David Carnegie Andrew Agnew

“ Pierre Le Keux was born after his father’s death, after which event we hear of the family as residents in London, and prospering in silk-weaving. His wealth became assured by his marriage to a rich wife, Marie, daughter of Pierre Marescaux; this event took place in Threadneedle Street Church, on 7th August 1681 (although the registrar failed to ascertain the lady’s name) . Mr. Le Keux joined the first regiment of the Tower Hamlets Militia; we find him styled Major Peter Le Keux in 1698, and he rose to be Lieutenant-Colonel. The line was carried on by his surviving son, William. ”

“ This French refugee family were of long standing in Canterbury; the true surname was Le Queux. If K was substituted for Qu, in order to guide the English to the right pronunciation, the final X ought at the same time to have been struck off; that might have prevented the intrusion of the absurd sound of CKS. The first name on record is Antoine le Keux. He came to Canterbury in or before 1585. This we infer from the fact that his three sons, the eldest of whom entered into the marriage state in 1608, were born in Canterbury. ”

“ We return to the elder son of old Jean Le Keux, of Canterbury, who also was named Jean; he was baptized at Canterbury on 19th December 1647, and married in the City of London French Church, on 16th June 1672, to Susanne Didier, daughter of Abraham Didier and Lea Mancke. He had, with many other children, a son, Pierre, and a daughter, Jeanne. The son, Captain Peter Le Keux, of Steward Street, Spitalfields, Weaver, was baptized in the City of London French Church, 17th February 1683-4, and married, at St. ”