Posted by Ron Choquette on August 19, 2000 at 21:51:59:

In Reply to: Jean-Baptiste Talon posted by Elyse on August 07, 2000 at 11:08:18:

I've been out of the loop for the past couple of weeks ... helping out my mother and my in-laws with the "getting ready for the cold season stuff". Just got back home and waded through my mail. Lots of catching up posting to do ! A small point that may be of some interest, given your comments, Elyse ... In my geneology research regards my surname, I became aware that most of the boys born, into my early family line, were named Jean-Baptiste and most of the girls were named Marie. It was the second name assigned ... Jean-Baptiste Joseph, Jean-Baptiste Francois, Marie Josephine or Marie Terase ... that was used when the individual was called/addressed. Joseph, Francois, Josephine, etc. That appears to have been the standard in Roman Catholic French families. Big families 21, 22, 23 children. Good Catholics and cold winters. Additionally, your reference to the French King and his efforts towards populating "the new world", was something I was aware of as my GGGGGGGGGGrandfather (that's 10 levels back), Nicolas dit Champagne, was one of 1,200 soldiers of the Carignan-Salieres Regiment of the French army who were shipped to Quebec in New France (Canada) between June and September of 1665. The French King, Louis XIV, had his minions recruit young women to be sent to New France as there were very few single women. Once chosen, a girl was given paid passage, clothing and personal necessities. She was also promised a dowry of 50 livres if she married a soldier or habitant or 100 livres to marry an officer. These girls were called "Filles du Roi" (King's Daughters) and that fact was so noted in their marriage contract. Approximately 770 women arrived between 1663 and 1673. The women made contracts of marriage with the men and usually married within a few days or weeks of the contract signing. One of them, Anne Julien, came to New France on the Ile-de-France and married Nicolas Choquet dit Champagne on November 12th, 1668. And that's how I got here !

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