In spite of the French government encouraging early immigrants to marry locals, in Canada, in the late 1600s, the Brits outnumbered the French 10 to 1 and men outnumbered women by an even higher margin. Louis XIV solution to this imbalance was to provide passage and a dowry to some 700 young women of marriageable age to help increase the French population of "New France." These girls were usually chosen by their parish priests or the administrators of their orphanages. At least three of my great x 7 grandmothers were one of these "Fille de Roi."
Granddaughter of France, oil on canvas, one meter by one meter, 2016 SOLD
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