Jersey in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth centuries – Part 1
Starting today, occasional transcripts from Jersey in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth centuries by A.C. Saunders (1930).
This is an historical record of commercial enterprise, privateering activities of the islanders, Charles Robin, Pioneer of the Gaspé Fisheries and an account of the Newfoundland Fisheries.
Formation of the Jersey Chamber of Commerce.
The “Town and County Magazine” was published in April 1774 in London and is described as a repository of knowledge, instruction and entertainment. Possibly, as taste is always changing, we would now find the magazine somewhat dull reading but there is one article in the magazine of special interest to the islanders - containing a graphic account of the Island of Jersey.
St Helier is described as consisting of some 400 houses pleasantly situated, with broad and well paved streets, a good harbour, the only market in the island resorted to by people of all ranks, a capacious church, a corn market and well supplied with water by 8 or 10 public wells situated in different parts of the town.
St Aubin, half the size of St Helier, is inhabited mostly by Merchants and Masters of ships, its port being the best in the island. St Aubin was quite as neat in appearance as St Helier, and near the harbour is a fort mounted with guns for the protection of shipping. The author of the article goes on to predict that in a few years time St Aubin will outrival St Helier by reason “the entrance to St Aubin is not so difficult as that of St Helier and, as they are building an extensive pier, shipping will go there much as more convenient and safe than the former.
The occupation of the inhabitants of all the Channel Islands was described by the author as similar. “In wartime privateering, in peacetime smuggling”.
The prediction about St Aubin has not been fulfilled and, although rumours suggest that certain Jersey fortunes have originated in the activities of smugglers, yet history can point to the wonderful foreign trade which our forefathers carried on in all parts of the then known world.
When the Chamber of Commerce was first started life in Jersey, especially for the poor people, was very difficult. There was a scarcity of food, very great poverty, and the farmers did not grow sufficient grain to supply the wants of the people. The States were in the hands of a small clique who were more careful of their own interests than those of their fellow citizens.
The people were in a state of revolt against the injustices and hardships they were faced with, and when the States allowed grain to be exported from the island, it is no wonder that some 400 women discharged the grain loaded in a ship for exportation to France and, after paying for same at a reasonable price, distributed among the half starving people. The husbands were standing by ready to take action if their women were interfered with.
There was a revolution in Jersey in 1770 when troops had to be sent over from England under a very broad minded commander Lieutenant Colonel Bentenck who, after having carefully examined the grievances of the islander, found many reasons for their complaints.
At that time there was the possibility of war with France or Spain and the laws of the island were very feudal and severe. We find in 1744 that Isaac Briard was fined for insulting the Seigneur des Melesches. One had to be very careful to avoid insulting a Seigneur in those days!
A little earlier Charles Marritt was excommunicated by the ecclesiastical court for defaming the character of Mons. Lempriere. The court directed Charles to ask pardon of Mons. Lempriere but he hid himself so the court directed the Constables of the several parishes to find Marrett and keep him in till he “asked pardon for his crime.”
We therefore see that people, who were not great people, had to walk very warily. Families were bitterly divided and apparently little was done for the public good.
There was a trade with Newfoundland and in 1767 the firm of Robin, Pipon and Company had opened up a trade with the new British province of Gaspé in Canada. Canada, after the Fall of Quebec, had been ceded to England by the Treaty of 1763.
But although the merchants had ships, there was very little harbour accommodation and States had done little or nothing to encourage the shipping interests of the island. Possibly some of the merchants had studied continental history and read about the wonderful work done and the power obtained by the many Guilds of the Netherlands.
And so, after a good deal of discussion, it was decided to start a Chamber of Commerce in Jersey. One can imagine the meetings in the markets on Saturdays, when the people came in with their goods from the country, and the private conversations held in Peter Lys’ dining room about the advantage in combining together to work for the public good.
Starting today, occasional transcripts from Jersey in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth centuries by A.C. Saunders (1930).
This is an historical record of commercial enterprise, privateering activities of the islanders, Charles Robin, Pioneer of the Gaspé Fisheries and an account of the Newfoundland Fisheries.
Formation of the Jersey Chamber of Commerce.
The “Town and County Magazine” was published in April 1774 in London and is described as a repository of knowledge, instruction and entertainment. Possibly, as taste is always changing, we would now find the magazine somewhat dull reading but there is one article in the magazine of special interest to the islanders - containing a graphic account of the Island of Jersey.
St Helier is described as consisting of some 400 houses pleasantly situated, with broad and well paved streets, a good harbour, the only market in the island resorted to by people of all ranks, a capacious church, a corn market and well supplied with water by 8 or 10 public wells situated in different parts of the town.
St Aubin, half the size of St Helier, is inhabited mostly by Merchants and Masters of ships, its port being the best in the island. St Aubin was quite as neat in appearance as St Helier, and near the harbour is a fort mounted with guns for the protection of shipping. The author of the article goes on to predict that in a few years time St Aubin will outrival St Helier by reason “the entrance to St Aubin is not so difficult as that of St Helier and, as they are building an extensive pier, shipping will go there much as more convenient and safe than the former.
The occupation of the inhabitants of all the Channel Islands was described by the author as similar. “In wartime privateering, in peacetime smuggling”.
The prediction about St Aubin has not been fulfilled and, although rumours suggest that certain Jersey fortunes have originated in the activities of smugglers, yet history can point to the wonderful foreign trade which our forefathers carried on in all parts of the then known world.
When the Chamber of Commerce was first started life in Jersey, especially for the poor people, was very difficult. There was a scarcity of food, very great poverty, and the farmers did not grow sufficient grain to supply the wants of the people. The States were in the hands of a small clique who were more careful of their own interests than those of their fellow citizens.
The people were in a state of revolt against the injustices and hardships they were faced with, and when the States allowed grain to be exported from the island, it is no wonder that some 400 women discharged the grain loaded in a ship for exportation to France and, after paying for same at a reasonable price, distributed among the half starving people. The husbands were standing by ready to take action if their women were interfered with.
There was a revolution in Jersey in 1770 when troops had to be sent over from England under a very broad minded commander Lieutenant Colonel Bentenck who, after having carefully examined the grievances of the islander, found many reasons for their complaints.
At that time there was the possibility of war with France or Spain and the laws of the island were very feudal and severe. We find in 1744 that Isaac Briard was fined for insulting the Seigneur des Melesches. One had to be very careful to avoid insulting a Seigneur in those days!
A little earlier Charles Marritt was excommunicated by the ecclesiastical court for defaming the character of Mons. Lempriere. The court directed Charles to ask pardon of Mons. Lempriere but he hid himself so the court directed the Constables of the several parishes to find Marrett and keep him in till he “asked pardon for his crime.”
We therefore see that people, who were not great people, had to walk very warily. Families were bitterly divided and apparently little was done for the public good.
There was a trade with Newfoundland and in 1767 the firm of Robin, Pipon and Company had opened up a trade with the new British province of Gaspé in Canada. Canada, after the Fall of Quebec, had been ceded to England by the Treaty of 1763.
But although the merchants had ships, there was very little harbour accommodation and States had done little or nothing to encourage the shipping interests of the island. Possibly some of the merchants had studied continental history and read about the wonderful work done and the power obtained by the many Guilds of the Netherlands.
And so, after a good deal of discussion, it was decided to start a Chamber of Commerce in Jersey. One can imagine the meetings in the markets on Saturdays, when the people came in with their goods from the country, and the private conversations held in Peter Lys’ dining room about the advantage in combining together to work for the public good.
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