Simon Bleinz (1 results)

Condition: Near Fine. In French. 2pp. recto and verso on a single leaf. Signed by Perrot, Bleinz, and notary Benigne Basset. With an English transcription. Quarto. Scarce seventeenth century voyageur fur trade contract for an expedition to the wilderness to trade with the Ottawa, signed by one of the most important early traders and explorers of Canada and the upper midwest. "Partnership agreements such as this one of Nicholas Perrot are of great rarity" (Lande). Perrot (1644-1717) was an explorer, interpreter, trader, commandant, diplomat, and seigneur. He was one of the best-known figures in the early fur trade of New France, particularly during the latter part of the 17th century, and took possession of large tracts of land in the Great Lakes region in the name of King Louis XIV. His travels commonly took him deep into unexplored territory, and he was the first Frenchman to explore the Upper Mississippi in what is now Wisconsin and Minnesota. Perrot arrived in New France about 1660 as a young donné (or contracted assistant) in the company of Jesuit Missionaries, and travelled to the western Great Lakes region where he gained the friendship of the local First Nations people by trading guns for furs, believing that they were entitled to defend themselves from their enemies. He also took the opportunity to learn several Native languages, which served him well during his career. Perrot soon entered the fur trade full time, and began forming business partnerships. He enlisted himself as a translator with government authorities, and participated in peacekeeping missions to bring warriors of several First Nations together to sign peace treaties. By 1685, he was appointed Commandant-in-Chief at Bais des Puants (present day Green Bay, Wisconsin) and surrounding regions, and travelled to the upper reaches of the Mississippi River in the territory of the Sioux tribes where he built Fort St. Antoine (in present-day Minnesota). During the spring of 1687, in preparation for taking part in raids on Indian villages in the Seneca country, Perrot left his store of furs with the Jesuits at St. Francois-Xavier mission (in present-day Wisconsin). While out with the raid party, a fire at the mission destroyed his entire fur inventory valued at more than 40,000 livres. Financially ruined, Perrot returned to Montreal to deal with creditors and renew partnership agreements like the present. In the summer of 1688, Perrot partnered with Simon Bleinz to undertake an expedition to trade with the Ottawa Indians and other Nations. Perrot had always been a staunch ally of Governor Frontenac, and had obtained a fur trade license from the governor for this venture to ensure that his activities were in keeping with the rules and regulations of the trade. The agreement states that Perrot would supply Bleinz with goods, food provisions, a canoe, and other necessary supplies for the voyage, and that Bleinz would convey the goods to the trading area and do all that he was able for the success of the partnership. Bleinz had the option of taking, at his own expense, six shirts, two capots (or hooded coats of blanket cloth, moosehide, or other material), and one rifle to trade for his own personal profit. The pelts resulting from the venture were to be distributed evenly amongst Bleinz, another unnamed associate of the partnership, and Perrot. An "apichimon" (or bonus) of six beaver pelts was to be paid to Bleinz by the partnership upon the successful conclusion of the expedition. "Perrot, who was often unappreciated even during his lifetime, was France's best representative among the Indians of the west. His knowledge of the languages of the country, his natural eloquence, the happy blend of daring and coolness that were the essence of his character, had made it possible for him to win the esteem, confidence, and even affection of the Indians. The Potawatomis, the Menominees, the Foxes, the Miamis, the Mascoutens, and the Sioux granted him with the honours of the pipe of peace, the rig. Signed.