# Protestant Exiles from France/Book First - Chapter 13 - Section XX

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XX. John Chalk Claris, Esq.
In my Chapter I. I noted a worthy refugee in London, a member of the French Church in Threadneedle Street, James Claris, a silk-weaver, born at Lille, who with Katherine, his wife, lived in Coleman Street Ward as a householder and denizen in 1571 having (himself at least) come to England in 1563. Probably of the same stock was another Jaques Claris, who settled at Canterbury, but was a native of Nieuhuis, a town near the frontier of the lordship of Overyssel. I know his name only through his son Germain, born at Nieuhuis in 1617. Germain C. married in the French Church of Canterbury, in 1642, Marie, daughter of Fulque Gloriez, a native of Canterbury. It was no disparagement to him that he was the door-keeper of the refugee church; in fact, a fine motto for a steadfast refugee would be, “I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God, than dwell in the tents of wickedness.” In that ecclesiastical capacity he died on 15th November 1692, aged seventy-five. Perhaps the senior Canterbury refugee of the name was Marc Claris; his son Jean, ​born in Canterbury, was marriageable in 1656, in which year he was betrothed to Dorcas, daughter of Pierre le Clerc. Another Jacques Claris appears in 1677; on 17th June of that year his daughter Elizabeth was baptized in Canterbury French Church, the witnesses being Esaie Claris and Ester Claris. Esaie Claris married Jeanne Le Keux, and I find the baptism of their son Gideon on 12th February 1682 (n.s.), and of their daughter Ester on 13th October 1689. About 1660 a Pierre Claris married Madeleine Bleuze. Their son, Pierre Claris, of Canterbury, was married in the French Church, Threadneedle Street, London, on Christmas 1691; his bride was Esther le Moreau (daughter of Elie le Moreau and Elizabeth Du Pierre). In the next century, on 10th April 1721, James Claris was episcopally married in the Cathedral of Canterbury, to Mary Villiers. I take some information from the Gentleman’s Magazine concering James Claris, of Canterbury, born in 1762, and John Chalk Claris, born in 1796, perhaps a father and son.
“May 1815. Died at Canterbury, aged fifty-three, Mr. James Claris, senior common-councilman, and bookseller of that city. In his profession his knowledge was most extensive; and as his general information on every subject made him a most instructive and agreeable companion, so the integrity of his heart, and mildness and benevolence of his temper, secured him the love and esteem of all who knew him. He will be long and deeply regretted by his family and friends; it was generally and truly remarked that he died without an enemy.”
“1866, January 10. Died at Canterbury, aged sixty-nine, John Chalk Claris, Esq., for nearly forty years editor of the Kent Herald. He was also the author of poetical works published under the name of Arthur Brooke; between the years 1814 and 1824.”
The Dictionary of Anonymous and Pseudonymous Literature ascribes to him “Retrospection and other Poems,” in one volume. The following are in the Library of the British Museum:—
(1.) Durovernum, with other poems. i2mo. London, 1818.
(2.) Thoughts and Feelings [in verse.] i2mo. London, 1820.
(3.) Elegy on the death of Percy Bysshe Shelley. 8vo. London, 1822.
*⁎* In 1571 Michel Clarisse was a settler at Sandwich, and one of the contributors to the poor. The surname is spelt in the same manner in the registration of the marriage at Canterbury in 1642; the spelling may have been phonetic, indicating that the final S was not mute. In the following century a clergyman of the family asserted his French descent by assuming the prefix De. The Rev. Peter de Claris was appointed Reader in the French Chapel Royal, St. James’ Palace, on 28th December 1724, and held this post until his death in 1737. The effect of the more dignified surname was, however, much spoilt by the clerk, who wrote it “Declaris,” and it is so indexed in Dr. Rimbault’s Camden Society Volume.