The Company of 100 Associates
"Compagnie des Cent Associes"
The Company of One Hundred Associates was formed by Cardinal Richelieu, to promote the development of colonization in New France.  He believed that the colony would provide natural resources to France, where goods could be manufactured, and later sold back to the settlers at a tidy profit. 

With this in mind, he secured the rights to a vast portion of North America (though it was still under the juristiction of the Canadian Government);  where his company would hold all rights to (French) trade; duty free; for a period of fiteen years.  In exchange, they promised to send three hundred people to Canada every year, guaranteeing a population of 4,000 by the end of their tenure.  This would be a costly endevour, considering the fact that they would have to support the settlers for a minimum of three years, and out of their own pocket, provide each community with three Catholic priests.

To recruit his directors, he decided that rather than only rely on the nobles or merchants, he would draw from both; but before he did this he would have to create a level playing field.  Therefore, he stated that any member of the nobility who signed on as an associate would not lose their standing by engaging in trade; while issuing patents of nobility to the merchants and heads of shipping companies, who became members.  The only requirement, aside from a heavy purse; was that they be French and Catholic; and the only expense to the government was the provision of  two fully equipped warships.
As for the future colonists, they would be little more than indentured servants, with every aspect of their lives dictated by the Company. 

The first fleet, heavily loaded with supplies and settlers, left France in 1628, but was captured by the
Kirke Brothers, leaving the people already in New France in dire need of supplies, and the Company of 100 Associates, on the verge of bankruptcy.  It would be several years before they could renew their enterprise, but in 1640, the "beaver wars" meant further disaster; and in 1663, the company folded, without ever showing a profit.
The Members
Martin Anceuame

Pierre Aubert

Paul Bailly

Jacques Berruyer

Rene de Berthoulat

Francois Bertrand

Jacques Bondier

Jacques Bonneau

Thomas Bonneau

Mathurin Boudeau

Pierre Belanger

Jean Bourget

Claude Bragelogne

Du Buyer

Francois Castillion

Jacques Castillion

Henry Cavelier

Bertrand de Champflour

Samuel de Champlain


Claude Chastelain

Antoine Cheffault

Jean Chiron


Simon Clayentin

Hughes Cosmier

Sebastier Cramoysy

Simeon Dablon

Andre Daniel

Charles Daniel

Jean David

Francois Derre

Pierre Desportes

Louis d'Ivry

David Dufresne

Charles Dufresne

Francois Duhamel
Jacques Dauson

Nicolas Esleye

Pierre Feret

Charles Fleuriau

Pierre Fontaine

Formanteau

Claude Giradin

Robert Godefroy

Jean Guenet

Martin Haguener

Louis Hamel

Estienne Herve

Ythier Holuer

Michel Jean

Jean de Jouy


Louis de La Cour

Nicolas Langlois

Gabriel Lataignant

Pierre Leblond

Simeon Lemaitre

Nicolas Lemaison

Claude Lemaire

Jean LeSage

Raoul Lhuillier

Ayme Liron

Gaspard de Loup

Nicolas LeVasseur

Adam Mannessier

Claude Margonne

Guillaume Martin

Isaac Martin

Octavio Mey

Francois Monet

Georges Morin

Guillaume Nicolle
Antoine Novereau

Jacques Paget

Jean Papavoyne

Etienne Pavillon

Jean Pelleau

Jean Poneel


Jean Pontac

Claude Potel

Jean Potel

Guillaume Prevost

Pregent Proust

Barthelemy Quantin

Bonaventure Quantin

Isaac de Razilly


Antoine Reynault


Charles Robin (coursay)

Charles Robin (vau)

Rene Robin

Pierre Robineau

Claude de Roquemont

Gilles Roysel

Jean Roze


Francois St. Aubin

Hierosime St. Onge

Jean Teron

Andre Terru

Jean du Tayot

Jean Tuffet

Guillaume Verniere

Jean Vincent
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