The Parish Registers Of The Protestant Church At Guisnes 1668-1685

Unlock Your Huguenot Heritage: The Parish Registers of Guisnes, 1668-1685

Step back into a time of unwavering faith and profound courage. For the French Protestants of the 17th century, life was a delicate balance between devotion and survival. In the shadow of growing persecution, the Protestant Church of Guisnes stood as a beacon of hope. Now, you can hold the key to the lives recorded within its sacred walls.

This meticulously transcribed volume captures the vital records of this resilient community during a pivotal era—ending in the very year the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes shattered their world, forcing countless families into exile. These are not just names; they are the whispers of your ancestors, waiting to be heard.

What You'll Discover Inside:
Within these pages, you will find an unbroken thread of history, detailing the major life events of the Huguenot congregation in Guisnes from 1668 to 1685. This essential resource includes:

Baptisms: Discover the names of newborns, their parents, and often their godparents, revealing intricate family networks and alliances.
Marriages: Unite family lines as you find the names of brides and grooms, often including the names of their parents and witnesses—critical for breaking down genealogical brick walls.
Burials: Trace the final journey of your ancestors, with dates of interment that can help confirm death dates and

complete family timelines.

Original French Names: The records preserve the authentic spelling and form of French surnames and given names, a vital clue for researchers.
Why These Registers are Invaluable for Your Research:
Pre-Revocation Records: These registers document families before the great diaspora. This is your best chance to find the French origin of a family that later appeared in England, Ireland, Germany, South Africa, or the American colonies.

A Direct Link to Huguenot History: You are not just tracing names; you are placing your family directly into the narrative of the Huguenot struggle for religious freedom.
Unlock Maiden Names: Marriage and baptismal records are often the only place to find the elusive maiden names of female ancestors, allowing you to push your family tree back another generation.

A Glimpse into History: The de la Chaumette Connection
While the registers are filled with the names of ordinary families, their stories reflect the experiences of more notable Huguenots of the region. The area around Guisnes and Calais was part of the sphere of influence for the prominent de la Chaumette family.

Antoine de la Chaumette, Seigneur de Sennezergues, was a staunch Protestant nobleman whose sons, Pierre and Gilbert de la Chaumette, became famed Huguenot ministers. They preached to hidden congregations and bravely faced persecution before eventually fleeing to England and Ireland. Families recorded in the Guisnes registers would have known of, or even been ministered to by, figures like the de la Chaumettes. Their story of faith, exile, and service is emblematic of the very community documented in these pages, offering a powerful context for the names you will find within.