🔎 New France Genealogical Search Plan Checklists
To effectively trace an ancestor back to the pioneers of Nouvelle France, a structured approach is essential. The following checklists guide you through the process, prioritizing the use of specialized databases and primary archives.
1. Phase I: The Foundational Search (The "Who & When")
The primary goal of this phase is to use the demographic databases to confirm the core facts (Birth, Marriage, Death - BMD) and generate the authoritative research numbers needed for later searches.
| Step | Action | Resource(s) | Success Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. START | Locate the latest confirmed record in the New World (typically a marriage or birth of a child in Quebec). | FamilySearch / Drouin Collection | A digitized parish register image is found, providing the full names of the couple and their parents. |
| 2. VERIFY | Search the primary academic database using the names and dates found in Step 1. | PRDH (Programme de recherche en démographie historique) | Locate the family unit (couple) record. Note the PRDH Family Number and Individual Numbers for both spouses. |
| 3. TRACE BACK | Use the PRDH records to systematically move backward generation by generation (from child's marriage to parent's marriage). | PRDH | Trace the line back to the earliest recorded ancestor in New France (the pionnier or pioneer ancestor). |
| 4. PINPOINT ORIGIN | Once the pionnier is identified, look for their Fichier Origine record within PRDH or related sites. | PRDH / Nosorigines | Find the specific French parish/region of origin and the names of the pionnier's French parents. |
| 5. CORE DATA REVIEW | Double-check that you have the confirmed BMD dates/locations, PRDH Numbers, and French parentage for the pionnier ancestor. | All of the above | A complete, sourced record exists for the immigrant ancestor and their spouse. |
2. Phase II: The Contextual Search (The "What & Why")
Once the pionnier's identity is confirmed, this phase focuses on enriching their story by finding documentary evidence of their life in the colony, connecting them to the "Builders of New France" groups, and understanding their economic context.
| Step | Action | Resource(s) | Genealogical Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. NOTARIAL SEARCH | Search the digitized inventory of notarial records for your ancestor's names/PRDH numbers. | BAnQ (Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec) | Locate documents like Marriage Contracts (details dowry, pre-nuptial agreements), Land Deeds (identifies location/seigneur), Wills, or Inventories (lists possessions upon death). |
| 2. CENSUS CHECK | Check the 1666, 1667, and 1681 Censuses for the ancestor's family unit. | Library & Archives Canada / BAnQ (Transcriptions) | Confirms location, age, family size, amount of cultivated land (arpents), and number of livestock. |
| 3. BUILDER CONNECTION | Determine which "Builder" group the ancestor belonged to (e.g., Fille du Roi, Carignan-Salières Soldier, Captive, or Fille à Marier). | Specialized Biographies / PRDH notes | Provides narrative depth and connects the individual to one of the Crown's formal settlement programs. |
| 4. LAND & SEIGNEUR | Identify the Seigneurie where the ancestor lived (often named on their Notarial Act). | Historical Maps / Land Records | Allows for research into the local history, the Seigneurial System duties, and the ancestor's neighbors. |
| 5. EXTENDED FAMILY | Check if any family members (siblings, in-laws, children) were involved in the Fur Trade or a significant Legal Case (like Catherine Caron). | BAnQ Notarial Records (Search Engagements or Court Minutes) | Provides insight into the family's social status, adventurous pursuits (Coureurs de Bois), or legal conflicts. |
3. Builder Group Identification Checklist
Use the confirmed data from Phase I to link your ancestor to their foundational group.
| Characteristic | Fille du Roi (1663–1673) | Fille à Marier (Pre-1663) | Carignan-Salières Soldier (Post-1665) | Captive / Assimilated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arrival Date | 1663 to 1673 | Typically Pre-1663 | Arrived 1665 (with regiment) | Date of capture (e.g., 1704) or later baptism/marriage. |
| Financial Note | Received King's Gift (50 livres) or dowry mentioned in the Marriage Contract. | No mention of the King's Gift. | Often listed with a rank (e.g., sergeant); received land grants. | Often listed with a dit name (e.g., dit Lacasse or dit St-Jean); may have an Anglo-American birth record. |
| Key Ship/Sponsor | Ship name may be known; King Louis XIV is the ultimate sponsor. | Sponsored by a wealthy settler or religious order. | Part of the Régiment de Carignan-Salières. | Captured during raids in New England/New York (e.g., Deerfield, Schenectady). |
| Example | Marie Grandin arrived on La Nouvelle France in 1670. | Geneviève Gamache was recruited by early settlers before the royal program began. | André Robidou (dit l'Espagnol) settled after his engagement as a sailor. | Elizabeth Corse (Marie-Elisabeth-Isabelle Lacasse) captured in Deerfield. |
Credits and Licensing
Compiled by Mark Rabideau, Opa & Professional Genealogist.
All materials licensed: CC BY-ND 4.0 by eirenicon llc.