Protestant Exiles from France/Book First - Chapter 6 - Section VII
VII. Le Gay.
Pierre Le Gay, a merchant in La Rochelle, fled after the calamitous surrender of that town and stronghold, and took refuge in Southampton, “bringing little or nothing with him.” Walking one day in a street of Southampton, he met unexpectedly a young lady to whom he had been attached in his native country. They renewed their acquaintance as refugees, and were married. He embarked in mercantile transactions; and “so extraordinary” was “the blessing of God on his industry in merchandise,” that in a few years he was able to buy the estate of West Stoke in Sussex, “where he lived in great credit to the day of his death.” Soon after 1662 his daughter became the second wife of the Rev. John Willis, who had been ejected from the Rectory of Wollavington for conscience sake. During her life this son-in-law lived with Mr. Le Gay, and preached in his house to the family and to a small congregation of friends and neighbours.[1]
- ↑ The “Non-Conformists’ Memorial,” by Calamy and Palmer, vol. iii. page 336.