The French Canadian/Acadian Genealogists of Wisconsin Quarterly features articles on French Canadian/Acadian research, historical as well as cultural information, published genealogies, and news about many current genealogical events. The annually published surname list consists of major surnames being researched by members.
Volume 22 Number 1, Fall 2007
Articles
"Engages et Engagements" by Joyce Banachowski
Engagements, written contracts to produce something or complete a task and the terms that applied, were a regular part of life in New France. There were recruitment engagements where people were hired to go to New France for a specified period of time, or to settle there; hiring engagements where one would hire out oneself or a child for maintenance and clothes, etc; apprenticeship engagements in which one would obtain maintenance and a skill in return for a certain years of service; engagements for the fur trade, to clear land, etc.
The engagé was required to do whatever or go wherever the master commanded. The master determined when the contract was completed and often extended the time because of debt incurred by the engagé during his service. Often, a payment in livres and clothing or tools would be made at the end of the engagement.
Article is 13 pages with bibliography and an extensive list of Apprentices in New France and a list of Child Engagements during the French Regime.
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