Jersey is the largest ( about 45 square miles = 125 square kilometers ) and southernmost of the islands, situated approximately 1 2 miles ( 20 km ) west of France in the English Channel.

The island was known to the Romans as Caesarea and by the 13th century, had separated itself from the Norman rule to align itself with the English crown.

In the 18th century the area was torn by family feuds; the Magots vs. the Charlots, the Laurels vs. the Roses etc. ) but in the end everyone became wealthy from the fisheries and smuggling businesses. Farming and dairying ( with the famous Jersey cow, the only breed allowed on the island since 1789 ) came later and so did their famous 'jerseys' ( sweaters )

Court proceedings were conducted in French, whereas the official language is English. So, presented here are these wonderful early multi-page documents, hand written in French on animal skin ( vellum ) in the name of Queen Victoria ( 1819 - 1901 ) defender of the mentally insane, each attesting to some legal agreement, with an attractive thick pressed seal of the coat of arms of Jersey.