Library Document Collection

Ralph Durand

Ralph Durand (1876-45) came from an important Guernsey Huguenot family and was the Librarian at the Priaulx before and during the Second War. He was an explorer and author whose family history, described here, is full of interest, and includes refugees, soldiers, ministers, a provost of Eton, an actor-manager, and politicians.

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.

Second Bill of Partage of Guillaume Henry's estate, 1512

Transcribed in Partages No. 1, Staff.

Will of Gillette Sampson, 1663

From Guernsey's Ecclesiastical Court. No. 7 in Edith Carey's Wills and Legacies, Staff.

Will of Marie de la Rue 1663

No.5 in Edith Carey's Wills and Legacies, Staff.

Will of Anne Blondel, 1662

No. 4 in Edith Carey's Wills and Legacies (Staff). The film of the original Ecclesiastical Court records may be consulted in the Library.

Will of Thomas Le Page, 1669

No. 49 in Edith Carey's Wills and Legacies books of transcriptions.

Le Pelley notes from Col. Le Pelley's MSS II

Contrats pour lire: 21 July 1589. Jean Le Pelley fils Collas de St Pierre du Bois [sells ] 6 bs de rente a Thomas de Lisle. Ditto 18 June 1598. Collette Pezett fille de Jean, de St Pierre Port [widow] de Jean Le Fyvre [sells] pour £33 sterling d'Angleterre & 12bs d'annuelle rente, La Croutte Pezett en St André, au fyeu des Esperons, cont. 10 vergees de terre, au north du Cortill John Bailleull, à l'est [] des Gouyes appartenant à Martin Belin à cause de [sa] femme fille de Thomas de Garys. A Collas Le Pelley fils Charles. Do. 5th September 1570 . Edmond Ettur [sells] à Pierre Le…

Will of Thomas Le Pelley, 1643

From Edith Carey's Notes on Sark, Le Pelley MSS. [Presumably a contemporary] translation from the French. Court of Probate, London.

Walter Ollivier: They used to swallow the gunpowder

Walter Ollivier in 1957, Priaulx Library Collection

Ollivier the gunsmith, by Bernard Brett, from The Star November 1947. The business at 1, Tower Hill, was begun by his great-great grandfather in 1800.

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