interesting note

this could explain the exodus of forshee's from eastern TN to southerm MO:

Re: James Axley Forshee - Monroe County TN

...Yes, as it seemed to me. There was a Foushee/Forshee family in this area that was wiped out by the Civil War. One member started a school there. It seems that violence made folks flee and on return things were deserted. I have studied all variants of the Huguenot name for many years. Roger.Foushee@ncmail.net


note: civil war started 1861 -- Forshee's appear to have vacated TN in 1857

another note:
...She thinks that the Foshee's were Huguenot's from Manakintown, Va

Our earliest Forshey ancestors may have come first to either Virginia or New Jersey from France. They were one of the many early Huguenot "pilgrims" seeking a place to worship as they pleased.

* Descendents of Andre Fouche Forshey Huguenot
The Foushe/Forshee/Forsey immigrants were Huguenots who fled France following the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. Persecuted for several hundred years, the Huguenots, like the "Mayflower pilgrims" were searching for freedom to worship as they pleased and for a homeland where they would not be persecuted.

# D: I6254
# Name: Andre (Andrew) Forshee
# Sex: M
# Birth: ABT 1650 in France 1
# Death: in NJ, USA 1
# Note:

Before Louis the XIV, of France, revoked in 1685 the Edict of
Nantes,many French Protestants (known as French Huguenots)
sought refuge elsewhere. In 1680 Andre born of the landed
gentry of France,foreseeing the inevitable, moved with his wife
and children to Mannheim, at that time the headquarters of the
Huguenot refugees. Here he was associated with Count Antoine
Pintard, David de Marest, MathiasBlanchou, Frederic de Vaux,
Abraham Hasbrouq, Cretien Duyon, Maynard Journcay,
Bourgeon Broncard, and others whose names have since become
indelibly linked with the progress of this country, since all of them
later emigrated to America.


It is unlikely that the French used FOSHEE. The French variants
are Fouche, Foucher, Fouchet, all pronounced the same, as
Fouche' It is an early Norse family and according to Alfred
Dauzet, LES NOMES DE FRANCE, it comes from "fulc hari",
meaning brave or strong folk.

In 1688 Andre first sailed with his family for America in company
with other French families and co-relifionists. He located in New
York,later going to New Jersey. "Traditions say that the first
American ancestors came to this country during religious persecutions
in France, not far from 1700. There is a tradition in the family that a far
back ancestor bore the name Jan (or course this form was given here
and not in France); that he followed the sea; that he lived to the great
age of 110 years, and in this 110th year walked one day twelve miles
with a grandson, and proved himself the better walker of the two.
The family this this "Jan" -- wife unknown -- must be set down as
the head of the Forshees in this country.

Name records it is most frequently written "Forseur." Other
orthographies which abound, as Fosjeur, Forsheur, Faseur, Fashaw, etc.,
are blunders of copyists. These are found in almost endless variety.
Some of them so disguise the name that none but those familiar
with the family connections could possibly detect it. The numerous
descendants now write it Vorseur, Forseur, Forshee, Forshay, etc.
One, a physician residing in Phildelphia, Pa., writes his name William W.
Fouche. But the original,we think was "Forsieur." In pronunciatin,
it followed the analogy of the family French term of address --
"Monsieur." The proverbial difficultyof this combination of letters to
one not born to the French is sufficient to account for all the corruptions
in spelling and pronunciation which, among a Holland people, grew in
back centuries uponthe word "Forsieur."" (notes from a Ancestry.com
pedegree for Jan Forseur)Came to America about 1700 Tappan NY

Many articles and reports from others. Report on Forshay Tower
of Minneapolis which Wilbur Forshay built (code MM1110542).
Blauvelt book also has info on these Forsheur/Forshee/Forshay families.
(www.culpepper.net notes)

Fourche = French word = pitchfork