Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-11-21
Village of Manakin, Gooch-
land County, Links Pres
ent With Past.
WAS SUCCESSOR TO AN
EARLIER 'MANAKlNTOWNE'
Settlers Fled From Persecution
by Most Christian and Grand
Monarch Louis XIV"
nv EDITH TuSIs SALE.


ncc,ton with the early settlement II
Fowhatan. This i. apparently. tn.
only remaining link between III,
prescn; AMI thu days Of the Frenci
Husucn"ts in Virginia. and all VIII,
arc Interested have only To journ.y
from Richmond out the River Road
fourteen miles ana stop where a
sign post announces TO all the world:
This is Mausk!n.'
There they will find real history:
history blended with both tragedy
and romance. for II was in l,oo TIM,
20" F,rsmch refugees fled 10 the iirst
MANN kintowuc under the leadership
81 The Marquis Olivier d. In Mucc.
The original settlement was in Pow
haian County. where 10000 acres OF
land that had belonged to the Mono
can Indians we're granted the Huguc-
nois by the Virginia Company. The
territory Of these war-likc Indians,
who are said 10 have disappeared
about the time the white man came.
extended along both sides al the
river from The falls Of the James 10
what Is now MaIdens. in Goochland
County. and til" refugees borrowed
the Indian name for thrir township.
which has been written Mouocan.
Manacan. Manikin and Manakin
A Picturesque PIIgrimngr.
No more picturesque pilgrimage
was ever made 20 this country than
that of the Huguenots driven from
France by that most Christian and
grand monarch, Louis NV" who had
thrown To the winds the Edict ~
Nantes and renewed tho religious per
secut!ons which cost France so much.
shortly after their arrival IN Vlr-
einia. March 10. 100. a council was
held in their behalf a. WcStnycr.
when 1t was recommended that n
committee make inquiry into tho
stat" and condition Or the french
Refugees Iuhabiting at tho Manakin
Towne'
Accordingly. May 10 OF that same
year, Colonel Randolph. Captain Eppce
and Captain Webb made a tour Of
inspection and reported that there
were about 40 huts. mos. OF them
very mean: that IN" settlement ex-
tended four miirs along the south
side II Jarses River and that all IN,
o.u Moro can fields had been cleared.
Each family was allotted 1873 acres.
IN tracts running from the river back
to the hills. and II is to the care with
which these lines We're marked that
we arc Indebted for the beautiful,
far'Es We admire today along The
rive. front in Powhatan County.
site or old Town
Til. town itself was lail on on
what Is now "Manakin Farm" the
estate Of Edward Scott. and on this
spot originated King William Parish.
which became an !ndependen, parish
by act o! the Assembly IN i.Up A;
mis- peaceful l!.tlc settlement. 50 far
ana 50 secure from the prosecutions
they had endured. tho nrs, though.
81 thc iiugucnots was the erection 81
a church.
Faded and mellow with age. thc
Old Parish. Register OF this frs, church
is now in the possession of the Penn
sy'vanla Historical Society. where i,
mas, have found It's way in the hands
Of some vandal trooper Upon its
original French such weil-known
names as "Fontn;ne. Chasta;nc. Du-
1uy. sale. Brock Martain. Michauy.
cahanis, ojer. Gailiard. Michel, An
sustin, I.atane. de Rchcbourg. Maui
pain, D'Aubignc. lie Grande, Rcr.
nara, Maryc. Amonct, Porter. Trabue,
VIA. scott. Robinson. Fourqurean
l:ochc,, Lacy, K.mpe. Cooke. Howard.
icnbcrton. lIarri LeFevre, Duval an,
Subln,"
THOR house OF worship once as
SURGE! the refugees bent their cncr-
Gies 10 ;hc pursuit oc agriculture
They raised corn and cattle. tried "a
homestead" thc buffalo, and even
grew hemp 10 manufacture cloth Ac-
cotG!nE 20 B-vcrlcy's History OF Viz.
ginia. ia 1902 "thc emlgrants began
Al Essay OF Wine which they made o.
the wild grapes gathered IN the
woods. the effect q: which yas Il
strong bodied CLAIR; %; good favour
That william byrd. 9: Wes:ovcr
proved a staunch friend OF The IIugu.-
nots - shown IN mis- manuscripts. and
IL was ne who was instrumental III
having the council give 10 each fam
isy at Manakintown- "onc bushei a
mead 81 Indian meal noathly" In
credible as Il i;tay seem. these rcf,.
gees. many OF whom had The blood al
kings IN their veins. walked twenty
miles 10 Failing Creek. their nearest
Er's' nili, and ;rudsel back ,wsuty
+ NOR" "i.h thu monthly allowance
swung over their sturdy shoulders.
Nnny CrusS f0 GoochIapd
10 i'lt The population Of tho set
dement, numbered 500. and abou; thi.
/ :ime :. disa grceIncn appears 10 HAY,
arisen which dFoy" many cf the In
ha6itan;s across IN. James !,
strengthen their states on tho ONO
.