Information for these Huguenot founders comes from many sources: Priscilla Cabell Harris's Turff and Twigg (1988), various parish records for Goochland and
Powhatan counties, The History of Woodford County by Thomas Bailey, R. A.
Brock's Documents Chiefly Unpublished, Relating to the Huguenot Emigration to
Virginia and to the Settlement at Manakin-town with an Appendix of Genealogies
(1886, 1936), as well as information collected by Sallie Tompson Craig. See Martin Family Line for succeeding generations.
John [Jean] Martin [Martain, Mautin] (1674 France-after 1738) and
Margaret LeCaze [Lacase, Cayce] (--after 1744?)
A list of Huguenot prisoners at the Citadelles de Marseille includes "Jean Martin
natif de las Ondes prés de St. Martin de Courconas en Sevenes agée 21 ans fut pris
dans sa maison Le 7 Mars 1692 pour avoir donné de vivres aidé pauvre Relig. fugitifs. Pour cele condemné á Montpeilier Le 15 dud. mois aux Galéres perpètuelles, ou il arriva enfin Le 20 dud. mois de mars 1692 auquel lieu il persèvre en la confession du St.Nom de Jésus." [Les Galéres de France et les Galériens Protestants des XVII et XVIII Siècles, Gaston Tournier, III, 353.] Basically it says that Jean Martin, native of Las Ondes near St. Martin de Courconas in Sevenes (in Cevannes) 21 years old wastaken prisoner in his house the 7th of March 1692 for having given life (aid?) to poor religious fugitives. For that he was condemned at Monpelier the 15th ? to life in prison or the galleys, where he arrived finally the 20th of March 1692 at which place he persevered in confessing the name of Jesus. Another source [The Torments of Protestant Slaves in the French King's Galleys, & in the Dungeons of Marseilles, 1686-1707] lists Jean Martin of Cevennes as sentenced to the galley ship the "Magnanime" or "Magnanimous" [ironic!] in 1692. Is this our Jean Martin? Likely
not-- few survived the galleys. But we don't know for sure.
Jean Martin arrived on the Peter and Anthony, the second ship arriving in 1700,
listed as living with Isaac Lefevre in 1701. He is also listed as eventually having a
number of slaves. He had more French patents than anyone else and the largest total acreage, 1298 acres. (See Cabell's book for a map of his grant holdings; the largest grant included the land around the present Old Gun Road). He and Margaret were married by 11/1/1703 in Manakintown VA (although Cobb, Register of Huguenot Ancestors, says they married in 1697). As dowry his wife brought land with coal pits on it (#903), inherited from her father, James [born in Nare, Guienne, France C. 1675, d. 1707, m. Marguritte Coop, born in France, died before 1725, Henrico]. Jean and Margaret evidently lived north of the James River on land next to the William Randolph land (Tuckahoe plantation) at the time of his death. In 1732 the value of improvements on his plantation was 1569.5 pounds; he had 60 head of cattle then and owned only patent 900 (bequeathed to James). Margaret married John Four/Fore after her husband died.
Children:
· James, m. Janne by 1727: Jaque (9/8/1727-), Jean Pierre (7/2/1730-), Guilleaume (5/241735-)
· John (-1735/6), m. Mary Forcuron (?): William, John, Matthew
· Peter (Pierre) Martin (before 1714-1742/3 Goochland Co), m. Mary Anne Rapine (--1747) who later m. Thomas Smith: Jean
· Judith (1710-1786), m (1) Thomas Gevaudan (1702-1730): John [Jeffodon, Givodan, Jividen] (1729-Albemarle Co VA) , m (2) Rene Chastain. John married Magdalene Chastain, daughter of Pierre Chastain. Their daughter Ann married Joseph Foree;
Presidents George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush are descendants of this line, through Dorothy Walker Bush. ( See Legacy: A Genealogy by Chester E. Bartram)
· Jane
Will of John Martin of St. James Parish, Goochland Co., 2 March 1736
To my eldest son James, all my land in Henrico Co., 447 acres, a negro Betty, and items.
To John Martin, son of my deceased son John, a plantation, with house, and
allthereto belonging, next to Mr. Joseph Pleasants, above my dwelling house on James River.
To daughter Judith Chasteen, what she has received, a bed and three negroes.
To my daughter Judith's son John Jeffodon, a negro man Will. If he dies without heirs, then to his brothers and sisters. If any of estate left by Thos. Jeffodon, dec'd which I had in my hands and delivered to Reny Chasteen till John Jeffodon comes of age, it is also to be divided among John's brother and sisters if he dies.
To my son Peter, my tract adjoining Mr. Randolph, Jr. with land I live on and houses after his mother's death, with negro Daniel, mulatto Farmer and items.
To daughter Jane Martin, 2 negroes or items, and mulatto girl Mary, for the term of her servitude.
To the poor of the parish 20 shillings.
To my wife Margaret, my plantation next to William Randolph, Jr. as long as she lives, with all belonging to it, and then to my son Peter.
Items are to be distributed to my children at my wife's death, with 1/5 to my dec'd son John's children, numbering three.Paragraph tag
Executors: wife and son James
Signed: John (X) Martin
Wit: Giles Letcher, James Soblet
Recorded 15 May 1739
Antoine [Anthoine] Rapine (--1737 Manakintown) and Margaret (--after
1755 Manakintown).
Antoine is listed as having taken the oath of naturalization in Dublin on May 13, 1699. He first married Jane, who died in 1717; Margaret was first married to Charles Perault, who died the same year. She had two children by Perault, Daniel and Mary.Antoine and Margaret married around 1718.
Anthony Rapine came on the third ship in 1700/1701 with his first wife and two children; only one son is listed in 1714. He had 4 land patents; only one was French (#783). In the vestry records he is listed with his Negroes Dick, Sara, Kate, Peter, and Jinc. His will, written 4/10/1737, recorded 11/15/1737, left "To wife Margaret, 1/2 of negroes, household goods, land, etc., for life, then all to Mary Ann Marton and Peter Marton." However the estate was divided according to his will, between Margaret Rapeen, his widow, and Thomas Smith, husband of his dec'd daughter. Share to Smith is 204 [pounds]/3/6. 24 Aug 1747. (Goochland County Va: Wills and Deeds,
1742-1749).
In Margaret Rapine's will, she anticipated an inheritance from relations in Holland and England which would be divided between her son Daniel Perrow, her daughter Mary Force, and the children of her two deceased daughters, Mary Ann and Ann.
Children:
Mary Ann (before 1714-1747), m. 1 Pierre Martin, m. 2 Thomas Smith
Ann (died before 1755)
Daniel Guerin(1/5/1663 Saintonge, France-1721) and Marie L'Orange (ca.1663 Rochelle, France-after 1721)
The Guerin family settled in Anjou, France between 1520-1550. According to The
French Book of Heraldry, "The Guerrants are of the ancient and grand nobility, one of them being among the 2,000 Chevaliers who defended Mont Saint Michele against the English in 1427". ...descendants have continuously occupied the ancient Chateaux and Lordship of Grand Cannay, whose tenure extended over three parishes." Henri Guerin (ca. 1633-1696), father of Daniel, was broken on the wheel in France in 1696 (Smiles, 6). Daniel married Marie L'Orange before 16 Nov. 1730. (1690?) Daniel Guerin, his wife, and four children came to VA in 1700 on the Nassau, coming from Santogne, St. Nazaire, France, west of Nantes. His patent (#739) was not within the French lands. He witnessed numerous deeds and wills and farmed the glebe land briefly.
Marie was the daughter of Francis L'Orange of La Rochelle, France (ca. 1633-? VA), granddaughter of Jean Velas L'Orange, and greatgranddaughter of Sir Velas Orange, according to William Pullin, Guerrant Family of Virginia (at Virginia Historical Society).
Children:
Pierre (Peter) (1697 France-1750 Cumberland Co VA), m. Magdelene Trabue
(1715-) ca. 1732.
Jean, b. France
Daniel, (ca. 1693/4-1731), m. Francoise L'Orange (ca. 1699-after 1769), daughter of Jean Velas L'Orange (brother of Marie) and Francoise, before Sept. 1720: Daniel (1721-50), Peter (1725-before 1750), Francoise (1728-), Jane
Inventory of Daniel Guerrant, Jr.
Daniel died without a will; therefore his estate was inventoried in full detail.
Following are the items listed:
"A true and perfect inventory of all and singular the goods and chattels rights and
credits of Daniel Guerrant late of the Parish of King William in the county of
Goochland, dec'd, taken, valued and appraised, pursuant to an order of Goochland County Court, by Thomas Dinkins, Stephen Chastain and John Chastain, the 26 day of November in the year of our Lord 1730 as follows: vizt: The deceased's wife's wearing apparel, 13 yd 3/4 Gartering, 1/2 yds Dowlas, 1 1/2 yrds Jr., 45 yrds bro. Lin, 4 yrds Rappers, 25 3/4 yds of hd wide Stuff, 1/2 yds. do, 50 yds Calico, 3 quires paper, 1 piece Inklo, 1 1/2 oz. Mustard, 1 horn comb, 27 Razors, 3 Strands sewing silk, 17 Sts, Ten dozen Coats Butt's, 12 1/2 dozen Coat Butt's fine, 11 dozen Brass Coat Buttons, 1 Small parcel of Alum, A bundle saddlers tacks, 1 lb. brimstone, 18 pr Buckles, 1 Small parcel of buckles. rusty, 7 pr Fine Buckles, 1 Knife and fork, Old pair of money scales, 18 Poor Swine, 3 Hides tanned leather damnified, 1 Parcel of old lumber in the kitchen, 1 Old Saddle, Old raw hides, 1 Old Cart; wheels, A small parcel of old silver, 2 Old chests and box, some old lumber, 3 Horn Boxes, 1 Brass Ink Pot, 3 Rapers lafe; hone, 46 lbs. Old pewter, etc, 3 Old Candle sticks, 2 smoothing irons, 5
lbs of Dears leather, 1 old clost, 1 Old bed and furniture, 1 Parcel of old book, 1 Parcel of old lumber, A lot of bills of Exchange, the draght by Mr.Claude Rouview and Mr. John Maynard, Merchant in London and payable to the deceased for 50 lbs. sterling, 1 Horse (worth 1 pound), 1 Negro man (worth 25 pounds), 1 Pocket compass, 27 Thread lates, 7 Pairs Women's shoes, 30 yds Shalloon, 40 yds Drugot, 6 Fine boys hats, 3 Mens hats, 41 yds Planos, 5 yds Coarse Muslin, 6 Eight Quarter Ruggs Coarse, Two thousand five hundred; 10 penny nails, 4 Hods, 1 Slate Cock, 325 lbs. Shott, 74 lbs gun powder, 1 Carvers Knife; 2 Flushing knives, 1 Lot for the currying knives, 22 Old Lasts, 10 Shoemaker tools, 1 Pegging aul and 3 hand lasts, 1 pr Nippers & Pinchers, 1 Shoemaker's Hammer, 1 Old gun, 1 pr old stillyards, 7 Cows and 3 calves (worth 7 pounds), 1 Negro woman and sick child near 14 mo old (worth 25 pounds), 2 Iron pots weighing 74 cwt and pott hook, 1 Old pot and frying pan and ax, 1 Grid Iron, 2 Old tables, 1 old paid; 5 old chairs, 1 pr Silver Buckles; 1 pr studs, do, 1 Old Sun Dial, 3 Cows and three yearlings, 1 Colt and 1 Mare, 22 Barrels and 1 Bushel of Indian Corn, 32 pounds flax and 7 1/2 pence a pound, 36 Bushels; 1 peck Wheat @ 20 d, 1758 pounds Tobacco @8 s and 4 d, 1 Plow, 2070 ft plank @5d of peice, 513 lbs. Tobacco
Antoine Trabue (9/21/1669-1/29/1724) and Magdelaine Verrueil
(1/28/1683, The Hague-1731).
Antoine was born in Montauban, Guyenne, France. Married after 1703 to
Magdelaine, he was first married in 1699 in Holland to Katherine (--1702/3).
Magdelaine married Dr. Pierre Chastaine (-1728) after Antoine died. Antoine and
Magdelaine were likely married around 1704.
Antoine Trabue (either listed as Dupuy in second convoy arriving in 1700 or in the third ship) was a native of Montauban on the Tarn River in the province of Guyenne. Daniel Trabue's book says the family name was originally Strabo, but William Byrd changed it to Trabue. Julia Trabue Yates (The Trabue Family in America, 1700- 1983) finds it to be Trabuc in parish records, born to Antoine Trabuc, tanner, (b. 27 Mar 1585, m. 4 Feb. 1646) and Bernarde Chibailhe (dau of Jean and Marie Chilailhe): David, Jean, Marie, Andre, Anne, Marguerite, Antoine. Antoine Trabuc was the son of Guillaume Trabuc, merchant middleman of Montauban (-before 1615) and Ann Azam (dau. Jean and Naude de Marty); siblings were Anne, Pierre, David.
Antoine escaped--one story says, hidden in a wine barrel on a farm wagon--and got over the border to Switzerland. [See account of Montauban persecution in 1685] In 1687 Antoine was described in a Lausanne document as a saddle maker around 19 years of age, as "of good size, fine carriage, dark complexion, having a scar under his left eye"; It adds that he has always professed the Reformed religion, as do his parents, and that he has not committed any known scandal. Unfortunately, his name is worn through. This slip of parchment or vellum, much worn but surprisingly legible, is at the Virginia Historical Society.
Antoine was granted patent #904 (163 acres) in 1715. In 1717 he was granted 522
acres on the gr fork of Swift Creek; under the headrights of 11 person, including
Katherine Trabue (his first wife?) He appears on tithe lists from 1710-20, alone. In 1723 he is listed with four tithes; himself, Jacob Trabue, 2 slaves. Another list in 1714 records him with his wife and three sons.
Magdelaine's father was Moise Verrüeil (1651--ca. 1701), a French merchant from
Rouen, tenth child of Jean Vereul (1606/7-ca. 1691 Zuid, Netherlands) and
Madeleine Du Fay of Rouen (m.2-2-1633, 1612-after 1688, Zuid). Magdelaine's
mother, Magdalene Prodhomme (Prodon), was born between 1650-1660 at The
Hague, daughter of Magdalaine Tevening (ca. 1633-1721 Zuid; married Sept 18, 1653, Walloon Church, Den Haag, Zuid) and Nicolas Louis Prud-'Homme (Prodon, 1620 Berne-before 1662) and died after 1722. She married Jacob Flournoy 12/19/1703 after Moses died. Moise and Magdalene came to Virginia on the Peter and Anthony in 1700 with their five children. (from The Trabue Family in America: 1700-1983, Julia Trabue Yates) Priscilla Harris in Turff and Twigg believes that Magdalen was the child of Jacob Flournoy's first marriage, but married Antoine Trabue before coming (1699?) and so is not listed with Flournoy's second wife and children. But that would mean that she married Trabue at 14 or so. Yates presents convincing evidence that she was Flournoy's stepdaughter by his third marriage to her widowed mother in 1703; Francis Flournoy, mentioned in her will, is her stepbrother then. Magdalen and Francis had grandchildren who married, Martha Trabue and Josiah Wooldridge.
Children:
Jacob (1705-67) m. Mary Wooldridge 1732: Joseph, Jean, David, William, Elizabeth,Marie, Joshua, Daniel, Thomas; family built Trabues Tavern on Old Buckingham Rd]
Anthony Jr., (1708/9-1743) m. Clare Vermeil(?): Caroline (m. George Smith 1758), John (m. Ollan DuPuy
Magdalene, 1715-1787, m. Pierre Guerrant, Thomas Smith
Judith, (1717/8-1809), m. Stephen Watkins, son of Henry and Mary Watkins: Joseph (1744/45-800), Judith (1744-), m. Walker, Benjaamin (1755-1831), John, David, Francis, Henry
· John James (1722-1775), m. 1744 Olympia Dupuy (1729-1822), daughter of James Du Puy>: James Trabue (1745-1803), m. Jane Porter (1756-1833) 6 children; Magdelen Trabue (1748-1815) m. Edward Clay, 10 children; Phoe Trabue (1750- 1767); Jane (1752-1802) m. Joseph Minter (1754-1814), 14 children; John (1754- 1788) m. Margaret Pierce; William (1756-86) m. Elizabeth Haskins, 1 child; Mary (1758-1792) m. Lewis Sublett, 5 children; David (1760-1840) m. Mary Haskins, 8 children; Martha (1762) m. Josiah Woolridge, 11 children; Edward (1762-1814) m. Mattie Haskins, 4 children and Jane E. Clay, 8 children; Stephen (1766-1833) m Jane Haskins (1767-1833), 9 children; Elizabeth (1768-1835) m. F. R.Wilson, 3 children; Samuel (1770-77); Susanna (1772-1862) m. Thomas Major, 3 children; Judith (1740-) m. John Major, 6 children. [Daniel Trabue, b. 1760, wrote a Journal published in Colonial Men and Times (Philadelphia 1916) which tells of his fighting the Indians in Kentucky in 1774-5, his conversion to the Baptist faith, his fighting during the Revolution (including Yorktown), and his moving his family (he married Mary Haskins) to Woodford County Kentucky in 1785, in Fayette on Grear's Creek near the Kentucky River.
[Yates suggests another, Moses, 1712-before 1724; and another 1720-before 1729)
"The Escape of Anthony Trabue" by Daniel Trabue
My grandfather, Anthony Trabue, fled from France in the year of our Lord, 1687, at the time of a bloody persecution against the dissenters by the Roman Catholics. The law against the dissenters was very rigid at that time. Whoever was known to be one, or even suspected, if he would not swear to visit the priest, his life and estate were forfeited, and [he was] put to the most shameful and cruel tortue and death. And worse than all, they would not let any move from the kingdom. Guards and troops were stationed all over the kingdom to stop and catch any that might run away. At every place where they would expect those persons might pass, there were guards fixed and companies of inquisitors, and patrols going on every road, and every other place, hunting for those heretics, as they called them; and where there was one who made his escape, perhaps there were hundreds put to the most shameful torture and death. * * When the decree was first passed, a number of the people thought it would not be put in execution so very hastily; but the priests, friars and inquisitors were very intent for their estates, and they rushed quick. * * I understand that my grandfather, Anthony Trabue, had an estate, but concluded he would leave it if he could possibly make his escape. He was a very young man, and he and another young man took a cart, and made their escape to an English ship, which took them on board, and they went over to England, leaving their estates, native country, relations, and everything for the sake of Jesus who died for them. [probably he went to Switzerland instead]
The original certificate on vellum given Anthony Trabue by the ministers and civil
officers of Lausanne, attesting to his place of origin, Protestantism, and character, is dated in Lausanne 7/15/1687. This small, burnt and tattered piece of history is in the Virginia Historical Society Library (although one source claims it was burned in a fire).
In his Journal, Daniel Trabue also tells about the Huguenots' religious beginnings. He says they were a sect of dissenters called Congregationalists. In Virginia the King of England allowed them their "privilege of conscience; and to have their religious worship, and it was never taken away from them, and they were never compelled to pay anything to the separate church, but paid their own, and what they were pleased to pay." Becoming Anglicans, then, was achieved painlessly. In 1771 Baptist ministers began coming to the settlement, and 7 were in jail at one time. However, others came to visit, and many, including Daniel, were converted by John Waller. He later "backslid" and was converted again, as were others in a big revival and much baptizing, in 1785, just before removing to Kentucky.
Papers of the Guerrants/Guerrands
Taken from The Huguenot magazine, 1931, 1933-35
_______________________________________________________
Will of Magdalene Verreuill Trabue Chastain.
Recorded in the Will Book from 1725-1738.
First, I resign my soul to God Almighty, from where it came, in hopes of a forgiveness of all my sins, and a joyful resurrection; and secondly, my body to be decently buried after my decease, as my executor shall see fit.
Item: I leave and bequeath unto my well beloved son, Anthony Trabue, my negro
woman, Betty, and her child, Jenny, for him and his heirs, forever; my riding horse called Spark with a man saddle and bridle belonging to it; one of my gold rings marked "M.C." the large Psalm Book, a silver seal, and ten barrels of corn, and my desire is, that he may be freely virtue of this my present will and testament.
Item: To my well beloved daughter, Magdalene Trabue, I leave and bequeath my
cupboard, my side saddle, one box, iron, my black silk suit of clothes, and my calico, which is not yet made up, one gold ring with red stones, one pair of gold bobs, my small Psalm Book, my silver girt buckle, one silver bodkin, and thimble with my spectacles.
Item: To my well beloved daughter, Judith Trabue, I leave and bequeath my chest, my red suit of clothes, my striped silk lined with red silk, a Dutch iron, one gold ring marked"M.T", one pair of gold bobs with small red stones, one pair of silver buckles, and one bodkin.
Item: To my well beloved son, John James Trabue, I leave and bequeath one chain, gold ring, and a silver teaspoon.
Item: I will and bequeath the remainder part of my clothes to be equally divided
betwixt my two mentioned daughters.
Item: I will and desire that my daughter Magdalene be boarded at my son, Jacob
Trabue's, her brother, or at her godmother's, Elizabeth Dutois, which herself shall
like best. And I will and desire that my daughter, Judith, be placed or boarded with her brother Jacob, he being willing to it; if not, with her Aunt Mary Flournoy.
Item: I will and bequeath the remainder part of my estate after debts and other
demands are paid and satisfied, to my son Jacob Trabue.
Item: I will and ordain and constitute my beloved brother Francis Flournoy to be
executor and administrator of this my present last will and testament. In witness
thereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this second day of June, 1729.