Seigneuries of New France

1. Seigneuries of New France By Robert Weston

2. A Seigneur and his Seigneury • Seigneur (Lord of the land) • Land was given by government • Lord attracted settlers to live on his LAND • If successful he made money paid by the dues of his farmers

3. Did the system work? • Settlers found a way to obtain land of their own • Lords found a way to make a good living

4. Seigneury Foundation • The land was called the “Domaine” • Bordered a river (mainly St. Lawrence or the Richelieu) • Stretched inland from the river • The seigneuries varied in size usually 3 arpents wide by 30 arpents in length ( 175 meters by 1755 meters) • Once all the land was occupied, the Seigneur opened up a new Rang (Range) • Montées were roads that connected the Rangs • Odd shapes of land were called abouts

5. How the system worked • Government issued land to a man who then became the Lord • The Lord (Seigneur) then attracted settlers to come and farm on his land so that he may make his living running the land • Seigneur owned a piece of the land and called it the ¨Domaine¨ • Seigneur built a manor for him and his own family • Seigneur built a grist mill to grind farmers` grain, this would be also known as a windmill

6. A Seigneury`s Community • The community of the Seigneury consisted of a Manor for the Lord and his family • It had many farm houses • It has a church and houses for the priests • The church was the place to go for activities and meetings

7. A look at the Seigneury layout This is what a seigneury layout would look like

8. History of the Seigneury • The first seigneuries were granted in 1623. • By 1633 there were 53 seigneuries • British took over the colony in 1760, now there was 250 seigneuries • The system was abolished in 1854, ending the system for good

9. Seigneur Rights & Duties Seigneur agreed to.. for the government & church • Be faithful to the king • Keep an account of the seigneury • Bring in settlers and clear the land • Pay a tax if he sold the seigneury • Build a church and pay church taxes To his farmers (censitaires) • Grand land and have roads built • Build a mill for grinding grain and hold a court for disputes

10. Church Duties & Rights The church agreed to the following in return for the Lord`s service • A special pew (seat) at the front • To be served first at church • To be buried inside the church The church also gained respect on May Day (May 1st) from its people From the farmers they received.. • Annual rent and taxes, (corvée) 3-4 days free labour • Grazing fee, 1/14 of the wheat, 1/11 of fish caught • 1/12 of the value of land if sold, the right to reposes

11. Censitaires Rights And Duties The Censitaries (farmers) also had rights and responsibilities • Agreed to clear his lot and grow crops • To grind his grain at the Lords mill • Maintain the road by his lot in good condition • Pay church taxes and homage to the Lord • Give the Lord the first chance to buy the land if sold The Censitaire also enjoyed his rights • Granted land, use of the mill, use of the common pasture • Protection by the Lord, keep profits, sell his land whenever or leave it to his family

12. Censitaires paying their dues • This is how the Censitaires would have paid their dues

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