Stanley Rondeau, Huguenot
If you visit Nicholas Hawksmoor’s Christ Church, Spitalfields on any given Tuesday, you will find Stanley Rondeau – where he works unpaid one day each week, welcoming visitors and handing out guides to the building. The architecture is of such magnificence, arresting your attention, that you might not even notice this quietly spoken white-haired gentleman sitting behind a small table just to the right of the entrance, who comes here weekly on the train from Enfield. But if you are interested in local history, then Stanley is one of the most remarkable people you could hope to meet, because his great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather Jean Rondeau was a Huguenot immigrant who came to Spitalfields in 1685.
“When visiting a friend in Suffolk in 1980, I was introduced to the local vicar who became curious about my name and asked me ‘Are you a Huguenot?’” explained Stanley with a quizzical grin.“I didn’t even know what he meant.” he added, revealing the origin of his life-changing discovery,” So I went to Workers’ Educational Association evening classes in Genealogy and that was how it started. I’ve been at it now for thirty years. My own family history came first, but when I learnt that Jean Rondeau’s son John Rondeau was Sexton of Christ Church, I got involved in Spitalfields. And now I come every Tuesday as a volunteer and I like being here in the same building where he was. They refer to me as ‘a piece of living history’, which is what I am really. Although I have never lived here, I feel I am so much part of the area.”
Jean Rondeau was a serge weaver born in 1666 in Paris into a family that had been involved in weaving for three generations. Escaping persecution for his Protestant faith, he came to London and settled in Brick Lane, fathering twelve children. Jean had such success as weaver in London that in 1723 he built a fine house, number four Wilkes St, in the style that remains familiar to this day in Spitalfields. It is a measure of Jean’s integration into British society that his name is to be discovered on a document of 1728 ensuring the building of Christ Church, alongside that of Edward Peck who laid the foundation stone. Peck is commemorated today by the elaborate marble monument next to the altar, where I took Stanley’s portrait which you can see above.
Jean’s son John Rondeau was a master silk weaver and in 1741 he commissioned textile designs from Anna Maria Garthwaite, the famous designer of Spitalfields silks, who lived at the corner of Princelet St adjoining Wilkes St. As a measure of John’s status, in 1745 he sent forty-seven of his employees to join the fight against Bonnie Prince Charlie. Appointed Sexton of the church in 1761 until his death in 1790, when he was buried in the crypt in a lead coffin labelled “John Rondeau, Sexton of this Parish,” his remains were exhumed at the end of twentieth century and transported to the Natural History Museum for study.
“Once I found that the crypt was cleared, I made an appointment at the Natural History Museum, where Dr Molleson showed his bones to me.” admitted Stanley, widening his eyes in wonder. “She told me he was eighty-five, a big fellow – a bit on the chubby side, yet with no curvature of the spine, which meant he stood upright. It was strange to be able to hold his bones, because I know so much about his history.”, Stanley told me in a whisper of amazement, as we sat together, alone in the vast empty church that would have been equally familiar to John the Sexton.
In 1936, a carpenter removing a window sill from an old warehouse in Cutler St that was being refurbished was surprised when a scrap of paper fell out. When unfolded, this long strip was revealed to be a ballad in support of the weavers, demanding an Act of Parliament to prevent the cheap imports that were destroying their industry. It was written by James Rondeau, the grandson of John the Sexton who was recorded in directories as doing business in Cutler St between 1809 and 1816. Bringing us two generations closer to the present day, James Rondeau author of the ballad was Stanley’s great-great-great-grandfather. It was three generations later, in 1882, that Stanley’s grandfather left Sclater St and the East End for good, moving to Edmonton when the railway opened. And subsequently Stanley grew up without any knowledge of Huguenots or the Spitalfields connection, until that chance meeting in 1980 leading to the discovery that he is an eighth generation British Huguenot.
“When I retired twelve years ago, it gave me a new purpose.” said Stanley, cradling the slender pamphlet he has written entitled, “The Rondeaus of Spitalfields.” “It’s a story that must not be forgotten because we were the originals, the first wave of immigrants that came to Spitalfields,” he declared. Turning the pages slowly, as he contemplated the sense of connection that the discovery of his ancestry has given him, he admitted, “It has made a big difference to my life, and when I walk around in Christ Church today I can imagine my ancestor John the Sexton walking about in here, and his father Jean who built the house in Wilkes St. I can see the same things he did, and when I am able to hear the great eighteenth century organ, once it is restored, I can know that my ancestor played it and heard the same sound.”
There is no such thing as an old family, just those whose histories are recorded. We all have ancestors – although few of us know who they were, or have undertaken the years of research Stanley Rondeau has done, bringing him into such vivid relationship with his ancestors. I think it has granted him an enviably broad sense of perspective, seeing himself against a wider timescale than his own life. History has become personal for Stanley Rondeau in Spitalfields.
The silk design at the top was commissioned from Anna Maria Garthwaite by Jean Rondeau in 1742. (5981.9A Victoria and Albert Museum. Photo courtesy of V&A images)
4 Wilkes St built by Jean Rondeau in 1723. Pictured here seen from Puma Court in the nineteen twenties, it was destroyed by a bomb in World War II and is today the site of Suskin’s Textiles.
The copy of James Rondeau’s song discovered under a window sill in Cutler St in 1936.
Stanley Rondeau standing in the churchyard near his home in Enfield, at the foot of the grave of John the Sexton’s son and grandson (the author of the song) both called James Rondeau, and who coincidentally also settled in Enfield.
Absolutely fascinating!
Very interesting, well done Stan, pleased to be part of the wider Rondeau family
Until you start to do family history for yourself you will never know the wonder and joy it brings. Some people may say they’re not bothered about it all but i defy anyone not to be moved by some of the stories that you can uncover by following this fascinating pastime/hobby/compulsion !
I found this post really interesting all the more so because of Stanley’s direct connection to the past and the fact that he has chosen to be a part of his family’s continuing story.
Wonderful story, from chance meeting with a vicar to the chance find of a century old ballad. The serendipity of our lives never ceases to amaze me.
A fascinating story.
There’s a kind of legend that my family had Huguenot links. I’ve never managed to confirm that, although my father claimed his mother had obtained a grant from the Hugenot Society for my fathers’ older brother. It could have been some kind of educational grant, but very early in my researches, many years ago, I proved it to be untrue. Just another family legend?
Probably, but very recently I’ve come across a number of families with the name ‘le Dent’ living in and around the town of Guines in northern France at the tine of the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. Shortly afterward they star turning up in the marriage registers of ‘the Huguenot church in Spitalfields. There’s a Dutch researcher who has found these and many other similar families.
I’ve absolutely no proof that I have any connection to any of them, but the whole thing is very tantalising. I wonder on which days of the week Mr Rondeau visits Christ Church? I’d love to meet him.
Cheers,
Roy
I forgot to add to my original message that all my Dent family that I have found so far were silk weavers in Spitalfields and neighbouring areas during the first half of the 19th century.
cheers,
Roy
Hello Stan, really interested article,can’t imagine anyone these days bothering to read a scrap of paper tucked away like the one hidden in the window,lucky he did! Look forward to seeing you to have another chat, bye for now Manuela
This story was wonderful. I have done genealogical work on my family, but, oh, that I could have such a rich story to tell ! This was delightful and so rich. Thanks for researching this and writing such a clear and full story. The photos are wonderful.
Hello there,
Have just realised I am related to you Stanley!
I am a decendent from Jean Rondeau 1666, down through John Rondeau 1706, John Rondeau 1754, Thomas Rondeau 1794, Thomas Rondeau 1819, Thomas Rondeau 1845, Thomas Rondeau 1869, Leonard Rondeau 1901, Elsie Moys Nee Rondeau 1931, Chrisitine Harris Nee Moys 1960, then me Jayne Harris 1988!
Wow! Am so impressed to have found this x
Hi Stanley
Are you related to Ellen Rondeau 1885-1960? We’re doing some geneology research and this is our relative. Would be great to hear from you to see if our family trees link up.
Regards
Claire
I was the person who spoke to you on Tuesday last about my Huguenot ancestry, and we found that your ancestor John, the sextant, most probably buried my ancestor Ann Lemaire! It was most interesting talking to you and I will call again sometime soon.
Claire,
Ellen Rondeau (1885-1960) was my great grandmother! How are we related?
Lesley
Stanley,
If you can, would you give me email address to Claire so she can contact me directly regarding Ellen Rondeau, please?
Many thanks
Lesley (6 x great granddughter to John The Sexton Rondeau)
Hi Claire,
You can see my family tree here:
http://www.happe.tribalpages.com
Hope you come back to read this, I’m intrigued to know how we’re related!
Lesley
Stanley , could you contact me my ancestor was Elizabeth Rondeau born 1741 baptised in St Olaves City of London , married Benjamin Hooper in Spittalfields and died in 1805. her father was James Rondeau and her mother Anne. I believe we are related
best regards
Sarah
Hi Stanley,
Sarah here again . I hope you are keeping well.I have a query with regard to my ancestor Benjamin Hooper who married Elizabeth Rondeau.
I am unable to find any record of Benjamins parentage. We know he married Elizabeth in 1764 at Christchurch Spitalfields. I have had a copy of his will translated and he leaves all his estate to his son George. However the estate is called Barton Hill Farm and lands and possibly a poperty called Tilleys Court and is in Brstol (Gloucester in the 1700′s).
I am intruiged to know how Benjamin came to own property in Bristol (Could it have been to do with the weaving and the port of Bristol or is it that the family are related to Bishop John Hooper who was from a wealthy Somerset family.
Would there be any records at Spitalfield of his parentage since he was Baptised there as I need some names dates and locations to continue my search to make the links.
many thanks
yours in anticipation
Sarah Louise catterall (nee Hooper Gilvear)
How interesting. My husbands ancestors were silk weavers and loom brokers at number 15 Sclater St and Bacon St . Possible neighbours of your ancestors .William Saunders was father of Robert Vincent Saunders who married Martha Duce. We’ve always wondered if the Duces ,also weavers ,were Huegenots. Also Vincent seems to have some meaning, which we haven’t found yet, as there are Robert Vincent Saunders coming down the line to now. Nice to keep the silk weavers history alive.
My family and I had the honor of meeting Mr. Stanley Rondeau during a vaction to the UK last month. As a Huguenot descendant I found his personal reflections on both his family and the French Protestant Refugees at Christ Church in Spitafields to be one of the highlights of our trip.
I have like yourself, just recently discoverd that my pre- decessors were of Huguenot decent. They settled in London in the 15 hundreds, although the family name can be traced back in England to 1298.
From 1675 they can be traced in St Boltoph’s Church Algate, then to Canterbury Kent where Henry Grew a silk Weaver jouneyman met his then to be wife Elizabeth Bentot. Both these names appear in the marriage records of Christ Church Spitalfields. My great great great great grandfather Obadiah Grew was therir son who was baptised in Whites Row Huguenot Chapel in 1735, record kept in Christ Church. many of his kinsmen and forebears were also chritened and buried at this church and later at St Mathews Bethnal Green some were married and christened at the Huguenot Chrrch theadneedle Street.
I would very much like to meet you as regards our common ancestry.
Best regards.
Daniel Grew
Interested to read a prior comment about Duces also being possible Heguenot silk weavers. I have been trying to research this possibility after being told this years ago by my grandfather. No luck yet on any firm evidence, but I do know there was a large Huguenot or Walloon population in Camb/Suffolk, where my ancestors seem to hale from.
I met Stanley at a Huguenot Society meeting recently, he is such an interesting person as you can well imagine by the above fascinating story and his enthusiasm gave me the incentive to put more energy in tracing my ancestors further back to what I have searched so far, so a big thank you Stanley.
Keep well.
Kristine Jacobs
I was out for a walk with a mate today and called in to have a look at the interior of Christ Church, started talking to a guy at the desk ,turned out to be Stan….what a bloody fantastic story…to meet the descendant of someone so much part of the areas history ….lovely fella