精东

Just in time for the 250th celebration of America鈥檚 independence, Bulloch County Revolutionary War hero Nicolas Anciaux is being honored thanks to the work of a 精东 professor. Olga Amarie, Ph.D., professor of French in the Department of World Languages and Cultures, led the charge to designate a previously unnamed Statesboro street in Anciaux鈥檚 honor. A French immigrant who joined the Continental Army and fought at the climactic battle of Yorktown that marked the decisive victory for the Americans, Anciaux settled in Bulloch County before his death.

鈥淲e don鈥檛 have many heroes like him,鈥� Amarie said. 鈥淗e was the paymaster for his regiment, which is a unique role that requires someone very intelligent. He was 35 years old with experience in war in France along with financial experience, so that made him important when he joined the American cause.鈥�

With support from Statesboro residents and descendants of Anciaux, Statesboro City Council unanimously voted to designate a street near city hall as Nicolas Anciaux Lane on Sept. 1. Some of Anciaux鈥檚 descendants were able to be there in person for the honor.

鈥淚t was a beautiful surprise for the city council,鈥� Amarie said. 鈥淣obody knew beforehand, but when they introduced themselves, everybody was applauding and happy to see the real descendants of our local hero.鈥�

Amarie first learned about Anciaux through a chance encounter in downtown Statesboro that left her wanting to discover more.

鈥淚 was curious about what to visit in Bulloch County, so I was looking through some travel brochures,鈥� recalled Amarie. 鈥淪ince I鈥檓 a French professor, one that mentioned France immediately drew my attention. It mentioned that a French immigrant was the first owner of the land that鈥檚 now Mill Creek. When I came back to learn more, the brochure was gone and nobody knew what I was describing.鈥�

As a language professor, Amarie went to a familiar place to learn more: the local library. She began digging through records of Bulloch County history and found that Anciaux was given 1,200 acres of land in the county as payment for his service in the war. He died at age 67 in 1810 and was buried somewhere along his property in the Mill Creek area. His exact resting place is one of the gaps Amarie hopes to fill in Anciaux鈥檚 story.

鈥淚 made contact with our history department to see if, maybe in the future, we can write his biography,鈥� Amarie said. 鈥淭here are several documents that we can find in Statesboro and Savannah, but they might be in two languages. For example, his commission signed by the King of France is in French. This opportunity for interdisciplinary research is very interesting.鈥�

While the blank pages of Anciaux鈥檚 story wait to be filled, Amarie hopes that the visible symbol of the street named in his honor helps keep Anciaux alive in local memory.

鈥淲ho knows how downtown Statesboro will continue to grow. Maybe one day there will be a French cafe on the lane that bears his name,鈥� said Amarie. 鈥淚 would like for people to see the street sign and think of him as a soldier and officer from the French army who decided to stay here, never returning to France. He embraced the United States with his whole heart.鈥�