Delaware weekly Republican. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1841-188?, 1848-11-10
THE LAST OF THE HUGUENoTS.

Departed this life, in Charleston, S. c., on
the l7!h ult., Mr. STEPHEN THOMAS, in the
89lh year Of his age. Mr.. T. was born in the
village of Eymet, department La Dordogns,
France, on the 10Th of August, A. D. 1850,
and fled with an elder maiden sister, TO Lon
don, in l76I,to join the Rev. Mr.. Gilbert, who,
with his congregation had also been compelled
10 seek au asylum from The prosecutions which
they endured in their native land. This con-
gregailon OF exiles consisted OF nearly one
hundred individuals; and by a kind Provi-
dence, they arrived here in safety, on the l2th
OF April, 1854, where the snhact of this notice
has ever siIice resided. AT an early period of
the revolutionary Struggle, Mr.. T. returned 10
his native country oil business, where he suf-
Tered painful detention from his family for
about three years. Oh his Return he. was cap
tured by the British feet in the Chesapeake,
where he remained some time Il prisoner. AT
length beng exchanged, he returned TO Char
lesion, and Immediately joined the troops in
defence oil his adopted country; was at the
battle OF Fort Munlire, and afterwards was
with Gen. Marion 10 the close of The war.
Al what age MIR Thomas became profess
sor OF religion, we have not ascerlaineti; but
from some circumstances tits presumed that,
like Obadah he WAS one who cleared God
from his youih.n For many years he was a
Ruling Elder of the Ftench Protestant Church
III this clty-a church Strictly Calvinlsie in its
creed, and Presbyterian ia its model. The
blowing up of the church ediice, in The great
fire of 1896, the subsequent death OF their
pastor, the Rev. MIR. Buudinot, and the delay
experienced in obtaining another, were among
the causes which led TO the dspersionof The
flock among other churches oil The city. Still
there are strong attachments among the de-
scendanis of the congregation TO the religion
n In Rtt fTt la.n
now remain. -sHt 7AA
When the second Presbyterian church was
established in 1910, Mr. Thomas was chosen
one OF its first ruling eldeis-an office, the du-
ties OF which he faithfully and couscieniiously
performed till within The last five or six years,
when the infrmilies of aye rendered HIM phys
icay, and even menianly unable 10 take The
oversight Of The flock OF Christ. H1a3E +ft
Mr.. I. retained through life the strong feel
ines ard rigid principles for which the original
Huguenots were Distinguished, The prosecu-
tons which he and his family had endured for
conscience sake, could moi be efiaced from his
mind and hence in part arose his arden, love
Of liberty-his strong attachment 10 The pTinci-
| plies oil the Reformation, and his opposition TO
every thing peculiar 10 The Church Of Rome.
1 Twice he sacrificed all-once when a youth,
| fol- the religion of his fathers; and once when
in manhood with family 10 support, for the
u ,,.,ss1-.s-es his appieA eoap,sY ent he-sih
lived 10 good old age, and his children, and
his children's children 10 the filth generation,
arose 10 call him blessed. HIS descendants
consist of between sixty and seventy--of whom
three are his children, and four his great great
| grandchildren. Thus having served the will
of God in his generation, be has al last gone
TO bis rest, leaving character Tree from re-
proach=--a memorial Of his fidelity in his fam
lily and in the church and testimony which
in its influence will live, when his name shall
no longer be remembered Charleston Obs.