

King's Daughters (files Du roi)
References 1. Geneology of the French in North AmericaThe filles du roi, or King's Daughters, were some 770 women who arrived in the colony of New France (Canada) between 1663 and 1673, under the financial sponsorship of King Louis XIV of France. Most were single French women and many were orphans. Their transportation to Canada and settlement in the colony were paid for by the King. Some were given a royal gift of a dowry of 50 livres for their marriage to one of the many unmarried male colonists in Canada. These gifts are reflected in some of the marriage contracts entered into by the filles du roi at the time of their first marriages.
The filles du roi were part of King Louis XIV's program to promote the settlement of his colony in Canada. Some 737 of these women married and the resultant population explosion gave rise to the success of the colony. Most of the millions of people of French Canadian descent today, both in Quebec and the rest of Canada and the USA (and beyond!), are descendants of one or more of these courageous women of the 17th century.
1653 |
1653
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Évêché De Dole, France
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1670 |
1670
Age 17
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1672 |
April 14, 1672
Age 19
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Contrecoeur, Quebec
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1675 |
February 26, 1675
Age 22
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Contrecoeur
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1677 |
March 16, 1677
Age 24
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Contrecœur, QC, Canada
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1679 |
1679
Age 26
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Sorel
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1681 |
1681
Age 28
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Boucherville, Chambly, Québec
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1683 |
March 25, 1683
Age 30
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Contrecoeur
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1685 |
February 13, 1685
Age 32
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Contrecoeur
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