General Chat

I felt that this one on Julia and the one on Jermey Irons were the best out of this series and were certainly both very informative and interesting showing how research could and should be done. Ann

Theresa, Romany Kings!! Good luck with that!!! :)) Pat

The Huguenot Society of Great Britain & Ireland Founded 1885. Registered Charity No. 214726Family History The Society publishes a journal specifically devoted to Huguenot genealogy and family history, details of which are available here. The Society's publications contain hundreds of Huguenot surnames. Our list of publications and a leaflet 'Huguenot Records in Britain' are available from the Hon Secretary on receipt of a stamped addressed envelope. For email enquiries please include a postal address. We can also supply details of a library nearer to you, where our publications may be consulted. For details of assistance with research, please apply also to the Hon. Secretary.

Who were the Huguenots? The origin of the word is obscure, but it was the name given in the 16th century to the Protestants in France, particularly by their enemies. The impact of the Protestant Reformation was felt throughout Europe in the early 16th Century. Its greatest protagonists were the German Martin Luther and the Frenchman Jean Calvin. In France Calvinism penetrated all ranks of society, especially those of the literate craftsmen in the towns and of the nobility. There were eight civil wars in France between 1562 and 1598 - the Wars of Religion. The charter of Edward VI (1547-53) enabled the first French protestant church to be set up in England. Descended from this church is the one in Soho square. In 1589 the Protestant Henri de Bourbon, King of Navarre, inherited the French throne after the deaths of his three Valois cousins, sons of Catherine De Medici. Civil war continued, so in 1593, in the spirit of 'Paris is worth a Mass', Henri converted to Catholicism. Five years later the civil wars ended and Henri issued the Edict of Nantes which gave the Huguenots, his former co-religionists and comrades in arms, considerable privileges, including widespread religious liberty. Over time Huguenots became loyal subjects of the French crown. However, their position became increasingly insecure as King Louis XIV, grandson of Henri IV, listened more and more to those who advised him that the existence of this sizeable religious minority was a threat to the absolute authority of the monarch. Gradually the Huguenots' privileges were eroded. In the 1680s Protestants in certain parts of France were deliberately terrorised by the billeting of unruly troops in their homes ['the Dragonnades']. Finally, in 1685 Louis revoked the Edict of Nantes, while exiling all Protestant pastors and at the same time forbidding the laity to leave France. To the considerable surprise of the government many did leave, often at great risk to themselves. Men who were caught, if not executed, were sent as galley slaves to the French fleet in the Mediterranean. Women were imprisoned and their children sent to convents. About 200,000 Huguenots left France, settling in non-Catholic Europe - the Netherlands, Germany, especially Prussia, Switzerland, Scandinavia, and even as far as Russia where Huguenot craftsmen could find customers at the court of the Czars. The Dutch East India Company sent a few hundred to the Cape to develop the vineyards in southern Africa. About 50,000 came to England, perhaps about 10,000 moving on to Ireland. So there are many inhabitants of these islands who have Huguenot blood in their veins, whether or not they still bear one of the hundreds of French names of those who took refuge here - thus bringing the word 'refugee' into the English language. Because of the political climate of the time, in a Britain strongly suspicious of the aims of Louis XIV's France, and in fact about to begin a series of wars to curb those ambitions, the Huguenots were on the whole welcomed here. This map indicates the main routes used by Huguenot refugees, the countries to which they went and the numbers settling in each area. However, as the pamphlet literature of the time shows, they could not entirely escape the accusations levelled at immigrants from time immemorial -that their presence threatened jobs, standards of housing, public order, morality and hygiene and even that they ate strange foods! For at least half a century the Huguenots remained a recognisable minority, making their presence felt in banking, commerce, industry, the book trade, the arts and the army, on the stage and in teaching. Although many retained their Calvinist organisation and worship - treated more generously by government than home-grown nonconformity - by about 1760 they had ceased to stand out as foreign, even following the path of Anglican conformity in religion which some had taken from the very beginning.

I think I could watch this programme for the rest of my life......phew what a history......and I agree with the other poster who says she looks like her sister, I did think it was Nadia at first....

I am also of Huguenot descent in one of my lines. There is a very good book called 'Family from Flanders' about this, but can't remember who it's by. Peter someone I think. I got my copy on ebay. He traced his family back from London to Canterbury and then to northern France/Belgium. Very interesting. There was also a Huguenot colony in Norwich I believe. Sheila

Now I would find a Gypsy one interesting, WHEN I get round to doing more on my Dad's side. Keep getting sidetracked with Mums side lol. There are Romany Kings on Dads side, apparently.

Pat, that is a really good point, they haven't done a gypsy one yet have they. About the only thing they have missed I think. Maz. XX

I absolutely loved it..... and could relate to the Jordan trip as I have been to the town's and city they were in - its my most favorite country in the Middle East and they really are a nation who welcome you with open arms! xx

Hi Caz. Thanks hon. She is fine now. Fast asleep. Leaving me with a pile of washing !!! Typical isn't it the one programme I make a point of watching !! xx

This was def the BEST of the series. I am glad that they mentioned Canterbury in connection with the Huguenots where you can see a Weavers House from about 1500 and I think that there is a chapel within Canterbury Cathedral - the Huguenots Chapel. So if you have rellies in the E Kent area they may be descendants from the Hugues. It is not too well known that Calais was English in the 14th-16th centuries so probably many pro-English in the area and Protestants too, though the Huguenots were not confined to N W France - there were many throughout France though many would have fled to Germany, Switzerland etc., Those that came here would have been mainly from Holland, Belgium and N W France. Have a look too at Nottingham area where there were many lace-makers from N W France who were also Huguenots BUT Calais lace is still imported from France and used in lingerie products.

It was great, Hope your lass is ok Muffy, Caz xxxxxxxxxxxxx

When they showed her in the records office getting the marriage cert for her mum grandparents (i think). One of the occupations was given as a Hawker. I got my hopes up then that there would be something along my lines. Hopefully they will do David Essex next time! Pat

I thought it was moving when Julia and her mother visited the secret graves in France. It was a real eye-opener. It must have been awful for their ancestors.

Certainly did save the best till last,,,whens the next series hope it ain't too long,,,,my ancestors from Grundisburgh Suffolk were Hugenots the Malet's,,, the Duvals are listed also Teresa

Teresa - sounds possible! I have Duplock in mine, but apparently it is an English name meaning 'deep lake' and I have gone back past 1800 on that line and no sign of anything other than English. Loved it tonight. I really like the Sawalha girls, they are so natural - nice normal curvy girls, no airs and graces and no Botox! Maz. XX

Lynda - they do, but her sister's a lot more irritating!!!! Angela Thanks for that Muffy - we had a five minute power cut near the beginning too - have to watch the repeat!

My husbands ancestors were hugenouts (sp?) who settled in Hampshire for many many years, and I was really enjoying it until my daughter was sick all over her bed !!! I will just have to watch the rest when it's repeated. xx

Really good wasn't it? I'm glad she was on, I thought she and her sister were the same person. They look very similar don't they? Lynda x

Good one tonight. Was she using a pen in the records office? I thought you could only use a pencil. Sue