But in time a fusion with the Dutch
became inevitable. Then, in Holland, as was the case with England and
Germany, many refugees, abjuring their nationality, changed their French
names into Dutch. The Leblancs called themselves De Witt,--the
Deschamps, Van de Velde,--the Dubois, Van den Bosch,--the Chevaliers,
Ruyter,--the Legrands, De Groot, etc. etc. With the change of names,
Huguenot churches began to disappear, so that out of sixty-two which
could be counted among the seven provinces in 1688, eleven only now
remain,--among them those at Hague, Amsterdam, Leyden, Utrecht,
Rotterdam, and Groningen. These are the last monuments of the Huguenot
emigration to Holland, and a certain number of families preserve some
sentiment of nationality, who consider themselves honored by their
French, noble, Protestant origin, while at the same time they are united
by patriotic affection to their newly adopted country.
This rapid chapter of the expulsion of the 'Huguenots,' or
'Protestants,' or 'Refugees,' from their native land, with their
settlement in England and Holland, seem necessary for a better
understanding of our subject. Thence, they emigrated to America, and it
is our object to collect something concerning their origin and
descendants among us.
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