The History of the French, Walloon, Dutch and Other Foreign Protestant Refugees Settled in England from the Reign of Henry VIII to the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes; With Notices of Their Trade and Commerce, Copious Extracts from the Registers, Lists of th (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1846 Excerpt: ...as a grammar school. In 1703 Jacques Bernardeux of Barnstaple, married Elizth Joly at the French Church in Crispin Street. The families of Servantes, Latour, Bird, (originally Oiseau, ) Roue, and Roche, composed the principal part of the congregation. BIDEFORD, DEVON. Upon the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, --"A considerable number of tbe Refugees, with some of their ministers, came to Bideford, and being mostly manufacturers and mercantile persons, they established several branches of trade there, and considerably enlarged the circle of its commerce. Some of them carried on the silk and cotton manufactories; but it is deserving of note that the former branch of trade was known in Bideford many years before, for one Mr. Thomas Smith was a very considerable silk weaver there, about the year 1650." ( Watkins, Bideford, Svo. 1792.; In 1721, the congregation at this place received from the royal bounty 28. 10s. 4d. and in 1728, 17. lis. Their minister in 1706 was M. Romans, who was then 57 years of age, with a wife and three children.f The last minister is said to have been a M. Duncan, and the congregation is said to have been dissolved about 1760. An old woman named Bird, was some years since living at this place; she spoke French fluently, and was no doubt a descendant of the Oiseauxs of this congregation. Two Ladies of this family now reside at Exeter, the one is upwards of ninety and the other upwards of eighty. Many of the French refugees and their descendants have lived to a great age in this country. Monnier Roche used to say "my grandfather was drowned when he was a hundred and eleven, and if he had not been drowned he might have been alive now. t "1706. List for the distribution of Her Majesty's Bounty, for the relief...