Letters & Diaries

Nicolas de la Mare, 1806

Nicolas de la Mare signature, 1806, Priaulx Library Collection

A letter from Southampton; teenage schoolboy Nicolas (b. 1790) to his father, Maitre John de la Mare in Guernsey. Nicolas attends John Crouch's school in Swaythling (then called Swathling). From the Le Hurel collection of historical family documents relating to the de la Mare family, recently donated to the Library by E Hatton.

Roll of honour: the last hours of Rifleman E S Gard, 1916

The Reverend J Gard has received the following letter from the Wesleyan Chaplain attached to the Hospital in which his son, Rifleman Ernest Stanley Gard, died last Thursday. The telegram here referred to was sent by the Reverend J Gard and was in the following terms: 'Loving sympathy Hearts best Love God's Blessing. Mother and Father.' From the Star, October 24th, 1916.

Corporal Edwin Carter, Rifle Brigade, 1916

From the Star, 25 November 1916.

Elizabeth Le Cocq of Alderney, paillarde, 1736

Elizabeth refused to appear before the Ecclesiastical Court to admit 'paillardise'—licentiousness—having given birth to an illegitimate child. From Peter Mollet's Notebook in the Library.

The Journal of Jane Maria Barlow, 1833-38

Jane Saumarez nee Barlow as an old lady from the Priaulx Library Collection

Primary concern: Prettiness of self and other girls. Where are all the beaux? Were all the men really either tall or handsome in the 1830s? Obviously not: 'De Beauvoir De Lisle renewed his attentions which I am sorry for, I shall be obliged to draw a line.' A very annoyed Savery Brock bursts a blood vessel. Guernsey has very bad pavements. The photograph from the Library Collection shows a very benevolent-looking Jane in her old age, many years after this diary was written.

The death of Mary Saumarez, October 1812

A letter from the Library's Mann-Dobrée collection, edited by Julia de L. Mann: Anne Dobrée to Henry Routh, October 8, 1812. Nineteen-year-old Mary Dobrée Saumarez was the eldest daughter of Admiral James Saumarez and his wife, Martha Le Marchant; Anne was her cousin. Henry 'Harry' Le Mesurier, son of Havilland, had just lost his arm at the Battle of Salamanca.

Lance-Corporal Henry J Bisson

From The Star, September 14, 1916: Lance-Corporal H J Bisson, son of Mr H F Bisson, monumental mason, St Julian's Avenue, writes home to his wife, who lives at L'Islet, that he has been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.

1831, a dreadful summer for accidents

From Henry Tourtel of St Martin's Commonplace Book, 1817-1831, in the Library.

A melancholy pleasure: Nicolas Dobree and the heroes of Cobo

'But oh! what a tragic story we have to relate.' The bravery of a group of men from the Castel and their untimely deaths on the Gros Rock, March 9th, 1818; Nicolas Dobree, R.N., the two brothers Henry and George Le Tissier, Daniel Nicolle, and Captain Collenette. The photograph above shows the rock. 'Ils ont peri, meme en accomplissant un oeuvre de charite.'

Eleazar Le Marchant (1743-1832)

An excerpt from Guernsey in the Thirties: Remininscences of the late Rev. M. Gallienne, part V, in the Star, February 1901.

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