Abraham Orange came to London

from France and Registered here in 1687

[updated March 2008]

I used to sing this rhyme with my friends in the school playground, but back then,didnt realise it had any significant meaning, til now, that is!! And fits so well with the geography that is about to unfold in the research of our “Orange” Family.

The rhyme may have been altered over time, as Shoreditch may have been called Fleetditch, as once recited.. Some of our ancestors were born here. But historically, St Martins was an area of city money lenders. I think the first bank was opened here. The Old Bailey is near the Tower of London a prison where the debtors of society were punished and where the bells of St Clements would be heard and Bow refers to St. Mary-le-Bow, whose bells told Dick Whittington to "Turn again".

As we all recall from our childhood singing this popular playground song we would make an arch with our partners and couples would run through the arch, till someone's head is “chopped off” so to speak!! This may refer to the fate of the prisoners of the Tower of London

This is the story of our Orange ancestors. Our "English Descendants" of the Pedigree Chart commences with Abraham Orange, born in Bolbec, France in 1671 and his wife Susanne Janvier, 2 years younger.. They were both deeply religious people who were of the protestant faith, known as reformers.

The French Huguenots as they later came to be known, were deeply religious people and many were of middle class background. They gave their children an education and taught them to read and write. The men were skilled craftsmen who took great pride in their work, of which many were silk weavers and jewellery makers. Many owned land and some were farmers.

Bolbec was known for its cotton and weaving industry, and a great many reformers lived there. It had a history of troubles, and in one of many battles, virtually burnt to the ground in 1765.

During the 1600’s the Huguenot population of France was about 20%, though France was predominantly Catholic, and the Huguenots suffered repeatedly at the hands of the French because of their beliefs. Louis XIV who reigned 1643-1715 was outraged and detested the French protestants that he declared battle against them and set up the Dragonnades armed with his hatred of them “une foi, un loi, un roi” which meant one faith, one law, one king, . And in October 1685 he demanded that every Huguenot home and church be set upon by his men. Those that did not conform to the Catholic religion were tortured, burnt alive in the streets; homes and Churches burnt and bibles perished. Louis XIV also made emigration illegal, and so those that did attempt to escape, if caught were murdered or sent to prisons.

The Huguenots lived in various parts of France. Abraham was raised in Bolbec France, along with at least 2 generations before him.. It is not known where Suzanne came from, but definately must have been France. Abraham made his escape, without his sister or his parents in 1687 via Dieppe or Calais to England. Though, he was not alone, as relatives came to England as French Refugees around the time of 1687-1688... You can find out more about Abrahams French "Ancestors" on my website.... The French Huguenots in the South, found it very much harder to escape as the Spanish were also Catholics. However, many fled so as not to suffer at the hands of the Dragonnades . Many Huguenots were old or infirm or too sick to travel, and many a child smuggled onto a boat where many hid in barrels.

The Huguenots that were able to make an escape went to Ireland, America, Germany, Holland, South Africa and England.

Chapter one

Circa 1687 Abraham so desperate to flee his country yet, distraught at leaving his parents and sister behind, made his escape, and fortunately, was lucky and got passage to England, without being arrested by the Dragonnades .

He must have been so distraught and with the boat in sight, knew he was near to freedom... Having embarked the ship, and somewhat relieved, he was not alone, for there were other passengers on board, including, what must be relatives of his and set sail for London. The boat was cramped and uncomfortable.

They made that torrid journey across the English Channel to arrive at London Docks. Abraham and the other passengers would have been somewhat relieved, their path to freedom was about to unveil. They would have watched the London landscape as the boat sailed down the Thames to the docks. As they came into port, like others on the boat, must have felt uneasy as to how they would be received..

The Refugees were tired, exhausted, hungry, and bitterly upset, fearing the worst of what might happen to their loved ones who remained in France. They had no idean how they would be treated by the English Folk. But one thing they might have heard, was that the King of England was willing to protect the French protestants. The Huguenots did not know where they would be housed, or indeed, where would Abraham find work, how would he survive?. Everything was so uncertain.

Abraham was a devout Christian, and arrived in London in 1687... He was only in his 16th year.. [born 01 Apr 1671, Bolbec France, and Christened 5 April 1671 Lintot, France,,, [godparents were Anne Orange de Bolbec et Mathieu Orenge de Bolbec]
Abraham arrived here [in London] with some of his relatives from Bolbec, so assuringly, he was not alone. However, he was without his father, Abraham Orange, mother, Marie de Languethuit and his sister, Esther. Despite the fact that there is no record of his parents and sister making the crossing to England, Abraham and his relatives "stayed close" together....
This is supported by the fact that the generations of Orange descendants that followed continued to stay strong and supportive of one another and lived in close proximity well into the mid 1800's... The family "Union" was the key to their existance, and gave them strength; they lived as "one family" both cousins, brothers, sisters and parents, all as one "big" family, living ensemble, in close proximity. Family must have been very important to them.. Evidence is so strong, that as late as the 1841 census, the Orange family, widening to cousins continued to live in the same and nearby streets.

In 1687 Abraham Orange made "Rec" at Threadneedle Street, London... Abraham's aunt Ann Orange recorded in London in 1687...Abrahams cousin Judith recorded in London in 1687 along with her father Jean (Abraham's Uncle), and Jean's wife Judith, came to London later, recorded here in 1698 with two of their daughters Madeleine and Marthe.[Abraham's cousins]
Soon after 1687 when Abraham "made Rec" at Threadneedle Street, [with his cousins and aunts and uncles by his side] Abraham met a young lady by the name of "Suzanne Janvier". Both devout Christians. Her past unfortunately, is not yet uncovered. But she surely was of French origin, and highly likely to also be a French Refugee.. Abraham may have made acquaintance with her in Bolbec, and may have come across on the same passenger crossing.... They married here in London, but unfortuantely, the record is lost.. may have been damaged.. But the one thing for sure is that they had family.....

The French people disembarked the boat, and were greeted by the clergymen of London and friends of the Huguenot Community. The French community in London, already well established - they had been here since the early 1600’s, when people started fleeing persecution in France. Once everyone was off the boat, those who were sick were attended to, and if need be taken to the French Hospital. They were given a meal, probably bread and potatoes, which was very much a part of the English diet in those days.

For some of you researching the Orange Name, you may wonder, why it was that many Orange families settled in London whilst others moved to the North of England, and others travelled further afield....

Some Huguenots that arrived into London, stayed only temporarily for they embarked on an onward journey, out of choice, to get as far away as possible from France, to America. Whilst others remained here in England. Of those families that wished to remain in our Country, some went to Nottingham, or to Ireland. It all had much to do with the skills they had to offer....

For instance, London was a great place for silk weavers, Nottingham, for lace makers.

The King of England offered help to the Refugees, though he would have felt concerned for their wellbeing, he knew that they could offer skills that would enrich his Country. A charitable organisation had funds available to help the newcomers to England, and very soon Abraham, along with other Refugees were introduced to their accommodation, and though very basic, provided a room or two, from where they could work and rebuild their lives….

England had been receiving upwards of 50,000 refugees during the mid to late 1600’s and the public wanted its charitable money recorded in a register.....

And, it is those records that have reveiled the following information:

In October 1705 in Spitalfields, District Brick Lane, London, Abraham Orange was 40 years old, his wife Susanne was 38, together with their 4 children aged 8, 4, 2 and 8 months old, were given a donation from the charity of £3 14s 6d. It was recorded that Abraham was a Commoner – I suppose it could be argued that “Class” was as important in those days as “Gender Roles and DNA” are to us today! However, to interpret “C” Commoner did not necessarily mean that they had no money. Of course they did not, they came fleeing their Country with just the clothes on their backs and had very little else except for the most important thing; they were safe and had a new journey, a second chance, a chance of survival, and Abraham could offer not money but his wealth of knowledge, his trade skills, I suspect, as a silk weaver.

Abraham joined the Army at some point, and that is how he lost his life, in the Army, in the Reign of Queen Ann.(source Huguenot Archives) Queen Ann's reign 1702-1714. Abraham was recorded in the French Refugees Records in 1705 along with his wife and 4 children. Abraham's youngest son was born 1707. Therefore, a calculation of his death somewhere between 1707-1714.

Abraham's wife, a "widow", went on to remarry....
If you would like to discover the Orange Ancestors from Bolbec, France back to circa 1540-1550 - please view my "homepage" and scroll down to subtitle ORANGE EUROPE and click on "Orange France Ancestry" - for more discoveries...of our deeper past - en France!!!!

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