Huguenot-L Archives

Archiver > Huguenot > 2005-07 > 1122064922


From: Ray Timmons <>
Subject: Re: [Huguenot] Leaving France
Date: Fri, 22 Jul 2005 16:44:24 -0400
References: <20050722.132243.-143045.1.HISTRYGUY@juno.com>
In-Reply-To: <20050722.132243.-143045.1.HISTRYGUY@juno.com>


Those leaving France for England, Netherlands, etc., I understand.
What is more difficult for me to understand is why some came to
America. Actually, the first ship that established a successful
settlement in South Carolina was all English So the reasons for
going to North America were more complex. A couple of the reasons
may have been financial difficulty and the free land in America.

One of the women on the first ship to Carolina was interesting.
She was from a well off family, but came over as a servant. She
married a sailor on the ship, they started a farm here, then he
went back out to sea leaving her to run the farm. It is fun
thinking up a possible stories to explain her.

What was the climate for Protestants verses the Church of England
in England at that time?

Ray

wrote:
> Hi Peter
>
> As a present day Roman Catholic, with Huguenot (Canadian) ancestry, I
> have wondered about the same questions that you propose (?)
> There obviously had to be some compelling reasons to leave their
> homeland, but at the times in question, the Americas were not all that
> they should have been, as regards security, comfort and/or
> ... a promising future.
> Canada, of the 17th. century, was an unsettled, hostile wilderness.
> There were few, known resources and for a large part, industry was
> discouraged, in favor
> of manufactured goods, from France.
> Beaver pelts and timber (ships masts) were the preeminent exports.
> Aside from a few hardy, adventurious souls ... there was little
> attraction for emagration
> to a country that was closed to any but Roman Catholics, By the Kings
> specific order.
>
> I'm sure ... prosecution due to personal, religious fervor, was a huge
> incentive, but it seems unlikely
> that, that could have accounted for such a major migration (?)
>
> In all fairness ... I think the subject should be, explored further.
> Simple answers rarely address, complex questions.
>
> Dino

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