Social History

Mr Trengrouse's Rocket Apparatus, June 1836

As reported in the Comet of July 4th, 1836. Henry Trengrouse (1772-1854), from Cornwall, was the inventor in 1808 of an early form of the Breeches buoy. As he first presented his invention, however, in 1818, versions of it had long been in use by the time he demonstrated it in Guernsey, despite the Comet's misgivings.

June letters from Havilland Le Mesurier

Two letters by merchant and functionary Havilland Le Mesurier, one to his wife Elizabeth Dobree and the other to daughter Harriet Le Mesurier, from nearly 200 written while he was away working for the Army's Commissariat, in the Library collection.

John Banister to Elisha Tupper, July 11, 1775

Elisha Tupper, son of Daniel, Priaulx Library collection

John Banister of Virginia describes the Boston Tea Party and the growing disaffection between Britain and New England, including the Battles of Lexington and Concord, to update his business associate, shipping magnate Elisha Tupper. The illustration, from the Priaulx Library collection, is of a miniature of Elisha (1720-1802), in the background of which a date, possibly 1785, is just discernible. The photograph was taken by or on behalf of Edith Carey, c. 1920.

The loss of the Hibernia, April 1833

From a letter in the Star, May 2, 1833. The Hibernia, Captain Brend, left Liverpool 6 December 1832, and sank on February 4, NW of Acension island, 1100 miles from Brazil. There were 79 males, 80 females, and 50 children as passengers; 4 of the crew were boy apprentices. 150 died. There were insufficient lifeboats, and they were very poorly maintained. The survivors were rescued by the Guernsey vessel, Isabella.

Witchcraft: Les Sorcelleries, March 1787

From the Library's Gazette de L'Ile de Jersey, 10 March 1787. If you're a Jersey person and you think you're cursed, you can call on the local white witch to save you.

January 1837

From the Mann-Dobrée letters, in the Library.

Guernsey in the olden times, by Curio-Antique

From The Star 29 and 31 January 1878. With this fascinating document should be compared the Library's manuscript Notebook of Pierre Henry. Henry, whose ancient house in Berthelot Street is now a tourist attraction, was a wealthy merchant shipowner and ancestor of the Tupper family, through whom the notebook came to the Library.

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Social History

Mr Trengrouse's Rocket Apparatus, June 1836

June letters from Havilland Le Mesurier

John Banister to Elisha Tupper, July 11, 1775

The loss of the Hibernia, April 1833

Witchcraft: Les Sorcelleries, March 1787

January 1837

Guernsey in the olden times, by Curio-Antique

December 1890

October 1822

October 1892

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