Jacques Le Tort facts for kids

Jacques Le Tort (born around 1651 – died around 1702) was a French-Canadian explorer and fur trader. He spent much of his life in what is now Pennsylvania, working in the fur trade. He worked with other French-Canadians like Peter Bisaillon and Martin Chartier. He also collaborated with James Logan, who later became the mayor of Philadelphia.

By the late 1690s, Jacques Le Tort was quite successful. Provincial authorities once suspected his wife of helping the French, but no charges were ever proven. Jacques Le Tort disappeared after a trip to England in 1702. It is believed he died at sea. After his disappearance, his wife Anne Le Tort and his son James Le Tort continued his business.

Early Life and Moving to America

Jacques Le Tort was born in Bonnétable, France. He was a Huguenot, which means he was a French Protestant. Many Huguenots faced persecution in France at that time. He arrived in New France (now Canada) in 1686. A letter from 1686 suggests he was 35 years old then, so he was likely born in 1651. The letter also called him "Sieur," a title for landowners with high social status. Some documents from Pennsylvania called him "Captain Le Tort," but it's not clear why.

His wife Anne, his young son James, and two uncles came with him from France. They stayed in London for a few months before sailing to Quebec. Their second son, Francis, was born soon after they arrived. They also had a daughter named Ann Margaret.

Starting a Career in the Fur Trade

Jacques Le Tort was hired by Daniel Coxe and Matthias Vincent. They wanted to start a colony of French Huguenots in Pennsylvania. They also planned to build a large fur trading business. In 1696, Governor William Markham wrote that Le Tort was a Protestant. He was sent over in 1686 with many goods and other French Protestants. His job was to help them settle on land bought from William Penn.

The colony didn't work out because families didn't want to move from Philadelphia to the wild lands. However, Le Tort and his wife Anne built a home there. They leased 400 acres from Coxe and set up a trading post. It was on the Schuylkill River, near where Spring City, Pennsylvania, is today.

Coxe wanted to expand his business. He sent many trade goods to Le Tort's trading post in 1687. He wrote to his agent that he had sent "all necessaries both for themselves & Indian Trafick." He trusted Le Tort with valuable goods. Coxe also wanted Le Tort to connect with Native American tribes further west.

Exploring the West

This 1722 map of Carolana might be based on a map Jacques Le Tort drew during his journey up the Mississippi River in 1687-88.

Around 1687 or 1688, Le Tort and two other men, likely Huguenots, went on an important journey. They traveled by canoe up the Susquehanna River. Then they carried their canoe over land to the Allegheny River. They went down the Ohio River to the Mississippi. Finally, they went up the "great yellow river," which was probably the Missouri River.

Not much is known about this trip because it was kept secret. They didn't want the government of New France or other businesses to interfere. Le Tort's journal and map from this journey were later lost. Coxe later wrote about how he encouraged people to explore. He mentioned that three of his tenants went on a long canoe trip. They traveled through many Native American nations. All the nations treated them kindly and traded furs with them. Coxe said he received a "Large Journall written & a Large Mapp" from them.

One of Le Tort's companions on this journey might have been Peter Bisaillon. Bisaillon had traveled down the Mississippi in 1686. In 1688, Le Tort hired Bisaillon to help him at his trading post.

Journey to Europe in 1690

In 1688, King William's War began. This war was between England and France over trade routes and land. It made Le Tort's business harder because travel was difficult. It also reduced access to Native American hunters who supplied furs.

In 1690, Le Tort decided to make a risky trip to England. He wanted to meet with Coxe to discuss new business ideas. He left his trading business in the care of his wife, Anne Le Tort. The journey was very difficult. Governor William Markham described how Le Tort's ship was captured. Le Tort was taken to Toulon and almost became a galley slave. But he managed to escape and reach England. There, he met with the West Jersey Company. They learned his house was in a good spot for trading with Native Americans. They made a deal with him to trade for them.

Le Tort didn't arrive in England until after March 4, 1692. By then, Coxe had sold his land and business interests in North America. But Le Tort was able to make a new deal with the West Jersey Society of London. He returned to Pennsylvania, probably in early 1694, with new business chances.

Anne Le Tort Faces Accusations

Authorities in Pennsylvania, including William Penn, were suspicious of Le Tort and other French traders. They thought these traders might be sharing information with the French. They were sometimes accused of things and held, even if the reasons were minor.

While Jacques was away, his wife Anne was called to Philadelphia in December 1693. She was accused of having secret contact with "strange Indians" (the Shawnee) and the French. Anne Le Tort was given time to respond. Her husband Jacques returned from England and appeared with her.

The accusations said Anne Le Tort had predicted the French would take land from the English. They also said she had many visits from "strange Indians." And that she had left a mysterious package that was picked up by "James the Frenchman." Anne Le Tort denied saying anything about the French. She explained that she had visits from "strange Indians" because she ran a fur trading business. She said the package was her account book, showing debts owed to her by the Indians. The Council decided that Captain Le Tort should promise to tell the government about anything he heard concerning Native Americans or enemies. After this, he and his wife were released.

Competition with Other Fur Traders

In 1694, Le Tort partnered with Martin Chartier. Chartier was another French-Canadian who came to Pennsylvania with a group of Shawnee Indians. He had lived with the Shawnee since 1685. By the late 1690s, there were too many furs coming into Quebec from the Canadian fur trade. This caused prices to drop. For a few years, Bisaillon, Chartier, and Le Tort secretly brought furs from Detroit to Albany and Pennsylvania. The English paid higher prices for furs there. A map from 1701 shows "J. Le Tort's store" near where Northumberland, Pennsylvania, is today.

Le Tort, Bisaillon, and Chartier had strong connections with Native American communities. This made them a threat to other local fur traders. Soon, there were complaints. In 1702, Robert Quary, a customs official, told the Provincial Council that the French were settling near Pennsylvania. He warned about the danger to the area.

Second Trip to Europe and Disappearance

In 1696, Casperus Augustine Herman wrote that Peter Bisaillon had moved closer to a town. He said that Captain Le Tort had taken over the direct trade with Native Americans. This meant Le Tort was dealing directly with the people who supplied most of their furs.

On June 26, 1696, Governor Markham wrote that Le Tort was going to England. He planned to go with another shipment of furs to sell in London. One source says that on this journey, Le Tort's ship was captured by pirates, and he might have been killed. However, a letter from Le Tort dated March 4, 1702, shows he was in London at that time. He had visited William Penn's home hoping to meet him. A second letter, dated May 4, 1702, is also signed by Jacques Le Tort. In it, he discusses a disagreement about Penn's trade with "French Indians" in Pennsylvania. He wrote that he felt it was his duty to write, having lived and traded among the Indians for 16 or 17 years.

Jacques Le Tort is known to have spoken at a hearing in London on June 9, 1702. He spoke on behalf of William Penn, regarding accusations that Peter Bisaillon was a French spy. After this, there are no more records of Jacques Le Tort. It is believed he died at sea on his way back to America.

Family Life

Le Tort's older son, James Le Tort, worked for a Canadian sea captain from 1692 to 1697. He then returned to Pennsylvania to join his father's fur trading business. James also faced accusations and was held several times between 1701 and 1711. However, he eventually became a successful trader. Around 1720, he set up a trading post at LeTort Spring Run, near what is now Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He also had another post on the Allegheny River.

James Logan remained a good friend to Anne Le Tort throughout her life. In 1719, he arranged for land to be surveyed as a gift for her. It was on the Susquehanna River near Conewago Creek. An additional plot of land was for her son, James Le Tort. Logan wrote that he wanted the "old gentlewoman" to have land so she could be settled and leave something for her grandchildren.

Anne Le Tort passed away before November 19, 1720. Her son James was put in charge of her estate. James lived until at least July 1742.

Images for kids

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  This 1722 map of Carolana might be based on a map Jacques Le Tort drew during his journey up the Mississippi River in 1687-88.