One way we can understand Philip and Martha's lives is through Philip Falle's book, first published in 1694. The second edition, published in 1734, updated events, corrected some errors and included an Appendix. The tone is authoritative, the style is modern and the volcabulary is elegant, with notes in Latin and French. It describes the homeland that Philip and Martha told their children about.

By 1941, the Cody Family Association published their speculations, based on Beverly records, that our Philip and Martha were Huguenots fleeing persecution in France. But after WWII, a new clue emerged connecting Philip LeCody to Jersey, and his lineage was discovered.

Falle's book is important not ony for its history of the Isles from the earliest times and native insight to the local power structure, but also the everyday life of that era, the people's occupations and traditions. The vraic harvest, the knitting bees, fishing prospects and always the French menace. It says that while French Calvinists prostylized the Channel Isles, they wouldn't establish a French church there, discounting the possibility that Philip or Martha were of that sect. In our modern times, we forget that the Anglican Church, as the "state religion" tolerated little deviation and regarded others with suspicion in those troubled times.

Philip Falle was a native Jerseyman, son of Thomas Falle and Marie Dumaresq. Oxford educated, he became a tutor, cleric and historian, a cosmopolitan who collected music and played the viole. He was Rector of St. Saviour Parish and founded the Jersey Public Library, with the bequest of his personal library.

The book opens with a Dedication to his patrons, King William and Queen Mary of Orange. In the Preface, he stresses Jersey's importance to England's security and compares his work to that of his comtemporaries and credits John Poingdextre as a source for this book and Philip Dumaresq for the map. He closes with a diatribe against the warlike French, appealing for the royal protection. The Introduction summarizes political and military developments since the first edition, along with sailing directions to Jersey.

His History, begining with the Roman presence, methodically proceeds to Charles I, Cromwell's Revolution, the Restoration of Charles II and the advent of William and Mary in Falle's own era. Its clear that he regards the Channel as an English "Sea" and that France only borders its eastern shore.

Chapter 2 describes Jersey's geography, fauna, flora and inhabitants, their occupations and livelihoods. Here, we see the life of the common people, such as our Philip and Martha, that apple cider was their drink of choice and twice a year, the islanders communally harvest vraic, a seaweed, which they use for fuel and fertilizer. The duty-free ports and marketplaces of St. Helier and St. Aubin were busy selling fish and knitted stockings to one and all and the island’s estimated population was 20,000 souls, or 550 per square mile. Jersey is small, 36 square miles, so its was like our current New England coastline.

Naturally, the population was occupied in navigation and foreign commerce. The Newfoundland fishery, stocking manufacture and tobacco sales to French smugglers were sources of cash money. Traditionally, rents were paid in wheat. Norman French is the ordinary language, English is spoken at the garrison and on alternating days in church. Jersey surnames are mostly Norman, some Breton and a few English.

The chapter on the Military groups the militia of St. Peter's Parish with that of St. Brelades in the 5th Company, and says that traditionally, every man of competant age owed duty in person, as a citizen-soldier. The Civil Juristiction, led by the Bailly and the 12 elected Jurats, protects the civil rights of the populace through the courts.The Convention of the Sates, called into session by the Govenor and presided over by the Bailly, includes the Jurats, the Rectors and the Constables of the Parishes together with the King's Procurator, the Viscount and the King's Advocate, functioning as Jersey's parliament. Their business is to collect taxes due at the Ancient Rates, to administer the Church-Treasurys and audit the results of the public projects they propose and commission.

As a possession of the English Crown, Jersey enjoys Privileges as merits for, and inducements to, good service, loyalty and fidelity for the English Crown. Falle says that without Jersey's great freedoms and immunities, life there would be unattractive to English subjects. He quots King John's Constitution, naming these as a free people, native Englishmen, ruled only by the Crown. Then he cites Queen Elizabeth's Charter which gave Jersey the distinction of a free port, who even in wartime, could trade with all nations.