Laurens DESBOUVERIES ²

  Notes:

Laurens was the younger son of a strict Catholic, and left his home in Flanders to avoid persecution due to his Protestant sympathies. He first went to Frankfurt, where he found work with another refugee who had started a silk factory there. He married his benefactor's niece, Barbara Van Wynone, who was probably also from Flanders. He then emigrated with his two brothers to Sandwich in Kent in 1567, and then on to Canterbury in 1576, where he re-married in 1594. He was a master silk weaver, and at some stage moved to London, where he died at the age of 68. He was described as 'Frenchman' in the burial register of St Benet Fink.

Laurens is known to have had at least seven children (four sons and three daughters) with his first wife Barbara, many marrying into other wealthy refugee families. Their eldest son Samuel was a merchant in London, and married Elizabeth De La Forterie, daughter of Nicholas De La Forterie (qv). The next son Edward was also a London merchant, and married Mary Fournestraux from Cologne: their son Edward made a fortune as a Merchant in the Levant Company, also married into the Forterie family, and was knighted by James II in 1684. The next son Jacob was ordained, probably in the Low Countries, and lived in Hillegom near Amsterdam. He married Catherine Lethieullier, also from Cologne: her portrait is in the National Portrait Gallery. Little is known about the fourth son Jean. The three daughters all married: Elizabeth to Elias Maurois (qv); Jane to Thomas De La Tombe from Norwich; and Lea to Peter De La Forterie, a London Merchant who was the brother of Elizabeth De La Forterie.

PCC: Laurence Desbouuries PROB11/116 dated 10-11-1610

Laurens married Barbe VAN WYNONE. (Barbe VAN WYNONE died on 21 Oct 1591 in Canterbury, Kent ⁵.)

Laurens next married Catherine PIPELART on 26 Nov 1594 in Walloon or Strangers Church, Canterbury, Kent.¹ (Catherine PIPELART was born Of in Peronne-en-Melantois, Flanders, Low Countries ⁶ and died after 1618 ⁷.)