Dear Dolores: John Lightbourn is mentioned several times in Luther K. Zabriskie's, "The Virgin Islands of the United States of America" published in 1918 and now, unfortunately, long out of print. Having read excerpts from it several years ago, I finally obtained a hard copy of this wonderful book a couple of years ago via Amazon.

Please give me a little time to research Zabriskie's references to John Lightbourn. It's late at night and I'm tired If you're registered on this forum than I'll PM you because the general population really isn't particularly interested in history. If you're not registered, you can PM me. Cheers!

Dolores:

Zabriskie's 1918 book mentions John Lightbourn a couple of times but with nothing really specific except as follows.

"St. Thomas boasts of two daily newspaper, Sundays and holidays excepted, which contain a generous amount of cable news as well as information of purely local interest. Lightbourn's Mail Notes is edited and published by Mr. John N. Lightbourn..."

He is also mentioned as being present at the 1917 Transfer Day ceremonies on St Thomas in his capacity as both a representative member of the Colonial Council and as "Editor Jno (sic) N. Lightbourn and Mrs. Lightbourn."

One of your best bets for research is the Enid Baa Library on St. Thomas, telephone number (340) 774-0630. Over the years they have collaborated with the Danish Government in preserving historical records from all three islands and they may well have a wealth of information on the family, particularly as it relates to the history of the newspaper.

Sorry I wasn't able to be of more help but I'd be really interested to know how your research continues and what you're able to discover. Please do PM me if I can be of any assistance. Good luck!

Lightbourn is responsible of most of the post cards in my collection that date back to the early 1900s. I know there is some connection to the Lindo family here in St. Thomas. They owned properties next door to mine. One of the family relocated to Puerto Rico. A daughter practices law in Fajardo I believe. Her married name is Murphy. Have left several messages for her to call me to no avail.

RL

Thks so much for your response. My godmother's brother, Albie, did relocate to Fajardo. He was in export/inport business. He had a son, Alberic I believe, who was in scrap metal during WWII. A daughter, Evelyn was a doctor, graduating from Dalhousie Un. Nova Scotia in the 1950's. Also another daughter named Doris, a postmistress.somewhere in Pueto Rico.

The last time I had any contact with any family was 1966 when my Godmother passed away.

I will continue the search. Thks again, Dee Mundy

Thks for your prompt reply. if you know of any public records I might explore let me know. Peace,Dee

Hi Dee: In preparing a catalog of Lightbourn picture postcards, I did considerable research and included biographic material on John Nathaniel Lightbourn (aka Jno.N. Lightbourn and Ino N.Lightbourn) and his family. I will be happy to make this info available to you if you contact me at [email protected]. Your godmother was the youngest of 5 children that John had with first wife Alexandrina. Cornelia was born in 1878. There is a record of her visiting her brother Henry in New York City arriving on July 18, 1904. She arrived on a ship SS Fontabelle, single, age 26 and listed as typist.Another brother Alberic Godet Lightbourn was born in 1876. You refer to him as Albie but his father referred to him as Berry. He relocated to Fajardo, P.R. circa 1918 when it became clear that Virgin Islanders were not to get U.S. citizenship in the near future. His wife Miriam and their 4 children joined him about 1 year later. The Enid Baa Library has a letter that John wrote to son Alberic (Berry) in 1928 giving him advice on printing and publishing. While you say Alberic was in export/import business, there is documentation that he was a printer like his father and I have seen several of his publications in the Enid Baa Library.Alberic died in 1975 age 99.There are some discrepancies with the names of Alberic's children concerning the daughters who were a doctor and the one who was a Postmistress. I have it that a third daughter named Edith born in Fajardo was the doctor and the oldest daughter named Hulda was Postmistress. I would like to explore this further with you. My source was a man named Karl W. Frederiksen who was a distant relative to Alexandrina Lightbourn.

Hey Sy. How's tricks? Did you ever find out how many post cards were in his series? When are you coming to St. Thomas again?

Ronnie Lockhart

Oh do let this post continue - I'm fascinated. Dolores, are you out there? Anything more to add?

Hi Ron: Nice to hear from you. Still working on catalog which we call "Lightbourn's Picture Postcards of the Danish West and the U.S.Virgin Islands". We currently have over one thousand cards listed that he published in seven different series and are exploring how to get it published. The catalog not only includes a listing and brief description of each postcard but a brief history of the D.W.I., postcard history, and of course Lightbourn family history.

HI SY, Reading your message brought joy and tears to my eyes. So many bits of memories csame flooding back to me, Here are few: Cornelia, called "Nelia" by her family, when she came to USA in 1904 sometime later attended "The New England Lying-in Hospital for Women and Children" and became a Governess to Chase/Sanborn family. She married a Portoguese sailor but after a few years divorced him,She then married Wendell Phillp Carter, a Bostonian, I don't khow when. From these two unions she had six children, all stillborn, apparently due to large fibriod tumors.
Before she came to U.S. her family was planning to send her to Europe to stay with a brother's fiancee, but due to political unrest was sent to US instead. This brother was lost during this time and never heard from again. I did see some photos of this brother taken in Egypt, pyramids,sphmxs, deserts and other sites.(pardonspelling!),
There were other photos of the family home in Charlotte Amalia, large front steps with Lions on either side. Also portrait of her parents, her father was dressed in full Masonic regalia.She and her siblings attended private school.She discribed to me standing and holding slates as displine.She had a half-sister named Mary who lived in Santo Domingo.Sorry,I'm running out space. Dee

Hi STT Resident & Sy, see my post of today,6/26/06.Most of this I was told by my godmother, Nanny is what I called her, I did meet Alberic's children in person. The family was well traveled and were expected by their father to always come to Atlantic City where we lived to visit their Aunt Nelia no matter where they were going in U.S. These visits took place circa 1940's & 1950'S when I was a child. Evelyn,the doctor, formally a pharmacist, spent a summer with us in early 50's working at Woolworth's soda fountain. THe last time I saw any of them was in 1966 when Nanny became gravely ill. Alberic Jr. brought his father to A.C. and they stayed in a hotel near hospital until she lasped into a coma and they returned to Puerto Rico. When Nanny died, three weeks later on June 6,1966, Uncle Berry and his son returned to bury Nanny. Does such family devotion still exist? Even though Uncle Berry and Nanny had been separated for more than sixty years the closeness of brother and sister remained strong. I was struck by how very simular they sounded. I did receive a letter from Uncle Berry a few months later but I lost track of it.
More memories-- Nanny received an inheritance from her parents- late 20's/early 30's I think, but lost it all when the banks failed. During 40's/50's many times Uncle Berry would send money

Dolores, did you try and find Cookie in PR? I think her given name is Miriam and her married name is Murphy. They called her Cookie(Coqui?) when she came to visit Mrs. Lindo next door, who was her family. I have to do some research again to locate her number. Have you scanned that picture of the family house? Sounds familiar. I did own for a few years one of te Lindo houses next door as well.

RL

Sy. Keep me informed about your project. Have to count my Lightbourn Series and see how many cards and series I have!
Ronnie

Yes, please do let it continue. This is so interesting...it is like reading a book and each post is like turning the pages to a new chapter... : )

Dee,
here is what I found. Maybe you can contact her!

M A. Murphy Lightbourn
Firm: Miriam A. Murphy
Address: PO Box 372519
Cayey, PR 00737
Phone: (787) 263-2377
Fax:
E-mail:

RL

Hi Delores: Thanks for filling some blanks in Lightbourn saga.Here is more. John and Alexandrina Lightbourn had 5 children: Arthur b.1869, Henry b.1873, Donald b.1875, Alberic G. b.1876 and Cornelia b.1878 all born in St. Thomas. Mary was born in 1868 in Turks Island and came to live in St.Thomas in 1880. I presume she was not Alexandrina's child since Alex.and John were married in All Saints Anglican Church in 1873. Do you know if Lightbourn was married previously? You mention seeing photos of Cornelia's family in St. Thomas. Are they still in your possesion? Son Donald was also a printer and was reported as teaching printing at Tuskegee Institute.Alexandrina died in 1883 and John Lightbourn later married Rebecca Stubbs. Both wives are buried near each other in Western Cemetery#1. John Lightbourn published a newspaper for over 30 years. He also had a store on Main St. where he sold photo supplies and postcards that he published. Are you sure that Alberic's daughter Doris was the Postmistress in Puerto Rico and not his other daughter Huldah? Sy

Hi Ron: If you can make a listing of your Lightbourn cards arranged by Series type, then border type, then by caption, I can check to see if any of your items are included in the catalog. Sy

Our Lightbourn's are Bahamas based, coming from Bermuda circa 1797. Any idea where the connections might be? I have a cousin, Ron Lightbourn in Nassau, Bahamas, who has done our family tree back to this time. It was him I was looking for when I came up this. Would be nice to stay in touch.

Do know there is a Thomas Lightbourn in Provo in the Turks and Caicos as well!

RL

I read with interest your correspondence re: Lightbourn family..
Inform your correspondent that Dr. Evelyn, still lives in Fajardo at the family residence...
and Niece, Miriam, still practices in PR...
My family, Gumbs, was involved with the Lindos, and we have kept up contacts with Dr. Evelyn..
good luck with your research project..