I future weekends, I will be sharing the history of my Original Ancestors. An Original Ancestor is the one (or more) who were the first to come to this country. In my case, there were actually five who arrived in the New World. Louis Guion, Ecuyer, his son, Louis Guion II, his wife, Thomasse (Le Fourestier) and their twins, Isaac and Susanna, born in England.
Quotes from "The Descendants of Louis Guion, Huguenot, A Guion Family History", Compiled by J Marshall Guion, IV and his wife, Violet H Guion, self-published in 1976.
"According to family tradition, Lewis Guion was born in La Rochelle, France in 1654. He was a grower of fine grapes on the hillsides of the vast lands he owned near that city (This fact is affirm ed by his Coat of Arms which depicts a stem with three bunches of grapes).
We have every reason to believe that Louis was a wealthy man and possessed a fine home and much land in one of the richest grape-producing regions of France.
Lewis, Ecuyer, with his son Louis, Jr., and his sons wife Mary (Morin?) (incorrect information, Louis Guion Jr. married Thomasse Le Fourestier) flad France four years before the revocation of the Edict of Nance (about 1684). the first went to England, where they joined other Huguenots and Lewis,Sr. became highly sought after for his help and counsel in many family and personal matters.
The trip from England took ten weeks, and they arrived in America just before New Years Day of 1687. They joined the other refugees who had already settled in New Rochelle, West Chester County, Province of New York, which place had been named after their homeland city of La Rochelle, France.
in America, their story was like that of all first settlers. It was a story of heat, and blizzards, and clearing forests and wrestling with the soil, of crop failures and diseases.
many of the refugees were skilled artisans. Others became farmers, some were butchers going from farm to farm. Carpenters were in demand, and stonemasons were needed to build the homes. The blacksmith was all-important as he made their tools and equipment, their plows and ox-chains, and kept them all and repair. We'll writes build the wagons, carts, wheelbarrows and carriages. There were merchants, tailors and weavers, as well as shoemakers. Though there were hardships, the talents and skills of these newcomers enabled them to build a solid foundation of prosperity.
Houses were built along the main road, which was the old Boston Post Road. And, very important to them, a church was built. The earliest extent record shows that in October, 1688, new Rochelle received their new minister, David DeBonrepos.
Despite the primitive conditions, there was an air of refinement, a love of beauty and the art of making life a joy. They had few possessions, but soon their rooms were bright and full of sunshine, but the light was never glaring, for it was dimmed by the thin, translucent parchment used when window glass could not be afforded, and by curtains of fine linen. The parchment windows were softly tinted, often printed in delicate patterns. Rugs were spread on the floor, made from bits of worn clothing. On the mantel's over the fireplaces, pieces of simple pottery stood. The women were busy spinning yarn for clothing and curtains. Bedspreads were died many colors, And furniture decorated with lace and embroidery.
They always showed goodwill toward their neighbors. Their manors were polite even for the youngest, and they were gentle and considerate in their treatment of children. Taverns were important to the settlers as they were used for Town meetings as well as entertainment.'
Tomorrow I will continue the story of Louis Guion, Ecuyer, and his family.
Judy Guion
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