Huguenot Society of South Carolina

08/25/2025

Society member Keith Gourdin has a project underway that will be of interest to members. See link provided.

WANTED: BERKELEY COUNTY’S AMERICAN REVOLUTION PATRIOTS

Berkeley County 250 Francis Marion Commission Board Member/Historian, Keith Gourdin, is working to collect names of all Berkeley County patriots who served and/or fought during the American Revolutionary War (1770-1783).

Qualifying criteria for determining a Berkeley County “patriot” is:
Lived or had property and voting rights in Berkeley County parishes:
●St. James Santee Parish
●St. Stephens Parish
●St. Thomas & St. Denis Parish
●St. John’s Parish
●St. James Goose Creek Parish

When contacting Keith, he asks that you have the following information for your patriot (if possible):
●Name
●Rank
●Date of birth
●Date of death
●Whether the ancestor was:
○Killed in Action
○One of General Francis Marion’s Men
○One of Colonel Hezekiah Maham’s Men

At present, Keith has 300+ names of Berkeley County Parish patriots. The goal is to have as many names of patriots as possible that can be engraved on a stone / brick / wall, displayed, so they exist, forever, to memorialize sacrifices made for our freedom.

There is no deadline for this request, however, the goal is to have the list of names displayed publicly before July 4, 2026 . . . our primary 250th Anniversary date.

Please contact Keith at 843-509-3408, or email at: keithg@homesc.com with qualifying family patriots names and any related stories you may have or questions you may have.

08/24/2025

Today we remember the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre which began in Paris on August 24, 1572 and then spread to the provinces as a series of targeted assassinations and mob violence against Huguenots (French Protestants). As many as 200 Huguenots per day fled into Geneva after the massacre seeking refuge. In the link provided we share a 2022 blog post from our friends - The Huguenot Society of Great Britain and Ireland - which provides the significance of this day to our heritage.

08/23/2025

Church update:
The Society has been advised as follows: As a measure of safety for all, services are cancelled for tomorrow.

08/11/2025

The Huguenot Society of South Carolina deeply regrets the passing of Mr. Scott Loomis Peeler, Jr. of Valrico, Florida (1947-2025). Mr. Peeler was a member since 1976 and joined under ancestors Floren Surrency and Ann Bolton. Our deepest condolences to Mr. Peeler's family and friends.

Information regarding arrangements is available via the link.

Scott L. Peeler, Jr., of Valrico, Florida passed away on August 6th, just shy of his 78th birthday, due to complications from non-alcoholic...

07/30/2025

Huguenot Sites...
We so enjoyed hearing from Charlie and Connie Upshaw as they toured France. The photos are from Nantes where they toured the Château des ducs de Bretagne ("Castle of the Dukes of Brittany.") While not much may remain in Nantes of our Huguenot ancestors, the plaque in memory of the Edict of Nantes is a memorial to their enduring spirit. Share your travels with us - we enjoy following our members on their heritage journeys.

07/29/2025

HUGUENOT SITES...
Today we share a few images from a member of the Society, Catherine Murray-Smith, who recently visited the Huguenot Memorial Museum in South Africa. The museum provides a remembrance of the history of the Huguenots before and after their arrival at the Cape of Good Hope. The Huguenot Society of South Africa was founded in 1953. The original aim of the Society was to maintain and develop the traditions, virtues and ideals of the Huguenots. In due course the upkeep of the Huguenot Memorial Museum and Monument became its main focus. Visit their website to learn more.

We hope to hear about this experience from Catherine on a future podcast episode! Members, share your travels with us as you journey to the many states and countries where the Huguenots found refuge.

07/20/2025

The Society’s Chaplain, Cleve Gillette, recently enjoyed lunch with fellow members - his lovely wife Linda, David DuBose and Elizabeth Gay. A great discussion about upcoming events and plans for 2026. It’s always great to hear from our members and share the fellowship membership brings.

07/17/2025

Huguenot History is Alive in Berkeley!

In our Huguenot Happenings, read about the recently installed interactive kiosk at the Berkeley County Museum and Heritage Center and the information it provides, including the French Protestant (Huguenot) Churches.

French Protestant (Huguenot) settlements and cross site histories included in new exhibit.

07/16/2025

In the news! The Society was so pleased to join the Berkeley County Museum and Heritage Center for the ribbon cutting of their exhibit - an 86 inch interactive kiosk that includes content we provided on the Huguenots and early French churches in Berkeley. Our thanks to Shanda and Chelsy for their hard work and leadership! This museum is a treasure in Berkeley and we encourage all to visit. Pictured are Renée Marshall and Elizabeth Gay of the Society staff enjoying the French Protestant (Huguenot) portion of the interactive display.

The Moncks Corner museum debuts an interactive exhibit with untold Revolutionary War stories, as TSA lets passengers keep their shoes on at Charleston airport.

07/16/2025

Hot off the Press! The Society recaps its trip to England in the July edition of The Charleston Mercury with an article on the connections members made to their Huguenot ancestry while on the tour. Members of the Balluet, Demere, Marion, Ogier, Peronneau families especially will enjoy this piece. Copies are on the stands now or stop by headquarters to enjoy reading with a cup of tea. Our thanks to the Mercury for sharing our journey's discoveries!

07/15/2025

On July 14, Bastille Day, Renée Marshall provided a program on the Huguenots to the Mt. Pleasant branch of the Charleston County Public Library. The event was well-attended and our thanks to Sarah Fretz, Manager, for inviting us. We look forward to future programs as the SC250 approaches. Educational programs are just one of the ways we work to preserve the memory of the Huguenots. If your organization or school group would enjoy a program, contact us!

07/11/2025

LIBRARY PROGRAM: On Monday, July 14th at 11:00am, Renee Marshall will provide a program "The Huguenots in South Carolina" at the Mt. Pleasant Branch of the library. We look forward to seeing all who can attend.

1133 Mathis Ferry Road
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
https://www.ccpl.org/branches/mount-pleasant