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- Before the filles du roi began arriving in Québec in 1663, there were women, collectively called des filles à marier (marriageable women) who emigrated to Canada based solely on their wilingness to marry when they arrived. It is estimated that between 1634 and 1663, 262 filles à marier arrived in New France. They were recruited and chaperoned by religious groups or individuals who had to assure and account for their good conduct. If the goal was to populate a colony, it would not make sense to send to Canada women who were chronically ill or hobbled in any way... particularly when they were expected to hit the ground running, so to speak. Within a year of their arrival, most were married and quite likely pregnant.
In general, they were young women took the initiative to change the future which might have appeared bleak to some of them, particularly for those without a dowry. As such, they might never have a chance at family life in France or they would marry well below their station. So, they took a gamble on Canada.
As opposed to the Filles du Roi who emigrated between 1663 and 1673, the filles à marier came alone or in small groups. They were not recruited by the state and did not receive a dowry from the King.
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GENEVIEVE GAMACHE was from Chartres, Beauce where she was born in 1636. She was one of three siblings living in the Québec area at the time of the 1666 census. They are an older brother, Jacques Gamache dit Lamare, age about 40, a habitant from Orléanais, and a brother, Nicolas Gamache dit Lamare, a bachelor from Orléanais.
Geneviève Gamache arrived in Canada in 1652. Her husband, Julien Fortin, had arrived earlier with a Robert Giffard group in 1650. They were wed November 11, 1652 at Cap Torment.
Julien was born on February 09, 1621 at Notre Dame, Le Mans, France; the son of Julien Fortin Senior and Marie Lavoie. As part of Genevieve Gamache's dowry, Julien Fortin (who had been a butcher in France) was promised a job with one of the Gamache brothers. Julien and Genevieve would have twelve children before his death on August 16, 1692 at Ville De Quebec. Genevieve followed on November 05, 1709.
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