Organization of the Seigneuries New France grew along the banks of the St. Lawrence and the river served as the main transportation route for the colony. Everyone wanted access to the river and so seigneuries were divided into long narrow strips of land. Only when all the land along the river was used did the colony start a new row of seigneuries behind the first ones.

Division of land The King owned all the land in New France(???) He granted the use of the land to the Seigneurs. The Seigneurs divided the land into smaller lots and brought in Habitants to farm it. Both the Seigneurs and the Habitants had specific duties and if these weren’t fulfilled their land could be taken away at any time.

Role of Women Women were allowed to hold Seigneurial land. Women in New France were encouraged to marry by age 16 which meant they often inherited land when their husbands died. Some women kept the land only until a son or male relation could take over. Some women held their own Seigneuries. Madeleine d’Allonne.