Protestant Exiles from France/Volume 2 - Book Third - Chapter 12 - Section VIII
Flournoys.
The family of Flournois, or Flournoys, were early sufferers for their Scriptural faith. After the massacre at Vassy in 1562, Laurent Flourrois took refuge in Geneva, and two families were founded by his sons Gideon and Jean — descendants of. the offspring of both sons are believed still to exist in America. The second son of Gideon was Jacques, and the latter had four sons, one of whom, named Pierre, settled in England.
It is probable that the parents of the refugee had again settled in the land of their fathers. In the stream of French refugees from the dragonnades Peter Flournoys came to England, and he was naturalized on the 28th June 1682 (see List vi.). Although I have found no indication of his occupations for more than thirty years after the above date, yet he had evidently proved himself to be an able and accomplished man, and had obtained the approbation and esteem of the Earl of Sunderland, who perhaps employed him as a tutor to his sons. This led to his appointment by King George I. as tutor to his lordship’s nephews. In the Patent-Rolls, under date 17th March 1715, His Majesty declares, “We are graciously pleased to allow for and towards the maintenance of the late Countess of Clancarty’s children and for their education in the Protestant religion, the annuity or yearly pension of £1000, and the same shall be paid to the hand of our trusty and well-beloved Peter Flournoys, Esq., as from last Christmas, during pleasure.” A few months thereafter his name occurs along with Mr. Delafaye; and this suggests (what may be concluded to be certain) that the Earl of Galway was the original friend and patron who had introduced him to Lord Sunderland:— “3d September 1715. The office of Taster of all wines and other liquors imported into Ireland, and of Surveyor of the duties and defects of the same, is granted to Peter Flournois and Charles Delafaye, Esqs.” Mr. Flournois must have been known at the dinner-tables of the upper classes. At a later date he received the office of Clerk of the Robes and Wardrobes to his Majesty. He died in 1719. In his Will he remembers his pupils “Lord Muskerry and his brother Mr. Justin Maccarty.” He leaves books and pictures to his dear friend, Lord Spenser [eldest son of the Earl of Sunderland]; and we infer that they must have been of some value, when proposed to form part of the treasures of the AEdes Althorpianae. He mentions his brother Anthony Flournoys with two sons and one daughter, an unmarried brother James, and a sister Elizabeth, wife of Monsieur Veillier with two sons (Gaspard and John James) and three daughters. He leaves £50 to poor-boxes in Geneva, £50 to French Protestant Refugees in England, £10 to the poor of St. James’s, Westminster, and £100 to the French Hospital of the Pest-House. The Will was sworn to by Rev. Nicholas Clagett in December 1719, but probate was delayed till July 1720, for the evidence of John Walker, ironmonger, and Philip De Noyer, bookseller. A witness to the signature was Isaac Garnier. The Executors were René de la Combe de Clusell and Rev. Philip Mesnard.