Civilization.ca - Virtual Museum of New France
http://www.civilization.ca/vmnf/vmnfe.asp

Filles a Marier

"In addition to female children accompanying their families, two types of unmarried women, including a very small number of widows, settled in New France after the founding of Qu�bec, in 1608, and of Montr�al, in 1642. History has grouped them under a general heading: girls for marrying."

Filles du Roi

"Although they were girls for marrying, les Filles du roi are distinct from that group and the expression used to designate them applies exclusively to the women and girls who emigrated to New France between 1663 and 1673. These young women of marriageable age and capable of bearing children are so called because their transportation and settlement expenses, as well as the dowry for some of them, were assumed by the royal treasury."