The 19th century in newspaper cuttings - Gazette 1805

19th century Jersey
From Gazette de l'Ile de Jersey: 1805

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.

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.

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 in 1805, we turn to John Stead's Gazette de Jersey and Weekly Advertiser, which reappeared in January 1803. There are six months for that year included in the online collection of La Société Jersiaise

January

Only one edition for the month - the 15th - has been digitised.

Frigate raised

We announce with pleasure to our readers that on the 18th the frigate HMS Severn was successfully raised. She sank at Grouville during the last storm. She is now at anchor in the Castle roads. One cannot speak too highly of the care and zeal of the Duke of Bouillon, and the other officers and all the crew.

Deaths

Francois Aubin of St Helier died during the month in the space of 48 hours after an attack of paralysis. And J Cox, son of M Cox, lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Garrison has also died. This young man of 13 gave the greatest hopes and is universally regretted.

Theft

On the 12th silver items were stolen from a house in the town: A silver milk pot with no mark; a pair of pincers marked R H G; 10 soup spoons and four teaspoons, marked with different letters. Anyone offered these items should inform Mr Stead, at the printers, and they will be rewarded.

February

Only the issue of 2 February is available

Lottery

The draw for the Jersey public lottery took place on 4 February. Two thousand tickets were on sale with a first prize of £2,000 (£300,000 at 2024 values). The organisers were Jacques Pipon, Clement Hemery, Thomas Anley, Samuel Lempriere, Jean Le Mottee, Mathieu Noel, Hugh Godfray, Jean Millais, George Picot and Pierre Simonet.

The profits from the lottery were earmarked for the paving of 'the road to the new market' - Halkett Place.

Death in India

News was received, somewhat belatedly, of the death at Port Royal on 13 April 1804 of Joseph Ellison Messervy, Royal Navy. He had passed his examination for lieutenant and was on the eve of promotion.

Lost pistols

Jerseymen were careless with their firearms at this time. The Gazette contained notices of two pistols being lost, with a reward offered if they were found and taken to the printer.

Privateers

The owners of privateers and their captains were anxious to put to sea. Captain Philippe Le Roux, of Providence, Captain Francois Hocquard, of Union and Jean Coutanche, of Loterie were all asking their crews to sign their charters and receive their advances. They were also looking for more seamen and officers to join their crews. Captain

March

Only the edition of the 2nd is available for this month. It contains no local news.

Privateers

Captain Philippe Messervy, master of the brig Dundas, which he described as one of the best sailing boats in Jersey, was advertising for ten mariners to join his crew.

May

The next available edition of the Gazette was published on 11 May. It is the only one for that month which has been digitised. It contained no local news.

Lotteries

There was a good trade in tickets for the forthcoming national lottery. The price of tickets had risen from £19 to £22 and purchasers were cashing in on this increase by selling their tickets before the draw.

Tickets for the next Jersey lottery were selling well, with a first prize of £10,000 (£1.5 million at 2024 values) on offer.

July

The next edition available is that for 20 July. It contained no local news.

Manor for sale

'Le Manoir de St Jean' was advertised for sale by Philippe Dumaresq.

November

Two further editions of the Gazette are available for 1805, published on 23 and 30 November. Only the second contained any local news.

Battle of Trafalgar

The British victory in the famous battle on 21 October was covered in much detail in the first of these editions. A celebration supper and ball was held in Jersey on 20 November.

Seamen drowned

On the 27th a man-of-war's boat upset in the Great Road and three lives were lost. The whole crew would likely have perished but for the incident being observed from Elizabeth Castle followed by the firing of a distress signal. Two boatmen, Laughlin and Secreton, launched their boat and rowed out, picking up an officer and two seamen, the only ones left afloat.