The role of seigneur in New France - The French-Canadian Genealogist The seigneurs were nobles, merchants or religious congregations, who had been granted a fief by the French crown, with all its associated rights over person and property The seigneurie, or seigniory, (a large piece of land) was granted by the Governor and the Intendant The seigneurial system was established in New France in 1627 and abolished in 1854