James Murphy Roquemore and family, c. 1896

[Blaine Hicks]

This is my 3rd great grandfather, James Murphy Roquemore (sitting on the left, with a beard. Notice the missing finger). They lived in Erath County in Morgan Mill. Born in Troup County, Georgia, in 1847. Census data shows he lived in Morgan Mill, TX in 1880 until his death in 1922 at the age of 75. I am assuming the photo was taken in Stephenville, TX. Whish I knew what happened to his finger! 

I found the following story on James' father, Hiram Peter Roquemore that I have copied below. May be a clue to the missing finger! 

Hiram Peter was a farmer in Georigia and Texas. One of the first Roquemores in Texas, his name appears on a Bill of Sale, Nov. 22, 1848, in Panola County.

When war was declared between the states, he enlisted in Carthage, Tex., to serve 12 months in Co. E, 11th Tex, Inf., CSA, but was mustered out at Camp Clough on June 2, 1862 because he was 'over 35 years of age.' As the date of his 'final payment' was Dec. 31, 1862, the tradition that he died in the Civil War may be true. Here is the story: one of his neighbors (serving in the same company of infantry) returned home on furlough and told Luvica that Hiram was very ill. Luvica sent their oldest son (James Murphy) to bring his father home. Arriving at the camp after his father had died, and not wanting to tell his mother, the boy took his father's place, staying until the war was over.

Panola County's Final Records show 'Lavicy' Roquemore filed an inventory of 'community property of H.P. Roquemore, descd', Oct. 29, 1866, and is the only reference found of Hiram Peter's death. It is still not known where he died."

 

From The Roquemore Report of 1967 by Josephine Costello Huffaker 

[Blaine Hicks]

 "The first Roquemores in America were French Hugenot Refugees. They arrived with the last group of French Protestant Colonists destined for South Carolina, having left France under the leadership of Rev. Jean Louis Gibert, a well-known minister and teacher. Landing at Plymouth, England, August 25, 1763, the first step on their long journey was completed.

     For centuries Roquemores had lived in (old) Languedoc Province, where a Guillaume de Rochemore married Jeanne de Codol in 1280. In the (new) Departments of Gard and Tarn, there are still two small villages called 'Roquemaure', but it is doubtful that descendants of our Roquemore ancestor are there today.

     In her booklet 'Some Early Texas families' (1942), Virginia Ruth Fouts Pochmann wrote: 'the first record I have been able to find is that of one Pierre de Rochemaure, born about 1471 near Nimes, France. In 1496 he married Agnes Boileau, sixth child of Guillaume Boileau and his wife, Etienne Bourdin... About a century later the de Rochemaures wre still living in Nimes. A Louis de Rochemaure, born about 1575, juge du presidual de Nimes, married Mll. Anne de Barriere...'

     When John Calvin began the French Reformed Communion, the Roquemores joined his movement, thereby subjecting themselves to the persecutions that became drastic for the Calvinists, following the revocation of the Edict of Nantes (1685). Subsequently, the Hugenots, as these followers were derisively called, were prohibited from leaving France to avoid punishment as heretics. However, many members of the Roquemore family did manage to escape to middle-Europe, Holland, and England. Our ancestor chose to bring his wife and family to America, departing from France August 9, 1763 with Rev. Gilbert and his 428 Hugenot refugees.

     While unexpectedly delayed in Plymouth, England, a list of names was written (November 22, 1763) showing the members of Gilbert-directed group. It included the following names: Pierre Roquemore age 22 (a weaver), Jeanne Sequin age 30, Marie Roquemore age 4, Pre Roquemore age 18 (stocking maker), Jean Roquemore age 36 (a tanner).

    Another record made about the same time shows the names of 212 Hugenots destined for the Abbeville District of South Carolina. Among those listed: Peter Roquemore and his wife Jane Seguin, their children Maria, Anne and Peter, Susan Roquemore, a widow, and her daughter _____ Roquemore.

     Susan Roquemore was the widow of Vincent Gaspard Pierre du Rochemore (1713-1762), and the mother of Pierre (Peter) Roquemore, the refugee Hugenot.

     January 2, 1764, Rev. Gilbert and his congregation boarded Capt. Gregory Perkin's "Friendship", which anchored at Charleston, South Carolina April 12, 1764, bringing the last French Protestant colony to the New Bordeaux Settlement, Abbeville District, South Carolina.

     To obtain the land reserved for them, these Hugenots were required to take an Oath of Allegiance to King George, III, of England. Peter Roquemore and 137 colonists took the Oath April 18, 1764, making each head of family eligible for 100 acres, and 50 acres of land for each dependent. Peter's grant was near Long Cane Creek, Hillsborough Township, New Bordeaux Settlement, as was the grant given to his mother.

...

     Sometime between 1776 and 1781, the Roquemores moved down Long Cane Creek to the Savannah River and crossed over into Georgia. Around this time, Peter and James Roquemore became soldiers in the Revolutionary war, recently begun. Although there is no positive record of their enlistment, it is known that Peter became a lieutenant during the War, while James remained a private. In one account Peter Roquemore is called a 'refugee lieutenant.'

     When the Revolution was over in Georgia (1783), both of these men received land grants in Washington County, Georgia, in recognition of their service."

 

Pages 1-3, The Roquemore Report of 1967, compiled by Josephine Costello Huffaker, copy. 1967