Page:Protestant Exiles from France Agnew vol 2.djvu/351

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the refugee clergy — second group.
337

him, and to the children who should be born of that marriage, the house which I caused to be built in Charles Street, in the parish of St. James, Westminster, to enjoy the same after my decease, and that of my wife, I do declare that I do confirm by these presents the said settlement. And whereas I have obtained a prolongation of the first term which was to expire in the year 1766, I give and grant to him all the said ulterior term which has been so granted to me, with all the rights thereto belonging, to him, and to his son after him. In conformity to the directions of Sarah Amsincq, my deceased wife, who by her marriage settlement had a right to dispose of the plate and household goods which should belong to me at the time of my decease, I do order that my daughter, Marianne Du Val, may have a share of that plate, to wit, two candlesticks, also a case with twelve knives and as many spoons and forks, also twelve other large knives with silver handles, pursuant to her mother’s intentions; moreover, I give to my said daughter all the household goods, linen and clothes, which shall be found in my house on the day of my decease. As to the remainder of the plate, I leave the same, to wit, a silver kettle, the porringer, and all the remainder, — I leave the same to be equally divided between the four daughters of my daughter Jane (deceased), who was married to Balthazar Regis (also deceased). I give to the two daughters of my deceased brother, Catherine and Dorothy, fifty pounds sterling, to be equally divided between them, and which shall be paid to them within three months after my decease at furthest. And I do order that all the remainder of my estate, after the payment of the above-mentioned legacies, as also whatsoever shall come in by succession, donation, or otherwise, be divided between my children or representatives into four equal portions, whereof one shall be for my son Anthony, the second for my son George, the third between the four daughters of Jane Regis, representing their mother, and lastly, the fourth for my daughter Du Val, for her and her children. I leave to my grandson Philip Du Val, all the books which he shall find in my house. I give him also the watch which I caused to be made by G. Lindsay. He shall also take my sermons and other manuscripts. The gold watch was given to his sister by my wife. I give to the servant who shall be in my service, and who shall have taken care of me during my last illness until my death, besides his wages, a reward of ten pounds sterling, which shall be paid to him fifteen days after my decease. I give to my granddaughter, Catherine Potter, a leathern purse, wherein are seven guineas of divers reigns, and forty shillings of West Friesland in silver of Holland. I nominate my son, George Aufrère, to be executor of this my last Will and Testament, and I give him twenty pounds sterling for his trouble in the execution of my Will, thus done and settled to be my last Will, London, the 3rd July 1754.

I. A. Aufrère.

Signed, sealed, and delivered in the presence of John Fagg, An. Newcomb, Martha Smith.

As the things which I had promised and left by the aforesaid Will to Catherine Potter are not now in being, I leave her as an equivalent twelve guineas. In witness whereof I have subscribed my name in London, 23rd March 1758.

I. A. Aufrère.

Proved, 20th April 1758.

III. Rev. Daniel Chamier.

One of the greatest men of the French Protestant Church was Daniel Chamier, Professor of Theology in the University of Montauban, who, when Louis XIII. besieged Montauban, was struck by a cannon-ball, and died 17th October 1621, aged fifty-seven.

His great-grandson, Daniel Chamier, a refugee first at Neufchatel, and then (from 1691 to 1698,) in England, was son of Daniel and grandson of Adrien, both pasteurs of Montelimart. He was first cousin of an Antoine Chamier (who, being taken prisoner in the civil wars at the age of twenty-eight, was broken alive upon the wheel in 1683 before his father’s house), and of an Adrien Chamier, another refugee who, in order to perfect his acquaintance with the English language, that he might be ordained to the ministry in the Established Church, went to Essex for a short sojourn, but died there; both of these lamented young men were sons of Jacques Chamier, Advocate and Doctor of Laws. Daniel’s father was, during his own father’s lifetime, the Pasteur of Beaumont, and married in 1659 Madeleine Tronchin of Geneva; his children were born at Beaumont, the eldest being Daniel, born nth January 1661; the death of Adrien, the head of their family (aged eighty), led to their removal to Montelimar in 1670. The pastoral charge had passed from father to son since the days of the famous professor; and there is still a domain named Chamier on the Dieu-le-Fit road, two kilometres from Montelimar. Young Daniel’s manuscript, engrossed in a family register, gives a concise account of his life, beginning with his entrance upon his tenth year. I quote the concluding portion:—

“In November 1685 I came to Neufchatel, where I resided till 26th March 1691. There, on the 3rd June 1686, I received ordination. There I was married on the 9th December 1689. I had a son there on the 22nd October 1690. I set out thence with my wife, my mother, my two sisters, and my son, the 26th March 1691, and I arrived in England on the 26th May of the same year. I was forthwith associated with Messieurs Pégorier, Lions, Contet, Verchères,