New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-26
THE HUGUENOTS IN AMERICA
STORY OF THE FRENCH EXILES.


HISTORY OF THE HUGUEYoT EMIGRATIoSS ,6 TO
Syo PIP. 354, 44S. Dodd, Mead * TO-
This important work. the fruit of twelve years Oh
laborous an, careful research, may be regarded as
I'm part supplementary to the well-known " History
of the Rise OF the Huguenots OF FRANCE,
nv the althor's brother, Professor Henry NJ
Baird and TO the earlier studies OF MS Ia'hoi, IL
Robert Baird in a parallel line. Inc zeal anu III
dustry of the family are by no means exhaus,eu'
md further illustrations of Huguenot history both
in France and in the New World. are announced as
in preparation. The story of the French-ffotesV
ant emigration to this country has never oeeh toio
in detail. DIR. Bairds present volumes are
occupied with the early and somewhat desui,ory
movements in this direction, and to later settle
ments 60 far as they concern New-England. while
the adventures in the middle and southern colo
MES are reserved for subsequent publication. Inc
Huguenot element in our population mas hau an
Importance quite out of proportion to Its NUMBERS
and still exercises considerable influence upon
popular sentiment, aud we may congratuia.0
ourselves that 1t has at last been tnorouSny
studied by an investigator who unites enthusiasm
for his subject with natural aptitude for MS
torical methods and pleasing literary stye'
The project of founding French Protestant COLO
MES in America was entertained as early as the
lieny The great admiral had not then en-
braced the Reformed faith and 1t is proc
obe that the political aud commercial adVah-
faee of France was the main object OF his enter
prise but il is certain that he also wished 10 pro
vide refuge for the Professionals In whose welfare
he already took deep interest Under his auspices
accordingly and with the liberal assistance OF the
King. Henri H., an expedition consisting OF TWO
ships and transport was fitted out for the coaster
Brazil in 1855. The leader was asoldier OF fortune
named Villegagnon. reported to be favorable to the
Protestant cause tits dificult, however to discern
apyregious characterin the venture. Dr. Baird says
that ..somev of the coonlsts were Professionals but
others were criminals recruited in the Paris prisons
great many desertions took place before the f1eet
cot away: many returned to France IN the ships
which took them out; and Villegagnon was
left in the Bay of Rio dc Janero with
n dsorderly band consisting chiefly OF the coh-
yicts In compliance with an invitation from
Vilegagnon, party of Calvinists IRON Geneva
soon afterward joined them, and this EXPEDITION
seems to have been inspired by missionary zeal.
but the colony was broken up in 1907 by lnternai
dissenslons. The history of Coligny's subsequent
attempt in Florida. which was defeated
by the Spaniards, is we'll known; and
the share of the Huguenots in the settlement OF
Acadia and Canada has also been pretty fully de-
scr,bed although many of the interesting details
presented by DR.. Baird are little known. In 1878
thirty Walioon families emigrated from Holland 10
New .Ne.herland. These Walloons were the DC
scendents of refugees from the region now comprised
by the French department du Nord and the south
west provinces of Belgium, who had
fed during the previous century from
the persecution established by Spain In the Neither
lands. They were Hospitality treated IN Holland;
but moved blythe adventurous spirit OF the time
e., nra1a GorOr nna N
emicrate to Virginia, aud, England refusing they
finally went out under the patronage of the newly
organized Dutch West India Company. The names
of only two of these emigrants are positively
known; but among the French-speaklng Protest.
ants who either belonged to this first party, OF
soon followed it, were the ancestors OF some OF our
best known families. including De Forests, lie
Rows Tourneurs, Rapalies, Mesuroles, Nmcenls'
Fonteyns. Du Bois Provosts, De Peysters and Bay
ards The Walloons dispersed after reaching New
Amsterdam. and settled In various parts OF the
province.
The fact that there was a consider
able Huguenot emigration to the Antilles especial
" TO the islands of ST. Christopher, Guadalupe
and Martinique is one of the neglected historical
incidents for the recovery of which we arc indebted
TO DIR. Baird The French grant dG2Gl, under
which the islands were settled, aimed at the exclu-
sion of Professionalism but for fifty years this pro-
vision was not enforced, and the HuguenOt
West Indians became rich, numerous and mfiuen-
tial Among them were many who atterward re-
moved to Massachusetts, New-York, South caro-
lima etc.-the Allaires Pintards Marions, lie Con-
tes and LHommedieus. The period of liberation
ON the islands was also the period when per5ecu-
ton slept in France. But after the revocation OF
the Edict of Nantes the crusade against heresY was
extended to the West Indies, and in 16S6-7'o the
uar.p cd n
penal colonies, to which obstinate Huguenots were
Transported and bouud to service to the planters
\ for a term of years. The number actually shipped
Ia not known, but there is record of at least one
Thousand. They suffered terribly from brutal
treatment on the voyage. ana many
died; but it is cheering to know that as rule
they met with kindness from the planters, and
that the Catholic inhabitants often helped them to
escape. They made their way in great numbers to
the British colonies; and it was reported in 1857
that nearly all had got away.
IL was after the revocation of the Edct OF Nantes
that the Huguenot emigration became more
strictly religious movement. and the in
dividua adventures of the fugitives presented the
most thrilling scenes The policy of Louis xiv.
was not only to crush the Protestant party but to
preyent Protestants from leaving the Kingdom;
and those who fed did so not only at the cost OF
their possessions but at imminent personal danger
Among the identified with this refugee emil
grafton are many which became distinguished
in America-Jay, Boudouin tBowdoln), Faneml.
sigourney, Manigault, Laurent uaurens), Robert,
Duche, BoudinOt. Galaudet. The refugee ancestor
of the American Jays was Pierre Jay, rlch mer-
chant of La Rochelle, whose escape DIR. Baird
describes with interesting particularly. large
proportion of those who ultimately crossed to
America went first to England and especially to
Bristol here they formed for some years consider
able congregation. Agents of the American colo
mes were almost always eager to enlist them; they
were cordially assisted by the crown; and the ex-
pense of their transportation often betrayed