Rector - David Comarque (1700-1747)
David Comarque K4K8-BXM was born c.1700 in London to his French parents Isabeau Bories and Jean Comarque, a captain in the British service. He had two older brothers, Renauld and Jean Jacques and a sister, Marguerite who were all born in the Netherlands.
The reason for this is that the family were Huguenots (French Protestants) and were fleeing France to escape the devastation there in the 17th century. Huguenots – Wikipedia
The Huguenot Society of Great Britain & Ireland outline the Comarque’s journey from France to England.
David Comarque attended Corpus Christ College, Cambridge in 1717 and graduated with a BA in 1720. He was ordained as a deacon in 1723 and obtained an MA in 1726. His first appointment was as the headmaster of Colchester School 1726-27 and according to Geoffrey H. Martin in ‘The History of Colchester Royal Grammar School’, David was keen to encourage new students to the school.
In 1727, he was ordained as a priest and after his time at Colchester, David was appointed vicar of Alresford church in Essex until 1730. After this he was presented to the living as the next rector of Halsall by Peter Walter of the parish of St. Margaret, Westminster, London; this appointment began on 28th May 1730, when he was approximately 30 years old.
David married Henrietta Reneu KZJX-4F3 on 25th January 1731 at St. Martin’s church, Outwich, London. She was the daughter of Elizabeth Cox and the late Pierre Reneu, a London merchant who was naturalised in England in 1677, having fled France as a French protestant. Protestant Exiles from France/Volume 2 – Book Third – Chapter 12 – Section XVII – Wikisource, the free online library
Pierre Reneu had died just a couple of years earlier and must have been a person of some notoriety and/or wealth as he was buried inside St. Mary’s church as can be seen in the burial records.
David and Henrietta had four known daughters: Mary, Esther, Sarah and Elizabeth all born in the 1730s when he was rector at St. Cuthbert’s. However, the children were baptised in Putney, London perhaps as Reverend David had also been appointed rector of Putney in 1739. In 1745, their son, John was born and baptised in Putney.
According to the Clergy of the Church of England Database, Reverend David was appointed domestic chaplain to Henrietta, Duchess Dowager of Gordon who was the widow of General Alexander Gordon, the 2nd Duke of Gordon. Henrietta’s maiden name being Mordaunt, research has shown she was the cousin of Colonel Charles Mordaunt MSMW-P2V of Halsall Hall.
The year 1746 was a devastating year for the Comarque family; their baby, John passed away in September and Reverend David fell ill later that year. He made his will on 6th December in which, amongst other requests, he asked that his funeral be performed with ‘frugality’. In January 1747, Reverend David Comarque died; he was buried on 10th January at St. Mary’s church, Putney, Surrey.
Henrietta died in 1767 and was buried inside the church of St. Mary’s, Putney on 23rd November.
