The Palatines

( 321 ) THE PALATINES. BY RICHARD COOKE. AMONGST the books and manuscripts dispersed at the sale of the Lambard Library in 1902 were some papers which have lately come into my hands, and which I think may be worth printing in the pages of Archceologia Oantiana, as they serve to remind us of a long-forgotten incident in our history, and one in which the county of Kent was not a little concerned. I refer to the dumping-down on Blackheath of several thousand indigent foreigners in the days of Queen Anne. These poor people from Southern Germany—the majority of whom hailed from the Palatinate provinces of the Ehine—had suffered many things at the hands of the soldiers of the Great Monarch, and of the Confederates in turn. The success or failure of Louis XIV,, Marlborough, or Prince Eugene made little difference to the unfortunate inhabitants of these provinces, who were in turn plundered by friend or foe, and the majority probably knew and cared as little, as Southey's old Caspar, "What they killed each other for "—the result to them was ruin either way—and in their distress they turned to England, " that happy country which heard the rumours of war only at a distance, and where of late years the common people had known little about campaigns, except through illuminations and rejoicings made to celebrate brilliant victories."* It may be that the memory of the hospitable welcome extended to the French Huguenots some years previously, and the expectation that in Britain a good opening might be found for the exercise of the various mechanical trades and handicrafts in which many of these immigrants were proficient, led them by a gregarious instinct to land on our shores by thousands during the months of May, June, and July I709.f * See Charles Knight's Pictorial History of England, vol. iv., p. 229. f No less than 6520 had landed by the end of July, their numbers being tabulated as follows: Men having families, 1278; wives, 1234; widows, 89 ; unmarried men, 384; unmarried women, 106; boys above 14 years of age, 379; VOL. XXVI, y 322 THE PALATINES. The passing of the Act for the Naturalization of Foreigners a few months earlier had rendered their coming possible, but no provision had been made for their reception beyond providing a thousand tents from the Tower, in which these poor people were housed, some on Blackheath and some at Camberwell. Something had to be done unless these unfortunate people were to be allowed to starve, for they had no means of subsistence of their own; and we find a minute of the Privy Council issuing a proclamation enjoining a general collection to be made on behalf of " several thousand Germans of the Protestant religion, who, being oppressed and ruined by the great exactions of the French on the frontiers, and otherwise distressed upon account of their religion, have fled for refuge to this Kingdom."* The collection was made, the Queen herself heading the subscription list, and was so far successful that the sum of £52,539 was raised and expended on the Palatines. How to permanently provide for them was a more difficult matter, and various schemes were set on foot. An attempt was made to distribute some of the families in the villages of West Kent, and it is to this plan that the papers printed below refer. They contain the answers of nine parishes to the application made on behalf of the boarding-out of the poor Palatines. These answers were apparently made to the Magistrates in Quarter Session, and the abstract is signed by William Lambard (a great-grandson of the Topographer), who no doubt was Chairman of the Bench. With the exception of Shoreham, which was willing to extend a grudging hospitality to one small family, the parish officers would have none of the Palatines, and we have no evidence that the scheme was more favourably received elsewhere. Other means had to be found for providing for the refugees. On 28th July 1709 the Committee appointed to manage these affairs directed that 500 of the most numerous families, entirely Protestant and as nearly related as possible, should be sent to Ireland. They were to be such as girls above 14 3rears of age, 374; boys under 14 years of age, 1367 ,• girls under 14 years of age, 1309. Of these, 1083 were husbandmen and vine dressers; schoolmasters, 10 ; herdsmen, 4; wheelwrights, 13; smiths, 46; cloth and linen weavers, 66 ; carpenters, 90; bakers, 32; masons, 48 ; coopers and brewers, 48 ; joiners, 20; shoemakers, 40; tailors, 58 ; butchers, 15 ; millers, 27; sadlers, 7; stocking weavers, 5; tanners, 7; miners, 3; brick-makers, 6; potters, 3; hunters, 5; turners, 6; surgeons, 3; locksmiths, 2; bricklayers, 4; glaziers, 2 ; hatters, 3; silversmiths, 2 j cook, 1;. student, 1; carvers, 2. (See A View of the Queen and Kingdom's Enemies in the Case of the Poor Palatines.) * 29 June 1709, P.C, MS. , THE PALATINES. 323 had been employed in husbandry and in linen manufacture.* As a matter of fact, 800 families were actually sent. In the following December a Colonel Hunter proposed that 3000 of them should be sent to New York for the production of naval stores. They sailed on 2nd January 1710, and seem to have spent the rest of their days in the manufacture of tar from pine trees. A proposal was made to settle 600 of them in the Island of Scilly,f but it is uncertain whether this was ever carried out. A considerable number, however, were shipped back to Holland. The following papers are not remarkable for good spelling, nor do they give us a very amiable picture of the parish authorities of that day. Bearing in mind the somewhat inhospitable temper displayed, it is not surprising to find the following appropriate water-mark on the paper:—In a circular enclosure, fenced with pointed palisades, a lion rampant holding a club and darts, and a man in armour holding a hat on a spear, above which is printed in large capitals, " PEO PATEIA." Kent Ss. [Sessions']. August y° 7th, 1709. John Young & Wll. Cackett, Churchwardens of Brasted, appeared and say that theire was vestry in which it was agreed that they could not take any of the Palatinates by reason they are full of Inhabitants and have no emty houses. JOHN YOUNG. WILLIAM CACKOTT. Kent Ss. August yc 7th, 1709. I t was purposed att the vestery att Hever above the receiveing ye Palatinates, and they are not willing to take any by reason it is a very small parish and but little worke in it. AREBY [?] LAMBEBT, Churchwarden. [On back.] M? Lambard att ye Bull. Kent Ss. August ye 7th, 1709. I t being proposed att y° Vestry at t Westram aboute the Eeceiveing the Poor Palatinates, and upon A Serious Consideration of the matter they do not think itt convenient to take any by reason theire parish is full of Inhabitants y* they are forced to give Surtificates for many; and yl they have not worke for them. JOHN STEERS or SHEEBS, Churchwarden. * Calendar Treasury Papers, 1708—14, vol, exix., 1709. t Ibid. T 2 324 THE PALATINES. KentSs. August y° 7* 1709. I t being proposed att the Vestry att Penshurst aboute the receiveing the Poor Palatinates I t was thought fitt not receive any because they have more in theire owne parish than they can Imploy. THOMAS BASSETT, Churchwarden. Kent Ss. August y" 13, 1709. John Capon & Will. Beardworth, Churchwarden & overseer of the Parish of Shoreham, Appeared and say they are willing to take a protestant Family y* are laborers and not exceeding four in family. JOHN CAPON, Churchwarden. WILLIAM BEORDSWOBTH, overseer. Kent Ss. August y° 7,1709. Wheare as A Vestery Has Bin Called By The Churchwardens & overseares of the Parish of Cowden. Wee Hoose names are Heare under subscribed Cheife of The in Hibatance of the Parish of Cowden Have no ocashon for any of the Pallatins, for wee Have more of ouer one Poore then wee Can inploy, nither Have we any Housing to Pott them in, etc. Witnes ouer hands • EDW. GAYNSEORD, 1 c h u r c b w a r d e n s . ElCHABD BUBGEN, J JOHN PIGGOTT, EICHAED SUTTON, THO. > Overseers. J COCKMAN, Eector. Tho. Wassett. Eich. Still. Eichard Streatfield. William Sutton. Artel Wicking. The marke of John I Banster. The marke of John I Knight. The marke of Harbrah [?] Gasson. Alex' Osborne. John . . . . [?]. Eichard Turner. John Carr. Eobert Swaysland. Eobert [?]. John Bridgland. John Culle. Tho. Carnell. Thomas Eastwood. Kent Ss. These are to certifye whom it may Concern that wee whose names are hereunto subscribed being Inhabitants of the Parrish of Edenbridge at a Vestry Mett nvour Parrish Church on the seventh Day of August 1709, upon a due consultaion. [sic] had between THE PALATINES. 325 us in rela'ion to the affair of the poor Distressed Germans of the Protestant Eeligion now in England, wee find our said Parish of Edenbridge to be replenished with such a multitude of Poor Native Inhabitants who in these deare times can hardly subsist themselves and familyes with their Labour, besides a great Number of antient and impotent People which are wholly maintained at the charge of the said Parish, that wee cannott receive any of the said Germans into our said Parish without a just fear and Apprehension, not only of the utter ruin and Impoverishment of many Familyes of our Poor native Inhabitants, but also that a great Increase will follow of the yearly Collections, which are already exceeding burdensome. E. Seyliard. Will"1 Saxby. Eob. Leigh. John Baset. Eobert Holmden. Edward Still. Edward Walter. John Stanford. Eichard Turner. The marke of John X King. Thomas [?]. The marke of Edmund £ King. John Eales. Adam Hasmer. August ye 13th, 1709. The Churchwarden of Eatonbridge brought ye Eesolutions of ye Vestry aboute ye receiveing of ye Palatinates, and will not receive any. Cowden appeared and take none. Hever appeared & take none. 'Westram appeared & take none. Penshurst appeared & take none. Shoreham appeared & take a family. Mr Stileman, Churchwarden of Otford, did appear, but left no note. The Churchwarden of 7 oakes appeared & desired further time. Brasted appeared aud take none. W. LAMBABD.