APPENDIX B: Daily Life in New France Militia captains played a
very important role in the life of the colony. They were not
only military leaders in times of emergency and of calls to
arms, but on numerous occasions acted as a link between the
people and the central administration. For example, militia
captains ensured that municipal regulations were enforced and
kept an eye on public works projects, to name only these two
modern equivalents of their main duties. Their commissions as
captains were signed by the governor general, after
consultations with local authorities and the officers of the
district general staff. Militia captains were usually quite
popular men of acknowledged bravery, because it was well known
that the proud Canadians would only obey people whom they
respected. Militia captains were leading figures in their
communities, who knew how to read and write. They had to be
fairly well off, because the position was not paid. People
wanted to become militia captains for the honour of the position