Inscription on Front:
Site of the Place of Worship of the French Protestant Congregation of New Bordeaux Organized 1764
Inscription on Back:
Erected A.D.1937 by Huguenot Society of South Carolina
A roadside marker NEW BORDEAUX (SC 33 13) (WMPR1) located at the intersection of State Road S-33-7 and Hugeunot Parkway in McCormick County, SC, tells about this site:
"The town of New Bordeaux, the last of seven French Huguenot colonies founded in colonial S.C. and the only one in the upcountry, was established 1 mi. E in 1764. After Protestants fleeing religious persecution in France petitioned the British crown for land to create a permanent settlement in S.C., they received a 28,000-acre grant in the newly-formed Hillsborough Township." (Front)
"200 French Huguenots led by Rev. Jean Louis Gibert (1721-1773) landed at Charleston in April 1764 and began settling here in August. Others followed, including a group led by Jean Louis Dumesnil De St. Pierre (d. 1776) which arrived in 1768. The colony, which produced silk and wine on a modest scale, later furnished a militia company during the American Revolution." (Rear)
But that is just a sign with words. You really need to turn down Huguenot Parkway and again at 1764 Worship Site Rd, travel into the past to a large granite cross erected in the memory of the French men, women, and children who traveled to this land over 300 years ago to live their dream.
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The town of New Bordeaux which was situated near the Savannah River
in what is present-day McCormick County, South Carolina, was founded by 212 French Huguenots led by the Rev. John Louis Gibert in 1764. These people located in this area, which was near the present Lake Thurmond, in order to escape religious persecution in France. Although the French Huguenots were forced to leave their past and in a sense say goodbye to their homes forever, they were quite productive in their town of New Bordeaux.
They made their new home the best they could with the given resources: arms, tools, cattle, etc., and made wine and silk. They constructed many homes and a well. Approximately 300 people called New Bordeaux home around 1765. Between 1764 and 1772, about 475 Huguenots called the Clark Hill Reservoir area home.
As a way of dealing with their problems and adjusting to their new homes while still fostering horrible memories of their past home, the people established the Huguenot Church at New Bordeaux, which was the last to be organized in South Carolina before the American Revolution. Still today, there is a stone monument which marks the site of the log church.
Because of the American Revolution as well as the abandonment of silk production for more profitable and easy occupations, the town of New Bordeaux soon "passed out of existence," but the descendents of these Huguenots are found to this day in western South Carolina.
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Knowing Who You Are:
Rather than forsake their faith, the Huguenots left their homes, families, and the life they knew in search of a place where they could worship and live freely. We celebrate their courage by preserving and sharing their story because we believe that to know who you are, you need to know who you were.
Huguenots in America (1700)
The Huguenot refugees who left France were generally merchants, artisans, craftsmen, weavers or were skilled in specific trades. Many were well-educated, and some were able to establish new roles as entrepreneurs or professionals where they settled. They were generally well-received where they located and became industrious members of their new communities. Many of the French Protestant refugees had to learn new skills to support themselves and their families, becoming planters and traders, learning new languages and customs, and gradually becoming part of their new communities, while retaining their strong faith. These immigrants and their descendants played significant roles in the history of their adopted countries.
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