The Huguenot Society of America

08/06/2026

Have you explored the Huguenot Society of America website yet?

Whether you're researching your family history, learning about the Huguenots, or looking to connect with others who share an interest in this remarkable heritage, our website is your gateway to a wealth of resources.

Here's just a sample of what you'll find:

Become a Member – Join a community dedicated to preserving and celebrating Huguenot history. Membership offers opportunities to connect with fellow descendants and history enthusiasts while supporting the Society's mission.

Huguenot Ancestors List – Discover whether your ancestors are among those recognized by the Society. This valuable resource is an excellent starting point for anyone researching Huguenot lineage.

Scholarships – Learn about scholarship opportunities that support the education of students who have Huguenot ancestry.

Historical Resources – Explore articles, publications, historical documents, and educational materials that bring the Huguenot story to life.

News & Events – Stay up to date on meetings, conferences, educational programs, and special events taking place throughout the year.

Genealogical Resources – Find helpful information and tools to assist with tracing your Huguenot ancestry and documenting your family's journey.

Whether you're just beginning your research or have been exploring your family's Huguenot history for years, there's something for everyone.

Visit our website today, explore all it has to offer, and consider becoming a member to help preserve the legacy of the Huguenots for future generations.

We look forward to welcoming you to our community!

Huguenots were French Protestants who were active in the 16th and 17th centuries. Forced to flee France due to religious and political persecution by the Catholic Church and the Crown, many settled in what is now the United States of America.

07/30/2026

Did you know Quincy Jones had Huguenot ancestry?

The legendary composer, producer, and musician Quincy Jones discovered an extraordinary connection to the French Protestant past while researching his family history with Alex Haley and genealogists.

Jones traced part of his ancestry to the Lanier family, a French Protestant family associated with Rouen that fled France during the era of religious persecution and established itself in England. Members of the Lanier family became celebrated musicians at the English royal court, including Nicholas Lanier, who became the first person to hold the title Master of the King’s Music.

Generations later, branches of the Lanier family came to America. Through the complicated history of the American South, this Huguenot lineage became part of Quincy Jones’s African American family history.

The result is a remarkable story spanning French Huguenot refugees, English royal musicians, American history, slavery, and the emergence of one of the greatest musical figures of the 20th century.

Quincy Jones’s story reminds us that Huguenot history did not end with the migrations of the 16th and 17th centuries—it became woven into the ancestry and culture of generations to come.

07/24/2026

THE HUGUENOTS WHO RETURNED TO FRANCE

Although relatively few Huguenot refugees permanently resettled in France after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685, several remarkable individuals either returned themselves or played a central role in restoring Protestant life within France. Their stories illustrate the determination of French Protestants to preserve their faith despite decades of persecution.

One of the most influential was Antoine Court, often called the "Restorer of French Protestantism." Born after the Revocation, Court witnessed firsthand the devastation of the Reformed Church in France. Although he eventually established himself in Lausanne, Switzerland, he repeatedly returned to southern France through trusted networks and maintained close contact with clandestine congregations. Traveling secretly and often at great personal risk, he reorganized scattered Protestant churches, trained ministers, and encouraged peaceful resistance rather than armed rebellion. His efforts helped rebuild the underground "Church of the Desert," laying the foundation for the survival of French Protestantism until legal toleration returned.

Another prominent figure was Paul Rabaut. Unlike many refugees who remained abroad, Rabaut chose to stay in France despite constant danger. Forced to live in hiding for much of his ministry, he preached in forests, caves, and secluded valleys while evading royal authorities. Although he did not return from long-term exile, his ministry represented the persistence of Huguenot life within France during the years when many refugee families began cautiously returning from neighboring Switzerland and the Netherlands. By the time religious toleration was granted in the late eighteenth century, Rabaut had become the acknowledged leader of French Protestantism.

The transition from exile to reintegration is best represented by Jean-Paul Rabaut Saint-Étienne, the son of Paul Rabaut. Educated within the clandestine Protestant community, he emerged during the French Revolution as one of the foremost advocates for civil equality and religious liberty. Elected to the National Assembly, he helped secure full civil rights for Protestants in France. His public career symbolized the return of Huguenots from the margins of French society into the nation's political and civic life after more than a century of exclusion.

Beyond these well-known leaders, numerous Huguenot merchant families quietly returned to France after religious restrictions eased in the late eighteenth century. Descendants of refugees from England, the Dutch Republic, Switzerland, and Brandenburg-Prussia reestablished commercial ties in cities such as Bordeaux, Rouen, and Lyon. Many had preserved their French language and family records while abroad, allowing them to reconnect with relatives and, in some cases, reclaim ancestral property. Although less celebrated than pastors and political figures, these returning families contributed to France's economic revival and demonstrated that the Huguenot diaspora remained deeply connected to its homeland even after generations in exile.

Together, these individuals and families reveal that the Huguenot story did not end with flight from France. Whether through clandestine ministry, political leadership, or the gradual return of refugee descendants, they played a vital role in restoring Protestant life and helping shape a more religiously tolerant France.

07/20/2026

The brief article you are about to read is about ELIAS HASBROUCK, a Revolutionary War veteran with a distinguished background.

He is also the 6th great grandfather of the Huguenot Society of America's treasurer, Chandler Elwyn.

Elias Hasbrouck: A Biographical Sketch

Born in May 1741 into a family of French Huguenot settlers who helped found New Paltz, New York, Elias Hasbrouck became a successful Kingston merchant before answering the call to serve in the American Revolution. Commissioned as a captain in the Continental Army in 1775, he participated in the Canadian campaign under General Richard Montgomery and later served in several important military roles defending the Hudson Valley. Although British forces destroyed his Kingston home and business when they burned the town in 1777, Hasbrouck rebuilt his life after the war and resumed his mercantile career.

In the mid-1780s, Hasbrouck moved to Little Shandaken, now Lake Hill in Woodstock, where he established a home, store, and inn. When Woodstock was officially formed in 1787, he was elected the town's first supervisor and presided over its earliest town meetings, helping lay the foundations of local government by overseeing roads, taxes, tavern licensing, and other essential civic matters. Hasbrouck died on October 8, 1791, at the age of fifty, leaving a lasting legacy as a Revolutionary War veteran, civic leader, and one of the principal figures in Woodstock's earliest history.

02/24/2026

We've just added to our website the list of organizations that received a Huguenot Society Grant in 2025. See Programs - Grants.

Library Scholarships Grants Bulletins Links Grants The Huguenot Society of America has a long history of donating funds to various causes in America and France. GRANTS RECIPIENTS IN 2025 INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS: *Église Française du Saint-Esprit (for the ongoing support of the preserva...

02/12/2026

George Washington, who was born on February 22, 1732, is one of the most distinguished Americans with Huguenot roots. He was of course one of the founding fathers and the first U.S. president (1789-1797).

Here is a brief biography of George Washington with photos from the Huguenots of Spitalfields.
https://www.huguenotsofspitalfields.org/famoushuguenots/washington-george/

It is interesting to note that there were about 20 other U.S. Presidents of Huguenot ancestors, including John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Ulysses S. Grant, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Barack Obama and others.

George Washington was the very first President of the United States (1789–1797) and one of its ‘Founding Fathers’. He helped to write the United States […]

02/09/2026

For your information, there is a list of resources for tracing Huguenot ancestry as well as general information about Huguenot history. Click the link below. One link is called Family Search

Library Scholarships Grants Bulletins Links Links Below is a list of resources where you can learn more about Huguenot history and contributions. Huguenot Societies The Huguenot Society of Great Britain & Ireland The Huguenot Society of Manakin, Virginia Huguenot Society of South Africa Huguenot Soc...

01/29/2026

TALK ON PAUL REVERE AND A MUSICAL SURPRISE
JANUARY 2026 RECEPTION AT A PRIVATE CLUB IN MANHATTAN
JANUARY 22, 2026

There seemed to be more guests than ever at the January Reception: 42 guests. The private club where it was held wisely moved our event to a larger venue--a ballroom—to accommodate the guests, a bookseller and a piano.

At the Ceremony of the Loving Cups which began the program, all raised their glasses to toast the Huguenot ancestors. President Karen Kane greeted everyone, mentioning her initiatives to meet other Huguenot-related organizations in Europe and the U.S. Last September, she joined the Amitiés huguenotes internationales and visited Huguenot sites in the Dijon area in France. This summer she will visit other sites in Geneva with the Huguenot Society of Great Britain and Ireland.

Ms. Kane introduced the guest speaker, Kostya Kennedy, who talked about his book: "Paul Revere and The Ride that Saved America", which is a thrilling read. He revealed many interesting facts most people really don’t know about this well-known figure: Paul Revere was already a distinguished silversmith, engraver and a self-trained dentist when he made his ride to warn the patriots that the British were coming. Kennedy mentioned that despite having vertigo, he wanted to climb to the top of the Old North Church in Boston where the patriots hung out two large lanterns to warn the people about the British: “One (lattern) if by land, two if by sea”. They needed to display the latterns for the patriots to see them, but not too long so the British wouldn’t. His ascent to the top was hard fought but worth it: It was easy for Kostya Kennedy to imagine the landscape of the era.

Why did Kostya Kennedy become interested in writing about Paul Revere? He said since there are few people who are known for the rest of their lives for a single night or act: that was Paul Revere’s ride on April 18, 1775. It was also Revere’s charisma and forceful character. When he told people to get ready – “the British are coming”, they did and gathered muskets and pistols.

He recounted how the patriots took on the most powerful nation in the world at that time – England--and showed slides of the flimsy looking rowboat that carried Paul Revere to the other side of the Charles River where he started his ride.

After Mr. Kennedy’s talk, came the musical part of the evening. It started with the “Paul Revere song” about Revere’s horse, from the Broadway musical, Guys and Dolls. After enjoying hors d’oeuvre and drinks, guests gathered again to sing French songs (“Milord”, “La Vie en rose”, the Marseillaise and “Les Champs-Elysées”), accompanied by pianist Bob Dawson. Meanwhile, Kostya Kennedy signed copies of his book.

01/15/2026

Archaeologists unearth chilling 16th-century gallows where rebels were hanged and displayed

Archaeologists in France uncovered a chilling 16th-century gallows — where Protestant rebels were executed during the turbulent Reformation era in Europe.