Page:Protestant Exiles from France Agnew (1st ed. vol 3).djvu/261

(5.) From the north of France noble refugees bearing the surname of Fourdrinier first settled in Holland. A descendant settled in London during last century, and obtained a good position as a papermaker and wholesale stationer. His son, Henry, horn in Lombard Street, on 11th February 1766, was the inventor of the paper-making machine in conjunction with his brother. Although patentees, they were the victims of piratical appropriation perpetrated both in Russia and in England. From the former nation no compensation could be obtained, but the English Parliament in May 1840 voted £7000 as compensation to Messrs Fourdrinier. Their expenditure on the invention itself, and in the defence of their rights, had mined their business as stationers, and had entailed upon them loss, instead of profit, as inventors. They had invented a paper-cutting machine also. The compensation was avowedly inadequate, and in November 1853 the paper trade took steps for providing for Henry Fourdrinier, the surviving patentee, and his two daughters, by annuities. Henry Fourdrinier died on 3d September 1854, in his 89th year. On the completion of his eighty sixth year, his daughter Harriet had indited this tribute to his worth:—

His form is spare, his hair is white, he has passed that age of fourscore years which the Psalmist so touchingly described; but at present, we rejoice to say, his strength is not labour and sorrow. His walk is active, his eye is bright, his health is good, his spirits buoyant, and his piety firm. He is the delight of his children and his children’s children, the latter of whom, to the number of some twenty-four, make him their friend or their companion. He will talk with the elders or romp with the young ones — drive his daughters out in the carriage or take long walks with his sons — run races with the boys, or dance with the girls — shows hospitality to his friends, does his duty as a master, is a loyal and devoted subject, and makes a capital churchwarden. Many worldly troubles still oppress him, but he bears the yoke as knowing by whom it is laid on.

(6.) The Pasteur Matthieu Mathy, of Beaufort in Provence, became a refugee in Holland, along with his son, Paul (born 1681). Paul Mathy, who became teacher of Saurin’s school at the Hague, turned his attention to the study of medicine and removed to England. Paul’s son, Matthieu Mathy (born 1718), was a Ph.D. of Leyden and M.D. He came to England in 1740, and his Anglicised name was Matthew Maty. Dr Maty, being a learned and energetic man, was hospitably received; he was honoured by the friendship of Abraham De Moivre, whose Memoire he compiled and published — a publication, of which all subsequent biographies of the famous mathematician are abridgements. He had previously published an Ode sur la Rebellion en Ecosse (1746), and the Journal Britannique (1750 to 1755). He was appointed Sub-Librarian of the British Museum in 1753, became F.R.S. in 1758, Secretary to the Royal Society in 1765, and Principal Librarian of the British Museum in 1772; and dying in 1776 he was succeeded in his honours and employments by his son Rev. Paul Henry Maty. That reverend savant had lately (in 1775) been appointed chaplain to the British Embassy at Versailles; he was born in London in 1745, and died 16th January 1787.

(7.) The Aubertin family descend from refugees from Metz, who went to Neufchatel.

Paul Aubertin (born 1650) = Judith Figuier (living in 1718).

a son,

Peter Aubertin, of London, merchant, born at Neufchatel 1725, died at Banstead, Surrey, in 1808. = Ann (born 1730, died 1825).

Rev. Peter Aubertin, vicar of Chipstead (born 1780 died 1861). — Camden Society Volume