Page:Memorials of a Southern Planter.djvu/13



In the fair land of France the old Huguenot name and family of d'Aubigné still live. They form but a small colony in their native land, never having increased much. From the earliest times they seem to have had a strong religious vein.* All the branches of this family in America claim a common ancestry. They have the same armorial bearings,—an elephant's head, three footless martins, and the fleurs-de-lis of France,—the same traditions, and the same motto, which they hold in three languages. In France they have the motto in the Latin, Fidells et Grata. One of the American branches has it in French, Fidèlis et Reconnaissant; while most of the name in the United States have it in English, Faithful and Grateful.

The name has undergone many changes since the American branch left France, two centuries ago. It is variously written, as Daubeny, Daubney, Bigny, D'aubenay, Dabnée, and Dabney.

The traditions among all say that they are descended from that fearless Huguenot leader, Agrippa d'Aubigne, who flourished from 1550 to 1630.

But Agrippa was not the first of his name known at the French court. According to tradition in the family, a d'Aubigné commanded a company of Swiss guards at the court of Louis XII.

Agrippa d'Aubigné wrote a minute history of the

.* The following is an extract from "Don Miff," a romance written by my brother, V. Dabney: "This Huguenot cross gave the old Whacker stock a twist towards theology. Two of the sons of Thomas and Elizabeth took orders, much to the surprise of their father."