François Byssot de la Rivière

Who was François Byssot de la Rivière?

François Byssot de la Rivière was an early figure in the New World, his presence being recorded at Île-aux-Ruaux in 1639 when the Jesuits took possession of the property. He married Marie Couillard in Quebec on 25 October 1648.

Byssot was active in a number of pursuits and his name is associated with some of the earliest land grants and was also a person of note in seigneurial justice. In 1661, he received, from the Compagnie des Cent-Associés, a concession in what is now Labrador. He may have constructed a post at Mingan. He constructed the first tannery and was granted some other important concessions in both fishing and harvesting seals.

He had twelve children, two of whom, Jean-Baptiste and François-Joseph, attained some notability in Canadian history.