Davy Crocket’s ancestor James Crockett born c 1674 (may be later) was the child of one of the 13 Huguenots who worked with James Fontaine in a short lived fishing enterprise around the late 17th century to the early 1700s. He was Louise de Sax Crocketagne (Anglicised to Crockett) mother Antoine. The fishery was in the Castletown/Dursey area. Rev. Fontaine’s settlement was at Bank Harbour, 5 miles east of Castle Town Bere. The road down to the pier is the L8952.
Davy Crockett’s ancestor James Crockett born c 1674 (may be later) was the child of one of the 13 Huguenots who worked with James Fontaine in a short lived fishing enterprise around the late 17th century to the early 1700s. He was Louise de Sax Crocketagne (Anglicised to Crockett) mother Antoine. The fishery was in the Castletown/Dursey area.
From Bishop Dive Downes Tour 1700:
Interestingly Fontaine (James Fountain 1702) and his son James Fountaine Junior (1710) were appointed Justices of the Peace for Co. Cork suggesting that they were well connected.
Rev. Fontaine’s memoir, last chapter re West Cork
https://en.m.wikisource.org/wiki/A_Tale_of_the_Huguenots_or_Memoirs_of_a_French_Refugee_Family/15
http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/w/a/c/Mary-Wacaster-Tx/FILE/0003page.html
Ancestor of Davy Crockett, Battle of the Alamo, http://www.writework.com/essay/biography-davy-crockett-and-battle-alamo
A Huguenot settlement was established here about the year 1700. The organiser of the project was Jacques de la Fontaine, the son of a French Protestant minister. This adventurer came to England and carried on some small business for a time. He then became a Protestant clergyman, and in the year 1694 came to Cork, where he ministered to a small Huguenot congregation. He heard of the fisheries at Berehaven, which he thought offered a wider field for the exercise of his energies. He repaired hither, rented some land and houses, brought over his colonists, and formed a fishing company. He was soon appointed Justice of the Peace, and in this capacity became most obnoxious to the natives.
He made himself a busy tool of the Government, and interfered in matters which scarcely concerned him. Smuggling was carried on largely at the time, and he thought he would put a stop to it. The task was beyond his powers and brought him to grief. He was fully aware of the enmity of the natives and of those engaged in the smuggling trade, and he made preparations to protect himself in case he should be attacked. Having some knowledge of erecting forts, he raised earthworks around his residence, which got the name of the ” Sodfort.” His foresight was soon justified, for in June, 1704, a French privateer entered Bantry Bay and proceeded to storm the Sod Fort. Fontaine stood well to his guns, and after an engagement that lasted from eight in the morning until four in the afternoon, the privateer withdrew with the loss of three killed and seven wounded. The Government granted him a pension of five shillings a day for his skill and bravery in the action, and he was supplied with five guns which he was authorised to mount on the battery.
West Cork History 
Very short post – would appreciate more detail!
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Reblogged this on West Cork History.
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Fontaine – what an interesting character.
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I am a direct descendant of James de La Fontaine and currently live in Cork. I’m planning a road trip to Beara in the next week or two and was curious if anyone knows the location of the sodfort?
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The sod fort was at Bank Harbour, five miles east of Castletownbere. If you are travelling towards CTB from the Bantry direction, turn left on the L8952, which is at a crossroads, and drive down to where the road ends by an old pier. The fort site was in the field on the left at the bottom of the road.
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