Saurin, Rev James. 1747-1772.
James Saurin was of Hugenot stock. His grandfather was Jean Saurin who was born in Nîmes in 1682 and who left France due to religious persecution at the end of the 17th century. With his wife and three sons he escaped to Germany. The eldest son, Jacques Surin, became a well-known preacher, living at The Hague. The second son, John, became a soldier in the English army and the third son, after living in London, moved to Ireland, where he died as Dean of Armagh in 1749. He married a Huguenot, Mlle Cornel La Bretonnière and they had a son and three daughters. The son, James, born in London in 1719, became Vicar of Belfast, where he married Jane, widow of James Duff. He died in 1772 and is buried in the churchyard of St Anne's, Belfast.James and Jane had four sons, all educated by Rev Saumarez Du Bourdieu at Lisburn Academy which was in Bow Street and was established by Du Bourdieu’s great-uncle to teach the French-speaking Huguenot children. One son, William, later became Attorney General for Ireland from 1807-1821. (William's third son became Rev Lewis Saurin, Rector of Moira 1821-1829, then Treasurer's Vicar in Saint Partick's Cathedral, Dublin).
James and Jane's third son became the last Bishop of Dromore before it joined the Diocese of Down. He spent much of his time in Dublin and died at his home in Dun Laoghaire. There is a memorial plaque on the south wall of Dromore Cathedral which says:
“During the twenty two years in the exercise of a mild and paternal authority, he presided over this diocese fulfilling the relations oflifcwiLh purity, affection and constancy.”
He died in 1842 aged 82 years and is buried in St Ann's church in Dublin. He also had a family. His eldest son, Rev James Saurin, was for a short time a vicar in Aghalee in 1822 within sight of his cousin William's parish of Moira. In 1826 he became Vicar of Seagoe and also Archdeacon of Dromore. He married twice and left two daughters.
