11.11.09 - Celebrating a Colourful Past
Sir George Carteret was not only a Bailiff of Jersey he also founded the American state of New Jersey and had the honour of proclaiming Charles II king in St Helier on 17 February 1649, following the execution of his father, Charles I. It was in recognition of Carteret’s loyalty to the Crown, that Charles II granted him land in the American colonies, which is now New Jersey. The county of Carteret in North Carolina and the town of Carteret in New Jersey are also named after him.
The six stamps, which feature ships the 18th century Royal favourite and privateer sailed on, have been issued to mark the 400th anniversary of his birth and form the third in Jersey Post’s Naval Connections series.
Sir George was born in St Helier - on the very site now occupied by Broad Street Post Office – into one of the Island’s oldest and most famous families, de Carteret. He dropped the ‘de’ on joining the navy in 1629 to avoid being mistaken for a Frenchman.
In researching this issue, Susanne Lowman and Melanie Gouzinis of Jersey Post were invited to St Ouen’s Manor, the de Carteret family’s ancestral seat. The current Seigneur of St Ouen, Phillip Malet de Carteret, assisted in their research and gave permission for the family coat of arms to be used on the Presentation Pack and First Day Cover envelope which accompanies this issue.
Mrs Lowman said: ‘The tales of piracy and privateering which were integral to Sir George Carteret’s life at sea offered up a number of ships to feature on the stamps and those that were selected will hopefully give a brief insight into the exciting life of one of Jersey’s most prominent historical figures. Jersey Post is delighted is celebrate the life of such a fascinating member of one of the Island’s oldest and such illustrious families.'
The de Carteret family’s prominence in the history of the Channel Islands dates back more than 1,000 years to when Guy, surnamed L’Oiseleur, the Fowler, and the Lord of the Manor of Carteret and of Anneville in Normandy annexed land in St Ouen. Two of his grandsons, Onfray and Maugier, fought in the Battle of Hastings, alongside William the Conqueror. Maugier was knighted and, according to the Domesday Book, was granted estates in Somerset as a reward for his services. Onfray returned to Jersey and succeeded his father as the Seigneur of St Ouen.
The stamps were painted by Tony Theobald, an artist renowned for designing stamps on machine-based and military themes and who is regularly commissioned by postal operators worldwide. Jersey – Naval Connections III is his third commission for Jersey this year as he was also responsible for Aviation History and Jersey Railways III.