The Viginia Historical Register and Literary Companion, Vol VI, July, 1853, No. III, p 169-170
" Bartholomew Dupuy, a good huguenot who was born in France about the year 1652, and flourished in the reign of Louis the 14th. Though brought up in the Protestant faith, he was a loyal subject of the king, and for a number of years, a gallant officer in his army, and often engaged in the wars in Flanders. He had entered the servide as a private but soon raised himself to a captaincy by his merit. At this time he enjuoyed the privilege of his religion by virtue of the Edict of Nantes, passed by Henry the 4th, in 1598, which you know secured liberty of conscience and the right of worship to all his Protestant subjects. But in the year 1685, the grand monarque, influenced by sinister counsels, thought proper to repeal the said edict, and to set all his reformed subjects adrift. This rash measure proved fatal to the hopes and happiness of thousands of the best people in his kingdom, and sent them off into a painful and humiliating exile in foreign countries. About this time our captain having retired from the army with a competency and residing on his own estate, had married a young and beautiful lady, and was as happy as he could well be, when he was waited on one day by the emissaries of the priestly party to know hether he would renounce his religion, and become a Romanist. To this serious enquiry he asked a reasonable time to consider the subject and make up his mind what to do - which was accordinly granted. Thereupon, having already decided on his course, he converted as mahy of his effects as could be disposed of into ready money, and equipping his devoted wife in male attire, as his servitor, he set off with her to the nearest outlet to the German dominions. Here he found that the passes were all guarded by soldiers who were placed to prevent the escape of disaffected emigrants; but nothing daunted, he appeared before them in his full military dress, and having been often engaged in the recruiting service, in those parts, was well known to many of them, and commonly allowed to pass. Sometimes, however, he was challenged, and his passports demanded, when he claimed his privilege as as officer in the king's service, and would offer no passport but his sword which he wore - and was ready to draw. In this way, and with much difficulty, he succeeded, in about twelve or fifteen days, in making good his escape into a friendly land, when, with a grateful heart, he kneeled down, and sang the 40th Psalm.
He remained in Germany twelve or thirteen years, and thence found his way to England, where he resided about two years longer. About the year 1700, he came over to this country with a large number of French refugees, or Huguenots, to occupy the grant of land which had been so liberally and handsomely conferred upon them by the crown of England in 1690, known as Manikin Town, in Powhatan county, about 25 miles above RIchmond, on James River. Of course he brought the sword over with him, which has been handed down in the direct male line of the family ever since, and is at present held by me. I design it for my son who bears an old family name; whenver he may claim it.
The sword itself is a plain article, and has nothing very remarkable about it for the eye. It is rather triangular or three edged, of a spear-like form, about three feet long, and not large. The workmanship is plain, but although not so highly wrought as some others, has probably been as well used as most weapons of the sort in modern times. Manuscript and traditionary accounts say that it was used by the original proprietor in fourteen pitched battles, and in many duels also - always with honor. What is still more creditable to it, it was worn and drawn by my father, at the battle of Guilford in our revolutionary war, and I suppose with some effect. At any rate, it appears that during the evolutions of that day, on the battle field, the old scabbard was lost; but luckily another was found on the ground, which happened to fit it exactly, and is now attached to it. It is mounted with silver, and is supposed to have belonged to some British officer who, during the engagement, had dropped, or perhaps in great valor had thrown it away. W.J.D., Petersburg"
