Québec, Canada (L'Islet-sur-Mer) (Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours))

  Françoise GAUDET (abt. 1633, , France - 9 March 1715, Pointe-aux-Trembles, Montréal, Québec, Canada* (L'Enfant-Jésus-de-la-Pointe-aux-Trembles))
(Nicolas GAUDET (GODET) & Françoise GADOIS)

  Marguerite GAULIN (14 May 1627, , France - 15 January 1703, Beauport, Québec, Québec, Canada (Notre-Dame-de-la-Nativité-de-Beauport))

  Marie-Isabelle GIRAUD dite GIROUX (abt. 1641, , France - 23 February 1713, Sainte-Famille-de-l'île-d'Orléans, Québec, Canada)

  Jeanne GODARD (abt. 1638, , France - 25 November 1686, Montréal, Québec, Canada )
(Robert GODARD & Antoinette GRANDPIERRE)

  Marie GODEAU (2 April 1643, La Rochelle, Charente-Maritime, Poitou-Charentes, France - 21 April 1662, Château-Richer, Québec, Canada (La Visitation-de-Notre-Dame de Chateau-Richer))

  Marie GRANDRY (abt. 1646, Paris, France - 29 June 1728, Château-Richer, Québec, Canada (La Visitation-de-Notre-Dame de Chateau-Richer))

  Marie GRIGNAULT (abt. 1636, , France - 30 November 1706, Québec, Québec, Canada (Quebec City))

  Élisabeth HAGUIN (HAGOUIN) (1643, , France - 11 April 1718, Montréal, Québec, Canada )

  Marguerite HAYET (abt. 1630, Paris, France - 22 June 1711, Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada )

  Catherine HOUART (abt. 1638, Rouen, France - 22 April 1712, Québec, Québec, Canada (Quebec City))

  Françoise HUBOUT (HUBOULT) (HOUBOU) (1636, , France - , )

  Suzanne JARON (JAREL) (abt. 1640, La Rochelle, Charente-Maritime, Poitou-Charentes, France - 15 December 1687, Sainte-Famille-de-l'île-d'Orléans, Québec, Canada)

  Marie-Françoise JOBIN dite LAJEUNESSE (1632, , France - 6 July 1702, Champlain, Québec, Canada (Notre-Dame-de-la-Visitation))

  Jacqueline LAGRANGE (1 July 1641, , France - 3 August 1688, Montréal, Québec, Canada )

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