Peter Bisaillon (also Bezellon, Bizaillon, and other spellings), (baptized Pierre) (c. 1662 – 18 July 1742) was a New France fur trader and interpreter who spent most of his career in Pennsylvania engaged in trade with Native American communities.

Bisaillon and other coureurs des bois dominated the Pennsylvania fur trade during the late 17th and early 18th century, as they were skilled hunters and trappers and had established good relations with local Native American tribes.

[23]About 1688 Bisaillon arrived in Pennsylvania, "poor and miserable,"[24]: 381  and joined the trading company of Jacques Le Tort, a Huguenot refugee.

The colony failed because Huguenot families did not want to move from Philadelphia to wild lands along the Susquehanna River, although Jacques Le Tort and his wife Anne established a homestead there.

[4][27] When a band of Shawnees came into Pennsylvania in 1694, Bisaillon met his old friend Martin Chartier, who had been on La Salle's 1679 expedition, but had mutinied and fled.

For a few years Bisaillon, Chartier and Le Tort ran a smuggling operation, bringing furs from Detroit to Albany and Pennsylvania, where the English paid a higher price for them.

[29][18][30] On 4 May 1696 Casperus Augustine Herman, son of Augustine Herman and Lord of Bohemia Manor, wrote to the Maryland Provincial Council that This indicates that Bisaillon decided to move out of the backcountry, closer to a town such as Downingtown, while his colleague Jacques Le Tort took over the direct trade with the Native Americans who supplied most of their furs.

Pennsylvania authorities including William Penn suspected that Bisaillon and other coureurs des bois such as Le Tort and Chartier were spying for the French, that they were "very dangerous persons" who "kept private correspondence with the Canida Indians and the French," who "entertained strange Indians in remote and obscure places," and who "uttered suspicious words.

The accusation, by Thomas Jenner and Polycarpus Rose, stated that Bisaillon's servant had left a packet of letters from Peter, wrapped up in a blue linen cloth, which was then picked up by "James the Frenchman."

In 1701, William Penn and the Council considered the case of "Peter Basailion [and his brother, probably Michel], who have been suspected to be very dangerous persons in their traffic with the Indians, in this troublesome conjuncture of affairs."

"[23] Peter Bisaillon was indicted on charges of "trafficking with the savages,"[18]: 255  which was an attempt to pressure him into obtaining a formal trader's license issued by the Province of Pennsylvania.

[24]: 381 In 1703 Peter was granted a license to trade with the local tribes after making a deposit of five hundred pounds, guaranteeing his "loyalty to the province."[35]: ch.

[4][18]: 257  On 24 June 1708 James Logan wrote on his behalf to William Penn: ...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...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...and was sold by the admiralty.

[37][38]: 32 In October 1708 Bisaillon was granted permission from Logan (who controlled the commissioners of property) to build a house and plant fields "on any of the Lands above Conestoga not Possesst or made use by the Indians...paying One Deer Skin yearly for the privilege.

[41]: 509 On August 22, 1711, after nearly eighteen months in jail, Bisaillon posted 508 pounds for bail and was ordered to appear at the next court session in Philadelphia.

[41]: 539  In 1712 Bisaillon was permitted to continue his trade with the Indians, once again with the assistance of James Logan, who had returned from England and wanted to establish a partnership with him.

[4] In 1712 Bisaillon was offered a partnership with William Penn's secretary, James Logan, who was growing politically powerful while nearly monopolizing the Indian trade.

[4] A license document dated 15 October 1714 grants Bisaillon 250 acres of land, "at Peshtang or any other Indian Town or Place on Sasquehannah within this Province," with permission to build any necessary buildings "during his Trade there or till further order shall be given herein by the Proprietor or his Commissioners provided alwayes that the said Peter shall not act or proceed in any thing under colour hereof but by the free leave & approbation of the Indians amongst whom he dwells or resides.

Thou wilt receive from Peter Bizaillon himself the warrants on orders for surveying a thousand acres of land to his wife and her brother, in executing of which I doubt it will be difficult to reconcile his and Anne Le Tort's expectations, but I request thee to use thy endeavours.

Pray see that it be laid out of a sufficient depth; I think a mile and a half or a quarter, at least, is little enough, but this is left to thee, and thou art by no means to produce or mention this letter...Keep this wholly to thyself.

[48] Fluent in several Native American dialects, Bisaillon was employed as an Unami language interpreter for the Lenape at conferences in Philadelphia in 1717, 1720, 1721,[33] and 1728 (together with Nicholas Scull II).