The 19th century in newspaper cuttings - Gazette 1800

19th century Jersey
From Gazette de l'Ile de Jersey: 1800

A front page of the Gazette de l'Ile de Jersey in 1800

Our history of 19th century Jersey from newspaper cuttings started with the Jersey Loyalist, an English-language newspaper published from 1825 to 1831. We have now moved back to the start of the century, with Gazette de l'Ile de Jersey, the first newspaper to be published in the island in the 1800s

This was the dawn of an age of great growth and diversification in Jersey, fuelled by an influx of English immigrants over the following 25 years.

This page is part of a project launched by Jerripedia in 2024 to chronicle the history of Jersey through the 19th century using news cuttings from most of the newspapers published during those 100 years.
The 19th century in newspaper cuttings - Main index page

This page links to separate pages giving year by year coverage from 1800 onwards in the publications active at the time

The life of the Gazette de l'Ile de Jersey is difficult to follow. At one time, at least, there were two active publications of the same name. There are also periods when either the publication of the title was suspended, or it continued but editions are missing from the collection of La Société Jersiaise, which was digitised and placed in their website in 2024.

1786-1796

The first Gazette was published in 1786, printed and edited by Mathieu Alexandre but financed by politician Philippe Dumaresq as a vehicle for the Magot Party. It lasted ten years before closing with the final edition published on 31 December 1796. There was then a gap of nine months before John Stead, who had published a book, Caesarea or an account of Jersey earlier in the year, launched his newspaper, Gazette de l'Ile de Jersey.

It is not clear whether the title had been resurrected by agreement with the former publisher or whether Stead simply saw a gap in the market and decided to use the defunct title. The masthead showed Tome 1 (Volume 1) to the end of 1797 and through 1798, changing to Tome 2 for 1799. The numbering of editions was erratic and the volume number reverted to Tome 1 during the course of the year. The title was also changed to Gazette de Jersey during 1799.

During 1799 the publication merged with, or was taken over by, Mercure de Guernsey, but this did not save it and it appears to have closed after the edition of 1 October 1799. But the Societe website contains a single edition published as Tome III, no 125, on 9 March 1800. This suggests that there are editions in between which have been lost.

1800

Gazette de l'Ile de Jersey makes its next appearance in the Societe archive with the edition of 5 July 1800, printed by G Angot and Philippe Mourant. But this is shown as No 27, so it could not have been their first edition, which the numbering suggest would have been published at the beginning of January that year.

Quite what happened after 1800 is uncertain, but the Societe collection has no editions in 1801-1804, a single edition on 30 March 1805, numbered 28, then nothing until 1808, for which year it appears to have a full set of publications, starting on 2 January with No 1 and ending with No 53 on 31 December.

The next editions available are for 18 February 1809, No 7; 6 April 1811, No 13; 18 and 25 January 1812, Nos 3 and 4.

Nothing is available for 1813, and publication resumed on 1 January 1814, with No 1. Although the odd edition is missing for this year, the use of No 53 for the edition of 31 December suggests that the newspaper was published every week that year, as it appears to have been for the rest of the decade.

John Stead returns

John Stead re-entered newspaper publishing on 1 January 1803, with Vol 5 No 1 of Gazette de Jersey and Weekly Advertiser. This suggests that he has continued the numbering sequence he used to the end of 1799.

We will no doubt discover more about who published, what and when in the first quarter of the 19th century as we progress with our history. We will use whichever version of the Gazette is available to us to provide as comprehensive as possible a coverage of the news in each of those years.

July 1800

Sale of gunboat

Chevalier and Co advertised in the 5 July edition that the French 'gunboat' No 57, taken and brought to Jersey by Lieut C d'Auvergne, master of the brig Aristocrat would be sold at Henri Durell's premises, along with a canon, cannonballs and an anchor.

States lottery

The States lottery draw took place at 10 o'clock on the 7th in the Royal Court lobby, with tickets available from Philippe Lys until the start of the draw. The draw resumed on the 14th with winners in the first round able to buy new tickets up to the value of their prize. On 1 August the lottery commissaires were required to meet at the house of Philippe Lys to account for their business with the States committee and pay prizes to the winners.

Captain's death

News has been received of the death of Capt Pickstock after four days illness on his arrival at Surinam. The death of this young man of great talent and giving the highest hopes has plunged his family and friends into great sorrow.

Soldier's fraud

Royal Marine Shaw Sathern presented himself at the Post Office as Daniel Bryan, a colleague, and took a letter addressed to him containing half a guinea. Once the fraud was discovered he was taken to prison and appeared before the Royal Court and sentenced to be put in the pillory for two hours, have both ears cut and be banned from the island for ever.

August

Fall from horse

When the South-West Regiment was on exercises the Colonel asked a son of Jacques Baleyne, of St Peter, to hold his horse. The lad imprudently mounted the horse which galloped off. The young man fell, but unfortunately his foot was trapped in the stirrup and he was dragged by the horse, which fractured his skull. He was found dead in the road.

Soldier sentenced

Edouard Ryan, a soldier in the Loyal Irish Fencibles, was found guilty by the Grande Enquete on the 9th of having attacked Jeanne, nee Le Vesley, wife of Josue Ballayne, half an hour after sunset on 29 July and attempted to 'ravish her honour'. He was sentenced to be flogged by the public executioner until blood flows and then banished from the island for ever.

Militia review

The St Helier Battalion carried out its review on the 14th before the Lieut-Governor, who was accompanied by General Milner and a large number of officers. Colonel Patriarche displayed his talent during the review. After the review there were many grand dinners at which God Save the King and other songs were sung in unison.

Wreckage found

In the last few days pieces of wood, mats and sails with the name Rambler have been found in the rocks off St Clement, together with many engraved names of sailors. The name suggests that this was his Majesty's brig Rambler commanded by Capt Schomberg and stationed at Guernsey.

September

Death sentence

We understand from the last notice received from Plymouth that one by the name of Marett, of St Brelade, who was on board the Danae when she was taken to Brest, after one of its crew took over as master, was recognised among the crew of a French privateer, taken to Plymouth and condemned to death. The sentence has been deferred awaiting the approval of His Majesty. The request he made for a prayer book and a minister to receive his last consolations is proof that he has repented. We are informed that his pardon has been requested.

Dumping

The States decided on the 15th to prohibit the dumping of any debris, stones or earth in any of the brooks of St Helier, on pain of a fine of £100, a third to the King, a third to the markets and a third to the informer. The public were advised that such material could be taken to the site of the new markets.

School thefts

As some individuals had for some time been stealing rabbits, ducks and other things belonging to the Regent of St Manelier, he has warned that anyone seen on his land after 10 pm would be liable to be shot.

October

Jurat election

On the 10th an election was held in all the parishes to choose a Jurat following the death of Jurat Poingdestre. After the votes had been counted there was a majority for Thomas Pipon, of St Peter, who has been sworn in by the Cour d'Heritage and taken his place on the bench.

Swept from boat

On the 9th a soldier in a longboat arriving from the Castle on the coast of St Helier was swept off by a wave and disappeared instantly. His body was recovered in the Small Roads.

Burglary

John Lawler, a soldier in the 49th Regiment, accused of breaking into Richard Martel's house in St Brelade and stealing various items, was found guilty by the Grande Enquete. He was sentenced by the Court to be flogged from the Court door to the Prison until he bled and have the ends of both ears cut off, before being banished from the island for ever.

November

Storm

Last Sunday, the 9th, we had a hurricane which threatened our island with the most terrible disasters. For more than 40 years we have never seen such a violent storm; however, the effects were not as disastrous as one could have feared. Several vessels were destroyed, but by a stroke of luck no man perished in the island. Numbers of houses were considerably damaged, trees were uprooted, wheat stacks overturned, sheaves scattered, etc.

From midnight the wind began to blow violently from the south-west and strengthen. At 8 o'clock the vessels in the St Aubin roads fired their distress cannons; the furious sea produced terrible waves making it impossible to help these unfortunates and the inhabitants who came to the shore could only cry at their inability to save the life of so many misfortunates that we thought were close to being submerged under the waves.

The 26-gun frigate Havik was the first to escape followed by the 20-gun Pelican, on the rocks of Elizabeth Castle. Then we saw the gunboat Spiteful drag her anchor and two large merchant ships, one Swedish which ended up on the beach between St Helier and St Aubin. When this was reported to Lieut-General Gordon he mounted his horse and gave orders to give immediate help, placing lookouts along the beach.

When the two warships were seen to be dismasted it was possible to save at least some of the crew. Despite the wind and cold throughout the day the General remained on horseback and co-ordinated rescue activities.

The vessels inside the Harbour also suffered damage, particularly those not protected by the Dicq. One could only be thankful that this event did not happen during the time of a great tide, when one would believe that no vessel in the port would have escaped being submerged.

No further details of casualties were given in the following edition of the Gazette and no further local news was carried in the remaining November editions

December

Arms training

The boys of the island who have undergone arms training during the summer, have been reviewed by Lieut-Col Le Couteur and Lieut-General Gordon. It appears that the youngsters have not only received tuition in the use of arms but also in artillery.

The Commander in Chief expressed his perfect satisfaction with their performance and said that in the event of an invasion, they could be given cartridges and take part in the defence of the island.

The following received prizes:

• North-West Regiment: 1 Daniel Godieaux, 2 Abraham Esnouf, 3 Charles Dallain, 4 Jean Coutanche, all of St John; 5 Jean Saiban, of St Ouen; 6 Philippe Beaugie, of St Mary.
• North Regiment: 1 Thomas Le Riche, 2 George Larbalestier, of Trinity; 3 Philippe Gaudin, of St Martin; 4, Elie Picot, 5 Philippe Gruchy, of Trinity.
• East Regiment: 1 Charles Amy, of Grouville; 2 Jean Amy, 3 Philippe Ahier. 4 Jean Philippe, 5 Thomas Clement, 6 Jean Poingdestre, all of St Clement
• Town Regiment: 1 Thomas Anquetil, 2 Philippe Bouton, 3 Thomas Roffe
• St Lawrence Regiment: 1 George Clement, 2 Rolin Luce, 3 Jean Messervy
• South-West Regiment: 1 James Le Veslet, 2 Jean Le Montais, both of St Peter; 3 Charles Hocquard, 4 Moses Le Boutillier, both of St Brelade; 5 Elie Syvret, of St Peter

There were no further local news items in the editions of the Gazette in the last month of the year