Pages 78 - 85
Chastain Coat of Arms
The Emigration of the Hugenots from France to America
78 Chastain Coat of Arms
The information on pages 81 - 85 came from a book written by James Garvin Chastain. His work has been discredited since the book was written, so these pages do not provide accurate or reliable information. Page 78 Coat of Arms
Historiography Chastain |
79 The Emigration of the Hugenots from France to America The term “Huguenot” was originally a derogatory term applied to all Protestants in France by a Roman Catholic monk, but around 1560 was adopted by the Protestants themselves. In the 16th century in France there was much conflict between the Catholics and those who professed the evangelical or Protestant faith. Many were burned at the stake; laws were made forbidding Protestant practices, people were cruelly murdered if they were not Roman Catholic. Life was almost unbearable for all except those who were loyal to the pope. In 1535, and edict was ordered requiring the extermination of all heretics, and resulted in a mass emigration. The struggle continued for about 125 years. Particularly notorious was the Massacre of St. Bartholomew, in which prominent Roman Catholic lords murdered the unsuspecting Huguenots (about 20,000 – 30,000 of them) who had gone to Paris to celebrate the wedding of their leader, Henry of Navarre. Later, the Edict of Nantes was issued (1598) by Henry IV of France (Henry of Navarre), granting tolerance to Protestants, however in October 1685, by Louis XIV, it was revoked. This caused the departure of about 300,000 from France. Among these were several Chastains and Chastaigniers.
Author’s note: for any interested in reading a realistic fictionalized account of the Hugeunots and their plight in France, I highly recommend THE ARM AND THE DARKNESS by Taylor Caldwell. Critics have acclaimed its authenticity. The story is action-packed and exciting, making a reader feel as if he were actually part of the Huguenot movement. What better way to get to know about our ancestors?
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80 Hugenot Character
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81 Chastain Emigration to America The name CHASTAIN belongs to a distinguished house that traced its lineage back uninterruptedly to the eleventh century in France. The early spelling of the family name, CHASTAIGNIER, meant “A lord, a count, or a nobleman.”
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82 Emigration Continued
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83 Emigration Continued As the English kings were anxious to colonize the new world, from 500 – 700 French Huguenots sailed from England to Virginia and settled on the southside of the James River, about 20 miles from Richmond (now Powhatan County). Here they were given land previously occupied by Manikin Indians, and they established Manikintowne Episcopal Church there.
The passenger list on the first ship (1699) included these names:
Pierre (Peter) Chastain, his wife and six children. (Three others were born to them in Manikin.)
Jean (John) Chastain, wife and four children
Dr. Estienne (Stephen) Chastain and wife * * * * * * * John Chastain, a cousin, or perhaps a younger brother of Peter, must have been a man of some prominence as he is spoken of as having served for several years as a member of the City Council in his native town in France before leaving. He was an attorney and served as clerk of King William’s parish in Virginia from 1762 – 1754.
Dr. Stephen Chastain, perhaps a second cousin of Peter, was a much younger man. He had practiced medicine in France, and also in England, and continued in the same career after reaching Manikintowne. He was married in England to Martha DuPuy, a daughter of Bartholomew Dupuy. The ship’s passenger list shows that at the time of their coming to American, they had no children. They reared in America four daughters. Sons were evidently born to Dr. Stephen Chastain and his wife later since his Chastain descendents now live in Missouri and easily trace their ancestral line back to him in Manikintowne. He died 18 December 1761.
Peter Chastain, the emigrant (1770 – 1729) and his wife Marie
Madeline de la Rochefaucald (1660 – 1729) were of the province of
Dauphiny and brought with them to America six children: |
84 Emigration Continued
It is probable that Peter Chastain and his wife had other children born to them and that they died young, their names not being preserved to us.
Peter Chastain and his wife were buried on his farm near
Manikintowne, Virginia. His grandson, Rev. Rene Chastain sleeps in
the cemetery of New Canton Baptist Church in Buckingham County,
Virginia. Rene’s cousin, Rev. John Chastain (“Ten shilling bell”),
and his wife, Mary O’Brien, were buried near his mill some four
miles west of Greenville, S.C. |
85 Emigration Continued
It is not strange to find variation in spelling the name. That is explained in different ways, however, we are all members of one large family, having the same French Huguenot origin, though in some cases, it is a little different to find every single link in the connection back to Manikintowne, due to the fact that family records are not available. No doubt, if records were available, we would all find ourselves as direct descendents of Peter of Manikintowne, Virginia.
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