Seventeenth-Century New England and New France in Comparative Perspective: Notre Dame Des Anges---A Case Study

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Seventeenth-Century New England and New France in Comparative Perspective: Notre Dame Des Anges---A Case Study University of New Hampshire University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository Doctoral Dissertations Student Scholarship Fall 1987 SEVENTEENTH-CENTURY NEW ENGLAND AND NEW FRANCE IN COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE: NOTRE DAME DES ANGES---A CASE STUDY MARY ANN LA FLEUR University of New Hampshire, Durham Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/dissertation Recommended Citation LA FLEUR, MARY ANN, "SEVENTEENTH-CENTURY NEW ENGLAND AND NEW FRANCE IN COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE: NOTRE DAME DES ANGES---A CASE STUDY" (1987). Doctoral Dissertations. 1522. https://scholars.unh.edu/dissertation/1522 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Scholarship at University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. INFORMATION TO USERS The most advanced technology has been used to photo­ graph and reproduce this manuscript from the microfilm master. UMI films the original text directly from the copy submitted. Thus, some dissertation copies are in typewriter face, while others may be from a computer printer. In the unlikely event that the author did not send UMI a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyrighted material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Oversize materials (e.g., maps, drawings, charts) are re­ produced by sectioning the original, beginning at the upper left-hand comer and continuing from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps. Each oversize page is available as one exposure on a standard 35 mm slide or as a 17" x 23" black and white photographic print for an additional charge. Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced xerographically in this copy. 35 mm slides or 6" x 9" black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order. ■UMIAccessing the World's Information since 1938 300 North Z e e b R o a d , Ann Arbor, Ml 4 8 1 0 6 -1 3 4 6 USA Order Number 8800186 Seventeenth century New England and New Prance in comparative perspective: Notre Dame Des Anges: A case study La Fleur, Mary Ann, Ph.D. University of New Hampshire, 1987 Copyright ©1987 by La Fleur, Mary Ann. All rights reserved. UMI 300 N. Zeeb Rd. Ann Arbor, MI 48106 SEVENTEENTH CENTURY NEK ENGLAND AND NEW FRANCE IN COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE: NOTRE DAME DES ANGES A CASE STUDY BY Mary Ann La Fleur B.A., Plymouth State College/ 196G M.A., University of New Hampshire, 1970 DISSERTATION Submitted to the University of New Hampshire in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in History September, 1987 This thesis has been examinee, and approved. - JL^> _ ^rk.... Thesis Director, Charles E. Clark, Professor cf hi: tory Jiucc no z* \ :c\ t h i ou f Prof: ogdoc of History, Lcvai Univcr c i ty t r \ S L Robert C. Gilrsore^Pr ofessor of History n r.obort if. Hennel, Professor of History J lA/,c££l<— ..... ____ ______ V-itXian Harris, Assistant Professor of History Dei t c All RIGHTS RESERVED c 1987 Mary Ann La Fleur Acknowledgements I would like to acknowledge the assistance of the staff at the Archives Nationales du Quebec in St. Foy, Quebec, Canada. I would especially like to thank Madeleine LaMonthe, Director of Research and Gilles Heon, Archival Reference Librarian, both of whom facilited and encouraged my research. The chairman of my dissertation committee, Charles E. Clark was helpful in directing the New England portion of this research. He listened and helped me clarify my thoughts. And, perhaps more importantly he made me look at the forest when I was caught up looking at the trees. I am indebted to Jacques Mathieu, of Laval University, for his willingness to share his knowledge of New France and for making many unpublished sources available to me. without his interest and continued support this work would not have been possible. I am also grateful for the helpful suggestions and recommendations made by the other members of my committee. William Harris was particularly helpful with the statistics in this work. I would like also to acknowledge Renaud Lessard, "mon vieux" . who generously in the crucial initial stages of my research, shared his knowledge and enthusiasm for his work with someone who wanted to learn. It was through his patience, encouragement and his desire for an exchange of information on iv New England that the French Regime and the notary acts opened to me. Through this sharing I made a good £riend. While Renaud shared his knowledge Ginetter his wife, reintroduced me to the fine food of my grandmere. For help with research expenses, 1 am would like to thank the Gunst Fund, the Central University Research Fund, and the Professional Development Fund Program for Reseach in Quebec. It was only through these combined funds that this research was made possible. Several individuals contributed to the final phases of this work. I would like to thank Leslie Choquette for her insightful comments and suggestions. Tekla Haasl was very helpful in proofreading and editing portions of this work. I also would like to acknowledge Teresa Leavitt who typed and checked footnotes during the final stages of this dissertation. Without her assistance in the final hours of preparing this work, it would not have been completed. Finally, I would like to thank my friends, on both sides of the border, who gave me encouragement and support throughout this endeavor. They made the difference. In addition to the challenge and professional satisfaction this research has given me, this work also has been a journey into understanding myself and my heritage. And for all of that, I would like to dedicate this work to my mother, Eva Demers LaFleur and to the memory of my father, Ambroise Leopold Sevigny dit LaFleur (1917-1979), who instilled in me a sense of the past. v TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................. vi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS .............................. vii LIST OF TABLES .................................... viii LIST OF CHARTS ........ ........................... ix LIST OF MAPS .................................... x ABSTRACT ........................................... xi CHAPTER ......................... PAGE INTRODUCTION ...................................... 1 PART I .............................................. I. METHODOLOGY ......................... 21 II. THE NORTH AMERICAN ENVIRONMENT .......... 41 III. SETTLEMENT AND LAND DISTRIBUTION ......... 88 IV. ERRAND INTO THE WILDERNESS................ 117 PART II .............................................. V. THE DEVELOPMENT OF NOTRE DAME DES ANGES 150 VI. THE FIRST GENERATION ...................... 194 VII. THE SECOND GENERATION ..................... 214 VIII. STRATEGY FOR SURVIVAL ............... 232 XI. CONCLUSION ................................. 277 APPENDICES ................................ ....... A. FRENCH/ENGLISH CONVERSION TABLE ........... 281 B. GLOSSARY OF FRENCH/ENGLISH TERMS .......... 282 BIBLIOGRAPHY .................................. 285 vi LIST OP ABBREVIATIONS ANQ Achives Nationale du Quebec vii LIST OF TABLES 1. The Development of Jesuit Seigneuries in Seventeenth Century New France.... ................ 26 2. Major Sectional Development In Notre Dame Des Anges By Area And Date........ ............... 151 3. Life Course Differences For The First Generation In Notre Dame Des Anges............................ 205 4. Land Acquisition By Persisters During The French Regime...............................................207 5. Number of Arpents Under Cultivation In Notre Dame Des Anges By Overall Population And Data Base For the Years 1663, 1666, 1678, And1754 .......... 265 viii LISTS OF CHARTS 1. Jesuit Concessions Granted by Year 1647-1699... 26 2. Jesuit Concessions in Notre Dame Des Anges...... 152 ix LIST OF FIGURES 1. The Seigneurial System of New France in 1709...... 22 2. Fishing Areas of the Northwest Atlantic........... 51 3. Map of New England and New France................. 81 4. Settlement Along the Cote of Canardi^re in 1663... 158 5. Canardi^re in 1690................................. 159 6. The Villages of Notre Dame Des Anges in 17 54.... 170 7. Settlement Pattern in Notre Dame Des Anges 1709... 171 8. Settlement Plan for Penacook, N. H ................ 182 x AESTRACT SEVENTEENTH CENTURY NEK ENGLAND AND NEW FRANCE IN COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE: NOTRE DAIiE DES ANGES A CASE STUDY Kary Ann La Fleur University of New Hampshire, September, 1987 This work is a comparison of New England and New France in northeast North America in the seventeenth century. The study of New England relies on secondary works while the study of New France uses primary material. The seigneurie of Notre Dame des Anges, located north of Quebec City, was used as the basis of this study. The European powers came first to exploit the continent. The resources of the continent in respect to the economic needs of each country, however, shaped and determined the location of each colony. Later in an attempt to strengthen their claims immigrants came with the expectation of creating a New England and a New France. The composition of those who came from both countries was similar. Many who came and stayed were mature adults, often artisans,
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