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.

Library Document Collection

Major Byng

Major William Byng is the best-known Guernsey dueller; there is a stone in Cambridge Park commemorating his death in 1795. Guernseymen were forbidden to duel in Guernsey and would usually travel to Jersey to fight it out, so the majority of duels that have taken place here in the island of which we know any details occurred between locals and a member of the garrison; in this case a quarrel arose between two serving soldiers.

Thomas de Sausmarez

From Edith Carey's Scrapbooks (Vol. 1: the Chepmell MS) in the Library. 'He had 28 children, but never more than 14 alive at a time.'

1831, a dreadful summer for accidents

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

Lost things: Les Maisons aux Comtes, 1915

Les Maisons aux Comtes, Priaulx library Collection

'One of the quaintest possible specimens of an old Guernsey dwelling'; so says the author of a report in The Star, October 20, 1915, under the byline: 'Another ancient landmark disappearing.' The photograph is by Edith Carey. She says tradition had it that the house was built in the 12th century and was connected with the Fief au Comte; the house on the left was demolished in 1921.

Proper names from Livre des Jugements

Modernized list of people mentioned in legal cases, from a transcription of p. 223 of Livre des Jugements, Vol. I, in History of the Guernsey Churches scrapbook.

Muskets, 1744

Distribution of muskets by the British Government to the inhabitants of Guernsey, October 1744. Said to come from a manuscript in the hand of George Syvret, dated 1817.

Dobree, Le Mesurier, Perchard

From Edith Carey's Scrapbook, Lukis Memoirs (MSS).

Poor Johnny Hotton

From a note in the Notebook of Elie Brevint, minister of Sark from 1612 until his death at the age of 87 in 1674. Written around 1610, this extract refers to events in his father Cosme's time as minister at the end of the 16th century. This is quoted in the Guernsey Magazine, or Monthly Illustrated Journal, for March 1875, p. 271; there is a copy in the Library.

Acts of the Ecclesiastical Court: II

List of names taken from Edith Carey's full-text extracts of the Acts of the Ecclesiastical Court, Library 41B. 17/18th century. II: Marriages annulled; Disputed Ownership of Pews; Abjurations of Rome; and Forbidding the Banns.

Acts of the Ecclesiastical Court: I

List of names taken from Edith Carey's full-text extracts of the Acts of the Ecclesiastical Court, Library 41B. 17/18th centuries. I: Those charged with Breaking engagements; Paillardize; Incontinence: Seduction under promise of marriage; and Cohabitation.

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