Protestant Exiles from France/Book First - Chapter 15 - Longuet
Longuet.
Concerning this family, which was well known and influential, especially after the Revocation Edict of 1685, I have no information except through its connection with the Loffroys or Lefroys. James Lefroy (younger son of Israel) died about 1717, aged about twenty-eight; his widow (née Susan Etherick) long survived him, and a manuscript family history, written by her, is still preserved. She informs us that her husband’s aunt, Elizabeth Loffroy, was married to Samuel Longuet, Esq., and the marriage is said to have been solemnized about the year 1680. By him (says the manuscript) “she had three sons, John, Samuel, and Benjamin. John died a very young man, Samuel aged about fifty, and Benjamin still lives, and has an income of £3000 sterling a-year.” Benjamin Longuet died in 1761 and was childless, as was Samuel; but John was married, and had two sons, John and Benjamin. The latter was Benjamin Longuet of Louth, Lincolnshire, who, by his wife, Mrs Shepherd (née Clare), was the father of Benjamin Longuet of Louth and Bath, the last male of this line.
I had occasion to mention that the family of David Loffroy (born 1590, married 1616) are supposed to have emigrated to Rotterdam, and the names of their descendants are not on record. It is, probably, a lady of this branch whom we meet with him in the City of London French Church Register, between 1678 and 1689, as the wife of Jean Longuet. In those days the French Protestants circulated largely between France, Holland, and England. Jean Longuet, a Huguenot refugee, was in Holland before he came to London, and in Holland had married Marie Loffroy. This, which is a conjecture, receives countenance from the circumstance that there was in London in 1680 another refugee, Jaques Longuet, whose wife was a Dutch lady, née Anne Wasselaer. The children of Jean Longuet and Marie Loffroy were Benjamin (1678), Samuel (1679), Jean (1681), Joseph (1683), Thomas (1685), and Ollivier (1689). The last name suggests a relationship with another refugee, Oliver Longuet, who was naturalized at Westminster on 15th April 1687.
The Longuets were known and esteemed in London as successful merchants. The merchants’ loyal manifesto presented to George II., on 7th February 1744, was signed by Benjamin and Samuel. The last of the name I have met with is John Samuel Longuet. His widow, Elizabeth, proved his will at London on 12th September 1754. She had to appear by an agent before the Commissary of Edinburgh, and was confirmed as executrix in Scotland on 12th December, the Scotch property consisting of £1000 of the Edinburgh Royal Bank Stock, and additional paid-up calls of £150 — total, £1150 sterling, or 13,800 pounds Scots. Her husband was styled, “John Samuel Longuet, sometime merchant in London, thereafter late of Honiton, in the county of Devon, Esquire,” “who deceased at Honiton, on 29th July 1754.”
Returning to Benjamin Longuet, of Louth and Bath, I note that he had four daughters — Theresa, Mrs. Higgins; Eliza, wife of Admiral Hancock; Mary Caroline, wife of William Augustus Orlebar, sixth son (born 1794) of Richard Orlebar, Esq. of Hinwick House, Bedfordshire; and Maria, who was married, in 1804, to the eldest son, Richard Orlebar, Esq. (born 1775, died 1833). Her eldest son was Richard Longuet Orlebar, Esq., born 21st June 1806, died 1st March 1870; and her grandson is the present Orlebar of Hinwick House.