David Carnegie Andrew Agnew

“ His petition was granted, on the understanding that it was an exceptional case, it being the rule that “no stranger of ane other nation shall have liberty.” Before the close of the year the music-school in Aberdeen desired a teacher, and he hastened to divest himself of his office in Edinburgh, and “Lues de France” was admitted master of the music school at Aberdeen on 24th November 1675 (see the printed Extracts in the Burgh Records Society’s publication) . ”

“ Dec. 8. There was published in Scotland an Act for the Naturalisation of Strangers of the Protestant Religion, that should bring their Estates, or set up new Works and Manufactures amongst them.”
Such an Act may be accounted for by the condition of the Protestants of France at that date. ”

“ I have already alluded to the probability that the welcome given to Huguenot refugees by Scotland brought a Huguenot element into the population. The result of searches made in parochial registers and minutes of Commissary Courts is scanty. The Edinburgh registers begin early in 1595. On 16th June 1595 there is the marriage of Andro Groser to Christiane Neilsonne. There is a conjecture that the surname of Grosart is of French refugee origin; perhaps we have found the veritable refugee. At the baptism of his first child, Francis, on 24th November 1596, the witnesses were Francis Naper and Mr. ”

“ The reason may be that the Town Councils of Royal Burghs could give them permission to reside and trade in towns, and thus no certificate of naturalisation was requisite, it being unlikely that any would resort to rural dwellings. ”