THE FUQUA FAMILY

In the 16th century, the Reformaton, led by Martin Luther, began in Europe. It was furthered by John Calvin and many other leaders. In France, those espousing the Reformation were known as Huguenots. Bitter and terrible persecution was waged by the ruling powers of France against them, but they persevered. Finally, part of them made plans to rebell, hoping to overthrow their persecutors and gain for themselves some measure of relief and to be able to follow their religious beliefs in peace. But these were betrayed and most of them put to death. Finally, on August 24, 1582, the horrible slaughter of St. Bartholomew's Day took place. In 30 days' time 30,000 Huguenots had been slain, one of the blackest and foulest stains on the pages of history. In 1598, some measure of relief was given them by the government. For nearly a hundred years longer, the conflict raged, the Hugeonots now and then obtaining some measure of religious freedom only to lose it under another wicked and intolerant ruler. In 1685, they were deprived of their civil rights and 50,000 of them managed to flee to other lands, many of them to America. Hundreds of American families trace their origin to these persecuted Huguenots who left their native land and all they had on earth to seek a haven in the wilds of America.

Among these families was one known today as the Fuqua family, which settled first in South Carolina. Later the family became numerous in Virginia. Some old records follow:

In Campbell County, Virginia, on February 8, 1782, Moses Fuqua produced a commission from the governor of Virginia as a Captain and took the oath of office.

On October 3, 1782, the same man, Moses Fuqua, received a certificate calling for payment for services to the Continental (Revolutionary) Army for supplies, arms, teams, etc.

Sam Fuqua, on July 2, 1781, owned land adjoining Richard Ward.

On February 1. 1773, Joseph Fuqua, Sr., bought from John and Mary Ward, his wife, 153 acres of land in Charlotte County, Virginia, paying 85 pounds for same. (About $425)

Moses Fuqua was born about 1738 the son of William Fuqua, whose will was made on December 11, 1740, and probated on March 3, 1761, in Lunenburg County, Va. Moses married Judith Woodson about 1759, residing in Virginia for almost forty years after their marrieage, when they moved to Greenup, County, Ky., about 1797 to 1800. Moses died about 1814. The children of Moses Fuqua and his wife, Judith Woodson, are as follows:

Obadiah Fuqua, born about 1760 in Virginia. Married Mary Morton in April, 1785, in Prince Edward County, Va.

Sallie Fuqua, born in 1762, in Virginia, married Benjamin Cook. Moses Fuqua, in his will made October 17, 1808, says: "Now in consideration of a debt of 500 pounds I am due Ben Cook of Virginia, I convey to him 682 acres of land I now live on."

William Fuqua, born in Virginia in 1764, married the second time to Sarah Morton, (his first wife's name being unknown); probably moved to Kentucky. One daughter married there.

Nancy Fuqua, born about 1766 in Campbell County, Virginia, married on December 14, 1790, to Josiah Morton, who died on February 25, 1838, in his 75th year near Fullertown, Kentucky.

Samuel Fuqua, born in Virginia about 1769, married Polly Armistead in Charlotte County, Va.

David Fuqua, born about 1771. (no other record available.)

Lavinia Fuqua, born November 14, 1775; married John McCoy.

Elizabeth Fuqua, born in Virginia; married William Dupuy.

Moses Fuqua, Jr., born March 4, 1778; married Cynthia Ann Collins.

Polly Fuqua, born about 1780; married Jeremiah Ward on May 26, 1803.

C.E. Fuqua, whose relationship to the above is not yet established, was born in Bedford County, Virginia, on July 25, 1835, the son of Hezekiah and Sarah Noel, the daughter of Simon Noel. Hezekiah Fuqua was the son of Joseph Fuqua, a soldier of the American Revolution, who fought in the battles of Brandywine and Cowpens. C. E. Fuqua married Lucy Godron on June 22, 1858, Their children were:

Mary Fuqua, who married Charles B. Stone.

Frank M. Fuqua, died at the age of ten months.

Lolia S. Fuqua and Gordon C. Fuqua.

Several members of this family fought in the War of 1812.

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The first Fuqua families of which we find any record in Middle Tennessee were Benjamin Fuqua, who lived in Jackson County, Tennessee, in 1820. In his family at that time there were one male under 10, two males 10 to 16, and one male between 26 and 45, evidently Benjamin himself. There were five females in his family at that time, all of then under ten years of age. He owned then one slave.

William Fuqua was the other Fuqua in Middle Tennessee who had a family in the year 1820. He had five males under ten years of age, two males between 10 and 16, and one over 45, which must have been William Fuqua. He had in his family three females under ten and two between the ages of ten and sixteen.

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About 1850, Caleb Fuqua of Bedford County, Virginia, settled on Middle Fork of Goose Creek, taking up land in the vicinity of the present New Harmony church, six miles southwest of Lafayette, Tenn. His wife was Em Dowdie, whom he evidently married in Virginia in 1844. The children of Caleb and Em Dowdie Fuqua are as follows:

Gus, born in 1844, died in 1908; married first to Bettie Adams; second to Sarah Norman.

James Fuqua, married Sallie Mason. He was shot during the Civil War, but recovered.

Y. A. Fuqua, married Julia Norman.

P. H. Fuqua, married Sarah Norman.

Tom Fuqua, married Ardine Adams, a niece of the first wife of Gus Fuqua.

Moses Fuqua, married Tilda Reid.

Bettie Fuqua, married Cap Parker.

El Fuqua, married Job Edens.

It might be noted at this point that Caleb Fuqua, husband of Em Dowdie, was the son of Aaron Fuqua, who is believed to have married a Miss Carter in Bedford County, Virginia, probably early in the 19th century. Aaron's other children, so far as we have been able to learn, were: Bettie, who married John White, and became the mother of Kittie, Daily, Will and Wilson White, and perhaps others; Joseph Fuqua, who never married; Miss Pinkney Fuqua, who married a man called "Girl" Robinson and became the mother of Gus, William and Thomas Fuqua, about whom we have no further knowledge.

Gus Fuqua, the son of Caleb Fuqua, had the following children: Jimmie, died young; Willie A., married a Norman; L. A., married a Reid; Claude, married a Norman, a sister to the wife of William A. Fuqua; Arthur, married a Whittemore; Bob, married a White; Elder Caleb Fuqua, a Baptist minister of near Lafayette, who married, first, a White, and second, Templeton; Lucy, married an Edens; Gilliam, married a White; and Laura, who never married.

James Fuqua, son of Caleb Fuqua, who marrried Sallie Mason, was the father of the following children: Caleb, married a Parker; John , married a Shrum; Rickman, married a Reid; Charles, married a Morgen; Susie, married a Griffin; Dora, married a Jones; Laura, married a Gross; Kate, married a Ford; and Walter Fuqua, who married, first, an Edens, and second, a Gross.

Y. A. Fuqua, son of Caleb Fuqua, who married Julia Norman, was the father of Aaron, who married an Edwards; Bill, married a Woodard; Goldman, married a Wix; Kittie, married a Curtis; Ola, married a Clark; Clarinda, married a Creasey; and Nola, of whom we have no further record.

P. H. Fuqua, son of Caleb, married Sarh Norman and was the father of: Edgar, married a Williams; Luke, married a Reid; Moses, married a Gross; Frank, married a Covee; Mansfield, married a Jones; Odus and Sam, died young; and Ethel, married a Traughber.

Tom Fuqua, who married Ardine Adams, went to Kentucky, and we have no record of his descendants.

Moses Fuqua, who married Tilda Reid, was the father of: Squire E. F. Fuqua, married a Ford, Josie, married a Smith; and Joe, married a Grigg.

Bettie, daughter of Caleb Fuqua, married Cap Parker. They were the parents of: Mary, married a Crowder; Martha, married a Reid; Tilda, married a Claiborne; Sarah, married a Smith; Nela, married an Edens; Maudie, married an Edens; Laura, married a Reid; Margie, married an Edens; and Jim Parker, who married a Carter.

El, daughter of Caleb Fuqua, married Job Edens, and became the mother of: Joe Henry, married an Edens; Waynie Gussie, married a Crawford; Kittie, married a Reid; Nora, married a Simmons; Aggie, married a Smith; and Oscar and Louisa Edens, about whom we have no further record.

The family has a largely lived in the New Harmony section of Macon County since the arrival of Caleb Fuqua, nearly a century ago. If there is any additional information wanted, and the editor can give it, he will be glad to furnish same. However, we do not have the records connecting Macon County Fuqua's directly with the first-named Moses Fuqua, who died about 1814 in Kentucky, but we feel sure that it is the same family, for given names persist till the present time.