Friday, January 19, 2024

Legacies

 I left off yesterday mentioning the seigneurial system of New France, which can still be seen today when you fly over: long strips of land with waterfront access. The old system is still echoed in the Canadian legal system- old French measurements of the time remain legal when describing lands under the old system.


This map of the era shows it in vivid detail.


This beautiful clock always catches my eye.


Household items of New France are seen here.


This contemporary sculpture is a family tree of Catherine Moitie, one of the filles du roi. Each line represents a branch of her family. In five generations, she had six hundred descendants. Millions of Canadians count a fille du roi among their ancestors.


New France was also highly religious, and if you were a woman who didn't want to raise a family, perhaps becoming a nun was the way to go, and they did provide a great number of services, including medical and educational services. Marie de l'Incarnation was one of them.


This cabinet is an example of a flourishing tradition of craftsmanship in New France.


I close off today with this reminder as to how religious New France was.

38 comments:

  1. On a drive to Gaspé a few years ago, the strips of land radiating out from the St. Lawrence were clearly visible.

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  2. I like the clock and the cabinet. Take care, enjoy your day and happy weekend!

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  3. ...William, thanks for this interesting post!

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  4. I've missed a few days of your blog so catching up. I find New France interesting, maybe because I so enjoy Old Quebec city. That clock is a stunner. Hope all is well and you aren't frozen up there! (I think you do much better in winter than I!)

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  5. There is a rich history in Quebec.

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  6. I remember trying to teach the seigneurial system and comparing it to our system of concessions and the prairie townships.

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  7. I liked the family tree. I don't really understand what "fille de roi" refers to.

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    1. Literally translated, daughters of the king. As a concept, young women from France becoming settlers in New France and having children. It worked.

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  8. That clock reminds me of one we had.

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  9. The French settlers were very devout. Many technologies they used were developed to cope with conditions here.

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  10. Interesting story about the seigneurial system of New France.

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  11. O ja, the clock is really beautiful.

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  12. Intriguing exhibit ~ and yes that clock is beautiful ~ thanks,

    Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  13. My oldest grandson is a descendant of a Fille du Roi.

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