Protestant Exiles from France/Volume 2 - Book Third - Chapter 24 - De Veille
De Veille. — Thomas, son of Rev. Dr. Hans de Veille (“a man of great parts, extensive learning, and of a good family in Lorraine,” afterwards a refugee clergyman in London, and Librarian at Lambeth by the favour of Tillotson), was born in St. Paul’s Churchyard in 1684. Thomas De Veille was apprenticed to a mercer in London about 1700. In course of time his master became bankrupt, and Thomas enlisted in the army as a private, and went with his regiment to Portugal. His facility for acquiring languages, and his zeal and acuteness, recommended him to General Henri de Ruvigny, Earl of Galway, who first made him his secretary (his signature in this capacity, Tho. De Veille, is before me), and then gave him a troop of dragoons. When Captain De Veille, on the reduction of his regiment, retired on half-pay, he had to increase his income by his business talents, and became celebrated as a London Justice, the services of which office were then paid by fees. Justice De Veille, for his great courage and management in suppressing the riots of 1735, received the honour of knighthood. In 1738 he was made Inspector-General of exports and imports in the Custom House, with £1000 a year, which he has taken great pains to deserve (says the cotemporary Historical Register). Sir Thomas, who was also Colonel of the Westminster Militia, died in 1746, aged sixty-two. He had, by two wives, twenty-five children, most of whom died young; he was four times married. His eldest son, the Rev. Hans de Veille, predeceased him. His only surviving son, Thomas, was an officer in the army.