New-France - prostitution in the inns and taverns

New France - prostitution in the inns and taverns

since the early history of New France, the population has always been influenced by the mobility of some of its members, travelers, soldiers, traders, etc. Of course, industry will foot the hotel industry. Several types of institutions exist, therefore see the nuances that distinguished ...

The inn was just a place where you could drink, eat and stay. The cabaret was the place where there used to drink in small quantities. While the hotel was furnished and comfortable setting that the inn, just as it is found there to drink, food and shelter.

These nuances distinguishing between different types of establishment were barely noticeable before Eighteenth century. So we do not explicitly will consider these differences.

The September 19, 1648, the Sovereign Council of New France gave to Jacques Boisdon authorization to operate a tavern. In a well framed by the Church colony, there were certain conditions for obtaining this permission: do not give way to drunkenness, to blasphemies, to gambling ... Sundays at the Mass the establishment should be emptied and closed. Establishing Mr. Boisdon was called, "the inn of the Golden Barrel".

The choice of where stood an inn or a tavern was inspired by a custom which required settling near the parish church. So that people can wait inside during bad weather. Apparently when the bell rang to announce the start of the service, the tenants had to be very convincing to bring out their customers.

While Montreal, having been founded by the religious zeal of the Sulpicians, was subject to strict regulations. For example in 1658, the governor of the city, Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve, had banned the entry of all alcoholic beverages. The following year, he eased by banning sale only. It was with the arrival of the Carignan-Salt regiment in the early 1660s, as Montreal attending the emergence of this industry.

The complaints against these establishments were numerous. Thus, the Sulpicians asked to Bouteroue steward visiting Montreal, to make use of his authority. Consequently April 2, 1669, Bouteroue édictait the following orders:

"We forbid all people residing in cities, towns and villages where cabarets and taverns, even those married and have families and households to go drink or eat in these places, and those who hold these cabarets and taverns to give them food, drink or play under any pretext whatsoever. We can only sell their wine to the pot then drink they will go in their family homes. [...] However, we can give them to drink moderately to passersby and those who stay will be forced to reside in this city for their business.

"In1672 in Montreal, one in twelve people gave the exclusive privilege of selling the drink, therefore to hold a beverage flow. The following year, Governor Frontenac continued in the same direction, to keep defending "cabaret" without permission. In short, these interventions were aimed at stopping the phenomenon of too many people practicing the trade.

This industry enjoyed a bad reputation in some areas had to obtain a certificate of good character before making such a trade. Even in the eyes of the population, this industry was badly perceived ... The hotel industry could quickly grab meat and other foods of choice. While bakers feared that the cabarets and steal them their essential captive clientele. In 1676, the sovereign council édictait no innkeeper could make bread and then sell it. While bakeries could not sell any alcoholic beverage.

This Ordinance 1676 extended to the size of the settlement, the need to obtain the famous certificate of good character. Further restrictions were imposed on the industry: Prohibition give drink to the workers during working hours and not to serve anyone after 9 pm ... The cabarets will be able to buy the market before 8 am in summer and 9 am in winter ... It was also mandatory for each tenant to view orders regarding manners, swearing, profanity and other disorders.

Despite the severity of the orders, the taverns and inns were increasing constantly and always remained as frivolous. To prove all this, a character will furnish the judicial history of the time, it was Anne Lemarque. Called the Folleville, it drew a large and very loyal customer she knew compliment ... So much so that she became pregnant while her husband was away for a year! The latter was aware of the conduct of his wife differences ... but business was good! The Sieur Folleville in yet come to demand a divorce on the grounds to the authorities that his wife was a devil or at best a witch.

To ensure implementation of the orders, it was established at Montreal, an itinerant court. This tribunal was conducting rounds, during which we made ​​sure the taverns and inns are closed during public holidays and during the Sunday service.

We also watched the compulsory closing at 9 pm and the respect of weight and measurements. This itinerant institution had numerous brushes with the famous Folleville. In fact, here's a little episode demonstrating the power of this court. On 28 March 1678 during an inspection after the curfew of 9 pm, had surprised many notable people who drank and played cards in the Folleville. The court had been very discreet with offending customers ... but was content to scold the hostess.

It was not until 1688 with the Judge Migeon Branssat we legislate on the display of these shops. For all establishments selling drinks applied the obligation to affix a sign outside made ​​of pine branch, fir or spruce called "plug".

To use a type is specified branches which retains its greenness even in winter. This kind of teaching at the time meant the presence of a drinking establishment. This custom display and dates back to ancient Rome where it spread to France, England and Germany. It is known that the word "cap" was derived from a German word meaning "bush" among others.

The ecclesiastical condemnation not only was the fact of the disorders in the population caused by this trade. According to the clergy sold alcool was causing a great damage to the company evangelizing of Native Americans.

In the same offensive, the synod held in Montreal in 1694 showed how severe would treat tenants. Since we now refuse absolution to tenants of institutions that would play cards or dice.

To limit the "damage" caused among American Indians by the sale of alcoholic beverages, Raudot intervene ... He limited 9 the number of institutions having the right to sell to American Indians. Around the same time, there were in Montreal, 19 cabarets for a population of about 2000 people. While Quebec had a ratio of 12 per 2273 inhabitants in 1716 ... which 3 or 4 women held themselves their establishment.

In 1726, the civil authority legislate again, were forbidden to serve drinks to domestic and lackeys without written permission of their masters. While the soldiers could drink only moderately during their meal. It was also from this point, we required the tenants to view the distinction (or chronic early-mentioned nuance) of its establishment: tavern, inn or hotel Dupuy.

This order, enacted by Intendant  , required in addition to each hotel and innkeeper to provide a role with all the people who have stayed in their establishments; restrict access to family son, soldiers and servants; to serve their customers in a room in full view of passers-by; to ban smoking in every part of the property ...

The construction of the carriage road between Montreal and Quebec ended in 1734. Despite this, very few taverns and inns were established on along this road. This resulted from the fact that travelers preferred to use the waterways to move. Anyway, travelers were accustomed, when traveling on land, going to stay with "the locals".

Like the military who were also housed within the population due to lack barracks to house them. It was a common occurrence throughout the French regime since repeatedly sent troops to counter the Anglo-Iroquois threats. For the locals, which was compensated for this service, it was a good opportunity to make an easy profit.

This not working in hotels, it usually practiced another profession. While the innkeeper had this occupation and habitually resident in its own establishment.

Despite the hospitality of the locals, the cabaret and the hostel were the prime locations for fun until the end of the seventeenth century. With an overwhelmingly male population, these institutions were the only places where we could enhance the feminine presence. In addition, the customer is always amused firmly gambling despite numerous civil and religious prohibitions. It was difficult to enforce these rules when the elite of the colony did not give at all the example: the inclinations of Bigot to play and have to lose its was not a state

secret's.taverns and inns were counting on loyal customers, composed of explorers, merchants, woodsmen, militiamen and soldiers. For these customers it was the only time could have fun in good company. But it was also the place where rampant prostitution, betting, duels and fights among undeniable.

others,however, the influence of this mobile population was  Between 1670 and 1760, about 14,000 people were made ​​to draw up contracts commitments to Montreal only ... All these people had surely scramble to inns and taverns. While military frequented these establishments during their free time in the winter ... In short, they could warm up to it, meet colleagues and people of the country, eat and drink, play cards ...

Over the years, the reputation of publicans and innkeepers did not improve. It was known that some of them were playing their clients on the quantities sold. Sometimes we reduced water spirits with salt water ... even with urine on occasion! What was called to serve barrels "savages." To counteract corrupt practices, it was created in 1752 posts of inspectors and auditors. These officials are mainly occupied in verifying that all pots are stamped and the French flag ... that is to say, to standardize the units of measurements (pots) everywhere.

In the last years of French rule, the hospitality industry was declining. Montreal's authorities had found in 1759 that these types of establishments no longer had their reasons for being. So we ordered all shops to remove their signs and stop selling retail. During the same period of unrest, sounding money was becoming increasingly rare.

We were put into circulation a coin of "cards". This money was to be repaid by the French crown to traders who have cashed. However, as time progressed, it was clear that the war would be won by the enemy. In uncertainty, traders, the publicans and innkeepers refused to get paid with "maps"France.

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