Jean Talon, the first intendant to arrive …
Years: 1666 - 1666
Jean Talon, the first intendant to arrive in New France, seeks to boost the growth and prosperity of the remote colony by making it self-sufficient.
On his arrival in 1665, he initiated attempts to diversify the colony's economy by encouraging agriculture, fishing, lumbering, and industry as well as the traditional fur trade.
He conducts the first census in North America in 1666, counting three thousand two hundred and fifteen of its residents.
There is a severe imbalance between single men and women because most female immigrants have had to pay their own passage, and there are few single women who voluntarily come to settle in the harsh climate and conditions of New France.
The majority of the women in the colony are indentured servants or nuns.
France has also, for a long time, considered New France as an outpost rather than a colony, and has not concerned itself with increasing the population.
The most innovative idea instituted by Talon is bringing around seven hundred and nine hundred Frenchwomen (accounts vary as to the exact numbers) to New France.
Agents are hired to find ideal young women, who would marry quickly and bear children, and to whom a sum of thirty livres is given for a wardrobe of two sets of clothes and 60 livres for their transport.
These filles du roi (King's Daughters), who will emigrate to New France between 1663 and 1673, would serve to triple the population of New France within fifteen years.
The title "King's Daughters" is meant to imply state patronage, not royal or even noble parentage.
Most of these women are commoners of humble birth.
Many Daughters are poor, especially those from Île-de-France and Normandy.
They are considered "orphans" by virtue of having lost at least one parent, though not necessarily both; some have both parents living.
