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Immigrant Ancestors |
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The First Immigrants
The first Bisaillon's that made the long voyage across the Atlantic to the New World were four brothers named Etienne, Benoit, Michel and Pierre. They came from the town of St. Jean d'Aubrigoux in the Auvergne region of France, today located in the department of Haute-Loire. They had arrived in New France (today the province of Quebec) between 1680 and 1682. They were probably encouraged to make the long voyage to New France by their cousin Mathieu Faye, who had arrived earlier with the Carignan Regiment. Etienne and Benoit had settled in Laprairie near Montreal. Michel had settled in Detroit and Pierre near the Susquehanna River in what today is Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
The first mention of Etienne in the New World is from a notary document dated November 16, 1682 for the purchase of about 100 acres of land at Laprairie near Montreal. He purchased this land from the surgeon Antoine Barrois for the sum of 1000 livres. On May 8, 1683 Etienne along with Jean Aumond and Pierre Bourdon purchased a trading permit from Vital Oriol to trade with the Ottawa Indians. On that same day they hired Charles Deneau dit Destailly for 200 livres and ten beaver pelts to make the trip with them to the Ottawas.
On November 26, 1685 Etienne married Jeanne Roanes at the parish of Notre Dame de la Prairie de la Madeleine at Laprairie. Jeanne was the daughter of Francois Roanes and Perrine Meunier. There was seven children from this union all were born at Laprairie.
On August 25, 1691 Etienne purchased from Bertrand Arnaud a two story house located on Francois street at Montreal for 2500 livres. He purchased this home soon after the attack on Laprairie by Captain John Schuyler of New York. On October 16, 1691 Etienne rents this house to the surgeon Dominique Thaumer de la Source for 200 livres a year.
In the year 1693 Etienne acquires more land at Laprairie. On September 25, 1693 he purchased a plot of land at Laprairie from his brother Benoit. And on October 30, 1693 he purchased another plot of land from his brother-in-law Antoine Rousseau dit Labonte and his wife Marie Roanes.
On May 31, 1694 Etienne becomes partners with Charles le Gardeur Delisle and Charles Deneau dit Destailly for a trade voyage to the Ottawas. Etienne acquires a great deal of debt for his share of the cost for supplies and equipment needed to make the voyage. On September 17, 1694 he borrows 260 livres from Georges Pruneau, to be paid back upon his return from the Ottawas.
On September 6, 1697 Etienne sells his property and house on St. Francois street at Montreal to Pierre Billeron dit Lafatique for 2500 livres. Later that same month Etienne was killed by the Iroquois Indians and was buried on September 25, 1697 at Laprairie. His widow Jeanne Roanes remarried on January 25, 1700 at Laprairie to Francois Demers, son of Etienne Demers and Francoise Morin. There was three children from this union. Jeanne Roanes died December 3, 1738 and was buried the next day at Laprairie.
The first mention of Benoit in the New World is from a notary document dated February 13, 1686 for the purchase of land from Jean Caillault dit LeBaron for 1160 livres and 50 bushels of wheat. On September 3, 1687 Benoit rents his farm to Jean Homas for one year for 50 livres and 50 bushels of wheat. On September 5, 1687 two days after renting out his farm, Benoit enlist in the trade voyage for Nicolas Perrot to trade with the Sioux Indians. On May 8, 1690 Benoit enlist in another trade voyage with Louis de LaPorte Louvigny for which he received 300 livres. In 1692 Benoit with Charles Vallee finance and make a voyage to trade with the Ottawa Indians.
On September 30, 1692 Benoit married Catherine Gagne at the parish of Notre Dame de la Prairie de la Madeleine in Laprairie. Catherine was the daughter of Pierre Gagne and Catherine Daubigeon. A year later on September 25, 1693 Benoit sells part of his land at Laprairie to his brother Etienne for 30 livres.
Benoit's wife Catherine, a midwife, after helping many other women with the birth of their child, died shortly after giving birth to her only child, a daughter named Catherine Anne. Their daughter Catherine Anne was born in 1699 and baptized August 11, 1699 at Laprairie. On September 29, 1699 Benoit enters into a marriage contract with Marie Charlotte Lecours, daughter of Michel Lecours and Louise Leblanc. The following day on September 30, 1699 Benoit and Marie Charlotte were married at Montreal. There was no children from this union.
On June of 1700 Benoit drowned while traveling in a canoe between Laprairie and Montreal. His body was recovered at Varennes where he was buried on June 14, 1700. His widow Marie Catherine remarried on October 19, 1700 at Montreal to Pierre Pinsonnault, son of Francois Pinsonnault and Anne Leber. There was ten children from this union.
Michel Bisaillon had settled in Detroit where he had purchased property at Fort Pontchartrain from Salomon du Vestin. Michel had married Marie Marguerite Fafard on June 30, 1710 at the parish of Ste-Anne in Detroit. Marie Marguerite was the daughter of Francois Fafard and Marie Madeleine Jobin. There was four children from this union.
Michel Bisaillon was heavily involved in the fur trade. Some of the fur trade from Detroit was diverted to New York or Pennsylvania where furs commanded a better price. Michel and his brother Pierre was responsible for bringing a share of that trade to Philadelphia. In 1714 Michel had been accused by Reverend Father Deville, a Jesuit missionary, and Sieur Deliette of "introducing the English of carolina to the illinois", but in 1715 Michel helped convince the Illinois Indians to aid in the French attack on the Fox Indians.
Michel may have moved to Laprairie, where his daughter Marie Marguerite was born in 1718. Michel died prior to May 18, 1723 where a notary document of this date describes Marie Marguerite as 5 years old and the daughter of the late Michel Bisaillon. His widow Marie Marguerite Fafard died in 1728 and was buried on December 26, 1728 at Ile Dupas.
The first mention of Pierre Bisaillon in the New World is from a notary document dated November 16, 1682 where his brother Etienne purchased land at Laprairie near Montreal. Pierre's signature appears on this document possibly as a witness to the transaction. In 1686 Pierre enlist with Henri Tonty's group to travel down the Mississippi River. After his travel down the Mississippi, Pierre joined into a partnership for a trade voyage with Gideon Petit and the Sieur de Salvaye, but this was unsuccessful after their boat sank and their cargo was lost. After this unsuccessful adventure Pierre travels to Pennsylvania where he joined the trading organization of Jacques LeTort. He became prosperous in the fur trade along the Susquehanna River. Pierre was closely associated with the Conoy Indians along the Susquehanna.
Pierre who spoke the Delaware language was called on from time to time to translate for the Governor John Evans of Pennsylvania in his dealings with the Indians. James Logan, Pennsylvania's secretary and personal agent of William Penn, had established a trading post at Conestoga on the Susquehanna River and for many years Pierre Bisaillon, along with the LeTort family and Martin Chartier provided most of the fur trade for Logan's organization. Although Pierre had made many powerful contacts in Philadelphia he also had many enemies. In 1708 Pierre's goods were seized by the Admiralty Court in Philadelphia, who suspected him in his dealings with the French and Indians. James Logan who financed many of Pierre's trade wrote a letter on June of 1708 in his defense to William Penn which states:
"...Peter barzalion who has long traded here, and behaved himself well last year had some Indian goods seized by the collector because imported by a foreigner. Thy third came to something above 30 pounds. At his earnest request, I took his bond for it, everybody exclaiming against the severity for though a Frenchman, he had been very faithful, and believing that upon his application and thy knowledge of the matter, thou would not touch with it. For these nine months past, he has been out with Michel in quest of the mines, and in the meantime, unhappy, had another parcel of a greater value seized, which are also condemned, without mercy, for John Moore was angry with him, and was sold by the admiralty. I know not what to do in such a point, but must crave thy direction. He is desirous if he stays here to procure a denization from England, in which it would be kind to be helpful to him, for he is useful and accounted very honest by those who trade with him. But I fear he will leave us and if provoked, is capable of doing much hurt..."
Pierre was jailed in Philadelphia in 1711 by accusations of his connection to the French and to incite the Indians against the English colonist. On August 22, 1711 Pierre posted 508 pounds for bond and was ordered to appear at the next court session in Philadelphia. On May 13, 1712 Pierre is permitted to continue his trade with the Indians.
It was probably one of his many trips to Philadelphia where he met his second wife Martha Combe. They had settled in the Susquehanna valley in Pennsylvania. In the 1740's the French traders who worked with Logan's organization broke away and some aligned themselves with the French. Pierre decided in his old age to retire and stay in the Susquehanna valley where he had acquired a great deal of land and wealth. He died on July 18, 1742 in Coatesville, Chester County, Pennsylvania and was buried at St Johns Church in Pequea, Chester County, Pennsylvania. His wife Martha died on June 18, 1764 in Pequea, Chester County Pennsylvania and was also buried at St Johns Church in Pequea.
Headstones
of Peter Bezellon (Pierre Bisaillon) and Martha Bezellon (Martha Combe). Photos
taken June 16, 1998 at the cemetary of St. Johns Episcopal Church in Chester
County, Pennsylvania. The elements have taken its toll on the headstones over
the centuries. The headstone for Pierre reads: "In memory of PETER
BEZELLON who have departed this life July the 18th, 1742 Aged 80 Years. Who e'er
thou art with tender heart, stop, read and think of me; I once was such as now
thou art; As now I am so thou shalt be." The headstone for his
wife Martha reads: "Here lieth the Body of MARTHA BEZELLON: She departed
this Life June 18 A.D. 1764. Aged 71 Years. All you that come my Grave to see,
And as I am so must you be: Repent in time, no time delay, for sudden I was
Snatch'd away."