The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-10

the Richardsons are of Norman ori- gin"
 The Richardson family is of Nor man origin. It seems that the name originated in this way: A certain fol- lower of William the Conqueror, named William Belward. had son named Richard. From the smallness of his stature he was called Richard the Little,' although this has nothing to do with the story. One of Richard the Little's sons Was John, usually called John, Richards s son. in time he became known as John Richardson. Hence came the name and family of Richardson. One of John Richard sons brothers was the founder of the Goodman family by a similar trans formation of names. He was good man." In course of time Goodman. If We accept this theory, and we find 1t advocated by those who ought to know, the question then arises.
 Whence comes Richard?
 The original meaning of Richard is powerful. Reichard, Richart, Rick ards, Ricardus and >Ricardo are early forms of the name. From these have been evolved not only Richards and Richardson but Rickson, Rixon, Kicks,
 Rix, andy Ritson, and from the nick names Dick and Diccon. Dicks Dix, Dickson. Dickens Diccons. Dickenson, and Dicconson. Variations of Rich ardson are Richardesome. Rycherde- son and Rychartson.
 To 'Tnterested Reader" who asks for information of Louis Dubois, the Walloon, and something of the Dubois family in America
 Louis ''du Bois." the Walloon, was born in 1926. When about 34 years old he arrived in America with his wife, Catherine (nee Blanshan), whom he had married in Germany. and their two sons, who rejoiced in the pa- triarchal names Abraham and Isaac. They settled at Kingston, N. Y. and Abraham was later one of the pat entees of New Platz-or le nouveau palatinate-thus named after the Pal atinate, Germany, the house of Abra- hams mother.s The du Bois house at Kingston is still in possession of the family and reunions have been held there. Louis was one of the founders of the church, and the record of its building is still preserved, written in French, which is not the pure tongue and undefiled, but nevertheless intel ligible. They needed 8 French teach- er' is the comment of the historian of the time. Louis always went by the title of the Walloon. By occupa- tion he was "a tiller of the soil;" his brother Jacques was a silk manufac- turer.
 Those were stirring times, and the du Bois family had it's share of adventures and thrilling escapades-very much so. indeed, for Louis wife and children there were three of them-were carried captives by Indians in the raid of 1863. and just about to be ''butchered to make an Indian holiday when Louis and his band of men rushed in upon the scene The captives had saved their lives in the first place by singing songs. That music hath charms to soothe the savage breast" was demonstrated in this, case. The ,"Babylonish Captives' was the very ap- propriate song which Catherine and her their rescue.
 To T. J. N, who asks for the names of the Neville first settlers in this coun- try. especially the first man of the name in the new world:
 Tn regard to the first of the name in this country, he was probably Richard, who was living in Virginia, early in the eighteenth century. He married Anne Burroughs, relative of Lord Fairfax. The son of Richard and Anne was John, born 1731. He was friend of Washing ton, and served with him in Braddock's expedition. He was a delegate to the provincial convention of Virginia and an officer in the revolution. His monument is inscribed:
 "He filled many important offices, civil and military. In the former, he was virtuous and disinterested: in the lat ter patriotic and brave."
 His son. Presley, was aide to Lafayette and commissioned brigadier general be- fore the close of the war. He married a daughter of General Daniel Morgan. Their home was famed for it's hospitality. When the Duke of Orleans, afterward Louis Philippe, King of France. was in this country, with his two brothers, he was entertained by the Nevilles. A few years later a member of the family was received by Louis in France. with the greatest kindness.
 Another pilgrim Neville was Samuel. who established himself in New Jersey. 1736 He had been editor of the London Morning Post, and possessed talents of a high order. He is put down in the rec .ords of the time as Samuel Nevill Gent" He filled many important offices; was judge of the supreme court of the prov ince and mayor of Perth Amboy. His brother. Jim, also of New Jersey, held important offices. FIRING WITH POWDERED COAL