Contributions de la famille Le Sauteur à la petite histoire de Jersey

Contributions de la famille Le Sauteur
à la petite histoire de Jersey
Extracts from Hommage à la famille Le Sauteur
(William Thomas LeSauteur, 1982) and other sources

Philippe George Le Sauteur (1829-1913)

Philippe George Le Sauteur was 15 years of age and at Caen University, in France, studying for Law when his father died. As a result of this tragic event, young Philippe returned home to the farm L'Hermitage at St.Saviour, in order to take up farming to support his mother and sisters. The farm L'Hermitage, at that time, belonged to his uncle Thomas John Le Sauteur but later in the 1850's Philippe purchased the farm.

Philippe George was elected as Deputy for the Parish of Grouville in the first election for Deputies in the States held in January 1857. This post he held for three years. He was Churchwarden at Grouville Paris Church, but conflicted with the Rector over the innovation of the English language into the church services, thus replacing the favoured and traditional use of French. He also acted as an Aide-de-camp to Major General Burke Cuppage who was the Lieutenant Governor of Jersey 1863-1868. The letter of appreciation to this effect exists, a copy of which is given on this page.

In 1804, La Ferme de la Fontaine belonged to Jean Mattingle (ou Mattingley) then subsequently to Thomas Le Sauteur (Grouville Parish Records). In 1872 Philippe George purchased the farm from Samuel de Gruchy and was subsequently worked by three generations of Le Sauteur. There was a standing rule at La Ferme de la Fontaine "that the cow stables should not be entered near to midnight on Christmas Eve; unless an animal was sick or due to calve, believing that the cattle Knelt in the Stalls at this time in Adoration. (Story contributed by F.A. Fisher of Axminster, the grandson of Eva Melvina Le Sauteur and Alfred Hubert)

Philippe George was also a Sergeant Major in the Royal Jersey Militia Régiment de L'Est and was presented with an engraved Paris-made clock dated 17th January 1877 in respect of his valuable services. Copy of the inscription on the clock follows:

Presented to
Sergeant Major Philip G. Le Sauteur
by the Officers
of the Third or East Regiment
ROYAL JERSEY MILITIA
in recognition of his valuable services
17th January, 1877

His uncles Thomas (Bap. 1811 - 1852) and François (Bap. 1800 - 1857), also served as Drill Sergeants (vide: - Le Constitutionnel of 1850). Philippe George is also described as "Officier de Connétable, La Petite Longueville" in L'Almanach des Îles of 1865.

Ce 29ième octobre 1868, a Loyal Address was presented à Monsieur le Capitaine W.C.Gray Adjudant du Régiment de l'Est de la Milice Royale de Jersey, au nom des Sergents Ph. G. Le Sauteur, James Ahier et John Falle, Sergents Majors. The original Blue Silk address had Blue Silken Tassels on all four edges and is now in the care of La Société Jersiaise.