John De Morgan

He was a Huguenot who was forced to leave France following the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685. In England he entered the service of the East India Company as a private soldier in order to secure a passage in one of the Company's ships. He sailed in the Bouverie and landed in India on July 11 1710. Whilst holding the rank of sergeant he distinguished himself in an altercation at Fort St David and was offered a commission as Ensign in 1715. In 1717 he married Sarah De Pommare (nee Clark) who had been married twice before - firstly to George Turville (or Tourville) and then to Peter De Pommare. Sarah died in 1720 and in 1733 he married Ann Orrill (daughter of Capt Edward Orrill) whose previous married name had been Turberville. All his children were from his second marriage.

In 'William Morgan and His Wife' Stirling claims that he later became Governor of Forts St David and Ajengo. Love's 'Vestiges Of Old Madras' does not mention this but states that while holding the rank of Captain he was commander of Fort St David from 1746 to 1747. Both sources agree that he retired from the service in 1748 on account of infirmity and was granted a pension in recognition of his long and honourable service. He became a private citizen in Madras and died at Pulicat in 1760. His tomb bearing the name John Morgan, and with a Latin epitaph, is in the Dutch cemetery there.