Registers Of The French Church Of Portarlington Ireland 1694-1816

Unlock Your Huguenot Heritage: The Registers of the French Church of Portarlington, Ireland (1694-1816)

Step into the world of your ancestors. Could your lineage trace back to the brave and skilled French Huguenot refugees who, fleeing religious persecution in their native land, carved out a unique "Little France" in the heart of Ireland? For the first time, this pivotal historical record is made accessible, offering an unparalleled glimpse into the births, marriages, and deaths of this remarkable community.

Within these meticulously transcribed and translated pages, you hold the key to over 120 years of history. The original French entries, preserved in elegant script, are presented alongside clear English translations, making them accessible to all researchers. This isn't just a list of names; it's the vibrant story of a people who brought with them their language, their faith, their artisan skills, and their unbreakable spirit.

What You Will Discover Inside:

Baptismal Registers (1694-1816): Find the names of newborns, their parents, and often their godparents, revealing intricate family networks and alliances.

Marriage Registers (1694-1816): Unite ancestral couples, discover maiden names that have long been lost, and read the names of the witnesses who stood with them.

Burial Registers (1694-1816): Piece together family timelines and uncover the dates of passing for generations of Portarlington's French residents.

Unique Huguenot Surnames: Trace names like Champ, Des Voeux, Lefanu, Le Nourry, Blanc, and Vignoles as they establish their roots in Irish soil.

The Portarlington Story: A French Oasis in Ireland

Following the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685, thousands of French Protestants (Huguenots) were forced into exile. Many found sanctuary in Ireland under the patronage of William of Orange. Portarlington, in Queen's County (now County Laois), became a veritable French colony, a planned settlement where the French language was spoken in the streets, and a distinct culture thrived for over a century. These registers are the living heartbeat of that community, documenting its founding, its flourishing, and its eventual integration into the wider Irish landscape.

Whispers of the Past: Myths & Legends of Portarlington's Huguenots
No town with such a rich and dramatic history is without its folklore. The registers may record the facts, but local legends give them soul. As you delve into the names on these pages, imagine the world they inhabited, a world filled with whispered tales of:

The Ghost of the Silk Weaver: For decades, locals have spoken of a spectral figure seen in the moonlight near the site of the old French church. She is said to be the ghost of Madame Lefevre, a master silk weaver who lost her only child to a fever. According to the legend, she forever searches the churchyard, her ghostly fingers still working at an invisible loom, searching for the name of her child among the headstones. Many believe her name is recorded in these very registers.

The De Voeux Silver: One of the most prominent Huguenot families, the De Voeux, were wealthy merchants. Legend tells that on the eve of a potential uprising in the late 1790s, they buried the family's entire silver service—including a priceless gilded tea set—somewhere on their estate. The secret location was known only to the father, who died unexpectedly before he could reveal its whereabouts. It is said that a clue to its location is hidden within the marginalia of the family's own entries in the church registers, a cryptic note waiting for a sharp-eyed descendant to decipher.

The Minister's Escape Tunnel: Beneath the streets of Portarlington, a secret passage is said to run from the crypt of the French Church to the cellar of a nearby Georgian house. Built during a time of heightened political and religious tension, the tunnel was an emergency escape route for the minister and his congregation. While its entrance has never been officially found, older residents speak of hollow-sounding ground beneath the churchyard, a silent reminder of the ever-present dangers faced by these early refugees.

Who Is This Essential Resource For?

Genealogists with Huguenot ancestry or roots in County Laois/Offaly.
Descendants of the Huguenot Diaspora worldwide seeking their European origins.
Local Historians researching the unique development of Portarlington.
Anyone with an interest in Irish history, migration stories, and the resilience of the human spirit.
Break through your genealogical brick walls. Connect with a proud heritage of faith, craftsmanship, and perseverance. The Registers of the French Church of Portarlington are more than a record; they are a testament to a community that refused to be erased.

Add this indispensable volume to your collection today and let the names of your French-Irish ancestors rise from the pages of history.