Original Ancestors – Louis Guion, Ecuyer – The Early Years

Judy Guion

June 2

On 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.

"Taverns were important to the settlers as they were used for Town meetings as well as entertainment. Guion's Tavern, shown above, enjoyed many distinctions. This famous old hostelry stood in Eastchester, now a part of Mount Vernon, NY, across the street from Saint Paul's Church. The site is now marked by a bronze tablet erected by the Daughters of the American Revolution. Tradition says that General Washington stayed there while recuperating from a brief sickness and had been nursed back to health by the proprietor's wife. Upon leaving he kissed her hand and legend says she never washed that spot again.

It is stated in many sources that the Guions were a family of Blacksmiths. The senior Louis apparently became one after his arrival in New Rochelle and set up a shop next to his home. It is only natural that his son Louis, Jr., when he became old enough, would go to another town to practice this profession, settling into Eastchester, now part of Mt. Vernon, NY., while his brothers stayed to work with their father in New Rochelle.

In the book "Historical Landmarks of New Rochelle" the author, William S. Hadaway, On page 42 says, when speaking of the Allaire House "the land on which it stood was quitclaimed by Jacob Leisler, Jr. to Louis Guion (blacksmith) in 1701 ... it is certain Guion had a blacksmith shop here as early as 1703. In 1725 he sold the property to his son Louis, Jr. who had been a resident and blacksmith of Eastchester since 1708."

And on page 40, obid: "Aman Guion, like his father Louis, the first of that name in New Rochelle, was the village blacksmith and he came into possession of this property on the death of his brother in 1732. Aman Guion died in 1760 and his son, Elias Guion succeeded to the house and business. On the latter's death in 1811 it came to his son Elias Guion, Jr."

Next weekend, I will continue the story of Louis Guion, Ecuyer, and his family in New Rochelle and Mount Vernon, NY.

Judy Guion