Eliza Cook's Trip to Sark

30th May 2025
From Eliza Cook's Journal, Saturday, August 19, 1854. Eliza Cook was born in Southwark in 1818 as one of eleven children to a tinsmith. She began her career in poetry at a very young age, and had much success, her poems being published in newspapers and proving especially popular as songs when set to music. She was a Chartist, and her poems often deal with the "levelling-up" of the poor. From 1849-1854 she wrote, edited and published Eliza Cook's Journal for, she said, 'utility and amusement'. Despite her popularity, she is now largely overlooked. The portrait is by Henry Brittan Willis, after John Watkins:lithograph, 1840s-1850s, (c) National Portrait Gallery, NPG D34087

Guernsey family records go on to Findmypast

10th April 2025
The Priaulx Library is now an Affiliate partner of Findmypast: Findmypast now holds many of the island's family history records. Click here to find out more

Will of Jean Vautier, 1699

21st November 2024
I, Jean Vautier being sound of body [but] being of a profession in which I often fnd myself in danger of death because of storms at sea ... Firstly, to the poor of St Peter Port, 20 sous tournois. Item . To my two sisters, Marie and Elizabeth, 10 sous each and as for the remainder: to my beloved wife Catherine Le Poitevin for her to live the rest of her life in the house and land that I own at Fermain, in right of my mother, Marie Le Chevalier [La Chevaliere]. Drawn up at St Peter Port 9 May 1699. Jean Patron, witness, William de Putron, witness. IGBD   Reg: 4 May 1703

Where is Guernsey?

16th August 2024
Getting Guernsey out there. A letter lambasting the marketing efforts of the Edwardian Chamber of Commerce (there was no Tourist Board). Guernsey Evening Press and Star, Thursday 5 August 1909 

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