18th century

Two hundred years ago, in October

From the local newspapers. Mr French, Music teacher; Lost by William Bird; Finucane; Helier Allez; Monsieur Ferey; Valet position required; Chaumontel pears; wet-nurse; Hospital-Lane; Pierre Mansell; Daniel de Mouilpied, Nicolas Robert, Susanne Le Ray; Oysters.

September at the turn of the 18th century

Bread Prices; Guernsey-Jersey packet and post; Josue Priaulx; Santissima Trinidad or La Preciosa; Savoir-Vivre Club; public dance at the Rohais; John Caire; Kerbey and Courtney, teachers; Millers overcharging, letter; Mr Read's Ball; gas lamps for Town.

July two hundred years ago ... or thereabouts

Excerpts, mostly from the Gazette de L'Ile de Guernesey, on this day (or thereabouts) two hundred years ago.

This week in June two centuries ago ... or thereabouts

Extracts, mostly from the Gazette de Guernesey, on this day (or thereabouts) two hundred years ago.

The Harvey Family

Newlands, the Harvey house, from the Priaulx Library Collection

Throughout the occupation of Guernsey (1940-45) Winifred Harvey (1888-1976) kept a diary, which has been edited and published under the title The Battle of Newlands, and which is still in print. In keeping her diary, she followed a family tradition; the Harveys have left behind them comprehensive records from the middle of the 19th century, so detailed that their lives could virtually be reconstructed from them, and much of that material is here at the Library. Their house, Newlands, is illustrated in the photograph above, from the Library Collection.

The Family of Major-General John Gaspard Le Marchant

Elegiac verse from the Mercure, 1812, Priaulx Library Collection

'I am determined to rise to the head of my profession and nothing but death will stop me.' J. Gaspard Le Marchant was born into one of the most influential and possibly the wealthiest family in Guernsey. His was one of the most illustrious careers in the history of the the British Army, in which he single-mindedly founded the Royal Military College and revolutionised the training of officers. Highly esteemed by Wellington, he died a glorious if unnecessary death in 1812 at the Battle of Salamanca, following which a monument to him was erected in St Paul's Cathedral at public expense.

De La Mare partages

From the Le Hurel collection, donated by Esther Hatton.

Paul Le Mesurier

The Monthly Magazine, XX (II) 1805, pp. 571 ff. 'At Upper Homerton, in his 51st year, Paul Le Mesurier, esq., alderman of London, representative in two parliaments for the borough of Southwark, a director of the East India Company, and Colonel of the Honourable Artillery Company.'

Captain Evan Evans

Famous highwayman, from the Newgate Calendar. 'Clerk to Sir Edmund Andrews, in Guernsey, and later Highwayman in England. Executed in 1708.'

Nicolas Lenfestey des Brehauts

From The Guernsey Free Churchman, January 1925 p. 7. The life of the Methodist preacher, by George Rabey.

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