The second Lodge was ‘De la Justice et de l’Union’.
When Peace was declared, the French Masons at Ashby disposed of their Lodge furniture to the ‘Royal Sussex’, No. 353, of Repton, in Derbyshire. In 1869 the Lodge removed to Winshill, Burton-on-Trent, where the furniture is still used.
There is the register of three burials:
1806. Étienne Lenon. 1807. François Rabin. 1808. Xavier Mandelier.
Here, as elsewhere, the Frenchmen gave proofs of their skill in fine handiwork. They did ornamental work in several new houses; they taught the townsfolk the art of crochet-work (I quote from Mr. Scott); they were artists, carvers, &c. Some of the officers worshipped in the Baptist Church, and became members of it. The conversion of Captain Le Jeune is an interesting little story. Shocked by certain phases and features of the Roman Catholic religion, he became a deist and finally an atheist, and during the Revolution joined readily in the ill-treatment of priests. At San Domingo he was taken prisoner in 1804, and sent to Ashby on parole. Four years later the death of his father very deeply impressed him, and he began to think seriously about the existence of God. A fellow prisoner, De Serre, a member of the Baptist Church in Ashby, a devout Christian, became intimate with him, persuaded him to join the Church, and he finally became an active and zealous missionary in his own country; and until his death corresponded with the Ashby pastors, and particularly with the Rev. Joseph Goadly, who exercised an wholesome and powerful influence among the French prisoners of war.
CHAPTER XXX
PAROLE LIFE: SUNDRY NOTES (continued)
Ashburton, Devon
Mr. J. H. Amery says in Devon Notes and Queries:
‘We can hardly credit the fact that so little reliable information or even traditional legend, remains in the small inland market towns where so many officers were held prisoners on parole until as recently as 1815. It certainly speaks well for their conduct, for had any tragedy been connected with their stay, tradition would have preserved its memory and details. For several years prior to 1815 a number of educated foreigners formed a part of the society of our towns. At one time they were lively Frenchmen, at others sober Danes or spendthrift Americans. They lodged and boarded in the houses of our tradesmen; they taught the young people modern languages, music and dancing; they walked our streets and roads, and took a general interest in passing events; yet to-day hardly a trace can be discovered of their presence beyond a few neglected mile-stones on our country roads, and here and there a grave in our Parish churchyards. This is particularly the case with Ashburton.’
He goes on to say that he got more information about the American prisoners at Ashburton from a Bostonian who was at the post-office there, making inquiries, than from anyone else. This Bostonian’s grandfather was a naval surgeon who had been captured on the Polly; had been sent to Dartmoor, but was released on parole to Ashburton.