The 19th century in newspaper cuttings - Gazette 1803
19th century Jersey
From Gazette de l'Ile de Jersey: 1803
John Stead's Gazette de Jersey reappeared in 1803
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, and to appear intermittently in the following years published by different individuals
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. [1]
Gazette de l'Ile de Jersey was published from 5 July 1800 to the end of the year, printed by G Angot and Philippe Mourant. But it soon vanished. 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.
John Stead
For our history of the 19th century from the pages of its newspapers, we turn to John Stead's Gazette de Jersey and Weekly Advertiser, which appeared in January 1803
February
Upsetting the French
No local news made it into the columns of the Gazette during January and the first two editions of February. The edition of 19 February contained news that the two Gazettes published by John Stead and Philippe Mourant, were in trouble with the King's Procureur General and had been brought before the Royal Court on the 5th charged with publishing content injurious to the Government of France, tending to affect the peace and friendship existing between the British King and the French Republic.
It transpired after the two publishers had been represented by their advocate that the offensive articles were extracts from newspapers printed in London, which had not been composed by the publishers or their employees.
The Court expressed its disapproval of any item injuring the relationship with established governments and required the editors to include nothing in their pages in future which could tend to damage the intelligence between the inhabitants of the island and those of countries with which the British Government was at peace.
Shipwreck
The last edition of February contained news from many English newspapers which the Gazette considered to be without foundation:
- "A boat from Southampton, heading for Jersey, was thrown three weeks ago by a violent storm on a reef of rocks at the entrance to the port of St Malo, and would undoubtedly have perished had it not been for the help of four French fishermen, who at risk of their own lives put to sea to save the lives of the five crew and three passengers. The vessel was broken up and all its cargo lost. The passengers wished to reward their rescuers.
March
Caen birth
Mrs Reynel, wife of Colonel Reynel of the Loyal Irish Fencibles, has given birth to a boy at Caen, Calvados.
Drownings
On the 5th a most unfortunate accident happened at the Dicq. [2] Five persons collecting vraic were drowned. Several others in the same boat ran a great risk and owed their survival to the prompt help of people on the coast.
Elie Deslandes, of Vingtaine du Mont au Pretre, and two of his children lost their lives on the 5th when their boat was wrecked returning from vraic collecting. Elie left a wife and eleven more children, six of them aged 11 and under, and a public subscription was launched to support them.
Loyal address
The States sent a loyal address to George III on 19 March 1803 congratulating him on escaping from the latest conspiracy against him - 'a conspiracy so horrible that it is difficult to find its equal in history'. This was not reported until the edition of 2 April. [3]
Deaths
On 25 March Mrs Gould, aged nearly 100, died.
Edouard Anley, who filled the post of Registrar, for several years, and who recently obtained a pension for his long service, has died.
Replacement
Nicolas Messervy was chosen by the States to replace the Lieut-Bailiff during his absence.
April
Knighthood
It was announced that the Lieut-Bailiff, Jean Dumaresq had been knighted after presenting the King with the loyal address (see above) congratulating him on escaping from the latest conspiracy against him.
Frigates
On the 2nd the frigate HMS Euridyce sailed for England. Much debris from the frigate HMS Determinee (which was wrecked outside the harbour on 30 March) has come ashore but nothing of consequence has been found. [4]
The frigate HMS Amelia arrived on the 4th, commanded by Lord Proby, with the 83rd Regiment on board.
The brig, HMS Sylph arrived on the 12th and the Amelia left the following day.
Granville embargo
It has been learned from the arrival of a vessel from Granville that there is an embargo on all merchant ships there.
Appointment
Captain Dumaresq, son of the Lieut-Bailiff, has been appointed commander of the sloop Charwell, commissioned at Plymouth.
Headstone
Pierre Le Lievre offered a reward of £12 to anyone identifying those who had broken the headstone of his later brother Jean and seeing them brought to justice.
Constable elected
On the 24th Mr Pellier and Charles Larbalestier contested an election for Constable of Trinity, with the latter winning by a large majority. He would serve as Constable for six years.
May
Brig for sale
The 185-ton brig Mignonne, captured by the privateer Comus, George Hocquard master, was sold by Jean Dolbel in St Helier Harbour on the 18th.
Foreign post
The postmaster advised that letters could not be sent to foreign countries - Gibraltar, Minorca, Malta, etc without pre-payment. Because of this several letters which remained at the Post Office had been displayed in the window so that they could be retrieved by the senders or paid for. It was also advertised that because some people did not collect their mail, such letters would be returned to sender at the end of the month after the month in which they had arrived.
Reading room
Richard Rose's subscription reading room, which provided 13 daily papers with the arrival of each packet, as well as magazines, reviews and military pamphlets, was open from 9 am to 10 pm, and had attracted 70 subscribers. By the end of August the number had risen to 131.
Militia preparations
Since the declaration of war between Great Britain and France the Lieut-Governor, General Gordon, had put the island on the best defence footing. The Militia were prepared to repulse any enemy attempt to attack the island.
June
Artillery practice
The Artillery Company of the St Helier Battalion of the Militia undertook firing practice in the presence of the Lieut-Governor, who voiced his approval of their performance.
Officer arrives
Brigadier General Hope arrived on the mail packet to take his place as second in command.
Prize
A three-masted French vessel which left Cayenne for St Malo loaded with cotton, sugar and indigo, has arrived in the roads, captured by the brig HMS Kite, commanded by Capt Pipon. The prize is valued at £40,000. [5]
French privateer sunk
News has arrived of the sinking by the schooner HMS Ealing of the French corsair Francois. The captain of this privateer had the temerity to board the schooler, which forced him to let go of his line and sink in the depths. All the crew were saved. The captain of the corsair was named Sauveur and is the same individual who captured in the last war the Liberty of Guernsey.
July
Drowning
A young woman called Davis was bathing at Havre des Pas and unfortunately slipped on a rock and was drowned in a few minutes.
Prize ship
A large French brig has arrived, taken by the provateer Phoenix; It is presumed that it is worth £20,000 sterling (£2,700,000 at 2024 values)
Sloop on rocks
On entering the roads on the 16th, the sloop HMS Charwell hit a rock. But with the care of Capt Philippe Dumaresq she managed to move without further damage than the loss of her cannons and part of her munitions.
Deaths
On the 16th Col McKensie, who recently took command of the 81st Regiment, was suddenly taken ill while walking down the street and died within a few minutes.
The same day J Hue, formerly captain in the Horse Guards, also died.
Arrival
Several English transports have arrived with 700 soldiers on board, some destined for the 1st East Indies Regiment, commanded by Col Forbes.
Reviews
On the 22nd the Lieut-Governor reviewed the East Regiment of the Militia, followed by the St Lawrence Battalion.
Suicide
On the 26th a woman called Payn was found hanging in her house. It appeared that for some time she had been deranged. The inquest ruled that she had taken her life 'as a lunatic'.
Review
On the 28th the North-West Regiment of the Militia, commanded by Sir Jean Dumaresq, was reviewed by the Lieut-Governor, General Gordon, accompanied by Admiral Sir James Saumarez, Sir Thomas Saumarez, Major-General Hope and almost all the island's gentry. Admiral Saumarez's ship Diomede arrived at Bouley Bay.
August
Town Hill
The tenants of Vingtaine de La Ville were called to a meeting on the 10th to discuss the proposal to cede the town hill to the British Government.
A notice was carried in the Gazette signed by over 130 tenants strongly supporting the proposal, but demanding 'just and reasonable' compensation and the right to continue quarrying in areas of no harm to the fortifications which were to be built. [6] The decision of the meeting of tenants was by no means unanimous, but the proposal to sell the common land to the British Government was approved by 104 votes to 67.
Field guns
Preparations to defend the island against any possible French invasion continued and the Commanding Officer of Artillery advertised the requirement for horses and drivers for 12 field guns. Tenders were invited for the provision of 12 sets of three horses and a driver, to be ready at all times within 20 yards of the Park of Artillery. To encourage their involvement, horse drivers would be freed from any Militia duty.
A further notice required another 12 drivers and 24 horses to tow ammunition carts.
Brook cleaning
Owners of houses and land bordering the Grand Douet were required by the Constable of St Helier, Thomas Anley, to clean those sections of the brook which had been emptied within a week.
Captured boats
On the 16th several large fishing boats were seen passing the island, presumably having been taken off the French coast by naval vessels, and being taken to Guernsey.
Death sentence
Soldier Patrick MacGinnis was sentenced to death on the 16th for the 'cold-blooded and premeditated' killing of William Belford, a soldier in the same Regiment. He found him in bed sleeping next to his wife. He woke him and killed him with his bayonet. He was executed on the 20th.
Recruitment
The Navy was recruiting sailors and able-bodied seamen and landsmen from the island were invited to volunteer to crew HMS Severn, lying at Woolwich. They would be found passage and offered His Majesty's bounty on joining the ship. Applications were solicited 'immediately to the Duke of Bouillon' [7].
Brewery
Stead and Company announced the opening of a new brewery at Rouge Bouillon, with the intention of brewing strong beer, ale and table beer.
September
Shakespeare
Mr Foot, who distinguished himself last winter on the boards of Drury Lane, in the character of Hamlet, appeared in that very arduous part on Monday last in our theatre to the admiration and delight of a polite audience; On Wednesday, in the no less difficult task of King Richard, which also gave general satisfaction. From the great improvement in the company, and the superior style of the theatre, we make no doubt they will find liberal encouragement.
Fund
The States agreed to establish a fund of 30,000 livres de France to recompense those who distinguish themselves in the defence of the island, those who are wounded in an attack and the families of those who are killed. A parish assembly was called in St Clement to approve a rate to meet the parish contribution of 1,500 livres to the fund.
Regiments
On the 23rd the 31st Regiment, commanded by Lieut-Col Mead, arrived to replace the 66th and 81st Regiments, which left on the same transports. After arrival the new garrison regiment was reviewed by the Lieut-Governor.
October
The Jersey news section was notably absent from the Gazette during the month
HMS Severn
Able and ordinary seamen and able-bodied landsmen were being recruited to serve on HMS Severn, to be based at the Jersey station. A bounty of £5 for able-seamen and in proportion for the others was being offered. Junior officers were also required.
'No drunkards or men of immoral and dissolute character will be received.'
The States voted an additional bounty for the first 500 men who agreed to join the Severn - £5 for able seamen, £4 for ordinary seamen and £3 for landsmen.
November
The Jersey news section was notably absent from the Gazette during the month
December
Privateers
The corsair Sorriere has captured and taken to St Malo the Cleopatra of Jersey, with 21 prisoners.
Notes and references
- ↑ See The 19th century in newspaper cuttings - Gazette 1800 for a fuller history of the title
- ↑ Despite being a French-language newspaper, the Gazette strangely spelt this 'Dick'
- ↑ We have been unable to find any other reference to the conspiracy referred to in the loyal address. The major events of 1803 were England's declaration of war with France and the Irish rebellion, both later in the year
- ↑ This shipwreck was not previously reported in the Gazette
- ↑ A somewhat unlikely £5 million at 2024 values
- ↑ This was the land on which Fort Regent was constructed
- ↑ Philippe d'Auvergne, who had resumed his role as the head of the Royal Navy's Jersey station after the declaration of war
