This may be a very silly question from the POV of a real historian ... but
does anyone here know what was happening in France (specifically Paris) in
the late 1630's and early 1640's?  I've been looking at some geneology stuff
and discovered that my earliest known French Ancestors came to Quebec in 1641
as (what seems to have been) indentured servants.  I'm curious about what
mighht have made them decide to do that...

4 responses total.

The Thirty Years War was going on at the time -- the cause of
much hardship throughout Western Europe. I don't know about
Paris specifically, but lots of people had a strong incentive
to leave.

Richelieu was in his last years.  Huguenots had recently (1629) been 
forbidden to have armies.  Think _The Three Musketeers_, probably less
romantic.

I believe that the reason your ancestors came to the New World was, not 
only because of the Thirty Years War, which has a great contribution.  
But also the fact that throughout europe, and especially France, 
economic downfall was being made even harder by crop failures and 
famine.  The winter 1638 was especially harsh, and the downpours in the 
spring of 1942 made matters worse.  The price of bread was enormous to 
peasents and many decided that life in the New World could only be 
better, not to mention the rumors of America.  Like the kinds you see 
in those neat Disney Cartoons.  

P.S. "There are no cats in America, and the streets are paved with 
Gold..."

Thanks!

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