French Huguenot Refugees

14-16 January 1702   A great number of French refugees here in town will [en]list themselves in His Majesty’s service. [English Post]

27–29 November 1707   Yesterday the Sieur Marion, one of the pretended French Prophets, and 2 Gentlemen who published his pretended Prophetical Warnings, received their sentence at the Queen’s Bench, whereby they are Fin’d, and to stand on the Pillory. [The Post Man]

4–6 December 1707   The following Words were written and fix’d to the pretended French Prophets, when they stood on a Scaffold.
          Elias Marion, Convicted for falsy and prophanely pretending himself to be a true Prophet, and printing and uttering many things, as dictated and revealed to him by the Spirit of God, to terrifie the Queen’s People.
         John d’Audé, and Nicolas Facio, Convicted for abetting and favouring Elias Marion, in his Wicked and Counterfeit Prophecies, and causing them to be printed and publish’d, to terrifie the Queen’s People.
          Whereas it has been falsly reported, That the pretended French Prophets, were supported by some Refugee-Ministers; this is to inform the Publick, that the said pretended Prophets, and their Abettors, have been prosecuted at the Suit and Charge of all the French Churches in this City and Suburbs. [The Post Boy]

29 April—2 May 1709   We hear several Hundred French Protestants are arriv’d in the River from Palatinate, in order to implore Her Majesty’s Charity, and Permission to settle in the Plantations abroad; which has given occasion to some Enemies of the Government to make some Indecent Reflections, though ’tis well known those People were embark’d before the Bill for Naturalization was brought into the House. [The English Post]

21-24 May 1709   We hear, That there are lately arriv’d from the Palatinate, several Hundreds of Men, Women, and Children, all, or most of ’em Protestants, who have been obliged to abandon their Native Country by Popish and French Cruelties; immediately after their Arrival, her Majesty, upon Application made to her from the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners of Trade and Plantations, was pleas’d to direct a certain Sum of Money for their Subsistence, and divers charitable Persons have largely contributed to the same; but forasmuch as all that has been hitherto given, or collected, falls far short of the Wants of these poor People, it is earnestly recommended to all good People, to consider the great Sufferings of their distress’d Brethren, and such as find themselves dispos’d to exert their Charity towards them, may lodge it in the Hands of the Rev. Mr. Tribekko, the late Prince’s Chaplain, now at Greenwich; Mr. Rupert, German-Minster, in the Savoy; Mr. Jonathan James, in 3 King-Court, Lombard-street; R. Gardner, Distiller, at Holborn-Bridge; Mr. Skeate, Brasier, in Houndsditch. And whereas it has been maliciously reported, That there are infectious Diseases amongst the said Germans, an eminent Physician, who has very charitably attended them ever since their Arrival, is ready to make Oath, That there is no other Distemper amongst ’em but such as is incident to People that have undergone the like Inconveniences; and even, that they are healthy beyond Expectation. [The Post Boy]

4-7 June 1709   There are lately arriv’d from the Palatinate on the Rhine, in Germany, about 2000 men, women, and children, Protestants, who, by the oppressive exactions of the French, and desolation of their country, have been forc’d to abandon their habitations, and to come to implore Her Majesty’s protection; And there are houses and barns provided to lodge ’em in, in Aldgate, St. Catherines, Walworth, Stockwell, Kennington, and Camberwell; and care has been also taken to allow ’em churches for prayers, and preaching in their own language. Wherefore such as are disposed to contribute farther to their relief of their extream necessities, are desired to send in their benefactions to the following persons, viz. The Reverend Mr. Tribbeko, Chaplain to his late Royal Highness, at the Golden Angel in the Strand, near Somerset-Houses; the Reverend Mr. Ruperti, German Minister in the Savoy; the Reverend Dr. Bray, Minister at Aldgate, near the Church; Mr. Rainton, in Burr-street, East-Smithfield; Mr. John James, in Lombard-street; Mr. John Hodges, Merchant, in Token-House-Yard; Mr. Trollope, in Aldermanbury; Mr. Skeate, Brasier, at the double Warming pan in Houndsditch; Mr. William Garner, distiller, at Holborn-Bridge; Dr. Slare, at his house in Bartlet’s Buildings; Mr. James Eales, goldsmith, at the Flying Horse in King-street, Westminster; Mr. Edward Evans, seed-man, in Shug-Lane, Pickadilly; Mr. Walter Cock, and Mr. Green, both in Camberwell. [Post Boy]

NOTE, There are 1800 Palatines arriv’d since this account was taken, and more daily expected. [Post Boy]

23-25 June 1709   Whereas it has been observ’d, and great offence taken at several of the poor Palatines begging about streets; notwithstanding the care that has been taken by the Government, and a great many private charities, to feed and lodge the said Palatines, to the end that they might not become burdensome to the country: These are to give notice, and earnestly to recommend to all Constables and Headboroughs, and other Parish-Officers, to stop and apprehend all such idle Palatines as they find begging from door to door, and to carry them before the next magistrate, to be dealt with according to law; or to take their names, and give notice thereof to the Reverend Mr. Tribbeko, at the Golden-Angel near Somerset-House, or Mr. Ruperti, Minister of the Lutheran Congregation, in the Savoy; to the end that their allowance from the Government may be stop’d. [Post Boy]

16-18 August 1709   The collection for the poor Palatines increases vastly, several among the nobility having given 100 guineas, and many of the gentry and merchants 50 pounds each, and a Lady of Qualitiy 1500 pounds; so that ’tis hop’d, neither charity nor money will be wanting to relieve those miserable creatures.

The Palatines have begun to work on a canal from the Castle of Windsor to the river, on each side of which there will be a terras-walk. Her Majesty allows ’em twelve-pence a day each. [Post Boy]

3-6 September 1709   The 60 families of poor Palatines, making about 300 persons that are going to North-Carolina, are to have 115000 acres of land there for 3 years gratis; after which, they are to pay 2d an acre per ann. The proprietors allow each family 2 horses, 2 cows, and 2 sows, and leave to return in 7 years. The Government allows xix pound per head for their Transportation. [Post Boy]

24-27 December 1709   On Sunday was se-nnight, the new French Church in Spring-Garden, next St. James’s-Park, was open’d with great solemnity; It is a beautiful and spacious building; and the joy that appear’d in the faces of the auditors, is not to be express’d; who from misery and oppression, found themselves thus at liberty; and by the indulgence of gracious Government, enabled both to build a Church, and to serve God, according to the usage of the Church of England. [Post Boy]