My last few blogs have been about Leen Arie's Huguenot ancestors, as I mentioned in my blog of June 2018, his 8th great grandfather Ludovicus De La Coste and his family were forced to flee the safe city of La Rochelle in the Autumn of 1684. They arrived at first in Rotterdam and resided for a time in Dordrecht, Ludovicus remained in Holland and became a vicar in the Protestant church. His parents eventually travelled further to Geneva in Switzerland and his two sisters to London.
His brother Jean studied Medicine at the University of Utrecht and after his graduation also moved to London where he married Maria Suzanne Assaily.
The father of Jean and Ludovicus died in London in April 1706 and left his son Ludovicus 500 pounds sterling and Jean 120 pounds sterling and an annuity of 24 pounds.
Jean's name became anglicised to John, and he became a practicing physician in London, he and his wife had seven children.
Up until now I hadn't been able to find out anything more about Jean, until today when I was checking out the wonderful website www.londonlives.org . This website contains among many other things accounts of criminal trials at the Old Bailey, and it was at one of these criminal trials on the 6th of September 1716 that Dr. John De La Coste appeared as a witness, and it had to do with the Mug-House Riots.
To be honest I had never heard of the Mug-House Riots before today, but Google is a wonderful searching tool in order to learn new things.
First of all a Mug House was a gathering place of Hanoverian supporters, a sort of Ale house were everyone brought their own mug and met together to discuss politics and sing songs.
Queen Anne had recently passed away without an heir, so in order to ensure a Protestant Monarch, George the Electorate of Hannover, who had a slight claim to the throne, was invited to come over and become King George I. Anne's deposed father James had a son by his second marriage who had a much stronger claim to the throne, but he was Catholic, so his claim was passed over even though he had many supporters, the Jacobites.
During 1716 there were many skirmishes between the Jacobites and the Hanoverian supporters, these were called Mug-house riots. On the 24 July 1716 there was a "mug-house" riot in Salisbury Court, when Hanoverian whig loyalists celebrating an anniversary at Robert Read's alehouse were attacked by a Jacobite mob. With his life and his property at the mercy of the rioters, Robert Read opened fire with a blunderbuss and Daniel Vaughan was killed. Read was tried for murder at the Old Bailey and there was conflicting evidence about the role of Daniel Vaughan in the riot. Some witnesses claimed he did not have a stick in his hand, while others testified that he led the mob, and that they called him Vinegar or Little Daniel. Read was acquitted.
It was at this trial that Dr John De La Coste gave evidence, having been in the Mug-house at the time of the attack. Here follows is his statement -
"Dr. John De la Caste deposed, that he went with three Gentlemen through the Mob into the Mug-house that Tuesday about eleven a Clock in the Forenoon, and they followed him almost to the Door. When he saw Mr. Read the Prisoner, he asked him what Provision was in the House for a Defence; and finding none, he wrote a Letter to the Lord Townsend, to inform his Lordship of their Danger, and blamed the Prisoner for not doing so before; and by and by he heard a small Gun go off, which he thought was a Warning-gun for the Mob to fall on; for immediately after they did so with great Fury; and he, being above Stairs with some other Gentlemen, they got out at a Window behind the House; and the Sexton of the Church had the Cruelty to turn a Mastiss loose upon them; but they drew their Swords and told him, they were on the Defence of their Lives, and if he did not call him off, they might be under a necessity of killing the Dog and him too; upon which he called him off: and about a quarter or half an Hour after, he heard the Gun go off which he believ'd kill'd the Man.
Then Dr. De le Coste said he had something more that was material to offer, and standing up, depos'd, That he heard too some of the Mob say, the Duke of Ormond, and some the Duke of Berwick, was landed with 20000 Men. That the Friday-Night before he was Chairman at the same Mug-house; and he received Information, that the Mob threatned to pull it down that Night; and fearing he should want Assistance, he sent a Messenger to the Loyal Society in Tavistock-street , desiring their Company and Assistance if Need should be, on that Occasion, who came very readily and disperst the Mob, so that no Mischief was done that Night; but a few of them went by with a Harp and Fiddle, playing The King shall enjoy his own again. Then the Court told him, that since he said he had been Chairman of that Mug-house; he would do well now he was upon his Oath to give an Account of their Orders and Behaviour. Upon which he told him, That about 8 a Clock at Night the President generally enters the Chair, and after profound Silence is made, they always begin a hearty Mug to the Health and Prosperity of His Most Sacred Majesty King GEORGE; some time after that another to their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales and their Issue, and all the Royal Family; a third to the Glorious and Immortal Memory of the late King William, and seldom or never miss a fourth to the Prosperity of the Church of England, sometimes with a supplement, as wishing she may never want Power nor Inclination to protect and encourage all Protestants, and sometimes without; for the rest, if any are inclined to stay longer, they fill up the Time with other Loyal Healths of lesser Note, as the Chairman or President shall think proper; but never to the Confusion or Damnation of any Person or Thing, as the Enemies to the Government and theirs have falsly given out."
I can fully understand that after all the persecution that John and his family underwent in France under a Catholic Monarch, that he enthusiastically supported a Protestant Monarch.
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