MySource:Frothingham/'Louis Russell History ', Version: handwritten book of descendants of Louis Russell and Mary Savage

Unless otherwise stated, the information in this file is from a manuscript genealogy written by Miss Abbie A. Lewis (1834-1922) and given to the Marblehead Historical Society in 1930 by F. D. Fuller. This genealogy states: "As stated by his grandson, William Andrews Richardson, in a paper left by him in order that the future generations might know the origin of the family, Louis came to America in 1717. Extract from paper says 'The family were Protestants and surrounded by Catholics. When a school boy of 17, Louis uttered some words against the Pope. His family and friends became alarmed and sought some way to get him out of the country as quickly as possible. First, thought of sending him to relatives in England, but concluded he would not be safe there, and a ship being ready to start for America, they put him on board, and he came to Boston, but finally went to Marblehead, where there were many French people. He married and died there. He never returned to France, though he once thought of doing so when 80 or more, but his wife objected.' "Extract from Salem Gazette: 'June 29, 1793. Died in Marblehead, Louis Russell in 93rd year of his age. He was one of the Hugenots, who in the beginning of the present century fled from France for their attachments to the Protestant religion, and he has ever supported a worthy and unblemished reputation.' (This is the correct account.) "Tradition of Louis Russell from a paper in possession of Mrs. Balch Newburght (?): 'The family were of high rank and in a time of trouble with Catholics, they being Protestants, started to leave France. The Capt of the ship was to wait for all who had engaged passage, to come on board. The father of Louis Russell left the ship to secure some property, not returning promptly, the wife, against the protests of all on board, went ashore to find her husband, leaving baby Louis there alone in charge of a nurse. The Capt sailed without waiting for them, and they were never heard from. The baby Louis was left on the ship with the nurse, who died before reaching port. He was cared for by passengers and on his arrival at (Boston) sent to some people in Marblehead. His clothing was rich and marked with a coronet. When some time after an effort was made to identify him by the marks, the clothing had been spirited away.' "When Lafayette was here in August 31, 1824, he called for a meeting of the heirs of Louis Russell, told his rank and offered to get the property belonging to them in Paris, France if the heirs would find anything to prove they were his heirs. "Louis was theoretically and practically a temporance man & retained his faculties to the last. Died in 93rd year. Beloved by all. Incapable of doing a wrong act. He lived in what is now Crocker Park, Marblehead, and is probably buried under the Episcopal church where he was married, as was a custom at that time."