Seigneuries were long, narrow rectangles facing the waters of a major river or lake. A habitant usually had a very narrow strip of land, perhaps half a kilometre wide and three or more kilometres back from the river. This shape of land gave each habitant access to water, good soil in the river bottom, and timber further from the river. The seigneur had to build a mill for his habitants. The mill could be used for defence in case of attack. Forts were built on seigneuries near Iroquois territory.
The seigneurs used agents in France to recruit settlers. A legal document
was drawn up in France in front of a notary, a kind of lawyer, showing
what the habitant and his seigneur had to do for each other. The habitant
owed his seigneur three or four days free labour each year. This was considerably
less than peasants in France owed their lords. The habitant was responsible
for keeping the section of road which crossed his land in good condition.
The habitant gave one bag out of fourteen to his lord in payment for the
use of the seigneur's mill. The habitant paid his rent in money, if it
was available, but more often in the form of farm produce. The habitant
also paid a tithe for the upkeep of a church and its priest. Cash was hard
to get. It could be obtained in the markets which grew up. The habitants
took their guns in case of attack, particularly by the Mohawks. The habitant
had to give some of his fish to the seigneur. The poor were helped with
gifts at Christmas, and by charity administered by the church.