Our January 2025 Pause-Midi will feature a presentation about Les Filles du Roi, the “King’s Daughters,” by Lisa Elvin-Staltari.
Early in Québec history, during the period 1663 to 1673, colonial administrator Jean Talon sought to build New France by bringing in young women to boost the population. Recruited from diverse backgrounds across France, the women so assembled embarked on a courageous voyage across the Atlantic, bringing dowries and dreams of a new life.
Upon their arrival, they faced the challenges of settling in a harsh and unfamiliar land, navigating courtship rituals, and establishing families.
Their legacy endures in the towns and villages they built, the demographic transformation they initiated, and the countless descendants who trace their lineage to them. Through detailed case studies, the presentation will link present-day North America to these colonial roots.
The Société des Filles du Roi et Soldats du Carignan honors the remarkable legacy of the Filles du Roi and the soldiers who helped establish New France. The society’s mission is to preserve and promote understanding of these pioneers’ pivotal roles in shaping Québec’s history, particularly during the transformative years 1663-73. By exploring the historical context, recruitment, journey, and settlement of the Filles du Roi, as well as their enduring legacy, the society illuminates a fascinating chapter of colonial history.
Lisa Elvin-Staltari has been a professional teacher, sales consultant, public speaker, radio host, and writer for over 20 years. Originally from Drummondville, Québec, she has turned her fascination with her French-Canadian and English-Canadian heritages into a career as a genealogist. Her website Have Roots, Will Travel began in 2013. For her YouTube channel, she produces weekly videos focusing on French-Canadian genealogy including series on Les Filles du Roi (now celebrating its 300th episode) and Les Filles à Marier (with over 100 episodes). She is the membership chair and a board member of La Société des Filles du Roi et Soldats du Carignan; she also coordinates their educational outreach. She is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, the National Genealogical Society, the New England Genealogical Society, and the American Canadian Genealogical Society, in addition to several state genealogical societies. In these roles, she speaks to genealogical groups and works with individuals on genealogical projects.
Time and date: January 15, noon-1pm
Place: Zoom
Language: English
Images courtesy Lisa Elvin-Staltari.