"Girls to wed"

For those who are always looking for scandals, this was a nice occasion to suspect the reputation of these girls who are throwing themselves, blindfolded into a matrimonial adventure. . And they certainly did. As early as 1639, the Mercure (a french newspaper) noted disdainfully that "every year a good number of girls are drawn to procreate in these faraway barren lands " Tallemant des Réaux and Bussy Rubutin used the topic to create spicy songs. Through ignorance, these popular writers confounded New France with the French Islands of America, where young women of small virtue and thieves were sent by force. Later La Hontan will borrow the cynical writings of the Mercure and that would be the most somber page of his work, because he knew these women. He had been admitted in their homes, they had become wealthy merchants', civil servants', officers', soldiers' and settlers' wives.

The truth is that the girls sent to New France were only young girls, orphans for the most part, and widows picked for their flawless reputations. The most credible of the period; Marie de l'Incarnation, (a famous nun who established a hospital in New France) Jean Talon, the Administrative Officer, Pierre Boucher, every Jesuit who helped in editing the accounts of that period, (Rédaction des Relations) confirm the fact and their testimony is certainly worth that of La Hontan. Of course for these young girls to choose exile to an unknown country and accept a husband of whom they knew nothing, would be a good reason to suspect the looseness of their morals. But if they accept the risk, it is because they know the ugly fate of some of their convent friends who were married in France, Georges Montgrédien in the Daily Life under Louis XIV draws a poignant picture of their fate.

At an early age, while she is still in school, the young French girl of that time is sent off to a convent. "Marriage comes early, sometimes just after puberty". It would be easy to think that this event signifies an era where the young woman would look forward to a full personal life. Nothing is less likely. She has very little to say in this important decision, that will mark her life. With the merchants, as with the officers, marriage is a business that concerns only their fathers and mothers. It is a question of money scrupulously weighed, a bargaining session where sometimes the large dowry has to match nobility titles; the young girl is not allowed to listen to her heart; nor express her aspirations. Under tough paternal authority, she agrees to be married, because if she were to refuse an approved husband, she would be sent back to the convent. Soon she would experience the tyranny of a husband who will teach her obedience, and often will allow himself the widest of licenses.

Many young girls were therefore experiencing difficult matrimonial unions. And it is easy to understand Molière's lifetime campaign in favor of marriages of inclination, of free choice for the young woman and of love's rights! Those orphans coming from all classes, young, penniless and disoriented widows, crafts women, former farmer's wives without a future in their own country and hoping to find it in this foreign land, were like the spiritual daughters of Molière. By accepting such an adventure, they hoped to have free choice instead of being shut in an austere convent. A new horizon was in front of them. They did not know what lay ahead when they boarded the ship, but in reality they were contributing to building a new nation.

Voluntary immigrants

This female immigration happened twice. From 1634 to 1662 and again from 1662 to 1673. During the first period, young girls or widows from 15 to 25 years of age left individually or in groups of 3 to 4. The majority originated from western France. They accompanied relatives from their region or were invited by friendly families. Others were servants in wealthy families who agreed to follow their masters and to reimburse them for the cost of the trip either through labor or otherwise, if they should get married or return to France. For the most part, these young girls were not orphans.

Often, they come from poor families who cannot or do not want to emigrate. Some, originating from the Isle of France and particularly from Paris, have been educated at the General Hospital. "They come from legitimate marriages, some are orphans and the others coming from families that fell in distress". Those accepted must meet some basic qualities. "They must be docile, hard workers, industrious and be very religious." The selection is very strict for between 1635 and 1662, only 1 girl was found undesirable, and of doubtful morality. She was hurriedly returned to France at the ship captain's expense.

As described by Gustave Lanctôt, the whole colony was interested in a sound immigration whether male or female. "The arrival of the Girls to Wed, has become a kind of happening. When they set foot on land, gracefully attired with a camelot close-fitting body-garment on a "farrandine" skirt, wearing a taffeta head-dress and, holding a linen handkerchief in her hand, Civil servants, Jesuits, middle-class people, craftsman and settlers line up to greet with a smile, these girls coming from France, who will brighten the new country while waiting to become wives and later mothers to many children."