Registers Of The French Churches Of St Patrick & St Mary Dublin 1668-1830

The Registers of the French Churches of St. Patrick & St. Mary, Dublin (1668-1830)

Unlock Your Huguenot Heritage in the Heart of Dublin

Step back in time and walk the cobblestone streets of 17th and 18th-century Dublin. Hear the whispers of a forgotten tongue, the French of the Huguenot refugees who carved a new life in Ireland. Now, for the first time in a meticulously compiled and indexed edition, the vital records of this resilient community are brought to light.

The "Registers of the French Churches of St Patrick & St Mary Dublin 1668-1830" is more than a book; it is a key. It unlocks the doors to your ancestors' lives, marking their baptisms, celebrating their marriages, and mourning their passings. For over 160 years, these two churches were the spiritual and social heart of Dublin's French Protestant community, a people fleeing religious persecution in France to bring their legendary skills in weaving, finance, and craftsmanship to Irish shores.

Inside, you will discover:

Baptisms (1668-1830): Find the names of newborns, their parents, and often their godparents, revealing intricate family networks and ties back to France.
Marriages (1668-1830): Unite long-separated branches of your family tree as you discover the unions that formed the bedrock of the Huguenot community in Dublin.
Burials (1668-1830): Pay respects to the generations who laid the foundation for a new life, with details that can often pinpoint a specific grave or date of passing.

Comprehensive Indexes: An easy-to-use index of thousands of names, including familiar Huguenot surnames like de Lacy, du Bédat, Vernieu, Le Fanu, and Chaigneau, making your search for ancestors simpler than ever.

Beyond the Names: The Lore of the Dublin Huguenots
But these registers are more than just data; they are the silent witnesses to a world of local lore and whispered legends that grew up around the "French Quarter" of Dublin. Owning this volume connects you not only to your family but to the myths that still haunt the city's ancient lanes.

The Weaver's Ghost of The Liberties: For centuries, locals in the area once known as the Huguenot weaving district have spoken of a spectral figure seen on foggy nights. A silent, solemn man in old-fashioned dress, he is said to be the ghost of a master weaver, forever searching for a lost bolt of priceless silk he wove for a Dublin aristocrat. Many believe the names of those involved in this tragic tale are recorded within these very registers.

The Silver Thread of St. Mary's: A legend persists of a wealthy Huguenot family, the Blanchards, who, upon fleeing a sudden wave of anti-French sentiment in the 1720s, buried their family fortune. Not in a chest, but woven into the very threads of a magnificent tapestry depicting the "Exodus from La Rochelle." The tapestry, they claimed, was buried beneath the cornerstone of the old St. Mary's Church. The registers from that period note the family's abrupt departure, leaving historians and treasure hunters to wonder if the story is true.

The Lovers of St. Patrick's: A more romantic tale tells of a young Huguenot girl, Madeleine, and an Irish Catholic scholar, Seán. Forbidden to marry by their families and faiths, they would meet in secret by a secluded yew tree in the churchyard of St. Patrick's. Legend says they carved their initials into the bark, a fleur-de-lis entwined with a shamrock. While the tree is long gone, the story of their love became a local symbol of Dublin's blending of cultures. Perhaps their names, and the names of their children baptized in secret, lie waiting for you within these pages.
Who is this book for?

Genealogists tracing family lines with suspected Huguenot or Irish connections.
Historians researching the Huguenot diaspora, the social fabric of 18th-century Dublin, or Protestant non-conformist history.

Descendants of the Huguenot families seeking a tangible link to their courageous forebears.
Anyone with a love for Irish history and the captivating stories that make Dublin a city of a thousand tales.
Don't let your family's story remain a whisper in the archives. This definitive collection is your invitation to explore the rich tapestry of your heritage, a story of faith, resilience, and the enduring human spirit.