The Continental Monthly, Vol 3 No 3, March 1863: Devoted To Literature And National PolicyVarious
History
The Continental Monthly, Vol 3 No 3, March 1863: Devoted To Literature And National Policy
Various
Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals; United States -- Politics and government -- 19th century -- Periodicals
The warmer climes of the South induced many Huguenots to settle in the
colony of Virginia, and their neat little cottages, covered with French
grapevines, and the wild honeysuckle, might be seen scattered along
James river, not far above Richmond. One writer of that day, says: 'Most
of the French who lived at that town (_Monacan_) on James river, removed
to Trent river, in North Carolina, where the rest were expected daily to
come to them, when I came away, which was in August, 1708.' In 1690,
King William sent to Virginia many of the Huguenot Refugees, his
followers, who had taken shelter in England. Here they were naturalized
by an especial act in 1699. Six hundred more came over, conducted by
their pastor, Philip de Richebourg, locating themselves, about twenty
miles above Richmond, on lands formerly occupied by a powerful tribe of
Indians. There is a church now near the spot, retaining its Indian name
to this day. In 1700, the Virginia assembly exempted these French
settlers from taxation, and fully protected their rights.
We have seen a curious relic of the Huguenots in Virginia, which was
found in the family of a descendant. It is entitled: 'A register,
containing the baptisms made within the church of the French Refugees,
in the Manakin town, in Virginia, within the parish of King William, in
the year of our Lord 1721, the 25th of March. Done by Jacques Soblet,
clerk.' This manuscript contains about twenty-five pages of foolscap
paper, and remains a standing evidence of the fidelity of the Virginia
Huguenots to their Christian duties and ordinances. As a specimen of
their entries, we copy the following, literally, not even correcting
their orthography:
'Jean Chastain fils de Jean ett de Marianne Chastain les pere et
mere nee le 26 Septembre, 1721, est baptise le 5 Octobre, par M.
Fountaine. Ils ava pour parun et marene Pierre David et Anne sa
femme le quels ont declaree que cest enfan nee le jour et an que
deshus.
Segnee
JACQUE SOBLET,
Clerk.'
John Chastain, son of John Chastain and of Marianne Chastain, the
father and mother, born the 26th of September, 1721, was baptized
the 5th of October, by Mr. Fontaine. He had for godfather and
godmother Peter David and Anne, his wife, who have declared that
this infant was born the day and year aforesaid.
Signed, JACQUE SOBLET, Clerk.
Two or three of the pages contain records of deaths. Here is one:
'Le 29 de Janvier, 1723-4, morut le Sieur Authonoine Trabue, agee
danviron sinquaint six a sept annees fut en terree le 30 du meme
moy.
J. SOBLETT, Clerk.'
Jan. 29th, 1723-4, died Sir Anthony Trabue, aged about fifty six or
seven years. He was buried the 30th of the same month.
J. SOBLETT, Clerk.
Huguenot names found in this old register of baptism:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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