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In the “Searche” for 1571, we are informed that James Le Quesne, a native of Tournay, took refuge in England in 1568:— “London, St. Nicholas Aeon, ward of Langborne. James Le Quyen, and Anne, his wife, and Marie, their daughter, born in Tournay, came into this realm about three years past for religion. Dated 10th Nov. 1571.” He probably had no heir-male. But Abraham Le Quesne, a native of Rouen, was apparently a refugee in London — at least his son, Isaac Le Quesne, was a merchant in London in 1636, and in that year an ancien of the French Church, and a widower. On 23d August he remarried with Sara Du Quesne, second surviving daughter of Jean Du Quesne and Sara de Francqueville. The marriage ceremony “aux Anglois” was performed at Highgate, “par M. Crook, ministre de Woolchurch en Londres.” She died 15th March 1654 (n.s.), aged forty-five, leaving two sons (two sons and three daughters having predeceased her). The children were Isaac (born 1637, died 1661), Sara (born 1639, died 1641), Jehan (born 1641), Abraham (born 1643, died 1645), Jacques (born 1644, died 1646), Benjamin (born 1646), and Jane (born 1648, died 1649). As to Isaac Le Quesne, the father of this family, we learn from the baptismal entries that he had three brothers — Abraham, Jehan, and Laurens; Jehan was sponsor to his nephew named after him; Laurens lived at Rouen, and the infant Jacques, died in his house 2d July 1646. The families of Le Quesne and De la Forterie were connected through the Du Quesnes.

The infant Jehan grew up to manhood, but died unmarried. The other surviving son, Benjamin Le Quesne, married a daughter of a sister of “the five brothers Houblon,” namely, Esther Milner, daughter of an Alderman of London. Alderman Milner was the second husband of Madame Jurien, née Elizabeth [or Marie? or Dorothée?] Houblon. Returning to the head of the family, Isaac Le Quesne, we note that his children, Isaac, Sara, and Jacques, were buried in Bow Church, City of London, while his youngest child, Jane, died at Greenwich, and was buried in the parish church there on 29th June 1649. (See Sir Edmund Frederick Du Cane’s account of the Du Quesne family, page 42.)  

This surname appears at Sandwich in 1571 in the French congregation, many of the members of which, and their families, had been suffering from sickness and poverty. Baltazar Ernoult made a journey on horseback with the minister in order to excite an interest in these poor members among the inhabitants of Dover; the hire of the two horses was 2s. 4d. He heads a list of subscribers with is.; Christofle Ernoult also gives is., and Jacques Lernoult 6d. This family afterwards settled at Canterbury, and became so well known that genealogists might find materials for a pedigree in the church registers.

In Nichols’ “Literary Anecdotes,” we are informed that Rev. Mr. Lernoult, of Wadham College, Oxford, and a young lady, Miss Anne Lernoult, his sister, were living on 10th October 1758.  

Numerous scions of this Huguenot stock took refuge in England; the name occurs in Norwich, Canterbury, and London. Maistre Anthoine Lescaillet died as pasteur of Canterbury French Church on 5th January 1596. In that city the family was founded by refugees from Le Gorge, Jacques Lescaillet having a son named Jaques, born at Le Gorge, and married on 25th April 1591 at Canterbury. There Judith Lescaillet, widow of Louis Passit, died in 1597. There in the same year Anthoine, son of Pierre Lescaillet, was baptized, and the wife of Jaques Lescaillet was present on the occasion.

At Norwich, Jaques l’Escaillet was the head of a family; his wife’s maiden name was Elizabeth Desbonnets. On the occasion of the baptism of their daughter Elizabeth on 13th August 1598, they were supported by Michel l’Escaillet and Catheline l’Escaillet. Jaques was a diacre.

As to the London family, see the Gleanings from Wills in my Historical Introduction. 