Rumored to be a Huguenot who escaped France with his family during the early reign of Elizabeth the First.

According to tradition, Huguenot Pierre Jean Blanchard moved the clan from Normandy, France to Hull, Yorkshire, England. He and his family settled in Halifax.

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"In the year 1610 things became too hot in Normandy for the Huguenots in their age-long struggle to put a Protestant King on the French throne; thus, it came to pass that the head of the Clan Pirre Jean (Peter John) Blanchard, loaded his family into his boat, The Johnthan," and sailed the English Channell, the North Sea and up the Humber River to Hull, in Yorkshire, England. His colony settled in Halifax, Leads and Bradford. Each was trained extensively in arts, crafts and the sciences. They were the very first "Teachocrats" in England; they revoluionized English industry and to a lesser degree English life. Peter John Blanchard settled in Halifax with his sons, Thomas, John, Peter, Joseph. In 1637 son Thomas's wife died and he moved his family to London Town. Later he left London with four sons, landing in Boston in 1639. Joseph and family also sailed to Boston; Peter and John remained in Yorkshire." --Edward John Blackman Sr.

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ORIGINS OF THE BLANCHARDS

The name Blanchard comes from the French "blanche" meaning "white" or "to whiten." A "blanchard" was a white garment worn by monks and nuns. Family tradition holds that the clan originated in Galilee, eventually moved to Constantinople where they were driven out by the Turks, thence to Normandy, France and the Peninsula of Cotentin. In the 16th century, the family befriended John Calvin and became converted to Protestantism. Subjected to persecution, these Huguenots, led by Pierre Jean Blanchard, fled to England in the early 17th century. Another branch of the family remained Catholic and produced the likes of the great artist Jacques Blanchard called "Titian," whose painting titled "The Descent of the Holy Ghost" hangs in the Church of Notre Dame in Paris today. Other variations of the surname include "Blancher" and "Blanchette."

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It is also rumored that Pierre is a descendant of Alain Blanchard, a commander of the crossbowmen of Rouen during the Hundred Years' War.