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My 4 x great grandfather John Claudius de Saint Laurent was French but I cannot trace him in France

Bath newspaper 1700s announces his (or perhaps father’s) arrival there along with a number of titled people. Baptism of his daughter in a Bath Catholic church in 1785 His marriage in Dublin Cathedral in 1790 Birmingham newspaper advertises him as a professor of French in 1803, 1817 – stating he is a native of Paris, working in Birmingham since 1800. His daughter’s marriage in Birmingham in 1811 (and advert as bonnet maker in 1806) Buried at Stafford St Mary’s on 7th March 1831 aged 65 whereupon daughter advertises in Dublin newspaper for his other children to come forward for inheritance.

My grandmother told me that a several times great uncle was an Admiral in Napoleon’s Navy and that the family emigrated to avoid the guillotine. She couldn’t remember any names but I have found a number of senior French Naval personnel including a Vice Admiral with the surname Laurent – though I haven’t managed to link any of them to John Claudius or to a Jean Claude etc. Curiously, I have come across a John Claudius Laurent who was about 20 in 1719 when he met John Claridge, the founder of the Quakers, in London and told him he was from Tull, Lorraine. Claridge thought that Laurent and his companion, Chev de Gondrin, Marquess de Thermes were fake converts to the Quakers. Just based on the name, could he have been a grandfather/ great grandfather of my 4 x greats grandfather? An extra twist is that we are supposed to be related to the scientist Joseph Priestley who lived in Birmingham for a few years. I have found no link but John Claudius de Saint Laurent married Mary Boulton in Dublin – I can’t find any baptism or parents for her there – but could she be related to Matthew Boulton, associate of Priestley in Birmingham?! 

Why did Elizabeth Rutherford (1830’s) become Carson (1841), then Rutherford (1851)then back to Carson?
Elizabeth was born and baptised as a non-conformist in 1800 Brampton, Cumberland. She married in Carlisle in 1826 C of E to John Rutherford ( labourer) and had 4 children baptised, with him named as father; Elizabeth 1826. William 1828, Mary Ann 1830 and Sarah 1832. John Rutherford never appears again with the family. In the 1841 census Elizabeth and children are listed as Carson’s. Her eldest daughter married in 1848 as Elizabeth Rutherford, father John. In the 1851 census they are at the same address, ages and places of birth all match yet they are all Rutherfords, Elizabeth is a widow. William and Mary both married in 1854 and both married as Carson with John Carson named as their father, likewise with Sarah a few years later. In the 1861 census Elizabeth is listed as Elizabeth Carson widow. For the rest of her life she was know as Carson and when she died in 1878 her death certificates states widow of John Carson. From the 1881 census onwards my 2 x gt grandad William is either listed as William R Carson or William Rutherford Carson. My gran was raised by her grandfather and knew him well, she gave my dad the middle name Rutherford and my aunt the middle name Carson.
Elizabeth’s father died when she was 6. I can’t be sure when her mother died or if she remarried as most female members of the Birney family at that time around Brampton were called Mary. Her father William had been shoemaker. Elizabeth next appears in records getting married in 1826 in carlisle St Cuthbert parish then shortly after her children are baptised and the family is living in Durdar the southernmost part of St Cuthbert and on the edge of Carlisle. a potential cousin of hers James Birney lead land to farm in the around around her at that time By the 1841 census Elizabeth and children all lived in Caryles Lane a small street off Castle Street in the centre of Carlisle. It was an area where many shoemakers lived. All children were with her and they were all Carson’s. By 1852 only William now a shoemaker and Sarah are with her. All places and dates of birth match but they are now Rutherfords. William had joined the army in 1846 underage and gave his calling as shoemaker.He bought his release in 1848 after a short absence ( may 1848) which he was put in prison for. He is named as Carson o all army records and it allows me to work out his date of birth which fits the baptism of William Rutherford as Feb 1828, born 13th, baptised 21st.
I have seen the original records in Carlisle Archives for baptisms and marriages and have copies of the census returns and death certificates. I cannot find a marriage for Elizabeth Birney/Rutherford to a John Carson. There are deaths of John Rutherford and John Carsons but it is identifying the right ones to my family which confuses me as the ages don’t match that closely with Elizabeths age. Likely candidates are John Rutherford died 1839 at Hayton ( near Brampton) and 80 of old age; so likely too old ” died 1847 Wigton, Perukmaker; age works, location doesn’t and profession is wrong ” died 1848 aged 65 died Botchetgate Carlisle Blacksmith; age and location could fit but occupation doesn’t. John Carson died 1845 aged 56; died Botcherby (central Carlisle) Coroner from Brampton ( his report said heart failure but no other useful information) occupation gardener; location and age can work. Occupation? John Carson died 1847 aged 50 in Brampton workhouse, described as a traveller; age could fit. Location and occupation? As not know in Brampton how accurate is it? I have GRO doth certs for the above as wells Elizabeth Carsons death. i also have army attestation papers for William Carson and his subsequent record of employment with the police.

Who were the parents of Elizabeth Payne who married Thomas Laney in Madras, India, 25 March 1786? 
Marriage 25 Mar 1786, Fort st George, Madras, India to Thomas Laney Birth and baptism of son, Samuel Thomas Laney, 25 Nov 1788, Trichinopoly, Madras, East India Death of husband Thomas Laney, 3 Feb 1789 • Trichinopoly, Madras, India, burial on 4th Feb, given as a merchant of Trichinopoly Sends Samuel home to England on the EIC ship, The Lord Thurlow, 1 Mar 1796, Fort St George, Madras, India, report in Madras Courier Burial 28 Oct 1797, St Mary’s Church, Fort St George, Madras, India Will probate 6 Nov 1797, Madras, India, mentions 2 sons at school in Eye, Suffolk, and 3 sisters in Europe 3 sisters identified by sister Chalotte Payne’s 1804 will. All living in Westminster.
Elizabeth had 3 sisters: Charlotte Payne who never married. Died 1804 and was buried 26 Jul 1804 • Saint Luke, Chelsea: Sydney Street, Kensington and Chelsea, Middlesex, England. Left a lot of money in the Funds to her sisters initially (the interest), then to the children of her sisters, Elizabeth and Rachel upon the deaths of her sisters. Rachel who married by license 19 Apr 1777 • St George, Hanover Square, London, Westminster, England, age given as 22 and upwards so born about 1755. Husband was John Sherlock, born abt 1754, buried 12 Apr 1804 at Saint Marylebone: Marylebone Road, Westminster, Westminster, Middlesex, England Rachel was buried 26 Jul 1833 Saint Marylebone: Marylebone Road, Westminster, address given as London St, St Pancras, Middlesex, England Sarah, named as Mrs Sarah Peronn, who married Francis C Peronne 24 Aug 1790 St James, Piccadilly, Westminster, England by licence. He was given as a merchant on the licence. Witnesses: John Sherlock and C Payne so definitely the right marriage. She then disappears.. no further info.
Searched on Ancestry and FindMyPast for baptisms of all 4 sisters in Westminster and Middlesex and cannot f ind any baptisms with same parents for all sisters. There are baptisms for an Elizabeth, Sarah and Chalotte hin St Marylebone but the dates are a bit too late. for Rachel I can find nothing I suspect the father was a merchant and may have moved to Westminster or nearby to trade more successfully… but from where?