Comments on: Remembering Jean Rondeau the Huguenot

By: Rita Sullivan

Rita Sullivan — Sat, 23 Aug 2025 11:15:27 +0000

My mothers family was named Plunkett and we have reason to believe one of her ancestors married Rondeau way back in the early 1800s
The photo of descendants of the Rondeau’s has really surprised us as my sister has a striking resemblance of the lady standing in the front row on the left.in fact it is as though my sister was standing there with exact stance of saudd lady.
Is it possible for someone in that photo to contact me please.
Regards
Rita Sullivan

By: Sharon Bessell

Sharon Bessell — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 19:51:47 +0000

I have just stumbled upon this in my family tree research. How fascinating this all is. Jean is my 5th Great grandfather and I am going to visit Christchurch, Spitalfields on Friday with my daughter.

Has Marney and Stanley’s research been published anywhere? I would love to get a copy.

By: Geraldine Petherbridge

Geraldine Petherbridge — Wed, 28 Oct 2020 10:17:03 +0000

My late mother always said that we had Huguenot ancestors. When I was researching the family tree, I found that my great great great grandmother was Matilda Happe, a silk weaver from Spitalfields. Unfortunately, I can not find any records of her prior to her marriage in Hackney in 1833. I believe she was born in 1809 in Bethnal Green, but I do not know who her parents were. One of the witnesses at her marriage was Charles Happe, but I can not find out what relation she was to him.
I was reading your article and was very excited to see the photograph of Beryl Happe. I wonder if we might be related. If you have any information about the Happe family I would be very grateful. Thank you.

By: Frances Ingram

Frances Ingram — Sat, 14 Jan 2017 11:52:23 +0000

I’m quite blown away to find out in one day that I have Hugenot ancestors & having Hugenot ancestors is a “thing”. I am descended from Elizabeth Rondeau via her marriage to Benjamin Hooper. Their great grandson came to the Antipodes at His Majesty’s pleasure & went on to bring into the world a large and successful family. His descendants still farm around the Carcoar area near Bathurst, N.S.W.

It’s also nice to know where mum’s nose came from.

By: Emmanuel Rondeau

Emmanuel Rondeau — Wed, 03 Aug 2016 15:00:42 +0000

I have been working for six years in Spitafields, but only discovered today this great story. All the more interested as my son’s first name is Jean.
Happy to be part of ‘the French friends of Jean Rondeau huguenot.’

By: Miff Crommelin

Miff Crommelin — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 09:16:01 +0000

I would like to know more about a Jaques Rondeau who lived in Kent around 1686. I believe he was a Huguenot pastor in France before settling in the vicinity of Hollingbourne, England. In 1686 he wrote a lovely letter of encouragement to a distant ancestor, Marie Camin, when she was in confinement at a Catholic convent in Dieppe. She was captured after trying to flee to England.

You can read the letter on my family website:
http://www.crommelin.org/history/Biographies/Frederic/Year1686-1.htm
(the last letter on the page, at the bottom)

This page is part of a larger translation project of old letters written in the late 1600’s and early 1700’s.
http://www.crommelin.org/history/Biographies/Frederic/index.htm

Any information about Jaques Rondeau would be much appreciated…

Sincerely,
Miff Crommelin

By: Mrs. Rita Sullivan

Mrs. Rita Sullivan — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 15:32:51 +0000

I believe I am an ancestor of John Rondeau who married a Sarah ? In the late 1700 they had at least one child ( born 1788) named Sarah who went on to marry. John Poyton.
All the above seem to have been in the silk weaver trade.
Can anyone out there tell me the first Sarah,s maiden name please
Regards Rita Sullivan

By: Sarah Catterall

Sarah Catterall — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 18:04:22 +0000

I Have just walked in the footsteps of my ancestors and paid a visit to Christchurch Spitalfields. A wonderful feeling .Unfortunately I missed Stanley Rondeau and the plaque. Please can you advertise the next Rondeau gathering as I would like to be there to share my story. My ancestor Benjamin Hooper married Elizabeth Rondeau and all 12 of their children were baptised at Christchurch.

By: laura simons

laura simons — Thu, 26 Dec 2013 17:17:07 +0000

Hi there. I have had my family tree traced back to the rondeau family who were silk weavers in spitalfields.

i am fascinated by it all.

Laura simons( maybe sitton) due to my grandad being adopted by a simmons and changed by my grandad changed it to get married. ( he was under age)

By: kate martin

kate martin — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 18:37:16 +0000

I too have Hugenot blood in my veins! My relatives came in 1700 or thereabouts; the family name is Nadal. I can find very little reference to anyone of that name, and yet they supposedly refined the method of ‘Watered Silk’. Does anybody have any leads or info for me?