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The French Protestant
(Huguenot)
Church
Corner of Church and
Queen Streets, CHARLESTON
Transcribed for South Carolina Genealogy Trails
by D.
Whitesell |
The French Protestant (Huguenot) Church in the
city of Charleston, South Carolina (1898)
Mural Tablets in the Huguenot Church, Charleston,
SC
1699 - Rev. ELIAS PRIOLEAU. Dedicated to the
memory of Ellias Prioleau. Minister of the Gospel
according to the doctrines of the Reformed Church of France.
A native of Pons in Saintonge. He was one of the
Emigrants, who, on the Revocation of the Edict of
Nantes, sought freedom of conscience in South Carolina. When
he commenced his Ministerial labors in Fiance is
not known; but some of his
Manascript addresses, still
preserved, show that he was engaged in them in
1677. In this country he continued those labors as
Minister of this Church. His father, Samuel
Prioleau. son of Antonio Prioli. was born in Venice about
1618; was educated in France, where he embraced the
doctrines of the Reformation, and became a Minister of Christ,
first at Rochelle. and afterwards at Pons, at which place
he died in 1683. The Rev. Elias Prioleau died in the autumn
of 1699, at his farm on Midway, now Back River, in
St. James Goose Creek; and there, his remains
repose. This tablet is erected by several of
his descendants, worshippers in this edifice, built
on the site of that in which he preached.
1850.
1785-1770-1835 - ISAAC MAZYCK, and his sons,
ISAAC AND PAUL MAZYCK. In memory of Isaac Mazyck ; born at St.
Martin, in the Isle of Rhe, 11th of June. 1661, left France in
1685, in consequence of the Revocation of the Edict of Nantz.
settled in South Carolina in 1686, and died 7th of March,
1735; and of his eldest son. Isaac Mazyck; born in Charleston.
6th of March, 1700, died 23th of July, 1770. He was many years
a leading member of the Provincial Assembly, and was appointed
one of the Assistant Judges of the Province in 1740. Their
remains were interred at the East end of the old French
Protestant Church, and are now covered by this building. This
monument is erected in obedience to the testamentary
directions of Paul Mazyck. sixth son of the latter, who was
born 4th January. 1744, and died 6th June, 1835. His remains
are deposited in the cemetery of this church.
1716 -
LOUIS GOURDIN. Louis Gourdix. the ancestor of the family of
Gourdin in South Carolina, was born in the Province of Artois.
France, a Huguenot, and on the Revocation of the Edict of
Nantz in 1685, a refugee, he came to the Province of Carolina,
settled on the Echaw, near the Santee River, and died in 1716.
Time has consigned to oblivion his virtues and his frailties:
nevertheless, venerating his steadfastness to principle, and
grateful that, under the Divine guidance.he has given them an
inheritance in a land blessed with civil and religious
liberty, the fourth and fifth generations of his descendants
dedicate this tablet to his name and memory. "The lines have
fallen unto me in pleasant places."
1860.
1726-1727—ISAAC PORCHER, M. D., and his wife.
CLAUDE CHERIGNY. In memory of Isaac Porcher. M. D.. a native
of Severe, Province of Berry, in France; and of his wife,
Claude Cherigxy, a native of La Roche Posay, Touraine.
Attached to the faith professed by the French Protestant
Church, they sought a refuge from persecution after the
Revocation of the Kdirt of Nantes, first in England, and
afterwards in the Province of Carolina, where they found a
home in the Parish of St. James. Berkeley County. After a
union of forty-four years and eleven months, she died
September 10th, 1726,aged sixty five years and four months: he
died March, 1727. This tablet is erected in pursuance of
the intention of Samuel Porcher. of St. Stephens, their great
grandson. 1859.
PETER CHARLES GAILLARD—Fifth in descent
from Pierre Gaillakd, the Huguenot, of Poiton, France. Born
December 29th, 1812, died January 11th. 1889. An Elder of this
Church. 1861-1865, Colonel 27th Regt., S. C. V. C. S. A.
1866, Mayor of Charleston. "The memory of the just
is blessed."
1761 - ANTOINE De SAUSSURE and HENRI
DeSAUSSURE. Antoine De Saussure, Seigneiur De Dommartin, et de
Monteuil, near Amance, France, having embraced the principles
of the Reformation, abandoned his dignities and estates in
Lorraine, and fled with his family from persecution into
Switzerland in 1551, where he was an inflential advocate of
the Protestant faith. He took a bold and active part in
the cause of the Reformation at Metz, Strasbourg, Geneava and
Neufchatel; from the latter of which this church derives its
Liturgical Services. Between John Calvin and himself
there existed a close friendship, as evinced by their
reciprocal letters still preserved by the branch of the family
residing at Geneva. His descendants continue true to the
Reformed Faith: one of them, Henri DeSaussure, removed from
lausanne, Switzerland, to South Carolina, in 1730, and settled
as a planter in Beaufort District, where he died in 1761,
highly esteemed and respected. A monumental stone near
Coosawatchie, markes the place of his sepulture, and attests
the filial piety of his children. In this was of the
Revolution his four sons, and a grandson, took an active
part. In the cause of Independence, Louis and Thomas
died on battlefiels; Henry from disease caused by exposures of
the camp; Daniel, the eldest son, was a member of the
Provincial Congress of South Carolina, and was one of the
exiles to St. Augustine after the Capitulation of Charleston,
in 1780; while his son, then a youth of seventeen years,
afterwards Chancellor Henry Wm. deSaussure, was at the same
time confined on board a British Prison Ship to Charleston
Harbour. In veneration of men thus devoited to civil and
religious liberty, their descendants and relatives have
erected this monument. 1859.
1736—ELI AS HORRY. To the
memory of Elias Horry, the venerable ancestor of the Horrys of
South Carolina. He was born in France in the year 1664, and
was the son of an Elder of a church in Paris, who died a
martyr, for the Protestant faith, when the Edict of Nantes was
Revoked by Louis XIV in 1685. Escaping the persecution, he
fled to Holland, thence to England, and came to South Carolina
about the year 1690, and settled near the Santee, in the
Parish of St. George Winyaw, where he resided forty-six years.
He died in Charleston on the 25th of September, 1736, aged
seventy-two years, and was buried in the cemetery of the
French Church. "The South Carolina Gazette," which records his
death, states that he was "one of the oldest settlers in the
Province, and who, by his merits and services to the country,
had left behind him a very good character." Elias, the son of
Thomas, and grandson of Col. Elias Horry, erects this monument
to the memory of his great grandfather.
1825.
1799—DANIEL HUGER. In memory of Daniel Huger,
born in South Carolina February 20th. 1741; died July 6th,
1799.
1873—DANIEL RAVENEL. Daniel Ravenel, son of
Daniel Ravenel, of Wantoot, in St. John's Parish, Berkeley,
and Catherine Prioleau, his wife, was bora the 26th October,
1789, and died in this city the 7th September, 1873, in his
84th year. From early youth to latest age he obeyed the
Commandments of God and the precepts of Jesus. Religion
assimilated his spiritual nature, sanctifying the passions,
the affections, the intellect, and he was righteous, pure and
holy amid the trials and temptations of life. He walked humbly
with God. His Christianity was catholic, and the charities of
his heart widened and deepened as he grew in years. The moral
and material interests of his native State and City had always
his enlightened support. In manners grave, yet genial in
temper, warm and steadfast in friendship, sincerely
courteous,his influence refined and elevated societv. Of
Huguenot lineage, descended (through the emigrant Rene
Ravenel, of Bretagne, and the Rev. Elias Prioleau, in 1686,
Pastor at Pons,in Haintonge. and probably the first Minister
of this Church) from Pastors and Elders of the Reformed Church
of France,the stem adherence of his ancestors to their
Protestant faith stirred the chivalry of his soul; he
venerated the Church for which they suffered; its tenets
satisfied his judgment; the spirituality of its simple worship
was in harmony with his religious nature; the solemnity of its
quiet Ritual, with his deep reverence when communing with God.
The revival of this ancient Church was a fixed purpose of his
life; his intellect,his theological and ecclesiastical
learning, his force, when heart and judgment concentrated
their strength, fitted him for the work and when the time for
its accomplishment had come, he was under Providence, the
chiefest human instrument through which prayer, thanksgiving
and praise ascend once more from this Church of our fathers to
their and to our God. He assisted in the
translation of the Liturgy. Thirty-eight years an Elder, and,
for the last twenty-seven. President of the Church, his wisdom
guided its councils, in difficulties of organization, his
piety and moderation bound it together in harmony. To
perpetuate the remembrance of this life, with gratitude to God
that it was largely dedicated to its service, the Church
lovingly erects this monument. 1880.
1882—ST. JULIEN
RAVENEL, M. D., Aetat LXII. Chemist, Naturalist. Philosopher.
His delight was in Science; Knowedge was more to him than Fame
and Fortune. His labors enriched the community. His
discoveries were free to mankind. The Agricultural Society of
South Carolina, grateful for his work and example, erect this
memorial of his genius and worth.
JAMES F. D. LANIER, of New York. Born November
22, 1800, at Washington. Beaufort County, No.
Ca. Died August 27th, 1881. This
tablet commenorates a generous benefactor of this Church, and
perpetuates within its walls the name of his son, Charles
Lanier, also of New York, who gave munificently to its
restoration after the destructive earthquake of 31st August,
1886. 1887.
Stained Glass
Window.
In Memoriam. GRATIOT
WASHBURNE. Born at Galena, Illinois, May 6,
1849. Died at Louisville. Ky., Dec. 17,
1886.
In Memoriam. ADELE GRATIOT WASHBURNE. Born
at Galena, Illinois, Nov. 12, 1826.
Died at Chicago, Illinois, March 18,
1887. |