Protestant Exiles from France/Volume 2 - Book Third - Chapter 14
Chapter XIV.
THE THREE LIGONIERS.
The ancient family of Ligonnier belonged to Castres, in Languedoc. An elder at the National Synod of the Reformed Churches of France, which met at Charenton on 26th December 1644, was “Anthony Ligonniere, Councillor and Secretary to the King, elder in the church of Castres.”[1] At the epoch of the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes the family was represented by Louis de Ligonnier, Sieur de Monteuquet. His eldest son, Abel, became the head of the family, and was alive in France in 1769.
Three younger sons became Protestant refugees in England at different dates; not, however, in 1685, as at that time they were not far advanced in boyhood. They adopted the spelling, “Ligonier.” The first who came to England was John (of whom afterwards). Antoine came over in 1698, served in several of Marlborough’s campaigns; he is mentioned as a Major in Harrison’s regiment (the 15th). In 1732 the Historical Register mentions Colonel Anthony Ligonier’s regiment of horse in Ireland. According to Haag, he died unmarried in 1767, and of him I have no more to say. The other two Ligoniers are Francis and Edward, father and son. [A Reverend Abel Ligonier was naturalised on the 15th April 1693. I have his signature on the title-page of a copy of the Colloquies of Erasmus.]
- ↑ The spelling is Quick’s in his Synodicon. Two other deputies from the same Province were “Peter Oilier,” pastor of the Church of Montauban, and “John Darassus,” Councillor for the King in the Presidential Court of Montauban, and “elder of the said church.” Ollier’s name appears in 1637.