COUNT BARTHOLEMEW DUPUY b. about 1652 in France. The province in which he was born, Languedoc, was a stronghold of Protestantism. He enlisted in the French Army as a common soldier when only eighteen and served for fourteen years, during which time he was in fourteen pitched battles besides skirmishes and duels. He became a lieutenant in the King's Household Guards. Dupuy received a written pass, bearing the King's signature and seal, as he often had to go through the country on recruiting services. He bought a fine old chateau at Velours. In 1685 he married Susannah Lavillon, a young countess of the Huguenot faith. Although Dupuy was a priest and of the King. He was urged to give up his faith by the King before the Edict of Nantes, but refused. After this edict, when the Huguenots were fleeing from their homes and were fighting for their lives, he used the King's pass to protect himself and his wife while helping others to escape. The pass was due to expire Dec. 1, 1685. He ordered a village tailor to make the clothing of a gentleman's page. His wife wore this costume as a disguise, while he wore his uniorm and carried his famous sword and several pistols. They began their escape on the night of Nov. 30. Suzanne had her jewels, her Bible and Psalm book, and some bread and wine. They fled on horseback but were soon overtaken by dragoons. Suzanne was shot full in the chest and Dupuy saw her fall forward on the horse's mane. Enraged, he shot the leaders of the dragoons, and, drawing his sword, lashed about him until the soldiers fled or were killed. As he seized the bridle of his wife's horse, Suzanne rose erect. The ball had struck the Psalm book which she carried in her bosom and she was unhurt. They continued their flight for eighteen days and finally reached German soil. The couple fell to their knees and quoted the fortieth Psalm together. They remained in Germany for fourteen years and we know nothing about their stay there. In 1700 they came to America with one of the fleets of Huguenots, landed first at Jamestown, and proceeded to Manakintown. We know that Bartholemew had 133 acres on the south side of the James River in 1717 and 208 acres in 1722. He was elected a Vestryman of the Church at Manakintown in 1718 and a church warden in 1725.

This story can be found on Personal Collection of Virginia Martin Brown Page