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Table Of Contents
Chapter 1
Reasons for writing these memoirs — Noble origin of our family — John de la Fontaine born — Obtains a commission in the household of Francis I. — Embraces Protestantism — Persecution — January Edict — John de la Fontaine resigns his commission — Assassination — Flight of his sons to Rochelle — Marriage of James de la Fontaine — Attempt to poison him — Henry IV. At Rochelle.
Chapter 2
James Fontaine — Fond of study — Travels abroad — Called to the churches of Vaux and Royan — First marriage — Children by it — Second marriage — Children by it — My father’s person — Habits — Labors in the ministry — Summons before the governor — Second summons — Death.
Chapter 3
My birth — Lameness — Imitation of my fathers prayers — Meditations upon the heavenly bodies — Sent to school — Anecdotes of boyhood — Disgusted with study — Letter to sister — Mr. De la Bussier — Admirable preceptor — College — Take degree of Master of Arts — My mother’s death — Division of property.
Chapter 4
Study with Mr. Forestier — His persecutions — His wife’s firmness — Return home — Pray with neighbors — Absent at Easter — Poor people assemble in the woods — A spy — Warrants issued — A mason taken up — Recantation — Repentance — My return home — Warrant against me — Grand Provost and archers appear — Prison — Permitted to pray.
Chapter 5
Provost and archers make another tour — Twenty country people brought to prison — Well supplied by Protestant brethren — Prayer — Indictment — Confrontation — Recollement — Examination of witnesses — Apply to be set at liberty — Accusation of the King’s advocate — Dungeon — Removed to Town Hall — Bribery proposed to me.
Chapter 6
Trial before the Presidency — Digression — Defense — Angry discussion with the President — Query — Reply — Sentence.
Chapter 7
Appeal to Parliament — Factum — President’s remarks — Sentence reverse — Register refuses copy of decree — Apply for redress — Return home.
Chapter 8
Persecution of 1685 — Meeting of ministers and elders — My opinion opposed to the majority — Meeting of Protestants at Royan — Mr. Certani dissuades from emigration — Interview with him — Gloomy forebodings — Departure of Protestants — Dragoons appear — I leave home — Visit sisters — Traverse the country — My betrothed.
Chapter 9
Revocation of the Edict of Nantes — Preparations for flight — Difficulties and dangers of embarkation — Land in England — Cheapness of bread — Speculation in grain — Cruelty of a captain of a vessel.
Chapter 10
Singular proposal from a lady — Marriage — Mode of living — Removal to Bridgwater — Assistance from Committee — Why discontinued — Application for relief — Unkindness — Attempt to recover property.
Chapter 11
Remove to Taunton — Receive ordination — Keep a shop — Manufactory — Prosperity — Summoned before the mayor — Defense — Speech of recorder — Discharge.
Chapter 12
Revolution of 1688 — Landing of the Dutch — Unexpected visitor — Soldiers billeted on me — Retirement from business — Calimanco — Profitable manufacture — Crippled weaver — Secret discovered — Visit Dublin and Cork — Send sons to Holland — Increase of family.
Chapter 13
Arrival at Cork — Pastoral charge — Manufactory — Happiness — Dissension in the church — Resignation — Reply — Remarkable dream — Visit fishing stations — Death of Aaron — Become fisherman — Remove to Bear Haven — Loss of the Robert — Bad season — Trading voyage — Successful fishery — Loss — Irish neighbors.
Chapter 14
Attacked by a French Privateer — Defence — Letter to the Duke of Ormond — Ammunition furnished by government — Small fort — Visit Dublin — London — Pension — Copy of warrant — Return home.
Chapter 15
Attacked by a second Privateer — Outhouses fired — Breach in the wall — Wounded — Surrender — Carried off to the vessel — Expostulation with captain — Ransom — Peter left as a hostage.
Chapter 16
Affidavit before Magistrates — Retaliation on French prisoners — Removal to Dublin — Haunted house — Appear before grand jury — Award school — Education of children — Peter enters College — John gets a commission in the army — Moses and Francis enter college — Moses studies law — Emigration to America — Marriage of children — Death of my wife — Failure of health — Conclusion.
James Fontaine (1658) was the great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather of Jared Smith (Editor of the AHB). He wrote an autobiography, the material of which was compiled and published by some of his descendants. The first publication is called, ”A Tale Of The Huguenots Or Memoirs Of A French Refugee Family (De La Fontaine)” (1838). The second publication is called, “Memoirs Of A Huguenot Family” (1872).
"A Tale Of The Huguenots Or Memoirs Of A French Refugee Family (De La Fontaine)", 1838 (Complete)
Memoirs Of A Huguenot Family, 1872 (Complete)
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