Family archive 600 years old returns to Jersey

Yahoo

05-07-2025

A collection of family papers which spans more than six centuries and three continents has been returned to Jersey.
The de Gruchy-Pallot family archive, which includes documents dating back to 1397, was transferred from the University of Alberta at the request of the family and is now housed at Jersey Archive.
The archive tells the story of Charles and Annie Pallot (née Giffard) and their six children, whose lives stretched from Jersey to Canada and Africa.
Among the highlights is a 14th Century inheritance contract, now one of the oldest documents in the archive, and records of Adèle Haarseth (née Pallot), a decorated military nurse who served in the Anglo-Boer War and World War One.
The collection is being catalogued by Jersey Heritage archivist Jane de Gruchy, a distant relative of the family.
"We are absolutely delighted that this unique and important family collection has returned home to Jersey after so many years," she said.
"On a personal note, I count myself very lucky to be working on some of the oldest known documents from my own family."
The collection came to light when Canadian descendant Herb Reynolds contacted Jersey Heritage in 2024.
"A chance online meeting with local historian Guy Dixon helped us understand our Jersey roots," Mr Reynolds said.
"We're thrilled the documents are now where they belong and grateful to the team at Jersey Heritage for their dedication."
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The archive includes:
A 1397 inheritance contract involving the de Gruchy family
A 1502 Latin will of Mathieu de Gruchy
Wartime medals and dispatches of Adèle Haarseth
Letters from Jersey during the occupation
Diaries and biographies of Pallot brothers who emigrated to Canada in the early 1900s
The documents trace the family's rise and fall, from owning the grand Beau Désert estate in St Saviour to financial decline by the mid-20th Century.
The sons emigrated to Canada, while the daughters remained in Jersey, contributing to education and healthcare.
The de Gruchy-Pallot archive is now available to view at Jersey Archive and online.
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