Search Guernsey, Court Records
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What brought your Guernsey ancestor before the court — a desperate theft, a bitter feud, or an accusation of witchcraft? The <i>Livres en Crime</i>, Guernsey’s crime registers, record over 300 years of stories from the 16th century onwards. These detailed court records reveal lives touched by conflict, hardship, and sometimes tragedy. Whether facing charges of fraud, vagrancy, violence, or even murder, ordinary people left their mark on these pages — offering a rare and powerful window into the struggles and scandals of island life.
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We have digitised these historic volumes documenting the history of court proceedings in Guernsey. Each volume includes an entry for each case or event. The volumes were recorded in French. To allow you to find your ancestor we have transcribed the following details:
- Name
- Year
- Event year
- Island
- Archive and reference
The original images will provide you with every more detail about the event including your ancestor’s residence, the crime, remarks on evidence and witnesses, the verdict, the sentencing, and more.
Individuals may appear multiple times as cases progressed.
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Guernsey’s <i>Livres en Crime</i> (crime registers) date from 1563 and record court proceedings in French. The island’s legal system is a unique blend of Norman traditions and British influences, having retained its own laws after the transfer of power from Normandy to England. The Royal Court of Guernsey, established in the 13th century, operates under the Bailiff and elected jurats. Records are subject to a 125-year data protection closure.
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