Francis-Gabriel, was born on the 20th January, 1727 in Greenwich and although he must have lived in King Street with William Prevost, he was apprenticed in 1741 to John Neale, the well-known instrument, watch and toy maker of Leadenhall Street in London. John Neale also taught the use of celestial globes and was closely associated with scientific instruments and he financed the publication of the Uranographia Britannica, an engraved chart of stars until 1750 but became bankrupt after engraving 52 plates, and only very few printings had been made. John Neale suffered double bankruptcy in 1750 and again in 1758 and he died shortly afterwards. After Neale was declared bankrupt, the copper plates were sequestered by the London Courts of Chancery and the project was abruptly terminated. It was not until 1785, long after the death of Neale that the library was auctioned and according to the auction catalogue, which survives in the Whipple Museum, Cambridge, three near-complete atlases were sold, together with an unknown number of pre-printed star charts. Francis-Gabriel became a noted watchmaker in his own right, and he married Magdelaine Crespin (b 13th June 1729) (daughter of Paul Crespin and Mary Branboeuf) who were also Huguenots. Paul Crespin was a renowned London silversmith and he was brought up in the City of London. He was born in London in 1694 and opened a workshop in Old Compton Street, Soho, in 1720, from which he kept in close touch with the latest fashions in France and supplied silverware to wealthy clients in England. He also supplied a silver bath to the king of Portugal, and part of a dinner service to Catherine the Great. His workshop was on the corner of Old Compton Street and Greek Street. In 1751, while he was at King Street in Soho, Francis-Gabriel had 3 children: Paul Philip, Francis-Elias and John. Enid Barraud was unable to find any record of Francis-Gabriel’s marriage to Magdelaine Crespin, but records do exist to show the marriage was on the 8th September, 1751 at St. Martins-In-The-Fields, London. Magdelaine’s correct name was “Magdalen Benigna Crespin” and she was born on 13th June, 1729. Francis-Gabriel became a renowned London watchmaker, and founded the firm of Barrauds in 1750, just prior to his marriage. Shortly after his marriage, he moved to Great St. Andrews Street in the 7-dials area of St. Giles where he is first mentioned as being a watchmaker before taking premises at 7, Shoe Lane in Holborn and finally to 8, Wine Office Court in Fleet Street. Miss E. Barraud’s book suggests that Frances-Gabriel was still at Great St. Andrews Street until about 1778, but other records show he had the premises in Wine Office Court from 1759-1794. On 16th November, 1758 at his new premises in Shoe Lane, he apprenticed a John Partridge and on 15th December, 1767, he apprenticed a James Bootle and also his own son Paul Philip Barraud as watchmakers. Francis-Gabriel most probably worked with his son, Paul Philip for about 30 years until his death. Francis-Gabriel died in 1795 at the age of 68 and was buried at St. Brides, Fleet Street. Magdelen (nee Crespin), his wife also died in 1795 but she died at the address of her son, Paul Philip in Camden and was buried also at St. Brides, Fleet Street. Francis-Gabriel did not make a will, and Paul Philip (his eldest son) administered the estate, as Magdelen had previously stated she did not want any legal rights in the estate. The order was granted on 24th March, 1795, but the total involved was less than £1,000. Francis-Gabriel’s death in 1795 was noted in the Gentleman’s Magazine under “Obituary of remarkable persons”. See Page 33