'Unique' contract from 1397 returned to Jersey
The de Gruchy-Pallot family papers were transferred to the archive at the family's request from the University of Alberta in Canada.
The collection, which documents the life of Charles and Annie Pallot (née Giffard) and their six children, includes an inheritance contract that has been dated to 1397.
Jersey Heritage archivist Jane de Gruchy, who is also a distant relative of the family, said: "We are absolutely delighted that this unique and important family collection has returned home to Jersey after so many years."
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Jersey Heritage said the collection first came to its attention when Herb Reynolds, a Canadian descendant of the Pallots, contacted the archive last year.
His family had emigrated to Canada with a number of documents relating to the Pallot, de Gruchy and Giffard families in Jersey.
In the 1970s they were donated to the University of Alberta alongside more recent family material relating to Canada.
Other highlights from the collection include the 1502 will of Mathieu de Gruchy of Trinity, records relating to Adèle Haarseth, nee Pallot, from her military nursing career, a biography of the three Pallot brothers' time as pioneer settlers in Canada in the 1900s and correspondence that gives a "vivid sense of the gathering of the clouds before the Second World War and the Occupation".
Mr Reynolds said the family was encouraged to return the collection to the island after meeting Jersey historian Guy Dixon, who has researched the de Gruchy family.
He said it led his family to understand their history and "ignited our interest in returning the records to Jersey where we feel they will be better cared for and appreciated".
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