Abraham MICHAUX

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This Michaux/Michau/Mishoe Family file has been collected from notes, bibles, letters, and meetings with family members by Denise Pendley and her Mother Ellie. When necessary for identification of orign this input will be referred to as "The File". Some years ago, 1956, Dr Paul Mishoe, of Marion, SC., initiated a research of the ancestry of the family. He hired a Mr Andrea, title unknown, Gertrude Blaisdell of Genealogical Research, Wash, DC., and Mr Harold Delorme, Columbia, SC. Philip Mishoe Sr obtained these research files, or at least part of them and has written a summary of these findings. We will refer to this information as "The Study". There are many names that can not be tied together. There are relationships that are not concrete. There are differences in marriages, etc, children and many trails of a descendent. As you read this, please keep this in mind, that what you have is to be considered a draft toward the future, to modify and correct, as the information is obtained and verifiable. There are notes on people which ask questions when the direction/connection is not clear.

Please send corrections, questions, additions etc., to Denise Pendley, 141 Redbank Rd, Goose Creek, SC, 29445 (denpen27@aol.com) . I am Lem Pendley (lempen@aol.com)

A lot of this information is taken from Burke County, NC, Heritage Book, and when in conflict with "The Study" and "The File", will be referenced as, " The Book". Abraham Michaux, the progenitor of the Michaux family, was a French Huguenot, who was born in Sedan France, in 1672. He was baptized at Sedan, Feb 23, 1672. Like thousands of other Huguenots, he fled France and abandoned all his possessions there to escape relegious presecutions by French Catholics. There were eight wars between the Catholic party, linked to the powerful family of Guise, against the Protestants, between 1500 and 1789. The Edict of Nantes was signed by Henry IV, and gave the French Protestants political rights, religious freedom for an open bible, and possession of certain fortified towns. Henry XIV revoked the Edict in 1685, all protection of law was withdrawn and the Huguenots were forbidden from leaving the country, however thousands fled. Most fled thru the thick large forest which cover the mountain range called Les Ardennes. Since Holland extended religeous freedom to all, he settled in Amsterdam, where he became a member of the French Church of Amsterdam, Jan 28, 1691, and married Susanne Rochet, another native of Sedan, on July 13, 1692. Abraham and Susanne removed from Holland to England in 1701. After sojourning there for a time, they migrated to Virginia, where they established their home in the French Huguenot settlement at Manakin Town, west of Richmond as early as 1705. Abraham Michaux was a man of great energy, on their original arrival they were shunned by the local residents as they had not had to survive some of the hardships of the original settlers, yet eligable to receive all rights of the day, ie; petetion for grants of land. He aquired hundreds of acres of land on the James River in Henrico County, Va In 1698 Colonel William Boyd of Virginia, a large landholder, caused to be presented to the Council of Trade and Plantations proposals for the settlement of French refugees in Virginia. The movement was encouraged by King William who wanted settlements in this new country. 10,000 acres, about 18 miles west of Richmond, on the south side of the James River at Manakintowne was set aside. The first ship for this settlement arrived in July 1700, one in September and the third in October. Many had to initially locate in other places, but were still eligable to apply for the land grants. It is believed, but not supported, that Abraham first located in Stafford County, VA., on the banks of the Potomac River. On November 2, 1705 he obtained a patent for 574 acres in the French settlement at Manakintowne. April 1, 1707 this 574 acres was sold to Rane Laforce. On Jan 27, 1713, Abraham Michaux was granted a patent on 850 acres of land on the south side of the James River, Henrico, County, in consideration of Importation of nine persons, to dwell on the land (Note; this would be himself, Susanne and 7 children). March 23, 1715, he received an additional 230 acres. He died sometime between May 13, 1717, the day he executed his will, and August 5, 1717, the day his will was probated in Henrico County. The Study indicates that it is filed in Will book 1714-1717, page 187. He states that I am now a native of Henrico County, Virginia, but I was born in the City of Cedent(Sedan), France, in 1672. By this will he devised various portions of his lands to his surviving widow, Susanne, their three sons, Jacob Michaux, John Paul Michaux, and Abraham Michaux, and their seven daughters, Anne Michaux, Jane Magdalin Michaux, Susanna Michaux, Olive Judi Michaux, Elizabeth Ann Maldin Michaux, and Easter Mary Michaux ( I count 6 girls). Sometime after Abraham's death, 1727-1728, Goochland County was created out of the western part of Henrico, and his home was in the Goochland side of the new County line. Therefore the will of his widow Susanne, which left all of her property to her son John Paul Michaux, was executed on March 22, 1740, and probated in Goochland County, December 17, 1744. She indicates that her husband has predeceased her.

March 19,1999. Today I received a publication which somewhat changes our ancestrial identification. "The Book", a heritage of Burke County, NC., was written by a descendent of the Michaux family. And in some respects is probably more accurate in later years than the quote I am about to present. I feel this quote is more accurate than any information presented to date. Taken from "Le Courier Francias" Ohio Chapter, Huguenot Society, June 13, 1971. Quote: THE MICHAUX FAMILY. The founder of the Huguenot branch of the Michaux family was Abraham Michaux (1600-1666/67) of Sedan France, who married Mary Godin (1610-1672). Their son Jacques (Jacob), born in 1644 married Anne Severin on July 28, 1669, in Sedan. Abraham II Michaux (1672-1717), the son of Jacques and Anne, went to Amsterdam, Holland, where he married Susanne Rochette (1675-1744), of Sedan, in the French Huguenot Church of Amsterdam on July 13, 1692. Their son Jacob was born in Amsterdam on August 15, 1700. The family came to Manakin Town, Colony of Virginia, in 1700-1701. The name Rochette was originally and accurately spelled Rochet.

Archives of municipality of Amsterdam reflects he and his family left Holland for London on 9 April 1701.

From Gemeentear Chief, Amsterdam: Will marry in Church Walloon. Given permission July 15, 1690, Abraham Michaux of Sedan, Tinsmith by trade, age 22, living at the Lauliersgracht (One of the Canals in Amsterdam), assisted with his father Jacob Michaux and Susanna Rochet, aged 20, living in the Pijlteegh, assisted with her uncle Jean Rochet, the mother lives in Sedan in France. (I can not identify a Jean Rochet other than Susanne's father, so this Jean must be Abraham's brother Jean Michaux who came to Holland with their father Jacob, or someone else?)

A "Huguenot Paper", a Pedigree Study, completed in 1914, by the Rev Robert Wilson, and publishd by the Huguenot Society of South Carolina, says that Abraham and Susanne Rochette had 12 children. In the South Carolina Huguenot Society files is a record taken from an ancient Michau bible printed 1657, wherein their 12 children are listed. The fact that this Abraham and Susanne Rochette are listed in this ancient Michau Bible, in South Carolina, indicates to me that there is a definate connection between the Manakin Town Michaux and the Horry/Williamsburg County, SC, Michau's. The proof of this connection is what I am trying to accomplish.

July 14, 2000. Today I received from Susanne Bullock, EMail: MSBullock2@email.msn.com, a copy of articles published in the Virginia Historical magazine, dated 1936-37, by Dr J D Eggleston on the Huguenots of Virginia, Genealogy section, are pedigrees on Rochet and Michaux families. This extensive study answers many questions and creates maybe moore. It is in conflict with some of the information that I have previously recorded. However, I am not going to erase my recorded information as it has been provided by many people who are researching the family, and I want them to know as they read this file, that the data is probably incorrect and from where the new information was received. I will make a note when I correct the file. I am assuming this information to be the most accurate to date, and will assume so until proven different.

The following is the exact spelling of his children as it appears on his will as listed in the VA Historical Mag. This Virginia Historical Mag list mostly agrees with the South Carolina study, conducted in 1914. There are a lot of later publications, researchers, etc whom have added children, or combined names to force their identity, but the following are the children of Abraham Michaux and Susanne Rochet. Four sons: Jacob Michaux, John Michaux, Abraham Michaux, and John Paul Michaux. Elder daughters: Anne Michaux, Jane Magdalin Michaux, Susanna Michaux, Olive Judi Michaux, and youngest daughters: Elizabeth Michaux, AnnMadlin Michaux, and Easter Mary Michaux. In 1937 Mr Eggleston has received more documents which aledge there were more children. He presents these documents and attempts to connect them. By inference he allows there may be two more children: Isaac Michaux, baptized in Holland in 1697 with nothing further known of him, and Jaques (James) Michaux, baptized in Holland in 1700 with no further information. The note found in the SC Michau bible shows an Anne "Nannie" died. It does not mention Ann Madelin, so is the Anne who never marries the second Anne? It was the custom of the time to give a later child the same name as that of a deceased one.

Abraham was received into the Waloon-French Church at Amsterdam as a member Jan 28, 1691. It is believed that he went to England in 1701 at the insistance of his brother-in-laws. His wife Susanne became a member of the Threadneedle Church while in London in 1702/03, so they had to come to America subsequent to this date.

July 16, 2000. Received articles posted in the Huguenot, Vol # 24, 1969-1971. The article indicates that Dr Eggleston overlooked some information and discounted some of the history that he had. There appeared in Virginia History magazine, volume 2, 1894-1895, page 100, the account of Huguenots in Stafford County, in 1702. "There is recorded in Stafford County a paper entitled "French Men's Petition" - - -list of names- - -Isaac Lafite, Abraham Michau, Pierre Batie- - - - -, stating that they have come into Stafford as strangers, reduced to extreme poverty, praying to be exempt from County levies for what time the court shall see fit, dated March 1700". OK, so what do we have now. The Huguenot paper has to be in error. This can not be our Abraham Michaux, as he did not leave Amsterdam until 1701. This Abraham Michau is spelled the same as the Abraham Michau who settles in South Carolina. However that Abraham reportably came through the Port of Charlestowne, SC., but is something to consider. So here is another Abraham Michau/Michaux to complicate the picture. This Huguenot paper states that Abraham Michaux does not appear on either of the three ship list that arrived in 1700. He does not appear on the first three list of settlers in Manakintown, dated Dec 1700, Feb 1701, and Nov 1701. Well of course he would not, he's still in London. The first extant tithe list of Manakin published in 1710 does include Abraham, also the 1711 list. He together with son Jacob, now over 16 years old, appear in 1712 list. This date makes Jacob the 2nd child not the 5th as Dr Eggleston states. Jane Magdalin would then be the 3rd. A list made by Dr William Perry contains Abraham, his wife, four sons and six daughters. The 2nd son Isaac has died before the list is made and Esther Mary born after the list was made. He and Jacobs name remain on the parish list, 1713 and 1714 but do not appear again as they have moved out of the parish to land granted Abraham. This clears up the question why this first grant of land in 1705 , for 574 acres with reference to the King was sold/deeded to Rane Laforce. Our Abraham simply was just not there. New world date Aug 1702/03, his wife Susanne joins the Threadneedle church in Lodnon. Shes been in London for a while, and this act indicates that she plans on staying in London, so at this time there seems no plans or at least no committment to move to America in the near furure. It is now my belief that Abraham and his family did not come to Virginia until sometime after 1705, a date after he lost his first land grant. 10-3-2000. Barbara Mishoe, another researcher advises me that Vol 2 of the Passenger and Immigration, lists: Abraham Michaux, (n.a); 1714, with wife, 4 boys and 6 girls, listed for Virginia.

Based on current information of the day, the Huguenot paper draws a new family structure for Abrahams Family, which includes son Isaac Michaux, with baptismal notes etc. I am again revising my family list and including the new information. Note that there were actually 13 children, however, the first Anne who died is not listed.
@HI1375@ ¹

Abraham married Susan ROCHET, daughter of Jean Moses ROCHET and Jeanne DUFRAY, on 13 Jul 1692 in French Reformed, Huguenot Church, Amsterdam, Holland. (Susan ROCHET was born about 1672 in Sedan, France, christened on 15 Jul 1674 and died on 18 Dec 1744 in Virginia, USA.)