Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 38.djvu/333

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
Montjoy
327
Montresor

marriage on 12 Aug. 1319 (Fœdera, ii. 403). Isabella survived him, and died in 1326.

By Joanna Monthermer had two sons, Thomas and Edward, and a daughter Mary, who married Duncan, twelfth earl of Fife. Thomas de Monthermer was never summoned to parliament. During the early troubles of the reign of Edward III he supported Henry of Lancaster, for which he received pardon 30 July 1330 (Cal. Patent Rolls, Edward III, i. 547). He served in Scotland in 1333, 1335, and 1337, and was killed in the sea-fight off Sluys 24 June 1340 (Murimuth, p. 109). By his wife Margaret he left a daughter, Margaret de Monthermer, who married Sir John de Montacute, second son of William, first earl of Salisbury. Montacute was summoned to parliament in 1357, apparently in the right of his wife. This barony was afterwards merged in the earldom of Salisbury, and was finally forfeited at the death of Richard Neville, earl of Warwick [q. v.], in 1471. The titles of Viscount and Marquis of Monthermer were borne in the last century by the Dukes of Montagu, who claimed descent from Thomas de Monthermer. Edward de Monthermer served in Scotland in 1334, and, though the second son, was summoned to parliament in 1337; nothing further is known of him, and he does not seem to have left any heirs; he was buried by his mother at Stoke Clare (Weever, Funerall Monuments, p. 740).

[Walter de Hemingburgh (Engl. Hist. Soc.); Bartholomew Cotton; Chronicles of Edward I and Edward II; Rishanger; Trokelowe, Blaneforde, &c. (all in the Rolls Ser.); Cal. of Documents relating to Scotland; Fœdera (Record edit.); Nicolas's Song of Caerlaverock, pp. 277-279; Dugdale's Baronage, i. 217; Doyle's Official ii. 16.]

C. L. K.

MONTJOY. [See Mountjoy.]

MONTMORENCY, HERVEY de (fl. 1169), invader of Ireland. [See Mountmaurice.]

MONTRESOR, JAMES GABRIEL (1702–1776), director and colonel royal engineers, son and heir of James Gabriel Le Tresor, esq., of Thurland Hall, Nottinghamshire, and Nanon, daughter of Colonel de Hauteville of Normandy, but in the English service, was born at Fort William, Scotland, 19 Nov. 1702. His father, descended from William Le Tresor, Viscompte de Conde sur Mogleaux, was born at Caen, Normandy, and naturalised in England during the reign of William III. He was major of the 21st foot, and lieutenant-governor of Fort William, Scotland, where he died 29 Jan. 1724, aged 56.

Montresor was a matross at Mahon, Minorca, in 1727, with pay at Is. per diem. The following year he was at Gibraltar, where he was a bombardier at Is. 8d. per diem, and distinguished himself at the siege. He was given a commission as practitioner-engineer on 2 Oct. 1731, and on 5 April 1732 was gazetted an ensign in the 14th foot. In August he went to England on four months' leave of absence, but returned to Gibraltar, where his skill as a draughtsman and ability in the execution of works won him some distinction. On 23 July 1737 he was promoted lieutenant in the 14th foot, on 7 Feb. 1739 sub-engineer, and on 3 July 1742 engineer extraordinary. The following year he was sent to Port Mahon as engineer in ordinary, his commission dating from 5 Oct. 1743. He carried out his new charge with credit until 1747, when he was appointed on 2 Jan. chief engineer at Gibraltar, with pay of 20s. per diem, in succession to Skinner, required for duty in Scotland. As chief engineer he greatly improved the defences, and some thirty drawings in the war office testify to the numerous services he carried out between 1747 and 1754. On 17 Dec. 1752 he was promoted sub-director. In June 1754 he returned to England, and on 9 Nov. was appointed chief engineer of the expedition to North America under Major-general Braddock. He preceded the army in June 1755 to prepare roads for Braddock's advance from Alexandria in Virginia, over the Alleghany mountains, through a difficult and unexplored country. He was present on 9 July at the disastrous battle of Du Quesne, where he was wounded and lost all his baggage and the engineer stores. He made his way with the retreating army to Fort Cumberland, and thence on 2 Aug. to Philadelphia, and finally, under orders from General Shirley, Braddock's successor, he went to Albany, where he remained for seven months, preparing plans and projects for the ensuing campaign.

In 1756 Montresor surveyed Lake Champlain and the military positions in its vicinity, and produced a map of part of the lake, showing the forts of Edward and William and other defences. He designed in 1756 a typical field redoubt for use against the Indians, which was ordered to be generally adopted. By General Shirley's directions he went to Lake George, and he reported so unfavourably on a fort recently constructed that he was ordered to reconstruct it. Montresor was much consulted by Shirley, and attended all his councils of war at Albany. On 14 May 1757 he was gazetted major in the army, and on 4 Jan. 1758 he was promoted director and lieutenant-colonel.