BOISDON, JACQUES, sometimes wrongly called Jean, first innkeeper and taverner at Quebec in 1648.

Of Boisdon’s career nothing is known except that on 19 Sept. 1648 the council of New France permitted him “to the exclusion of all others . . . to keep a pastry shop and hostelry for all comers.” At the same time the council drew up what is the oldest legislation dealing with the management of inns and taverns in New France. Boisdon was required to reside on the public square, not far from the church; to prevent any unseemliness, drunkenness, blasphemy, or games of chance in his house; to close his establishment during religious services on Sundays and feast days; in short, he was generally subject to the ordinances and regulations applicable to business. These few basic rules reappear in all subsequent legislation concerning inns and liquor shops. On the other hand, the council guaranteed Boisdon the shipment of “eight barrels gratis” from France to Quebec, and the use of the brewery of the Communauté des Habitants for three years. This monopoly was granted to him for a period of six years altogether; how long the innkeeper did ply his trade in Quebec cannot however be stated.

André Vachon