The Abbeville press and banner. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, July 09, 1902, Image 8
pr-"'"--'
THE HUGUENOTS.
Continued from First Page.
good nUus, and a moderate w inter." * * "I cultivate the earth
with Hucim, aud liave an abundance of that which is necessary lor
me and mine."
Finding the culture of the vine lew* successful than was anticipated,
tbey demoted themselves chiefly to the raising of flax, Indian
corn and tobacco; but with some, stilk, indigo and the vine were
not wholly abamlaiidoued for a generation. The (iibert Family
- ' ? lint.
were the most sum-wnu ?iik ^niwen, buu >?ub .
duce a beautiful and useful fabric. Many jwrpoiis, for a long lime,
supplied their own cellars with wiue. but Ihe vintager par excellence
was Mr. Jean Noble, an unmarried gentleman, the remains ol
whose cellar ami the house above it in which he kept a school are still
pointed out. For what length of time they continued to inhabit the
Town is not exactly known. They were, it Is likely, beginning t??
spread themselves over the neighboring hills and valleys when the
war of the Revolution broke out in 177H, but felt themselves constrained,
no doubt, on the breaking out of hostilities, to keep to~
u ? ?-?i-?Ki? ?u uwnrliv ncnitint the m.'irauding
( loer m iiiuvu ? y ?.?> ?- ? _0 _
parties of Indians ami Tories which, at that time, infested the
country.
In the great drauia of the Revolution the colonists were no idle
and inactive spectators. They proni| tly espoused the Whig cause
to a man, and continued faithful to their principles, through all of
the eventful struggles of that period, till the establishment of peace'
at the close of the war. Nor did tbey fail to gather for themselves
laurels, with which to deck the wariior's brow. While it is to be
regretted that the names of many, whose memory deserved a better
fate, have passed away in the oblivion of time, it is still gratifying
to know that there are some, who, amoug their own people at least,
hare acquired a lasting fame for valor and soldierly conduct. Oi
these probably the most distinguished were Matthew Beraud, Pierre
Rogers, Jean David, and Pierre Covin; all of whom were in the
Continental army, and fought bravely in the balllex of Stotio, at the
* ^Mnnth. the Cow Den*, and some of them
PIPlfM m V-U?l icniun, a> ua..M??, a ,
at Eutaw. Peter Qibert, Esq., Joseph Houcbilluu, Peter E. liellot,
and Peter Moragoe, Jr., (a la<l only sixteen yearn of age) were soldiera
in the war and engaged honorably in several battles and skirtniahea?
moat of them, according to traditiou, having beeu at the siege
, of Ninety-Six.
At various periods during the war, the colonists organized thenselves
into a military company, which was commanded first by Capt.
Matthew Beraud, who is said to have been killed at the Siege of Savannah
; afterwards bv Peter Glbert, Est]., and lastly after the Siege
of Ninety-Six, when tnecompauy was reorganized chiefly to operate
against the Tories, by Capt. Jtoepb Bouchillon, with Peter
Roger as first and John David as second Lieutenant. Lieut P. itoger
sometimes made a hasty visit to bis family, but such wss tbe
keen-sighted enmity of the Tories, tbat he seldom obtained a night's
rest, but was often compelled to make his dwelling with tbe wolve*
which inhabited a swamp near his house. It is a well autbeuticat
ed fact that when the war was brought Into this immediate section,
none staved at home who oould shoulder a musket?no ! not even
boys of fifteen.
- If they were not all Whigs we have never heard of the exception,
and no better evidence is needed of the fact, than tbat they suffered
" * * - rv?__i I?_
In the year 1773 the colony had the in h fortune to lose their minister
by a sudden and unexpected stroke of death, in the prime of
lite ana seemingly in good health. There is no reason to believe
that the putplt of the Rev. Mr. Gibert was ever regularly filled by
another. By some It Is thought, that Mr. Boutiton, the broiher-inlaw
of the Rev. Mr. Gibert, preached to the colony, though no one
affirms with certainty that ne performed divine service as successor
to that gentleman. It is certain that Mr. Bouillon's sojourn with
the oolony preceded tbe arrival of Mr. Gibert, us in 1765, he consecrated
tbe drat marriage which occurred at New Bordeaux, accordingto
a private record, viz: the marriage of "Pierre Moragne, sou
of Pierre Moragne and Marie Paris on one side, aud Cecille Bay le,
daughter of Jean Bayle and Marie Seyral on the other side. To suit
the dispersed state or tbe colonists, tbe house of worship had been
renoved from the town to a station on the banks of tbe river not
Car from the present site of Gibert's Mills. Here they met for u
time after their ministerial bereavement, and conducted their simple
aervices without a pastor,, the psalm-siuging and reading of sermon*
having been conducted by Jay members of the church. The
reading of aermons and psalm-singing are said to have been conducted
chiefly by Pierre Morague, senior, aud the prayers by Pierre
Gibert, Esq. At tbat time the names of Pastor aud Teacher were
little known in theae regions, and tbe forlorn Huguenot band felt
them selves scattered as sheep without a shepherd; but they clung
yet tbe closer to tbe form of worship left them, and never a Sunday
. ailed to bring old and young to* this rude sanctum on the river'?
bank. But a people who had been reared to the regular ministration
of tbe gospel, and who had sacrificed so muct> for their religion,
eopld not fail to deiure a more complete observance of its ordinances;
and It is not long before we hear of tbem going leu miles, inauy of
them on foot, to Hopewell, at which place a church had been organised
by tbe Rev. Mr. Harris of the Presbyterian denomination
HeKL tbey met each other with great demonstrations of joy!
and joined tbe ehurch in such numbers, it was thought proper
' * ?- -? - u- ' 1 I
UMjr snouia nave a repreeeniauve in ine oeasiuu, mu i cie? vnwu,
1 Em., waselected an Elder.
Cm lb* death of Mt. Macklin, successor to Mr. Harris, Dr. Cummins
aaeoeeded to the church at Hopewell, aud the Freuch people
continued to worship at this place for twenty years, indeed, some of
them for a much longer period.
boat the year 1796 or '97 accident directed a missionary from
Georgia, a Mr. Springer, to hold preacning in a log house ut Liberty
Spring. The Hugtlenots, on account of its vicinity to them, filled
the building to overflowing ; but in little more thun a year the missionary
died. Another star, however, hud riseu, of a larger magnitude,
destined to shine for vears with u calm out marked lustre.
This was the Rev. Moses Waddel, who had already established a
laige school at Vienna, on the Carolina side of the Kiver. With
the Industry, which ever characterized this eminent diviue, he
sooght to employ all his leisure time iu the extension of the gos|>el.
Being desired to All the place of Mr. Springer, he arranged to preach
at Liberty every third Baturdry and Sunday following. The French
people eagerly embraced this opportunity to hear theU<mpel so near
at hand, and Mr. Waddel, pleased with their pious sympathy, goo<i
faith and charmlna enthusiasm, and no doubt pitying the condition
of some of the old people, agreed to organize a church there. The
greater number of the colony transferred their names to this new
organization, and Pierre Uibert, idu ricrre .Morugne werei
constituted Elder*
A abort time previous to thin, in iMtt, a camp meeting had been
held at Liberty, in which Dr. Waddel wax assisted by a Mr. NVUmoii.
Dr. Cnmmlns, Mr. Dickiuson and perhaps others, during which a
great revival is said to have taken place.
In the meanwhile a frame building had beeu erected by Mub?cri|?tion,
which, for the times, watt couiiuodiou* and comfortable ; and
ill 1800, by a clause in the last will and testament of Pierre Morague.
afOlor. four acres of land and the *priugrincluding the house, were
cot on from one of bis tracts and given to Idlterty Church, which
* * 1 ?- lur I
wm incorporated by Act of the i,eg Mature i a*.?eu iwfmun, joui.
In 1804 Dr. Waddell was induced to remove bit* mcIiooI froiu Vienna
to a ioK-boUhe on a little eminence in ni^ht of the *pot where
WllilDgton Church now Mtauda ; a *pot endeared by various recolieetiouH
of the pant, and which will be recognized by many a noble
Ott of thla State and otheni, as hisacademical Alma Mater. Through
aInlooa dealre to be useful, tins young divine began a course of
'? hla iiiiHsiitii nn Kriilnv uft<>ri]<>oii?. in additiou to hiH
otjbtr labor*, beside preaching on all vacant Sundays t? lar?e cou-|
gKgatlons uuJer ttie shades of that now venerable forest. His labqis
were eoon rewarded by a great religious excitement among bin
tsdeote Id 1800,which,rapidly spreading among the people,gave rise
to * universal demaud fur preaching at that nlace. The dispersed
ntate of the French settlement and varioua calls upon Dr. NVaddel's
Use, left the chareb at LUierty open to the inroads of other denooil
nation* now filling up the country, and, with mournful feeling,
the Ekka of thaFiench Churoh began to turn their thoughts
so moeh from tbe continual aepreoauonHoi iue xonm.
stances might be named. Pierre Moragne, cenior, in attempting to
reseat a flue bone wblcb tbe Tories were stealing from hid htables,
received a gun abot wbieb disabled bim for life. On another occasion,
a negro girl was stolen and conveyed to the Indian* in Pendleton,
and was not discovered until years after. After the oiege of
Ninety-Six tbeee depredations were so numerous, it was found
nseeseary to reorganize tbe Company to keen them in cbeck. It is
believed that tbe female colon lata, while tbe inen were of)* in service,
took refuge for a time in two forts on the Savannah River?"Fori
Oowen" and "Fort Charlotte" -but frequently, also, in "Fort Kngivine,"
on the eastern bank of the hiver, opposite to the Town.
Sometimes, also, tbe women and children clubbed together at home
for mutual enoooia?ement and protection against these pillaging
foes; and many an anecdote is related of the ingenious devices to
which tbeee worthy matrons resorted to shield their effects from the
keen-sighted rapacity of their enemies.
On one occasion, seeing the Tories approach, they placed their
Boods underneath a bed upon which they placed one of their num*?
--? i ik.i
Bar, pretending to be very iil me ruse (ucowucu, mu, m w?
tine, they departed, leaving the poor trick woman unmolested. In
tbe abeence of the men the Tories h?d ho increased iu audacity ax
to have destroyed for these poor people almost everything they had
not euooeeded In secreting, (for which an Uland iu the River wa?
and) even taking the blankets from the sleeping children, aud the
last morsel of provisions from the family.
The terrors of war and the heavy taxes which followed it, pressed
bald upon the financial concerns of the colony, and it must have
been by tbe exercin of tbe greatest industry, temperance and frugality
that so many of them soou acquired a respectable competency.
Bat it is in their religious history that we should delight to contemplate
this Utile colony. For freedom of conscience, for the nske
of an independent worship, they had beeu induced to nbandou the
endearments of their native laud to tteek a home in the forests of
America. Through all their toils and sufferings they had followed
a devout and worthy minister in the ho|?e that they would some
day hear. unmolested, tbe divine precepts falling from his eloquent
lips : and now that this privilege wan secured to them by all tbe
freedom of a forest, yet unpolluted by the tyranny of man. it may
well be conceived that they regularly and faithfully exercised all
the rites of their religious worship. Of tbe fact that they had a regularly
organised church aud kept a baptismal registry, there is nubstannal
proof, though the oldest inhabitants have uo recollection of
a church building in and about the towu. It is believed the public
nrvice was held in the building situated iu the public Hqusre. To
a people accustomed to Worship Hod iu the glens of the mountains
and In the cavtes of the earth, the simplest edifice might become a
t?nnnl? if freed from the eve of persecution.
to anutlier place of worship. Through the intluence of l'eler CJibert,'
Esq., and other kcdi'Mus minds, the academic building at Vienna
was obtained from the Trustees of that Institution und removed to
the vicinity of the iog-school-boiise. Tljrough the same influence,
ulso, l)r. Wadded obtained a tract of lam), which made hint a resident
on tliat spot, to which he gave the name of " Wllliiigtou."
it In wed known to most of this assembly (hat a little circular val- j
ley, wed tilled with nuijestic oaks, wan selected for the sile of the
academy, and a building arose in that quiet dell, which wasdeatiuetl
to throw its light far into the moral gloom of the new world. It
consisted of f->ur recitation rooms, two above and two below stairs ; i
and one etui wns tilted up into a plain but ncut chapel, where the
- ' ..fuiiininiMvclH.
students vvcrc accustomed 10 meet lor ohm om^ r.? ...... . ..,.
and to hear daily lecture* on 1 manners ami ex|iedieiicy. In I
this cliapd (lit* church was regularly organized in l!* Ill; ami Peter i
IJilw-rt, t?H>k his place as Khler. aloiiK with Mesrs. Noble ami i
Dobbins, who were ordained for the occasion. Inutibori lime the <
scattered Huguenot worshippers became concentrated at Willingtoii
church, of which Ihey formed the nucleus, and have never been i
without a fair representation in that body, having supplied at least
seven or eight Klders.
Who, it may be asked, were the men to guide Ibis persecuted
hand of pious.rcfugees through :.ll the vicissitudes of fortune, in
which we have this day considered them? To conduct the Hd'airs i
' * i...?fe.?o.i ?.? iiw uinriiiM of wiverhity, so torment
?M U CUIIIIIIUHIt^ .'ii uuaiv.v. ... ._
ed by the persecutions of the old world, and by the trials and difficulties
of the new, must have demanded not only piety and temperence,
but likewise, wisdom, courage and moderation, fortitude,
l>ersevernuce and learning. Happily men possessing these variou* :
qualities and qualifications were not wanting in the colony. A- in i
nearly ull civilized communities, ho in thin, there were men of prominence
and of letters ; men strongly endued with native intellect, <
and improved by a correct moral and mental culture.
First on the list was the Rev. Jean Louis (iiliert, distinguished
for hi* learning and piety. "He was horn near A lain in Languedoc
.... . . vvi.iim ktiii vnmiir he entered the ministry and
cue .iinj , i ??..... ^ ?
werci'd the pastoral functions of his oilice at LHinton^e. His zeal
ami distinguished reputation drew upon him tiie recent men t of government.
To avoid the severe lawn in force against Huguenot<? lie
expatriated hiimelf and took refuge in South Carolina." A choice
library brought with him, and diHtributed,after his death,among his
descendant*, Nutllcieutly evince, in the absence of other proof, his
literary and cultivated taste ; for it is scarcely to be Rupposed that a
i iMrninir would tran-nort into the wilderness, as his
uiau, <.v.w.
only wealth, a liONt of clas*ic author*. Hut tradition supplies the
place of conjecture, and fully estahli-hes hit) character Tor learning
and ability. These were displayed in directing the early movement*
of his colony, and afterwards chiefly in catechising their youlh, and
in the general discharge of his ministerial and pastoral functions.
In the fulfillment of his mii-sion it i* easy to accompany him, in
imagination, through all the trials of his situation, under the new
born religious freedom of his forest home. How we admire the
good man's ready zeal as to his little flock he brings the sweet con"
B * * ?#al?1- ?n<! unflup.
solutions of religiou to relieve me Duruieu 01 men IWIIB UUU OUMVI I
tags!
He died at no advanced age in August, 1773, much lamented by
the colony, and In, at thin day, lineally represented by a most intelligent
and interesting family ; of whom two occupy conspicuous
positions in society?one, a respectable officer of the IT. 8. Navy?
the other Hlliug largely the public eye; of whom the descendants
of the Huguenot* are justly proud?whom, on all proper occasions,
they would delight to honor? whose genius and learning have rendered
hiin one of the brightest ornaments of the American Bar:
Capt. Thomas Petigru of the Navy, recently deceased, and James
L. Petigru, Esq.
There, also, was the energetic and intelligent Pierre Ctibert, Ksq.,
? ?bxnivn nn>( hmi r?*1 cm I*?r? ?1. Derhans. of all
me DI(Wl VAiriioitvij nil.'.. .. .M.. , r
the colony. He wan taken from France at an early age'lo England
by his uncle, the Rev, Etienne Gibert, who wan then MiniMter
of the rhapel Royal, England. whither lie had fled front the |>er^ecutioiiH
of hiw native land, and whore puhlia'ued aermona and hook
of criticisms on the writing* of Voltaire, mark him aa u matt of
learning and ability. The nephew, after having been partially educated
with hi* uncle in EtiKland, was brought to this colony by
'* * " ' Uiu V?\i(vlirtli M^niHitinri triivh
hid uncle, ine itev. jrau l<uui? uiucm. *?.n n
him superior advantages here, and to him tlie youth of the colony
were principally indebted for their education, iirst in French, and
eveutually in English. In nil tbiugs pertaining to the public attaint
of the colony, 1*. (Sibert, Ewj., was Ine acknowledged leader. He
readily expound the came of the American colonic*, and raised the
standard of In lepeiideuce among his peop'e in the beginning of the
Revolution. He tlrst bought out and solicited the services of Dr.
Waddel at Williugton, contributing greatly to the building up of
the church and ucademy at that place; and for several years was a
worthy representative from Ahl>eville I/.strict in the (ieueral Assembly
o* South Carolina. He too is represented at this day by numerous
and interesting descendants, of whom three are Ministers of
the Onapel.
I shall Ih* paid.oied, I trusf, for mentioning, on this occasion, another
member of the colony much gl\*en to letters ami to contemplative
study?I allude to Pierre Moragne, seuior. Horn on lhe
Dordotftie iu Hie w?utl? of France, in the Parish of St. A vide du Tizac,
in the jurisdiction of Montravei, and educated in part at Pari*,
he had acquired, to mime extent, the literary taste of tlie French
metropolis, and the religious zeal of the Southern Huguenot. He
[ kepi it regular journal of his travels, from the time of leaving France
till aim after his arrival at the Xew-Botdeaux, of which only a part
is now extant, and to whirh we are indebted for some valuable information
relative to the colouv. Having brought with him a considerable
'ibrarv of seleet works, so soon as his circumstance* and
the stale of the colony allowed him. he gave himself up with assiduity
to the study of his favorite author*, and. by the dilligetit use of
h>8 jien, prepared many cst<ays on religious and other subjects, which
he designed for publication, bnl which his immediate descendant*
did not *uNicicntly appreciate to make public. They evince, however,
a profound knowledge of the Scrip'ures and of the theological
doctrine* of the day, and would, doubtless, lie pronounced thoroughly
evangelical, according to the C?lvanistic faith. Too great devotion
to hi* |>cn and hi* book*, in hi* latter day*, imparted to hi*
character a touch of ecceutricity, but it was only a shade ca*t over
bis existence in the evening of a long anu useful career.
Attached to.the colony, also, was the accomplisiied Jean I>e La
Howe, the Hippocrates of this new region of the world. He came
to thi* place some years previously to our Revolutionary war. He
is said to have t?een born iu the north of France, or in Holland, or
perha|ts in Flanders, where he received a finished education for that
day iu the Medical profession. He afterwsrds attached himself as
. " "! ? i\( rhp u-iir vii>lte<i
surgeon 10 mime r icnuu ?imj, uum uv v..^
firnt England, then Charleston, and eventually joined the colony of
New-Bordeaux.
In a wild H|>ot upon an eminence on the eaMtern bank of the river,
j near pome beautiful fal m and Hboul*, and about one mile alnive the
French Town, thin distinguished foreigner made for hiiiim-lf a delightful
retreat, ornamented by artificial avenues of tree*, flanked
by fruit orchard*, ami further on vineyurdH and tree* and tdiruli* of
exotic aud native growth?guarded by Mtone wall*. The paved
walk* umi planted avenues are yet visible, though they have exI
perieuced the neglect of more than half a century. A elastic sehol1
* t.-.l I...I ?? <t|| I.I ^ I i l?r?i r w If i ill mull V
arsnip unit a reuueo lasie null icu in iii uin ........ j _.v .
choice works ; and tbift together with the noble hospitality he din-1
pensed, gave a charm to hi.- home, which is not yet obliterated from I
the memory of some who live in thin community. Itcfu?ing to1
make visit* to bin medical patients, except among the French people,
hid house was the constant re?ort of the stranger invalid, and
ntftii-t?>ii His fame as u Medicin spread through the whole region
of country, and for benevolence and eccentricity, tut well "or genius,
he will lie still spoken of in future years.
The opinions of Dr. I)e La Howe were greatly re*pectcd by the
-u~ ' -". " . It.nniimiliiMi liim <tn niHtlfiN of iiiililii; itolicv.
ruiuii^yj nun aici|ucu%aj u.... w.. w m ^
In their atlairs, he took an uctive interest, ami gave his Judgment j
and bis learning freely to advance their prosperity. Itut his fame j
spread beyond the limits of IiIm immediate community. On the es- j
tablishment of counties and of county courts in the State, he was se-1
iected bv the Legislature a* one of the County Court Judges for the
County of Abbeville, the duties of which ofllce he Is wtld to liavej
discharged with ability oud with satisfaction to the people. To him,
also, was given the privilege of naming the county, which he did,j
in compliment to the Fieuuh colony, after a little town in the north ;
of France; and hence the present name of Abtieville District. The!
Town of "Abbeville" in France is said to have been the theatre of
some cruel persecutions aud frightful tragedies, In which the Hu-j
guenots were the victims?thereby linking tlie name <>i mai town m ,
peculiar connection with the Huguenot or French Protectant. Hav-i
im; amassed a considerable fortune, he made by his la*t will uml I
testament, a magnificent donation for a public charity. The Lethe;
Institute it* a monument of wisdom and benevolenee, that will trails-!
in it the oanie of its author to remotest ages, and will achieve good:
in the moral and intellectual improvement of our race, even when 1
its founder's fame shall have fuded away.
He sleeps on a hill adjoining that of his residence, with this sim- 1
"U f ",l" 1 1 . I.runuruil III! liimwxlf oil IIim iroll door of his!
pic: liiiiiia mnvi i|/uwu, j/? vj
vault:
Jobanue* ht* Lu Howe, Hujus Agricultural!* Seminnrii fundator,
obitt. Januario II, 1797.
I)r. De La Howe died at an advanced age, but l.*ft no family. He
is represented as a man of small stature, posiic?-siug ihe |ioliteue*s j
and ease of manners which distinguished the polished French gentleman.
But others there were, sterling coadjutators of those already named
in Ihe conduct of the bllairs of the colony. There was the ex- 1
eel lent Jean Noble, who long cultivated his vineyards, leading a I
life of Mingle hles8ednex.s. There were. also, i lit* slain au?i iwrseverimr
I'. linger, the <|Uiet and worthy Pierre (iuillet?eau ; the devout i
Jean Bellof, and the ehivalrie Kngiviue. Mr. Kngiviue fouuht a1
duel with one St. Pierre, having taken up the quarrel of I)r. I)e I,a
Howe, whom St. Pierre had iiiHiilteil The weapon used wus the|
smallsword. This was the lirst duel, according to tradition, ever!
fought in this section ?>f the eountry. Others. doubtless, were tiiere,
whose good seu-e and mild dignity procured for them the confidence
and res|H('t of their companions ; hut the ravages of time have J
effaced their name* and virtues from the page of memory.
Such w??re the men, whose talents and learnimr, whose judgment
and wisdom controlled the temporal destines of the little colony.
Some of them were men of no ordinary stamp, and had cireum-1
stances permitted, mi.'ht have figured with honorina larger sphere; j
but their hands were full of their own uilairs, and their lield of la-(
bor, though limited, wan highly useful ami honorable, it wax iioi :1
theirs, "The applause ??l listemug senates to command but it fell!
to them to regulate ami govern, a community almost separate ami
distinct ? to plant ami cultivate the seeds of a pure religion and of
an orthodox theology?to develop the Miuud republican principles i
which lay at the bottom of their religion and which prompted their i
whole course of conduct. <
Our imagination presents before uh these men, assembled with
their fellow citizeusiii their little Tuwu Hall to consult fur the gen- I
eral welfare of the colony. Schemes are to be devised for future t
support aud protection. Provisions are short, and there in talk ot t
mi invasion by the Indian*. Coder the wife suggestions of experi- I
enced minds, means are soon discovered for Ibe relief of the inhald- f
taut*, and oua* more the colony begins to smile wltii peaceful pros- t
perity. Soon, however, corner auother rumor of war with (>reat s
Britain. What ! wursigainst the Sovereign who had so kindh t
helped them across the Atlantic, and by whose generous bounties t
they were now enjoying the blessings of peace and comfort? They t
have seen and rea?i the Declaration of Independence, aud it is neces- I
sary that some action should be taken. 'J hey rush to the Council
Chamber? but their spiritual leader is gone ;?to whom shall they |
now l?m?k for guidance in a matter mo iui)>ortant? Presently a man i
arises, who is yet iu the prime of life; his as|?ect is pleasant and t
cheerful, and his countenance and manner strongly marked hy de- <
vision and energy ; H is Peter <Sil?erf, K*?j. In tones of persuasive t
eloquence he raises his tremulous voice. t
Friends! countrymen! what is to be done? Shall we arm our- ?
selves against the Sovereign who so generously succoured us in the i
hour of distress ? him, who took us to hi* own kingdom ami gave I
us every comfort, when we were driven by tyranny aud persecu- i
lion, us exiles, from our native land? him, who bore us by hir i
power across the Isisom of the great Atlantic, and. af:er providing
us a home here, threw over us his broad shield of protection ? Shall
we take tip arms againM our oeueiucior. 1 |>:iup<? mi n
None!?Tlieu is the <lie cant. Here is the greai Declaration. You
know its language- Heboid the oft-re|?eated oppression* of King
Lleorse within these colonies ! Has he not hea|>ed aggression upon
aggression to in-ult and oppress our countrymeu ? Alan! it is but
true ! They have |>elitioned him for reitre-s; hut their oft-repeated
petitions have been answered only by related injury. He ha*
dragged our brethren in chain* across the Atlantic to puni>h and
... r..r i-ivi.ti He h;it ilestroveri I
lucarwraic uiciii <> ... ,..v.
their commerce. He ban deprived Iberu of their nio?t precious civil ?
rights. ]{y imposing taxes upon them without their cousetit, he
has denied them the tirst great blessing of political freedom. He ha.- <
by actual bloodshed, forfeited his claim upon the gratitude of hi* '
subjects. Can you, my counerymen, forget the suffering* you have
undergone, the sacrifices you have made for the enjoyment of civil
and religions liberty? Will you now permit eucroachmmt, which j
may end in tbe cruel and bloody ]terseuutioiis of the central depot- I
ism of your native laud? No! never, never. True, our leligion
enjoins submission to the powers (hut Ik-, and to a proper doui I nation
we have ever been faithful xubjects ; but we can acknowledge
no lord of tbe conscience but God, no eeclefciantical head, but Hie
great Redeemer. The llihle does not saoctiou tyranny, und
by no other dictates are we bound. "Resistance to tyrants is ol>edi
" ' ' ' v t L\.??
euce to God " Arise men : arise, w, iuy cuuoir> im*-u ;
principle of humanity, every precept ot our holy Religion forbid us
to withhold our aid in (he noble cause to which our brethren have
pledged their liven, their fortunes and (heir sacred honor. For m>
own part. I am for the Declaration. I give my ull to American Independence.
Who will K|?eak for our cause? Who will hear the
standard of the French to join the hints of American Freeman ?
We can easily imagine how that hule group, with the characteristic
enthusiasm of their countrymen, unite in the sentiment, and t<
heartv resoonse arises: A lions, Allous ! "We give our hearts and
our hands'to this enterprise."
The resolve is made. The young men catch the patriotic glow.
They form themselves into a baud of warriors. They gird ou ilie
habiliments of war. They ruake ready to stand ill the ranks of
their country's army. And they went forth to brave the storms of
strife. Tbey fought the battle* of their couutry. They assisted in
achieving our glorious Independence. May this noble (terforinunce
of duty ever live iu our grateful remembrance !
Without boast, may we say, that the patriotic lires then kindled
on the altar of liberty have since continued to bum with undoing
flnme? and the colouy, in its descendants, has been it* presented in
every war in which l he country ha* l?een eni?aut"11 since the days ol
the Revolution. In (he war of lHl:!a Bordeaux Company, under
(.'apt. P. Roger, wan i-tationed at Sheldon Hill. Au?l more recently
a Volunteer Company from the same place, under Capt. I*. K Moraine,
shared in all the fruitless toils of the Florida Campaign from
the \V ithlacooche to St. Augustine.
But since the time of which we have been speaking a Had change
has come over the a-pfct of that little colony. Death and removals
have made fearful havoc among its member-, aud it is now reduced
to a moiety. Some returned to Charleston before and after the war;
others and their descendant* have scattered over the State, and removed
to (he Went. The colouy numbered originally 21? At thin
day not more than forty remain of those descended purely Imiu
French parents, while the descendants of these who have intermariled
wilt) the English inhabitants do not exceed one hundred in
number. Many lived U> a good old age ; but not one of that old race
is uow alive. We would not omit to mention in term* of res|iectfui
admiration, "a venerable matron, who died iu l&KJ, at a very advanced
age. She was the last of the old emigrants ; aud a worthy
representative of (heir faith aud practice. She had been twice mar
rled, hut watt Ioiir " widow ; aim wun no wnuu uui
fuiih him) courage, had brought up a large family in the wimple nud
rigid luanuen of her people, and now a* (die recounted to her nutneroiiH
deHcendant.?, the self-denial, the sutlerings and the heroism
or the pant age, the animation of -her countenance was expressive of
lhat u>auranee of faith which comforted St. I'aul in his latter day*?
'I have fought the good light,' etc. "Thus ended in great peace, after
near a century of days, the eventful ami useful life of a beloved
mother in the Huguenot family?Mrs. Mary Anne Covin." Xor are
there here to-day Hiiy of the immediate descendants of the original
colonist*. They, too, for the nio?t part, sleep with the dead. We
regret the absetice of a venerable Father [I'icrre (iuillebeau, who
was baptized by (he Itev. Jean Louis Clibert, and died a few weeks
after the delivery <>f this Address in the !Mlt li year of his age.]?the
last immediate descendant of the lirst colonists?whose extreme age
ami ill-health prevent him from honoring us with his presence oil
this occasion. He sits in his "age's laleiietw," a beautiful ami veuer
- ' " ? I .
able relic or the native gra<*e 01 me r icm-mumi, miu mc |?wun n.uiplicity
of the Huguenot. Hit* eye kindle*, ami hit* elwlic, though
aired form, ol>eys the impulse of enthtiMia^tn on the itubject of the
Huguenot colony ; but it 1? evident, (hat his "light in.out, his mind
is dark," ami the portals of memory refuse to open i?t his bidding.
To the eje of contemplation the history of thin little colony presents
some striking result*. In their religiona z?-al and in their efforta
to establish liberty of conscience, its members have giveu to
the world an example of noble fortitude and heroic faith : while the
devotion displaced in their worship and the assiduity with which
they ialiored to ingraft their religious principles upon the minds of
their descendants, entitle them to the respect and sympathy of all
good men. They labored constantly to maintain a pure, simple,
Kvangelical Faith. They stu 'led the liiblc. They rend the theological
works with which their libraries abounded. They regularly
instructed their oflkpring in the sound, practical doctrines drawn
directly from the great source of Scriptural authority. And belt
said to their honor, their conduct never contradicted their profession.
By this beautiful blending of sound thought and correct haltit
of pure religion and estimable conduct, they built up a spiritual
edifice in this region of country as fair and comely, as it was ample
and commodiouM; out of which have gone forth the bright light* of
.t? 1 Him l.u.,t,U
thetiospel to eniigmen ami vivujr iu r lljuiaa cuci^av? vi %MV .
The Influences of Wilhngton Cliurcb, under the ministration* of
I>r. Wadded and others, founded, and. iu its early days, supported,
iu a great degree, by Ihe French colony, have been exerted, more or
less, through all ihe western part of South Carolina, and have, it is
reasonable to suppose, contributed no little toward forming the
character of this District for moral aud intellectual improvement.
In the cause of education the zeal of the colony was not le** remarkable
than in the cause of religion. In (his, also, they have cstahlisiied
their claims to a lasting gratitutle. Soon after their ar- j
rival they established good schools among themselves, which they
regularly kept up a* well as the troublous times of thecoumry J
would permit ; ami *e have seen their agency in erecting that no-1
hie and time honored institution?the Williugtou Academy? which I
acquired, perhaps, more fame than any of its kind at that day in j
the State, and to * liich many of the lirnt men iu South Carolina,
Georgia, Alabama, ami other Stales, can refer as the source of their!
academical education. The noble chaiity of Lethe is another evidence
of the detp interest evinced by the members of Hie colony in |
the I**iihe of learning and education.
In their political principles ami conduct they have produced ei-|
fectH no lesa heneticlul. They were from the Iteginiimg, under the
H*ge leaching* of I heir religious creed and of their hitter "Xperieuce, |
ardent lover* of liberty and of republican liberty ; but, exempt from
all Hpiritof licentiousness, they admired Unit freedom only which in
regulated by order, and by the rules of legal procedure. They audi
their descendant!) have never held communion, with timultuous
uiid riotous feeling. Convinced of the imperfection* of human nature
and human government, they have never looked to an ideal
perfect in their |M>litical day-dream*, n<>r have they been loo im-1
jiaiieiit to Mubiiiil to tiie necessary restraints of law, or to slight ami
temporary evils in the political regulations of the country. Neither
have they belonged to that cla.-* of progressive citizens, who, led
astray, by the delusive hopes excited by some new-fangled polith-itl 1
rtieory, or by some vague idea of reform, are coiiftautly crying !
"change," "change;" but. con-taut iu their politics as in their re-'
? : l..
litfinii, they have rliuiij, with j>ecu liar reverence, 10 me nui.-.i.......
t*iI institutions of the State, priding themselves more it|h>11 the con-j
nerval! ve tendencies of their own political i:ree<i, than 111 k>ii any (lis-j
ti net ion to t?e gained by all advocacy of the progressive doctrines of
:his fa>t age. Their experience hud taught them tiiat the pure ami
simple forms of a well re uluted 1 i IxTly, like the pure ami simple
truths of the ('hristiun Religion, lie deep in the foundations of our
nature, ami never change to suit the w hims of u capricious and
time-serving people, or of an inconstant and degenerate age.
The niortl and mental discipline to which they subjected themselves
Mint llieir descemiauls hy the ri^id lesions of olit*dience <I
subordination inculcated in their religious and political faith, must ,
have exerted a happy inlluence in forming their characters a? men
and Christians, as got m I citizen* ami soldiers. it has been san', that
"the llutiueoots have mainly constituted the chivalry ol South
('arolina." WiMiout a-pii ing to that honor for the colonists of N? w
- - ' - I ,1..... ,li.l liw.ii- . (111 V- l.i
ItoMeailX, 11 is sale !? Claim ior lilt-in, I nut in'-* m, . I
lie country of their M?l?i|>t i??n. It ha* been remarked, th <t they haw
been the "Imiie ami *inew of morals ami religion in this pari of the
world;" ami although their voices have been celilom heard in the .
council* of the nation, they have lieeii doing a belter work at home, ,
in supporting the pillar* of government. They have ecu rem.ti Libit*
for a persevering and self-denying spiiit, which lia* pu*lu*<l I hem j
mi to coiii|K*tency and wealth almost invariably, and many sk'lliul .
and ingenious tradesmen. At tile same time, they have been oi*tiinruished
by the simplicity and purity of their manner* ; bv iln ir
sjicrmt regard for the Sabbath ; and l?v their :?if11<i 11 vitri:ti>it* anxence
from the Court* nf Justice. They were never known in figure
in the Court of Se^-Hion*. There in, I Itelieve, no in-tunee on record
uf one of theiu ever haying lH?en arraigned for crime.
Forever remembered l>e the KHiieroun Hen I intents, forever eherished
the noble examples of our Huguenot Fathers ! Loug uiaj their de-1
1
ccudaufs continueTo emulate their Illustrious virtues, and to pracice
tlielr wine and truthful precepts! Let us cliiiR to their pure re*
i^iou* faith, ami transmit it to future generations unsullied by the
bui stains ill'a ruthietw aud destructive fanaticism. Let uh cherish
heir sound political setitimeuis as the only hope of our country'*
>alvatiou. Let iih imitate their noble zeal In the cau??> of education;
Hid, Adopting the simple dignity of their manners, let us acquire
he noble fortitude with which they so cheerfully bore .their many
rials, siiflerings and privations. Let us strive to be, as they have
>een, good citizen.-, futthful friends, and humble devoted Christians.
And may no blighting genius arise ih future to retard our onward
irogress, or to dump the moral energies of our (teople ! May generations,
yet unborn, in dwelling ii|m>ii the virtue* oi those who have
fone t?efore Ihem, Hud something to respect and admire in the re'ollection*
of our times and our names! May we succeed iu aclulling
for ourselves a charac er, distinguished for moral aud menal
beauty, hi tha', in aces to come, wheu assembled multitudes
'hall be gathered together under these venerable shade* to cotueiuoate,
as we are now doing, the virtues of their Pilgrim, Huguenot
fathers, there shall Im> no dark shade, no ntfly spot on the fair face
if our being to break the beautiful continuity iu the bright moral
b'itatn nfflu. !
APPENDIX.
(A)
translation from ibe French of the Journal of Pierre Moraine, of Hew
Bordeaux.
"The 30th July, 17<>3, T left my father'* houne, situate*! in the
Puriidi of St. Avid du Tizac, jurixdiction of Moulravel, uear St. Foy,
hi the I)nrdc>KiiH. in Pranee.
"The lid of August, arrived near the Rnyaut, where I paid down
thirty-one pound* Hterliiifr. sixteen shillings to buy provisions, which
urn wan to be reimbursed to me at Plymouth.
' On the 5irh, we have entered on the sens.
"16th. We have out into the l'ort of D'Artimone, ten leagues
from Plymouth, where we have taken in some refreshment*, after
having been without taste of anything fur sometime during the voyage.
"22ud. We have nailed out of the harbor.
M2id. In a contrary wind an opening was made for the water in
4 private |>artof our Barque, which alarmed us all even to the
Captain, who had not bethought himself to set Mail for landing at
the tirst Port; and we, of our side, worked incessantly with bucket*
and with the puuip to keen the water out of the Captaiu's cabin.
We strain in the water for hours ; but by the grace of God, we reached
laud, with greut danger of ship-wreck, by a very narrow past-age
betwieti two rock*: We could not pn?- elsewhere; and after
having put in order my affairs, one named Bouique Siragleu*, Home
others and myself, preferring to make the journey by laud, parted,
on the same day, from the Barque, afterwards to be repaire 1 in fair
weather.
"i'ith. Arrived at Plymouth, (Kngiand,) ami two days ineraatier
discharged from the veaael our equipage.
"Our sojourn at 1'lyruouth has been much longer than we anticipated,
ami we have undergone uiuch trouble, which is too bitter to
apeak of here.
"25th December. We have commenced going aboard of vessel,
destined to hear uu from Plymouth to America, at Chareston, In
South Carolina.
"Faithful to petting out with the flrvtgood wind, the wsntof which
ha* withheld ua till now (Jan. 25, 1764.) we have departed with
little breeze, favorable enouKh for carr>ing u* out of the channel.
"27th, liSth, h. We have had a great tempest, aud great risk of
perishing, as, not beintr yet out of the channel, we were stranded on
mtnifl rocks: and we have bad many of our clothes and mucb of our
bedding wet, from the waves of the mm, lining ou the deck of the
vefttel; on which account we have been obliged to lay to, id the
roadstead of Fabret, which in eleven leagues further than Plymouth
from Charleston ; and here we have remained till the 14th
of February. A rebellion took place by uiont of the passenger*
against the Captain on report of the meat*, which were not found
go?>d ; and many hard word* were spoken, which brought down the
wrath of Cod upon us , and the next day we net sail.
"17th. We were Rgaitj at Plymouth, and ou the 'JOth the provisions
were visited uud found good.
"Fiually the ?!nd of February we again set out, under the care of
Cod, with a fair wind, which wa* better and belter during some
days.
"The 17th March, in a time of calm, we were enconntere l by a
vecnei, which nunc imui <,niunii?.
"30ih. We have had a dispute about the bread, which waa not
found good, beirn; npoiled by the wnruiti.
April "nd. We have iiad Home *howera and dark cloud* aa A
whirlwind came over the watcr? of tbeaea; it wan very dangerou*.
if unhappily it had encountered our vetwei; mud the Captaiu had
delayed ri-elin.* hail to avoid ihe danger of the water; one moment
after we heard a clap of thunder, which moou made uh ?hut the
hatchea in apprehension of a great tempest.
"loth. We commenced seeing the whore* of America, which
greatly rejoiced uh, having been forty-feven day* complete without
the Hight of aught but Ihe heavena and the water*; but that joy
wa* soon changed to *ndne?* : for we found ouraelve* run aground
ou a bank of .-and, on which our vessel atiuck ao hard, that we expecteil
her masting would coiue to piece* hy the shock, which would
certainly have hap|tened if Ihe wind had been high.
WpmII eoiiimeneed immediatel v to lighten the veanel by throw
ing into the ceaeverything of least value; and managed thereby to
extricate our*elve?? from duller.
"I4th April. We have arrived, thank God, at Charleston, and
lodge in the Barracks with which the inhabitant*of the Town have
presented tlx. We have received a hogshead of cracker* (hincuita)
and other liberalities from the French church, iu awaiting the
bounty of the Province lor our support.
"Our residence wan for about the space of nix month* and a half
at Charleston or tiie I'ort Koyal, or on the roud iu reaching our de*linuliori,
where it wax our lot to meet with great fatigue an Inconvenience;
I, iu particular, wax very ill at Charleston, and I waa
there worn out with grief.
-'The 14th November, the same year, I arrived with other* at the
New-Bordeaux, and, after our arrival, it wax necessary to camp on
the border of the river, and to make a small boat (canotj to na?a our
ellecl*.
"Finally, being passed, I commenced with two other person* to
build iih a barrack : and Iu the month of February, 17t>o, with the
aid of i id, I have U-guu to labor on my owu laud?on my half-acre
uud afterward* on my four acrrtt. The l.'ith June I finished planting
in corn and beans ("Maiiet Haricot*"? Indian Corn and French
Beans,) all the land Which I bad been able to prepare?being then
very feeblt, having only u little corn to eat, and beiug placed under
the necessity of grinding it at an iron mill. Though we have uot a
lullldeucy, yet, with the aid of God, we may always have enough
to Keep us from starving till our little harvest come* in.
"The Kith July, 17<>->. I am married?I, Pierre Moragne, the naturul
mid legitimate sou of Pierre Moragne and of Marie Paris, of
oue part with CecilI* Bayle, natural and legitimate daughter of
Jean Bayle and of Marie .Seyral, of tlie other part?thus?after th*
publication ot three banns, joined thin bit sued day, by Monmeur
BoUliton, (the m?ii,j Minister of the Gospel. Pierre Bellot, and
Helie Bellot, his son, were present as witneMM, and otiier persona
of lhe New-Bordeaux.
"Towards the hist of the month of July we had an alarm, created
by the rumor that the Indians were comiug to make war upon u*,
and we all iabored to dispose sotnj? trees so um to make a fort; but
the ruiuor proved false.
"In the month of August following I mflered much from fever
and other hick no*, having almost nothing.''
The Journal here slops?the other portions, which were continued
into the present century, having unfortunately been destroyed.
Translation of * Copy of a Letter Written by Pierre Moraine to Hla Father S
In France Jan. 17,1771.
"MO.vsiki k ani> vkky Dkaic Fathkr: Ij
"I have had the honor to tecetve your I* Iter, dated Nov. 1, 17?W. I
It has bet-ti a very little delayed. Hy it. 1 see that you all en- I
joy good heal(l) : and 1 pray (tod he may preserve it to you. I
"Ah for ua?[ H|?eak of my wife, my mother-in law and my two I
boy*, (for (mk! gave me a second win the .'Wth July last,) we enjoy S
perfect health. m
"I am charmed to hear that my brother U married ; and I hope 9g
that hit* wife will regard you as her own father, and my mother a* I
her mother, and rentier to you conjointly the fame Hervicea that we I
should ourselvcH if we were near you. M
"I have written to you often ; but very likely my letters have ||
mincur?icd ; mo, my dear father do not infer from this that I hav* H
not preserved Ibr you all 'lie friendship and tenderness of a son, who H
in entirely devoted to you. It is the warmest desire of my heart to B
he able to com to sec you ; but 1 l>ci( you to consider that it is iui* gXj
{ ossiule for me to <piit my (amily an I my plantation. The live* and H
the maintenance ot the*>e depend* entirely on ttie labor of my arma
ami on my imlustry. It ever I could find one moment favorable, 1 M
should lake mivantage of it, to he assured once more of the living gN
voices of all my kindred ; on that you may de|iend. Kg
| have not received the letter of which you s|M?ke, in which you gfl
have included my certificate of baptism. 1 had not believed that H
' - - "i "?' I'Mviinr lizard from him ex- H
my or.ii!i>'i ii'iiil-iiiui-ii-it mr, ..??
icpt liy u compliment (liroiiici* Monsieur It. ?. I had ?9
v%- rit; t-ii in liim ami I imagined I hat lie would have answered me, j3|
lis In* always ap|?ear? ?-?|nally attached to his duty. I aiu very K'ad Eg
you have ipiit your mill associate : you arc more comfortable?are
you
"As it r. gar?!s my .situation, it is, (iod be thanked, very agreeable: |M
1 live in |ieace wiih my family, ati<l cultivate the earth u it h MicceM. h
I have mi abundance of that wliicli is nece*wiry for me and mine. HB
The land here i- excellent, and very little \ iehls advantageously,
w in ii cultivated hy industrious hands. The climate in very agreeihle;
wc have two months of ?reat heat, hut of very good raina H
it it 11 a moderate winter. BH
"See, my dear father, that which I can leil in replying to all the KB
!irt iclis oi your letter. I'ray <??hI, that you he in a state to come Bi
iinl join me here : I should t?c at the height of my joy
"I have the honor to t*c with profound respect, BS|
Monsieur and dear Father,
Vo ir very humble,
And very obedient and giatelul son. 11
1'. M OKA UN K. ?
N. IS. My profound rt^pwi* to my dear Mother ! ray frieudiihip
L'uucluJe>i ou 1'age Four. U
* KB