The 19th century in newspaper cuttings - Gazette 1807

19th century Jersey
From Gazette de l'Ile de Jersey: 1807

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.

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 1807, we turn to John Stead's Gazette de Jersey and Weekly Advertiser, which reappeared in January 1803. Only five months, and seven editions are included in the online collection of La Société Jersiaise. The local news coverage in these seven editions was above average.

January

Shop robberies

On the evening of the 21st the shops of Messrs Le Quesne and Gruchy were robbed by persons unknown. They broke window pains and stole two watches from Le Quesne's shop and goods valued at £90 from Gruchy's. These are not the first shops to be robbed recently.

Brook drowning

On the 22nd the body of Mathieu Mauger, of Mont a l'Abbe, was found in the prison brook. It appears that he was badly injured when he fell and unable to get out of the brook. He leaves a numerous family.

February

Attack at sea

The Dolphin arrived on the 17th. A few days before she was chased by a schooner, which capsized. All her crew drowned.

Buenos Aires

Letters have been received from John Bull, Capt Le Fevre, and Nelson, Capt Langlois, from Maldonado, close to Buenos Aires. Everybody is well. The first of the ships arrived there on 12 December last.

Shipwreck

The brig Ann, Capt J Filleul, has been lost in the Guernsey roads. She was heading for Ireland but strong winds forced her to take shelter off Guernsey. Her anchors broke and she was thrown on to the rocks of Castle Cornet. Despite a rescue attempt with a small boat, all passengers and crew were lost.

Convoy

The Frigate Thalia, escorting 12 vessels from Jersey to Newfoundland, was forced by headwinds to shelter at Falmouth on the 24, and will sail again on the 15th of May.

Execution

On the 26th W Hales was due to be executed. He gave a long speech from the gallows, pardoning all those who had led to his conviction. A public petition had called for his to be saved and the matter was brought before the Royal Court again. It was decided to refer all the circumstances to the King, who would decide Hales' fate.

Deaths

On the 27th Capt John Le Gros, of the Royal Navy, died, hours before Capt M Le Geyt, also a Navy captain.

May

Privateer

A 16-gun French corsair has been captured by the brig HMS Defender after a short engagement off the coast of Alderney.

The King has granted Philippe d'Auvergne, Duc de Bouillon, the right to receive and carry the insignia of Knight of St Joachim, which was conferred on him by the Grandmaster of the order in 1803.

August

Triplets

On the 5th a soldier's wife gave birth to three boys. They are doing well, as is the mother.

September

Visit

On the 5th the Lieut-Governor of Guernsey, Sir John Doyle, arrived in Jersey with his family and ADC. He was warmly greeted by Jersey's Lieut-Governor, General Don.

Governor's death

On the 14th Jersey's absentee Governor George Townshend, died in London at the age of 84