Coureurs des Bois in New France

Coureurs des Bois

• Means "runner of the woods" and refers to French traders who ventured into the woods to trade with First Nation trappers and hunters.

Characteristics

• Originated from France and didn't wait for First Nation to bring pelts
• Ran into the woods to trade with First Nation trappers and hunters

Notable Instances

• Examples include Mears, Choat des Grole, and Noa Forget, who returned with 50 canoes filled with beaver pelts

Conflict with King Louis XIV

• The coureurs des bois's growing profits led to King Louis XIV losing profits and trades
• The king's response was influenced by the threat of the French colonies in New France being taken over by the British

Eventual Demise

• In 1696, the coureurs des bois were forced to stay in New France or never return
• This was due to their illegal, unlicensed trading practices

Coureurs des Bois

• Means "runner of the woods" and refers to French traders who ventured into the woods to trade with First Nation trappers and hunters.

Characteristics

• Originated from France and didn't wait for First Nation to bring pelts
• Ran into the woods to trade with First Nation trappers and hunters

Notable Instances

• Examples include Mears, Choat des Grole, and Noa Forget, who returned with 50 canoes filled with beaver pelts

Conflict with King Louis XIV

• The coureurs des bois's growing profits led to King Louis XIV losing profits and trades
• The king's response was influenced by the threat of the French colonies in New France being taken over by the British

Eventual Demise

• In 1696, the coureurs des bois were forced to stay in New France or never return
• This was due to their illegal, unlicensed trading practices

Seigneurs and Habitants

• There were two groups of farmers: Seigneurs and Habitants
• Seigneurs were favored by the king of France, possibly due to their support or military service
• A Seigneurie was a large estate, and Seigneurs allowed Habitants to live and work on the land in exchange for services and a portion of their crops

Seigneuries

• Seigneuries were located along the Saint Lawrence River, providing water for farming, transportation, fishing, and personal use
• A Seigneurie typically included a large portion of land for a church and a mill, which benefited the Habitants

Habitants

• Habitants were farm families that worked on the Seigneuries
• Their responsibilities included clearing and cultivating the land, growing crops, and raising animals
• In exchange for their labor, Habitants gave a portion of their crops to the Seigneur and paid taxes to the church and government
• Habitants were required to work without pay for a certain number of days per year

Key Differences

• Seigneurs were nobles who supported the king or served as soldiers, while Habitants were farm families who worked on the Seigneuries
• Seigneurs held more power and control over the land, while Habitants were obligated to provide services and a portion of their crops

Discover the role of coureurs des bois in 17th century New France, their impact on trade and the response of King Louis XIV. Learn how these independent traders changed the game in the French colonies.