ber 1686, the ladies ascribing the happy result to the fortitude of Madame De Chambrun, as the sole leader and heroine of the march.
In reply to his letter, reporting himself safe in Geneva, De Chambrun received a passport and a seasonable remittance of money from the Prince of Orange, and the refugee couple arrived at the Hague on the 28th March 1687. He was made the Prince’s domestic chaplain; and after the Revolution in England, on the invitation of their Majesties, they settled in their kingdom in 1689. He was at once made a Canon of Windsor, Queen Mary graciously saying as to the appointment, “It is only till a better preferment shall offer.” This year, and we need not wonder at it, proved to be his last. He died about six months after his arrival, and at the age of fifty-two.
The following is the substance of a codicil registered at London:—
Master James De Chambrun, Sieur de Pineton, His Majesty’s Minister of the Holy Gospel, making his codicil, being sick in bed, desired that his last will made at Orange may have its effect, except that the legacies therein named shall not be paid by his dear wife and heiress Madame Perrot et De Chavanon, but after her decease — reduceth Mr John Convenent’s legacy to 1000 livres — desires that his wife, by reason that the goods and effects he hath in this country are very inconsiderable, shall take them and dispose thereof at her will. This is his will, as he hath declared it with a loud voice to us his friends, witnesses thereunto required and subscribed, desiring that this his will may not be contested for want of solemnity, and hath signed at London 30th July 1689.
Guiran,
Councillor in the Parliament of Orange.
Proved 8th Feb. 1690 by Louise de Chambrun, alias de Perote, alias de Chavanon, relict, and legatee of the codicil.
VII. Rev. John Deffray.[1]
Jean Deffray, son of Jean and Catherine, was a native of Tours, born in 1668. He was educated at the University of Saumur, and took the degree of M.A. His parents and himself became refugees after the Revocation; “John Deffray, Catherine, his wife, and John, their son;” were naturalized on 15th April 1687 (see List xiii.). We meet with him next at Oxford, receiving incorporation as an M.A. in that University. Anthony a Wood has the following entry for the year 1689:— “Incorporation, June 21, John Deffray, a French Protestant, M. of A. of Saumur. He was lately forced out of his country on account of religion.”
Mr. Deffray took orders in the Church of England, and obtained the Rectory of Old Romney, in Kent, in the year 1690. In the register of that parish there are the following entries:—
“1690, August 8. — John Deffray, born at Tours in France, educated at Saumur, A.M. in both the Academy of Saumur and the University of Oxford, took possession of the Rectory of Old Romney.
“August 10. — He read prayers and preached. And in ye afternoon read prayer and the 39 Articles, &c.”
The next memorable event in his life is his marriage to Marguerite Tétard, on 17th October 1692, the registration of which I copy from one of the books of the London French Church in the Savoy:—
“1692. — Mr Jean Deffray ministre de Vieux Romey et Marguerite Tetard ont receu la benediction nuptiale le 17 d’Octobre dans l’eglise de la Savoie par Mr. Bertaud, père, ministre, en consequance d’un licence de Monseigr. l’Archevesque de Cantorbery du 9 du det. mois et an.”
During a ministry of over forty-eight years he enjoyed the respect and confidence of his parishioners. According to the Historical Register he happened to be in Canterbury when death overtook him; he died on the 4th September 1738 in his seventy-eighth year. He was buried within the chancel of his own church on the 9th. His widow survived him for about twenty-three years.
The above is a summary of his life. He was probably a gentleman by birth; as to this, any antiquarian pilgrim to Old Romney can satisfy himself by inspecting the coat-of-arms (about 18 inches in diameter) which is cut upon his gravestone. A
- ↑ I am under great obligations to Rev. Wm. Anderson, M.A., Rector of Old Kinney.
