Protestant Exiles from France/Volume 2 - Book Third - Chapter 20 - La Trobe-Bateman

2911437Protestant Exiles from France — Volume 2 - Book Third - Chapter 20 - La Trobe-BatemanDavid Carnegie Andrew Agnew

La Trobe-Bateman. — The family of La Trobe early joined the Protestant Reformers of France; it ranked among the noblesse of Languedoc, and was settled in the neighbourhood of Montauban. They joined the loyal army against the League in the reign of Henri III., and adhered steadfastly to Henri IV. One of the family earned distinction by his defence of the fortress of Verlhac near Montauban. In the reign of Louis XIV. the head of the family was Henri de La Trobe, Comte Boneval, whose wife’s maiden name was Adelaide Montmorencie. Their son, Jean Henri Boneval de La Trobe, became a refugee in Holland in 1685, and came to England with the Prince of Orange. This noble refugee is the ancestor of families in England, Holland, and America. His son, James La Trobe, married Miss Thornton, and had a son, Benjamin, born in Dublin in 1728. This was the Rev. Benjamin La Trobe, who was educated at the University of Glasgow, and formed an Independent Congregation in Dublin. In course of time he joined the Unitas Fratrum or Moravian Church, and became minister of the Brethren’s Church at Fulneck in Yorkshire. Mr. La Trobe next removed to London as superintendent of the Brethren’s congregations in England, and there he died on 29th November 1786. The Moravian Missions, so justly admired, were under his chief management; in this charge he was succeeded by his son, Rev. Christian Ignatius La Trobe, who also was succeeded by his son.

The Rev. Benjamin La Trobe had married Anna Margaret, daughter of Colonel John Henry Antes, of Fredericks county, Pennsylvania, and by her had, besides his three sons, a daughter, Mary-Agnes. (As the La Trobes were ministers and authors, I shall return to them.)

Mary Agnes La Trobe was married to John Bateman, Esq. (born 1772, died 1851), of Wyke in Yorkshire, afterwards of Ockbrook, Derbyshire. Her eldest son, John Frederic, born in 1810, is now of Moor Park in Surrey, F.R.S.S., L. and E.; he married, in 1841, Anne, the only daughter of the late Sir William Fairbairn, baronet, LL.D., F.R.S., corresponding member of the Institute of France. By baptismal names both father and son shewed their regard for the memory of the La Trobes; and the latter, at the earnest request of the family, assumed, in 1883, by Royal License, the surname and arms of La Trobe, and is now John Frederic La Trobe-Bateman, Esq., F.R.S.; his eldest son, is Rev. William Fairbairn La Trobe-Bateman, M.A., Incumbent of St. John’s, Upper Norwood, Surrey.