The 19th century in newspaper cuttings - Gazette 1808
19th century Jersey
From Gazette de l'Ile de Jersey: 1808
Mourant's Gazette de l'Ile de Jersey in 1808
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. We have used John Stead's publication Gazette de Jersey and Weekly Advertiser and Philip Mourant's title to build a reasonable picture of local news in 1808.
January
Movement of strangers
Orders passed by the States regarding the arrival and departure of non-residents to and from the island, were contained in a supplement to the Gazette. Masters of all vessels carrying strangers were required to have them taken before the Lieut-Governor. Nobody was allowed to leave the island without advising the Lieut-Governor a day in advance and ships masters were forbidden from taking anyone on board who did not have a passport issued by the Lieut-Governor.
Froments dinner
The sale of froments in St Helier took place on the 13th and the dinner following was attended by a very large number of parishioners. Uniquely the Lieut-Governor, General Don, accompanied by his ADCs, Messrs Ferguson and Dupre, attended the dinner. The Dean proposed the toast to General Don.
Signal station
A 'steady middle-aged man acquainted with sea affairs' was being sought for La Moye signal station, Pay was two shillings a day (£15 at 2024 values) with house, coals and candles provided and beef at 6d a pound (£3.75)
Regimental colours
A new set of colours was presented to the 76th Regiment in the Royal Square [2] on the 30th. The ceremony was attended by the Lieut-Governor, Lieut-General Don, Major-General Leighton, the Duke of Bouillon, Sir John Dumaresq, the Dean, the Crown Officers and the staff and commanding officers of corps.
General Don marched at the head of the parade to the Town Church. After a service the Regiment again formed in the square, where the colours were presented and General Don spoke highly of the Regiment he had the honour to command.
After the ceremony the troops returned to Grouville where 'a sumptuous and elegant entertainment' was given to the dignitaries by the officers of the Regiment.
Payments to prisoners
The Gazette devoted its front page on the 12th to a list of payments made to Jerseymen held prisoner in France the previous summer out of the sum voted by the States in 1806.
The prisons were at Valenciennes, Saare-Louis, Givet, Bitche, Arras and Verdun
Drownings
On the night of the 11th and 12th four St Martin residents were drowned when the boat they had taken to the Ecrehous to collect vraic hit rocks in a storm and sank. One of the four, Jean Le Huquet, described as a 'sober and laborious' man, was married with seven children.
School
A group of several residents of St Helier have got together to establish a public school in the parish, supported by an annual subscription. It is intended to teach reading, writing and arithmetic and the principles of Christian religion.
The school will be run by a committee of 12 members, with the Rector, Constable and Surveillants always members, the rest chosen by the subscribers. The committee will rent an apartment suitable for the school, with a fire for the winter. They will appoint a treasurer who will submit accounts to the committee every quarter.
The number of pupils will be set at 60, and can be increased if funds permit, at the discretion of the committee, which will also fix the school hours for different seasons.
A master will be appointed at an annual salary of 60 Louis. Children will only be admitted between the ages of seven and 15, for a maximum of four years.
March
Schools
Education was clearly a major issue at this time. The 5 March edition of the Gazette contained an advertisement for a private boarding school at Newport, Isle of Wight, with a long list of charges for the basic curriculum and extra tuition in a range of subjects, including French, geography, navigation, music and art. Board and basic curriculum cost £5 10s (£850 at 2024 values) a quarter, with French tuition every other day adding another £1 1s (£157).
Subscribers were invited to put forward the names of children for the St Helier public school.
George Burr announced that he was establishing a private school with tuition in French and English, writing, arithmetic and merchants' accounts
Fishing deaths
On the 14th two residents of Trinity, Jean Machon and Philippe Gruchy drowned while on a fishing trip to the Minquiers. Gruchy leaves behind a pregnant wife and four children.
Foreigners
All foreigners living in the island were required to complete a form by the 26th giving their names, country of origin, town and county of birth, and the property and parish they were now living in. The forms were to be given to the Lieut-Governor's Inspector, Lieut Col J Le Couteur.
April
Church vandalism
Around the 19th Grouville Church was again entered by persons unknown and all the money there was stolen, followed by similar activity at St Saviour
Convoy
The frigate HMS Brilliant sailed from St Aubin's Bay with the Newfoundland fleet in convoy.
May
Rector's death
On the 16th the Rev Francois Le Couteur, long-time Rector of St Martin, and then Grouville, has died at the age of 63.
Duel
On Sunday 14th a duel was held on the dunes at Grouville between Lieut G Armstrong and Lieut F R Rathborne, both of the 76th Regiment. The latter was hit in the body by a shot and died a short time later. The survivor and the two seconds disappeared quickly.
Demonstration
On the 25th the States were given a demonstration of the island's defences, including the mobile artillery brigade recently sent from England at the request of the Lieut-Governor, General Don.
The cavalry and light infantry joined the artillery in a display of military action in St Aubin's and St Ouen's Bays.
Anniversary
On the 29th there was a grand anniversary celebration (of what, and where, is not recorded!) by all the island's troops, Militia and garrison. A flotilla of boats paraded in Grouville Bay.
June
Fish sales
With the new fish market finished and ready to open, the States have ordered that the sale of fish in the old market square must cease from Monday 6 June. Any fish offered for sale there will be confiscated.
New bank
Guaranteed by a deposit of £44,000 (£6.6 million at 2024 values) the Jersey Commercial Bank was opened by Francois Janvrin, Elie Durell, Thomas Mallet, Jean de Veulle and Jean Poingdestre, supported by another 14 prominent islanders.
The bank's offices when it opened on Monday 13 June were at the home of Michel Quesnel, in Grande Rue (Broad Street). [3]
Nets cut
A reward of £600 was offered for information leading to the conviction of those who cut the nets of the fishing boat Lark when it was fishing between Jersey and Sark on the night of the 21st. The crew of the Lark suspected that the offending vessel was from St Aubin or St Brelade.
July
New guardhouse
Tenders were sought for the construction of a new guardhouse and gun shed at the St Ouen's Bay barracks. [4]
Thunderstorm
On Sunday 3rd at about half past 11 in the morning there was a severe thunderstorm, accompanied by hailstones, of a size never seen locally. The damage caused by the hail - principally broken windows - was very considerable.
Child's death
On the 27th a child aged two and a half fell on its head at the Chapelle des Pas and died outside.
August
Prize sale
The prize vessel Principe Regente and its cargo and all equipment and possessions went on sale at St Aubin on the 8th, by order of a Commission of the Admiralty High Court. Further sales of privateer captures were being advertised at this time in Guernsey.
Boys' review
The island's boys were reviewed by the Lieut-Governor at the beginning of the month and were awarded prizes as follows:
- North-West Regiment - musket exercise: Jean Le Sueur [5], Jean Gavey [6], Charles Gruchy [7], Jean Gallichan [8] and Jean Renouf [9], of St John; Abraham Le Brun of St Mary [10]. Cannon exercise: Clement Bailhache, son of Jean, of St Ouen; Jean Queree [11], of St John.
- North Regiment - musket exercise: Francois Baudains [12] and Edouard Le Sauteur [13], of St Martin; Josue Renouf [14], Elie Starck [15], brother Philippe Starck[16] and Josue Pirouet, of Trinity [17]. Cannon exercise: Philippe de Gruchy of Trinity and Philippe Billot [18] , of St Martin.
- East Regiment - musket exercise: Thomas Goodger, Abraham de Gruchy [19] and Thomas Fauvel, of St Saviour [20]; Francois Godfray, of St Clement [21]; Thomas Falle [22] and Charles Burk, of Grouville. Cannon exercise: Jean Le Gros and Jean Amy [23] of Grouville.
- St Lawrence Battalion - musket exercise: Jean Gallichan [24], Jean Romeril [25], Aaron de Ste Croix [26], George Monk, George Denize, Daniel Dutot [27], of St Lawrence. Canon exercise: Jean Le Gros and George Blampied [28], of St Lawrence.
- St Helier Battalion - musket exercise: Thomas Musgrove [29], Jean Talbot [30], Jean Bourinot, Francois Messervy [31], Jean Le Moignan [32] and Philippe Gallie [33], of St Helier. Cannon exercise: Thomas La Cloche [34] and Jean Chevalier, of St Helier.
- South-West Regiment - musket exercise: Philippe Carrel [35], William Manders [36], Henry Philip Salthill [37] and Joseph Cunnings [38], of St Brelade; Francois Huelin [39] and Clement Bailhache, of St Peter. Cannon exercise: Jean Helleur [40], of St Brelade and Philippe Rive [41], of St Peter.
September
Boys' prizes
A further review of the island's boys by the Lieut-Governor on the 4th resulted in the following prizes being awarded:
- Infantry - 1, Francois Messervy, St H [42]; 2, Philippe Carrel [43], St B; 3, Jean Le Sueur [44], St J; 4, Abraham Le Brun, [45] St My; 5, Philippe Gallie, [46] St H; 6, William Manders [47], St B
- Artillery - 1, Jean Helleur [48], St B; 2, Thomas La Cloche, St H
There was no other local news in September's four editions
October
Racing
Three horse race meetings to be held on the beach in St Aubin's Bay were organised for Monday 10th and the following two days. On the first day a silver cup valued at 30 guineas (£4,725 at 2024 values) was on offer, with silver cups worth 20 guineas and 10 guineas on the following days. The meetings were organised by the garrison regiment.
The results of the races were not reported, and no other local news appeared during the month.
November
Appointment
The Gazette enthused about the reappointment of Philippe d'Auvergne, Duc de Bouillon, as Navy commander for the whole of the Channel Islands, looking back at his achievements during the last war with the French.
New schools
C Le Gros announced the opening of a school 'for young ladies and gentlemen', with tuition in French and English; Latin grammar, writing, arithmetic and merchants' accounts. The school was based at his brother George's premises in Rue de Derriere.
Mr Balleine, of Pembroke College, Oxford, announced the opening of a boarding school with tuition in French and English and covering Latin, Greek, writing and arithmetic. Charges were from £25 a year.
Jurat's death
Jurat Nicolas Messervy died on the 13th
Wreckage
A sail and wood found on the beach in St Ouen's Bay are believed to come from the frigates Amethyst and Thetis which were involved in a battle earlier in the month.
December
The Gazette carried no local news this month
Notes and references
- ↑ See The 19th century in newspaper cuttings - Gazette 1800 for a fuller history of the title
- ↑ Described at the 'great square of St Helier'
- ↑ A history of the island's Finance industry
- ↑ We have not been able to identify the exact location of these military installations
- ↑ The son of Philippe and Jeanne, nee Marche, baptised in St John in 1792
- ↑ The son of Philippe and Jeanne, nee Marche, baptised in St John in 1793
- ↑ The son of Pierre and Rachel Hamon, baptised in St John in 1793
- ↑ Probably baptised in St John in 1792, the son of Pierre and Jeanne, nee Le Cornu
- ↑ Baptised in St John in 1794, the son of Thomas and Rachel, nee Le Moignan
- ↑ Baptised in St Peter in 1791, the son of Abraham and Marie Esnouf
- ↑ Baptised in St John in 1793, the son of Edouard and Marguerite, nee Le Dain
- ↑ Either baptised 1791 the son of Philippe and Jeanne, nee Badier; or 1790, the son of Philippe and Jeanne, nee Le Seelleur
- ↑ Baptised St Helier, 1792, the son of Elie and Rachel, nee Le Riche
- ↑ Baptised in 1791, the son of Josue and Elizabeth, nee Coutanche
- ↑ Baptised 1791 in St Martin, the son of Elie and Marie, nee Beaugie
- ↑ Baptised 1792 in St Martin, the son of Elie and Marie, nee Beaugie
- ↑ Either 1791, the son of Jean and Marguerite, nee Descaudeville, or 1792, the son of Jean and Sara, nee Godfray
- ↑ The son of Philippe and Francoise, nee Godfray
- ↑ The son of Philippe and Elizabeth, nee Binet, baptised 1793
- ↑ Baptised in St Saviour in 1792, the son of Philippe and Elizabeth, nee Poingdestre
- ↑ Baptised in St Clement in 1791, the son of Bernabey and Marguerite, nee Godfray
- ↑ Son of Jean and Anne, nee Mallet
- ↑ Son of Jean and Elizabeth, nee Touzel
- ↑ Son of Philippe and Catherine, nee Remon
- ↑ Son of Philippe and Sara, nee Gibaut
- ↑ Son of Aaron and Marie Le Gallais
- ↑ Son of Daniel and Elizabeth, nee Le Mottee
- ↑ Son of George and Jeanne, nee Gallichan
- ↑ Thomas Timbrell Musgrove (1792–1863) born in Plymouth. Married Joanna Drew, of Ireland, in St Helier in 1813. They had a son Thomas
- ↑ John Talbot, baptised in 1791 in St Saviour, son of Thomas and Anne, nee Canivet
- ↑ Son of Matthieu and Elizabeth, nee Coals
- ↑ Son of Elie and Marie Laverty
- ↑ Son of Jean and Marie Labey
- ↑ Son of Thomas La Cloche and Marguerite, nee Le Breton
- ↑ Son of Francois and Marie Madeleine, nee Le Bosquet
- ↑ Son of William and Marie, nee Le Cras, of St John
- ↑ Son of Henry and Jeanne, nee Alard
- ↑ Son of David and Marie Rachel, nee Piercy
- ↑ Son of Jean and Susanne, nee Le Cras
- ↑ Son of Jean and Elizabeth, nee Hamon
- ↑ Son of Thomas and Elizabeth, nee La Gerche, or Thomas and Jeanne, nee Lesbirel
- ↑ Son of Matthieu and Elizabeth, nee Coals
- ↑ Son of Francois and Marie Madeleine, nee Le Bosquet
- ↑ The son of Philippe and Jeanne, nee Marche, baptised in St John in 1792
- ↑ Baptised in St Peter in 1791, the son of Abraham and Marie Esnouf
- ↑ Son of Jean and Marie Labey
- ↑ Son of William and Marie, nee Le Cras, of St John
- ↑ Son of Jean and Elizabeth, nee Hamon
