Snippets from the Actes des Etats - 1780-1800
Translated by Francis Le Cornu, Comments by Tony
April 1780 - Costs and the War Time Preparations
The costs of the defence of the Island in time of war mount up. The sum here would be of the order of £885,000 pounds today. Part of this defence were the Conway towers. Work had begun began in 1779, after a failed French landing at St Ouen's Bay on 1 May 1779. One interesting snippet is the provisioning of the towers - they were to have "half a hundredweight of biscuit bread in a barrel and two barrels of water to be stored in each of the towers"
Translated by Francis Le Cornu, Comments by Tony
April 1780 - Costs and the War Time Preparations
The costs of the defence of the Island in time of war mount up. The sum here would be of the order of £885,000 pounds today. Part of this defence were the Conway towers. Work had begun began in 1779, after a failed French landing at St Ouen's Bay on 1 May 1779. One interesting snippet is the provisioning of the towers - they were to have "half a hundredweight of biscuit bread in a barrel and two barrels of water to be stored in each of the towers"
"The Committee for the Defence of the Island has reported to the States on the assessments made for public works ordered for the fortification of the Island, following the application of Monsieur the Lieutenant Governor. These assessments, for the works ordered in the parishes of St. Owen, St. Peter, St. Brelade, Trinity, and St. Martin, amount to the sum of six thousand, six hundred, sixty-eight pounds, fifteen shillings, four pence, as per the King's directive. This does not include the expenses in the parishes of St. Helier, St. John, and St. Clement."
"The committee has also suggested in its report that it would be necessary to have a salaried inspector in the parishes of St. Martin, Trinity, and St. Brelade, where the ordered works are significant and scattered along the coast, as a means to moderate the costs and expedite the said works. The States, having considered the report, have approved it and authorized the committee to negotiate with suitable individuals to oversee and manage the said works. They are also authorized to take prompt measures, securing the cooperation of constables, workers, and necessary materials to fulfil these vital objectives for the security of the country."
And a boat is also authorised to go out and keep an eye on French boats. The fires that were spotted and the French boats which appeared to change course after they were lit has been taken very seriously.
"Additionally, the States have authorized the committee, in conjunction with Monsieur the Lieutenant Governor, to hire a boat to patrol the coast of France to monitor enemy movements."
"It is further ordered that after the work on the ramparts has been completed by the inhabitants for this year, two days' work may be diverted from the roadworks to complete the work if found necessary. Lastly, the constables shall provide half a hundredweight of biscuit bread in a barrel and two barrels of water to be stored in each of the towers."
The Sunken Boat
"It has been reported to the States that one of the French vessels arrested in this Island by Monsieur the Lieutenant Governor at the beginning of hostilities between England and France, named the "Sueliac" remains sunk in the harbour of St. Aubin at every tide, contrary to the laws, to the detriment of the harbour. Monsieur the Lieutenant Governor has declared that the Harbour Master has lodged complaints with him. The States, taking this matter into consideration and finding it very difficult to obtain suitable wood for several platforms ordered for the defence of the Island, have requested Monsieur the Lieutenant Governor to remove the said vessel from the harbour, where it is causing harm, and to provide for the public requirements for the defence of the Island. They consent that the said vessel be appraised by experts before an officer of justice, for the use of the public, paying the amount of such appraisal for the benefit of whomever it may concern. Following this, Philip Robin, Esquire, Chief Judge, and the Constable of St. Brelade are authorized to take care, once the said vessel has been appraised, to manage the matter in the public interest."
May 1780
And now we have the appointment of a special person to be responsible for delivery of munitions. The Lieutenant Governor was clearly unhappy with the way the Constables had been handling things, and a degree of centralised control was required, although the Constables were still responsible for providing carts for transport - and pay the costs of this endeavour.
"Monsieur the Lieutenant Governor, having represented to the States that, in order to make the service less burdensome regarding the delivery of the necessary munitions for the defence of the Island by His Majesty's Store-keeper, and to avoid the confusion that results from the customary manner until now, in which said munitions pass through the hands of the Constables; the States, upon the recommendation of Monsieur the Lieutenant Governor, have decided that the Colonels of the Militia Regiments will appoint a suitable person, respectively, to receive and issue receipts for the munitions that Monsieur the Governor will order to be delivered from time to time from His Majesty's stores for the defence of the Island. The Constables will then arrange for the necessary carts or vehicles for the transportation of such munitions to the designated locations. The expenses for these transports, as well as all other incidental expenses for the preservation and good condition of the said munitions, shall be paid by the Constables in their respective parishes, based on a certification from the Colonel of the Regiment that they were incurred."
"The committee has also suggested in its report that it would be necessary to have a salaried inspector in the parishes of St. Martin, Trinity, and St. Brelade, where the ordered works are significant and scattered along the coast, as a means to moderate the costs and expedite the said works. The States, having considered the report, have approved it and authorized the committee to negotiate with suitable individuals to oversee and manage the said works. They are also authorized to take prompt measures, securing the cooperation of constables, workers, and necessary materials to fulfil these vital objectives for the security of the country."
And a boat is also authorised to go out and keep an eye on French boats. The fires that were spotted and the French boats which appeared to change course after they were lit has been taken very seriously.
"Additionally, the States have authorized the committee, in conjunction with Monsieur the Lieutenant Governor, to hire a boat to patrol the coast of France to monitor enemy movements."
"It is further ordered that after the work on the ramparts has been completed by the inhabitants for this year, two days' work may be diverted from the roadworks to complete the work if found necessary. Lastly, the constables shall provide half a hundredweight of biscuit bread in a barrel and two barrels of water to be stored in each of the towers."
The Sunken Boat
"It has been reported to the States that one of the French vessels arrested in this Island by Monsieur the Lieutenant Governor at the beginning of hostilities between England and France, named the "Sueliac" remains sunk in the harbour of St. Aubin at every tide, contrary to the laws, to the detriment of the harbour. Monsieur the Lieutenant Governor has declared that the Harbour Master has lodged complaints with him. The States, taking this matter into consideration and finding it very difficult to obtain suitable wood for several platforms ordered for the defence of the Island, have requested Monsieur the Lieutenant Governor to remove the said vessel from the harbour, where it is causing harm, and to provide for the public requirements for the defence of the Island. They consent that the said vessel be appraised by experts before an officer of justice, for the use of the public, paying the amount of such appraisal for the benefit of whomever it may concern. Following this, Philip Robin, Esquire, Chief Judge, and the Constable of St. Brelade are authorized to take care, once the said vessel has been appraised, to manage the matter in the public interest."
May 1780
And now we have the appointment of a special person to be responsible for delivery of munitions. The Lieutenant Governor was clearly unhappy with the way the Constables had been handling things, and a degree of centralised control was required, although the Constables were still responsible for providing carts for transport - and pay the costs of this endeavour.
"Monsieur the Lieutenant Governor, having represented to the States that, in order to make the service less burdensome regarding the delivery of the necessary munitions for the defence of the Island by His Majesty's Store-keeper, and to avoid the confusion that results from the customary manner until now, in which said munitions pass through the hands of the Constables; the States, upon the recommendation of Monsieur the Lieutenant Governor, have decided that the Colonels of the Militia Regiments will appoint a suitable person, respectively, to receive and issue receipts for the munitions that Monsieur the Governor will order to be delivered from time to time from His Majesty's stores for the defence of the Island. The Constables will then arrange for the necessary carts or vehicles for the transportation of such munitions to the designated locations. The expenses for these transports, as well as all other incidental expenses for the preservation and good condition of the said munitions, shall be paid by the Constables in their respective parishes, based on a certification from the Colonel of the Regiment that they were incurred."
The 18th century was a period of political tension between Britain and France, as the two nations clashed all over the world as their ambitions grew. Because of its position, Jersey was more or less on a continuous war footing.
The threat of invasion was very real. In 1779, a French force under the command of the Prince of Nassau-Siegen attempted a landing at St Ouen's Bay. Early that morning lookouts sighted five large vessels and a great number of boats s, proceeding towards the coast to effect a landing. Guns on the cutters and small craft supporting the landing fired grapeshot at the defenders on the coast.
The defenders, the half regiment of 78th Seaforth Highlanders and Jersey militia, together with some field artillery that they dragged through the sand of the beaches, had by fast marching arrived in time to oppose the landing. The defenders were able to prevent the landing, suffering only a few men wounded when a cannon burst. The French vessels withdrew, first holding off a league from the coast before leaving the area entirely.
The defence by coastal towers was the strategy devised by General Conway to protect Jersey, and here we see in the States the granular details for building, fortifying and supplying the defences.
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