We are very excited to bring you two new collections as part of our web search initiative. The Jersey, Channel Islands, Wills and Testaments collection covering the years 1663-1948 and The Jersey, Channel Islands, Occupation Registration Cards from World War Two covering the years 1940-1945. Both these collections will be of enormous benefit to anyone who is eager to learn more about their Jersey family history. Some of the most common surnames found in these collections include, De Gruchy, Renouf, Hamon, Amy, Bisson, Querée, Le Brocq, Le Marquand, Le Cornu, and De La Haye.
It is the first time, as part of a major digitisation project, that Jersey Archive has uploaded images of its entire collection of registration cards from the occupation of Jersey during World War Two.
The documents have previously only been viewable by visiting Jersey Archive, but Jersey Heritage recognised that many descendants of those Islanders who lived through the occupation by German forces between 1940 and 1945 now live overseas, in the UK and as far away as Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Now anyone wishing to research their Jersey family history can do so from the comfort of home.
Linda Romeril, Head of Archives and Collections at Jersey Heritage said, ‘We have an astonishing collection of documents and official records that have until now only been accessible to people who physically visit the Archive. Over the past few years we have worked tirelessly to bring that data into the 21st century by digitising it and making it available to search.’
The Occupation Record Cards consist of approximately 61,000 records, with more than 90,000 images and offer a unique pictorial record of over 30,000 people who lived in the Island during the occupation. The importance of this particular set of records was recognised in 2011 by their inscription into the United Nations, Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s (UNESCO) UK Memory of the World Register. The register embodies some of the most pivotal moments and periods that have shaped the UK and Great Britain.
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