POSTSCRIPT

Manorial rights

“... boasted privileges of old have frequently become worse than useless to their present owners. Of this we have a remarkable example in the right—and a very great one it was formerly considered—of the Lord of the Manor of Sausmarez at St. Martin’s, who may at any time require of his tenants to convey him in the largest boat in his manor three ‘times a year to the nearest point of Jersey shore’ and which was accomplished for the last time in September 1798, when the late Mr. Matthew De Sausmarez thought proper to exercise it, where after a rather rough passage of seven hours he was safely landed, not however without sustaining a ducking which a transported convict would now deem it a heavy grievance to undergo. The passage from St. Martin’s point, where the party embarked, to Grosnez, in Jersey, where they landed, would now be performed in a steamer in less than an hour and a half at a cost scarcely exceeding a journeyman’s hire for a single day; without taking into account that the humblest deck passenger would now be quietly landed in Jersey town, whereas the Lord of Sausmarez after making Grosnez, had to hire a couple of farm horses to convey him and luggage to town, a distance of nine miles from the landing point. This marking an important event in the manorial annals of Sausmarez, the names of the four lieges who performed this probably last service of the kind have been carefully preserved, and were: Pierre Le Prevost, proprietor of the boat; Jean Olivier, steersman; Philippe De Bertram, pilot, and Pierre Thoume, able seaman, who, at eight o’clock on one good September morn of 1798, embarked with their precious host at Bec-du-nez point at the foot of the manorial domain in Jedburgh creek. The wind was brisk, the tide presented the rippled surface it usually assumes on the ere of an autumnal equinox. Both being favourable were, however, disregarded, particularly at the sheltered point of Bec du Nez. Once fairly at sea, the elements assumed a somewhat different complexion. His Lordship intimated that, perfectly satisfied with the fealty of his lieges, with the condition of the good bark, and complimenting them on their alacrity in meeting his wishes, he would now dispense with any further proof of good will for the present, and that they might return to Bec-du-nez, the starting point. De Bertram interposed, observing that whereas his lordship had obtained of them to execute two points of the charter, that is, provide the boat and men, it was only fair that they should perform the third which was to land him D.V. ‘à la garde de Dieu,’ exclaimed Jean Olivier, on the nearest shore of Jersey isle; and, accordingly, with sails well set and oars to aid in case of need, they made for Grosney point, in the parish of St. Ouen’s, where they arrived safely, after a rather rough, though not, in those days, unusually lengthened, passage of seven hours. On nearing the cliffs of St. Ouen’s, which present rather a bold and craggy appearance, Mr. De Sausmarez was informed that the voyage was nearly at an end, as he had to be landed on the nearest point of Jersey shore. ‘What!’ said he. ‘like a dog amidst rocks and cliffs?’ (comme un chien au milieu de rochers et de falaises) ‘Oh, non,’ said Le Prevost, ‘sur la terre ferme de l’ile de Jersey, et a la première pointe.’ And here he was accordingly landed with his trunk, which he found means to have safely conveyed with his person to St. Helier’s—a distance of nine miles—in the course of the afternoon. The boatmen then made for the harbour of Saint Helier. which they safely reached the same evening, and on the morrow returned to their homes, after a favourable passage of nine hours. Such an excursion would now, with the agency of steam, be performed to and fro, with every case and convenience, in less than four hours; and, were the time of embarkation eight in the morning, the tourist might, after enjoying his pleasure trip for twelve hours, return in the evening, and sup with his friends at home, the whole at a nominal cost and without inconvenience. The person who furnished this account of the Lord of Sausmarez’s last trip in the manorial bark to the island of Jersey was Mr. P. De Bertram, son of him who acted as pilot on the occasion. The informant was then a lad and witnessed the embarkation, feeling bitterly disappointed in not forming one of the happy party, the trip to Jersey being looked upon as an event in those days.”

P Jeremie, On Real Property and Taxation in Guernsey with a comparative view of taxation in England and France

(Guernsey, 1866), pp 115–116