Peter Bisaillon facts for kids

Peter Bisaillon (born Pierre Bisaillon, around 1662 – July 18, 1742) was a French-Canadian fur trader and interpreter. He spent most of his life in Pennsylvania, trading with Native American communities. Peter and other coureurs des bois (French-Canadian independent fur traders) were very important in the Pennsylvania fur trade in the late 1600s and early 1700s. They were skilled at hunting and trapping, and they had good relationships with local Native American tribes.

However, Pennsylvania officials often viewed Peter and his friends with suspicion. He was frequently accused of various things and even jailed. Despite these challenges, he eventually left the fur trade as a wealthy man.

Early Life and Moving to America

Peter Bisaillon was born in Saint-Jean-d'Aubrigoux, a village in France. His parents were Benoit Bisaillon and Louise-Françoise Blaise Dublay. Around 1680, Peter moved to New France (which is now Canada) with his three brothers: Étienne, Benoit, and Michel. They were likely inspired by their cousin, Mathieu Faye, who was serving in Quebec.

Peter's Brothers

Peter's brothers also became involved in the fur trade. Étienne Bisaillon traded with the Odawa people and became a landowner near Montreal. He was killed by Iroquois warriors in 1697. Benoit Bisaillon traded with the Sioux before becoming a farmer. He drowned in 1700. Michel Bisaillon traded between Detroit and New York. He even helped French forces by leading Illinois warriors in a battle against the Fox Indians in 1715.

Peter's Trading Career

Exploring with Henri de Tonti

In February 1686, Peter Bisaillon joined a group of twenty-five men. They traveled with Henri de Tonti to search for another explorer, René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, near the mouth of the Mississippi River. They did not find La Salle. On their way back, they helped establish the Arkansas Post. This was the first European settlement in the lower Mississippi River Valley. It was a place where traders could exchange French goods for beaver furs with the local Quapaw people. After this, Peter returned to Montreal.

Early Business Ventures

In 1687, Peter partnered with Gédéon Petit and Pierre Salvaye Tremont. These two coureurs des bois had moved their trading operations to Albany because French officials were looking for them for breaking trading rules. The governor of New York, Governor Thomas Dongan, even gave them permission to trade with Native Americans. Unfortunately, their trading trip ended when their boat sank, and they lost all their goods.

Working with Jacques Le Tort

Around 1688, Peter arrived in Pennsylvania. He was described as "poor and miserable" but soon joined the trading company of Jacques Le Tort. Le Tort was a Huguenot (a French Protestant) who had sought safety in Pennsylvania. Peter eventually started working for the Pennsylvania Company. In 1694, he met his old friend Martin Chartier, who had been on an earlier expedition with La Salle. Chartier had married a Shawnee woman and lived with her community.

By the late 1690s, the fur trade in Canada had grown so much that there were too many furs. This caused prices to drop. For a few years, Peter, Chartier, and Le Tort secretly moved furs from Detroit to Albany and Pennsylvania. The English traders there paid better prices.

Peter later moved closer to towns like Downingtown. His colleague, Jacques Le Tort, took over the direct trade with the Native Americans who supplied most of their furs.

Challenges with Pennsylvania Officials

Pennsylvania leaders, including William Penn, often suspected Peter Bisaillon and other French traders like Le Tort and Chartier. They worried that these traders were spying for the French. They were accused of "keeping private correspondence with the Canida Indians and the French." Officials also thought they "entertained strange Indians in remote and obscure places." Because of these suspicions, Peter and his friends were often bothered, arrested, and put in jail, sometimes for minor reasons.

Accusations of Conspiracy

In December 1693, Peter Bisaillon, Mrs. Anne Le Tort, and Captain Dubois faced accusations. People claimed they had secretly communicated with the Shawnee people and the French in Canada. Witnesses said Peter's servant had left letters for "James the Frenchman." Another witness claimed an "Indian king" said Peter had suggested that the English might not keep the land for long. These claims were used as evidence of a conspiracy. Peter, Mrs. Le Tort, and Dubois were imprisoned. After an investigation, Mrs. Le Tort was released. Peter and Dubois were eventually freed, but they had to promise to report any hostile actions by the French. They were also watched closely.

Trading License Issues

In 1701, William Penn and the Council discussed Peter Bisaillon and his brother (likely Michel). They were suspected of being "very dangerous persons in their traffic with the Indians." The Council decided that these two Frenchmen should be stopped from living or trading among the Native Americans. Peter was accused of "trafficking with the savages." This was an attempt to make him get a formal trading license from the Province of Pennsylvania.

Spy Accusations

In 1702, Robert Quary, a customs official and Peter's former employer, accused Peter of being a spy sent from Quebec. Quary told the Provincial Council that the French were settling near New Castle, Pennsylvania. At a hearing in London in 1702, Jacques Le Tort, Peter's business partner, spoke in his defense. He explained that Peter had arrived in Pennsylvania "poor and miserable" and had been helped by him and other refugees. Le Tort said Peter had lived there for about 13 or 14 years.

Goods Seized

In 1703, Peter was finally granted a license to trade. He had to pay a large sum of money (five hundred pounds) as a guarantee of his loyalty. However, in 1708, his goods were seized by the Admiralty Court in Philadelphia. The judge, Robert Quary, still suspected him. James Logan, a powerful official, wrote to William Penn on Peter's behalf. Logan explained that Peter had been "very faithful" and was useful. He also mentioned that Peter had been searching for silver mines with a Swiss explorer named Franz Ludwig Michel.

In October 1708, Peter was allowed to build a house and plant fields near Conestoga. He had to pay one deer skin each year for this privilege.

Imprisonment in 1710

In November 1709, James Logan had to leave for England. Without Logan's protection, Peter was jailed again in March 1710. He was accused of being loyal to the French and planning to turn Native Americans against the English. The Deputy Governor ordered Peter's belongings to be seized. Peter had to pay a large sum of money (five hundred pounds) to be released. After nearly eighteen months in jail, Peter posted bail in August 1711. He was ordered to appear at the next court session. In 1712, Peter was allowed to continue his trade, again with help from James Logan, who had returned from England.

Partnership with James Logan

In 1712, Peter Bisaillon was offered a partnership with James Logan, William Penn's secretary. Logan was becoming very powerful and almost controlled the Indian trade. Logan built a trading post on the Susquehanna River. Peter, Le Tort, and Chartier became key traders for Logan, supplying most of his furs for several years.

In 1714, Peter was granted 250 acres of land near the Susquehanna River. He was allowed to build necessary buildings for his trade, as long as the local Native Americans approved. After Peter's brother Michel became involved in military actions against tribes supporting the English in 1715, Logan decided to replace his French traders with English ones. Peter and Chartier then set up trading posts in Paxtang, Pennsylvania. Chartier died in 1718.

James Logan remained a good friend to Peter throughout his life. In 1719, Logan arranged for 700 acres of land to be surveyed as a gift for Peter and his wife near Conewago Creek. Peter built a home there. Logan's letters show his continued friendship and concern for Peter and his family.

Peter Bisaillon was fluent in several Native American languages. He worked as an interpreter for the Lenape people at important meetings in Philadelphia in 1717, 1720, 1721, and 1728. He retired shortly after, living on his large estate of over 700 acres near Conoy Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Marriage and Family

In 1727, Peter married Martha Combe (1691-1764) from Pennsylvania. Martha also sometimes worked as an interpreter at meetings between local tribes and officials. They did not have children together. However, a letter from 1701 exists from a girl named Jahanna Beselion, who claimed Peter as her father. His response is not known.

Some records suggest Peter might have married a Native American woman, possibly from the Piscataway tribe, in 1697. She is sometimes called Marie Thérèse Kouaga or Marie Thérèse Osunesa. She is mentioned once in official records, without her name, as "Peter Bezillion's wife" who could interpret for Onondagoe Indians in 1704.

Death and Legacy

Peter Bisaillon died on July 18, 1742. Since he had no children, his property went to his wife's nephews. He is buried in East Caln Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania.

Peter Bisaillon's trade route became known as "Old Peter’s Road." This was one of the first roads in the area, likely following old Native American trails. It ran from the Susquehanna River east through Chester County, Delaware County, and Downingtown to Philadelphia. Today, part of it follows Pennsylvania Route 340.

"Bezalion's Cave" was a cave Peter used to store furs and traps. It was located on the west bank of the Schuylkill River, near what is now Spring City, Pennsylvania. This cave appeared on several old maps. It was likely filled in when the Schuylkill Canal was built in 1825.