The 19th century in newspaper cuttings 1812
19th century Jersey
From the newspapers in 1812
The Gazette de Cesaree, one of our sources for this page
Our history of 19th century Jersey from newspaper cuttings started with the Jersey Loyalist, an English-language newspaper published from 1825 to 1831. We then 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, as well as other titles with similar names, 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 earliest 19th century newspapers in Jersey is difficult to follow. At one time, at least, there were two active publications named Gazette de l'Ile de Jersey. 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, printed by G Angot and Philippe Mourant. But it soon vanished. Quite what happened after 1800 is uncertain, but the Societe collection has a very erratic set of editions. From 1810 onwards we have used John Stead's publication Gazette de Jersey and Weekly Advertiser and Philip Mourant's title, when available, plus Gazette de Cesaree to build as comprehensive a picture of local news as possible.
January
Royal Commission
The representatives of the 12 parishes presented petitions to the Royal Commissioners, signed by many hundreds of the electors of Jersey, in support of the constitution and elective franchise as it at present exists.
The Deputies were politely received and the following week Mr Allen, their counsel, spoke in support of the prayer of the petition for over three hours.
Bakery fire
On the 14th at 4 am the house of baker Mrs Remon, on the grand parade, caught fire after a tenant left a lighted candle close to his bed igniting a straw cover. The house was completely destroyed but the arrival of two pumps ensured the survival of neighbouring homes.
Child's death
Charles, the seven-year-old son of Mr and Mrs Francois Bertin, was killed by a horse on the 8th.
St Peter Barracks
Tenders were invited for the construction of barracks in St Peter.
Entertaining
On the 20th a ball was held at Deal's Saloon in honour of Her Majesty's birthday. Although well attended, many of those who form a brilliant part of society were not present. Mrs Philip de Carteret opened the ball with one of the managers.
The following day at her house, Belvedere Place, a supper was given by Mrs Thomas Le Hardy, to a numerous and select party of friends.
On the 22nd an elegant dinner was given by Mr Lempriere to a select party of residents and military. In the evening the play The Rivals was performed at the theatre.
On the 23rd a ball and supper was given by Mrs Irvin at Rout's Hotel, to all the first and most fashionable people in the island.
On the 26th an elegant dinner was given at Deal's Hotel by the Advocates of the Royal Court to a numerous party of gentlemen.
February
The news columns during the month were dominated by letters to the editors, theatre reviews and reports of balls and dinners. We have decided not to include all these here.
Promotion
Capt Le Geyt, of the Royal Troop, has been promoted to be Deputy Inspector General in the island with the rank of major.
Castle drowning
On the 2nd as two men of the 3rd Veteran Battalion were attempting to cross the Castle causeway the tide was too strong for them and they both lost their lives.
Prisoners
With no sign of the English and French governments reaching an agreement for the exchange of prisoners, the States again appealed to islanders to contribute to the funds being raised to support Jerseymen imprisoned in France. It was revealed that each of them had received £62 from the previous year's appeal.
Cock shooting
On Shrove Tuesday the ancient privilege of cock shooting was renewed, and there were many victims. 'Much as we respect privileges, this is one of those which we could wish the legislature should abolish,' said the Gazette de Cesaree.
March
Shooting
On the 7th a young soldier of the 96th Regiment was on sentry duty at Le Rue, near the Blue Barracks, on St Aubin's Road, when he was shot in the knee. His leg was so badly shattered that amputation was necessary. A reward of 50 guineas was offered by the military for information leading to the conviction of the men involved. It subsequently transpired that the man had shot himself to procure his discharge.
Jurat elections
There is to be no change in the system of electing Jurats, the report of the Royal COmmissioners having not been adopted by the Privy COuncil.
Scarlet fever
Scarlet fever is affecting a large number of women at St Aubin.
Crewman shot
When the schooner Sprightly was heading for Guernsey on the 1st a black crew member was discovered lighting a fire near the magazine, intending to blow up the vessel. Other crew members were injured trying to remove him and he was shot and killed.
Jurat dies
Jurat Francois Valpy dit Janvrin died in the early morning of the 9th having suffered a fall several days before. Jean Pipon, Seigneur of La Hague, was proposed to replace him.
Release
Clement Lempriere, a 14-year-old boy, has been released from imprisonment in France and returned to the island. He was taken by the French about four years ago while on a fishing trip with his father and sister between Jersey and Sark. His father, because of his age, and his sister, were soon released, but the boy remained in detention at Arras.
He decided to write to Bonaparte seeking his release and was provided with passports, allowing him to travel from town to town, and eventually back to the island.
Burrard Street
General Harry Burrard has created a road from New Street, along the Faux Bie to Don Street, then to the new market street (later Halkett Place). The road has been named after him.
Death sentence
The death sentence has been pronounced on Michel Whiting, grain merchant and evangelist preacher, for having poisoned his two step-brothers in order to obtain their inheritance from their father.
April
The French lugger corsair Petit Jean of 16 cannons and a crew of 36, was brought to Jersey after a three-hour chase by HMS The Persian, commanded by Charles Bertram. This is his second capture since his arrival on the island station.
The Vulture brought an American vessel laden with cargo which was captured in the Garonne, after breaking the blockade.
Resignation
Mr de Veulle, Greffier of the Royal Court, has resigned this office, an irreparable loss to the Court.
==May==
Brook
The Royal Court accompanied General Don on a visit to several town streets to view his proposals for altering the course of the Petit Douet. The States have been authorised to hold three lotteries to finance the work required. It was suggested that the conduit under the old prison had been the cause of recent flooding, and should be removed as soon as possible.
Races
It was announced that any dog found on the beach in St Aubin's Bay on the days of the forthcoming races would be immediately killed.
New road
Following the approval of the St Helier assembly the road from Rue de Derriere to the Town Mill has been started and it was hoped that it would be complete by winter. The new road was said to be of major advantage to commerce.
Deputy Viscount
Following the resignation of John Winter, Charles de Ste Croix has taken the oath as the new Deputy Viscount.
June
Buying from soldiers
Over ten days four individuals have been brought before the Royal Court and fined £5 each for buying 'necessaries and provisions' from soldiers of the 15th regiment, in contravention of the Mutiny Act.
King's birthday
On the 4th the King's birthday was celebrated in the usual manner. At noon the different batteries fired a Royal Salute. General Don gave an elegant dinner to a large party consisting of the heads of the civil departments and commanding officers. A ball was held at Deal's Saloon in the evening with nearly 200 'fashionables' attending.
Admiral stands down
Admiral Philippe d'Auvergne stood down as Royal Navy commander in the Channel Islands and was honoured by the States and by merchants.
Trinity election
On the 14th an election for Constable of Trinity resulted in a great majority for Philippe Le Maistre, who was elected in place of Francois Gruchy.
Banned again
Jean Langlois, who was banned from Jersey for life for theft in 1794 has been arrested in Guernsey charged with the theft in February of blankets left to dry in a field and belonging to the Government. He was sentenced to fifty strokes of the whip and banishment. He was sent to Southampton, but he was so well known there that he was sent back to Guernsey, where the Court has returned him to his native island of Jersey.
He will be held in prison until an opportunity arises to send him to another country.
Highway robberies
On the 27th, between 10 and 11 o'clock at night Capt Jean Godfray, of St Saviour, was stopped on the Grouville military road close to Thomas Le Hardy's house by two soldiers who took 14 shillings from him, and not content with their theft, hit him on the face with a stick they forced from his grasp.
He reached Josue Graut's house in considerable pain and was taken home from there in a bad condition.
On the 29th a man was also assaulted and robbed in the lanes close to Bagot, by a soldier who appeared to be drunk.
July
Soldier's suicide
On the 8th a soldier of the 6th Regiment committed suicide by cutting his throat with a razor after being demoted from the rank of sergeant.
House fire
John Nicolle's house in St Martin was burnt to the ground by a child setting fire to hay in a stable.
St Helier Constable
Senior Centenier Thomas Duhamel beat Philippe Le Vavasseur dit Durell by 283 votes to 96 to be elected the new Constable of St Helier, in place of Philippe Winter. The result was followed by acrimonious correspondence by Mr Durell's supporters in Gazette de Cesaree.
Banknotes refused
The following market butchers announced that they would no longer accept banknotes issued by any of the Jersey banks, which they could not exchange without cost, and would only accept coins in payment for meat in future: Josue Aubin, Jean Fleury, George Beauchamp, Edouard Le Bourson, Philippe Gallichan, Charles Dorey, Jean Dorey, Edouard Binet, Jean Picot, Clement Noel, Laurens Machon, Jean Le Feuvre, Jean Le Sueur, Clement Gallichan, Clement Renouf, Jean Hubert, Jean Hubert of Bagot, Charles Beauchamp, Francois Le Brun, Thomas Le Huquet, Elie Stark, Charles Alexandre, Josue Baugie, Jean Picot son of Philippe, Jean Renouf, Jean Gallichan, Philippe Baugie. A notice was published indicating that other butchers did not agree with the advertisement and would take all banknotes.
Constable's election
A letter, full of fulsome praise and calling on George Philippe Benest to stand for re-election, was published in both Gazettes on the 22nd over the signatures of Centenier Josue Le Touzel, Edouard Le Maistre, Thomas de Bourcier, Jean Selous, Jean Heleur, Elie Le Roux, Pierre Hamon, Philippe Rouet, Philippe Le Caux, Edouard Pipon, Jean Vaudin, Edouard Marett, Jean Bosdet, Nicolas Le Bas, Francois Le Feuvre, Edouard Giffard, Edouard Le Sueur, Jean Le Brocq, Philippe de Bourcier, Jean Hamon, Charles Le Petevin dit Le Roux, Matthieu Alexandre and Philippe Le Bas.
Salamanca
On the 24th the towns of St Helier and St Aubin were illuminated in honour of the victory at Salamanca, as were several houses in the country, notably that of Thomas Le Hardy of Belvedere. It is sad to state that some properties which could not or would not participate had pains of glass broken by English masons.
September
Rejoicings
Celebrations of the Salamanca victory continued on Wednesday 2nd with a dinner at Deal's Saloon presided over by General Don and attended by a large number of Army and Navy officers and the first gentlemen of the island. Twenty three toast were proposed during the dinner. At 9 o'clock the gathering departed to see the fireworks at the Castle and artillery camp.
Banknotes
Increasing calls were being made for licences to be required by those intending to issue banknotes in the island.
St Brelade Constable
To the obvious disappointment of Gazette de Cesaree George Benest was re-elected Constable of St Brelade, beating off the challenge of Jacques Pipon. The newspaper claimed that the parish had been in perpetual discord during Mr Benest's term of office and regretted how little discernment the parishioners had shown in the election. A long letter in support of the Constable was published in the following week's paper.
New school
The Jersey National School, a church school, has opened in Don Street.
October
No Gazette de l'Ile de Jersey is available for the month and the local news section of Gazette de Cesaree was largely occupied by correspondence, poetry and literary quotations and reports of dinners and balls.
Storm
A violent storm caused great damage along the east coast, the sea flooding large areas.
November
Races
On the 5th a large crowd lined the new road to St Aubin in hopes of witnessing the Pig Race, but were disappointed as the stewards could not find one, except those who daily parade the streets of St Helier, which are too tame to given any sport. The crowd was entertained by the best contested race witnessed for some years. The first heat won by Mr Janvrin's pony, second by Mr Bradley's and third by Mr Janvrin's.
Banknotes
A proposal was put to the States on the 18th and lodged au Greffe to require all who wish to circulate banknotes in public to obtain a licence from the Governor, Bailiff and Jurats.
December
Fire
On the night of the eighth a fire broke out at Mr Deal's House at Vauxhall, consuming the upper story and doing other damage to the amount of £150.
Notes and references
- ↑ See The 19th century in newspaper cuttings - Gazette 1800 for a fuller history of the titles
