There is good evidence that the first
Shatto (Château) immigrants to North America represented a mixed marriage. Jean Nicol was Protestant, perhaps Huguenot,
and his wife Eva Maria appears to have been Roman Catholic. Assuming this was indeed the case, it would
provide one reason for their choosing Philadelphia as their destination. Founded by Quaker William Penn on the
principle of religious freedom, Pennsylvania was long a refuge for those
fleeing religious persecution. In 1739
it would have been one of the few places where the young couple could live and
rear their children without fear of harassment.
More than a half century later,
freedom of religion was codified in the First Amendment to the Constitution of
the newly formed United States of America.
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof …”
In the centuries since that amendment was ratified in 1791, numerous
court and legislative battles have been fought over just what it means and how
it is to be applied in daily life. There
is a constant effort to find balance between the rights of the individual and
the interests of the state in securing the common welfare.
