Pierre Jean Sightings
Numerous BLANCHARD researchers have promoted the idea that Pierre Jean BLANCHARD, a French Huguenot from Cap de la Hague, Normandy, France (or possibly one of several other locations in France), brought his family to England in the mid- to late- 1500s and among his children were Thomas (c1585-1654) and Joseph, ( -1637), both of whom would later emigrate to America.
We might conclude that enough of these "stories" have circulated to lead us to believe that they were independently derived and that there must be some truth to them. It is also possible that all of these accounts are based on a single proposal that seemed plausible at the time and fit the model of a French-sounding name and the intrigueing image of a group of craftsmen/artisans fleeing from religious intolerance in their native land, to the welcoming shores of nearby England. At the time of this writing (Dec. 2000), no documented sources that can substantiate the existence and the progeny of Pierre Jean BLANCHARD, are known to the members of BLANCHARD-L.
Many of our members who are descendants of Thomas and Joseph, have an interest in this investigation so "Pierre Jean Sightings" will be devoted to the collection and examination of all references to the said Pierre Jean BLANCHARD, as found in historical and genealogical records and literature. Perhaps this will help to establish if Pierre Jean played a role in these early English BLANCHARD lines.
Please send your "Sightings" directly to me so I can add them to this page.
Fletch Blanchard fab@klink.net