----- Original Message ----- From: geagles@rivernet.net To: IRL-LEIX-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Sunday, January 07, 2001 8:59 PM Subject: PORTARLINGTON French Church On my trip to Leix Co.,Ireland in 1980's I snapped a picture of the large plaque on the church wall facing the street. HUGUENOT CHURCH The original French Church (St. Paul's) was built in 1696 for the Huguenot settlers brought to Portarlington by Henri Massue, Marquis de Ruvigny,Viscount Galway,who was granted land here to reward his services in King William's III army. The French language was used both for Divine Service and for entering the Register of Baptisms,Marriages and Burials until about 1816. They built fine houses with high-pitched roofs and tall chimneys, presenting blank walls to the streetfront with the main windows facing beautiful gardens and orchards which included oranges, lemons,black Italian walnuts and jargonelle pears. There existed for a time in Portarlington a soap factory,a linen industry, a Glass-works and a Malthouse but the settlement was more famous for the purity of the French spoken here and its French Schools which included Ecole St. Germain (now Searson's Hotel) and Arlington School (now Travel Goods Ltd.). The Church was completely rebuilt in 1851 Our family has original pencil sketches from the 1820-30's and one is of the church before the tower was added. I left photocopies of the sketches for the church to have in their archives. My ancestors were Eacret/Eacrett's and were involved with the Huguenot settlement of Ireland with Oliver Cromwell's army. The Eacret/Eacrett families are spread across the USA, Canada.,Australia and New Zealand. I am a descendant of Mary Ann Eacrett who emigrated to Hay Twp.,Huron County,Ontario with her parents, Michael Eacrett and Jane Bailey from Ballybrittas.Seven brothers of MaryAnn also came. Mary Ann married Patrick O'Brien a native of Co.Kildare but who also came to Hay Twp. I would appreciate any contact with researchers of either the Eacrett or Bailey families. Frances Eagleson geagles @rivernet.net Sarnia,Ontario.