Fleeing to America for religious and economic freedom, settling the Lowcountry of South Carolina and prospering, cultivating unusual crops and creating planter dynasties-these were the Huguenots of South Carolina, and their blood runs deep here in the South.

Local historian Dr. Tim Drake will present a program on these very brave Huguenots and their descendants. This will be the topic of this session’s Family Trees and Me genealogical series of lectures, held on Thursday evening, Nov. 14, beginning at 7 PM at the historic Belton train depot.

Dr. Tim Drake, himself a Huguenot descendant, will discuss the importance of the Huguenot refugees who made South Carolina their home in the late 17^th Century. He will cover the history of the Huguenot migration and the causes leading up to their leaving France to settle in SC, including those settlements along the Santee River and the New Bordeaux colony.  Names like Gaillard, Prioleau, Lucas, Collins, Huger, Boyd, Thomas, Poinsett, Norman, Ravenel, and Dubose have left their mark on history and on the countryside.

Family Trees and Me is a four-session genealogy series sponsored by the Belton Area Museum Association.  The first program in February of this year centered on the political and social life of Craytonville followed by the dedication of the historic marker for that crossroads.  The second program featured information about tracing Native American ancestry.  The third program focused on the Street Name Project, being conducted by the Anderson Genealogical Society and spearheaded by lawyer Rich Otter.

This is the last presentation of the year. Refreshments will be served.  Free to BAMA members, there will be a $5 admission fee at the door for all others.  BAMA memberships begin at $20.

For more information, contact Abigail Burden at 338-7400 or by email at [email protected].