Elie Filleul

Elie Filleul
'Jersey patriarch'

Elie Jean Filleul

From the Illustrated London News, 3 December 1851

Elie Jean Filleul, the fine old man known as the "Jersey Patriarch" died on Wednesday week. His end was gentle, he had no disease whatever. A correspondent writing from Jersey states that he was at the old man’s bedside a few hours before his death. 'They told me,' says our informant, 'that he was dying; he appeared to be simply short of breath; he was surrounded by his children and grandchildren, and a few hours after, without pain or struggle, he ceased to breathe.'

Date discrepancy

Elie Jean Filleul was a native of the parish of St Clement, in the island of Jersey, where he had lived for a century. He stated that he was born in the year 1749, and such is the belief of his neighbours and descendants; but it appears by the parish register that he was not baptised until 1755.

He was brought up to the business of a village tailor; he was of a social and jovial turn, had lived well and worked hard. He scouted the notion that teetotalism is conducive to long life. He enjoyed a pipe of tobacco and a glass of ale, and related over them his “auld warld cracks” with infinite humour.

Battle of Jersey

When Jersey was invaded by a French expedition, in 1781, under Baron de Rullecourt, Jean marched with the East Regiment of Militia (of which regiment he was a sergeant) to assist in the repulse of the enemy: he remembered all the circumstances attending that affair, and the esprit de corps which is so remarkable in the inhabitants of Jersey in general, existed to the last in the old man’s heart; for in the month of August last, when a number of militiamen were at practice, target-shooting on the sands near Pontac, Jean joined the party, and, taking a musket from one of the young men, sent its bullet through the bullseye, the best shot by far that was made that day.