[1] The son of Jean Orillat and Marie Dupuy, he was born in Barbezieux and came to Canada at a young age.
He was involved in the fur trade in the Michilimackinac and La Baye areas and also operated a shop in Montreal.
Orillat also lent money and dealt in real estate, lumber and wheat.
[1] After the Invasion of Quebec in September 1775 by the United Colonies, some parishes in the Richilieu valley joined the rebels.
[1] He was married twice, both times in Montreal: first to Marie-Amable Filiau, dit Dubois in 1761 and then to Thérèse-Amable Viger in 1767.