Articles

The Library's unique collections are a treasure chest of unusual, interesting and sometimes surprising material just waiting to be found. This anthology, written by the Editor, is based on an eclectic selection of our archive. The author asserts her copyright on all material on the Priaulx Library website except where copyright of other authors is expressly notified. Permission to reproduce material from this website and full attribution to the author is required in all cases.

18th century

Pierre Silvieux, 1705

15th April 2015

'How Alderney lost its minister in 1705.' From A N Le Cheminant's A Christmas Box of Channel Gems, in the Library's Channel Islands' Pamphlets XIV (Goss.-LeFebvre), pp. 29 ff. This 1700 law remained unrepealed, in Sark at least, and continued to have repercussions into the 20th century!

Grow up

23rd March 2015

From Chefs Plaids, Jugements, Ordonnances &c, Staff, in the Library. 'People who can't control themselves may find they are forced to behave.'

The Mystery of the Ostrich-feather Hat

9th March 2015

Judy and Brian Harden of Gloucestershire, specialists in portrait miniatures, approached the Library for advice as to the identity of the sitters for a pair of miniatures by the Jersey artist Philip Jean, bearing the date of 1785. While researching these we noticed some striking similarities between them and other local miniatures we were familiar with.

The Good Intent, June 1777

A letter from Governor Le Mesurier to Mr Stephens, dated Alderney June 7 1777. Benjamin Franklin and John Adams considered Guernsey men as 'artful enemies.' The French, however, called the Channel Islands 'nids de guêpes'—'wasps' nests,' used in the sense they were a trap, a hornet's nest that one should not kick ...

Mutiny in St Peter's, 1704

From the Library's militia collection. A transcript by Edith Carey of a letter in French from a worried Lieutenant-Bailiff, Eléazar Le Marchant, to the absent Lieut.-Governor, Sir Edmund Andros, (here translated), and a contemporary copy of a petition concerning the same mutiny from William De Lisle in the St Peter's militia, to the Privy Council. Complicated family ties and nepotism, and a reflection of the bitter factional resentment felt towards Edmund Andros.

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Articles

18th century

Pierre Silvieux, 1705

Grow up

The Mystery of the Ostrich-feather Hat

The Good Intent, June 1777

Mutiny in St Peter's, 1704

Smuggling , April 1759

Strangers, vagabonds, and other disreputable characters

The plan for recruiting the forces for the East Indies, March 1771

Extra-parishioners, 1770

Strangers, 1772

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