The Huguenots of Colonial South Carolina 
By Arthur Henry Hirsch, Ph.D.
1928, Duke University Press
reprinted 1962 by Archon Books
(pp 227-228)

   In the political history of South Carolina the name Le Serrurier occupies a
prominent position. James Le Serrurier, Sr., a wealthy Charles Town merchant,
denizened in London, May 16, 1683,[69] soon after leaving France under
persecution, emigrated to Carolina about 1685. James Le Serrurier, Jr., the son
of James Le Serrurier, Sr., and Elizabeth Leger, his wife, was born in St.
Quentin, France.[70] He was naturalized in England, June 27, 1685, and was
naturalized again in South Carolina in 1699.[71] After a few years' sojourn in
South Carolina the father, in 1701, returned to England, leaving his Carolina
interests in the hands of his son, James, and Pierre de St. Julien.[72] This was
not unusual among Huguenots who became wealthy. James Le Serrurier, Sr.,
remained until his death a firm advocate of the principles of the French
Reformed Church and requested in his will that he be buried in the French
church-yard of the place where he might happen to die.[73] His son, James, after
the beginning of his public career in Charles Town, anglicized his name to
Smith. In the public records he is referred to frequently as Le Serrurier
Smith.[74] He was the brother-in-law of Henry Le Noble, probably the leading
Huguenot politician in South Carolina in his generation. The year 1704 finds
James Smith, alias Le Serrurier, a member of the Court of High Commission of Sir
Nathaniel Johnson and one of the Commissioners of the Church Act of 1704.
Whether the charge against him of having embezzled £1,000 from the "Scots
Society", of London, was ever sustained, is not known. He remained one of the
leading political and business figures in the province.[75]
   The will of the widow of James Le Serrurier, Sr., was made September 26, 1721
and proved July 1, 1725.[76] Her bequests to English charities are small, but
the will reveals possessions in England and in South Carolina as well as the
hope of recovering estates formerly owned in France.
___________________

69 Pub. H. Soc. London, XVIII. 162.

70 MS Pr. Ct. Rcd., 1694-1704, 209.

71 Pub. H. Soc. London, XVIII. 169-70; MS Pr. Ct. Rcd., 1694-1704, 209.

72 MS Pr. Ct. Rcd., 1694-1704, 366.

73 Will, "Gleanings from England", in S. C. H. & G. Mag., VII. 146. 

74 Cooper, Statutes, II. 241.

75 T. H. S. S. C., IV. 31.

76 Will, "Gleanings from England", in S. C. H. & G. Mag., IV. 294.

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