Hello Judy,

Your best bet is Anne Danet, a French women on St. Thomas who is an avid historian and genelogist. Visit her site - there is a database of French people who came from St. Barthelemy (where the French on St. Thomas originated) as well as comprehensive list of marriages and births in the French population on St. Thomas. (cut and paste this link)

http://www.geocities.com/danfrhist/archives.html

Good Luck.

--Islander

That's a pretty interesting site Islander. I went to school with every last name that appears on that site. The only exception is Questel, although the father of my great-nephew is a Questel.

What I really find interesting is the country of origin of some of those that migrated to St. Barts from Europe. I would have never figured Magras as having originated from Ireland. Brin on the other hand, does sound Irish.

What I would really be curious to find out is how the French who migrated to St. Thomas from St. Barts decided whether to live in the Dorothea area verses Frenchtown. Those that lived in the Nordside were primarily farmers while those who lived in Frenchtown made their living off of the sea. Growing up there you didn't see too many Bryans' in Frenchtown nor would you see many Brins' living on the Nordside.

re Octavie Querrard:

Judy this is from Ms. Danet - the historian I suggested you contact.

I checked my registry of burials and could find no entry for an Octavie Querrard in the years specified nor before nor after. I would suggest that the best source of information for locating a grave would be in the records of the Public Works Dept.

Please see if you can find out anymore info;
What was her maiden name, if Querrard was her married name?. What was Octavie's husband's name? I need some information to start any search.

So Judy if you haven't tried - you might visit her site and contact her for more help.

--Islander

Richard here is the response from Anne Danet - local historian.

The Saint-Barthians who came to St. Thomas did not choose where to live.
They sought work and lived wherever they found work. There was another
factor which dictated where they would eventually settled....All the migrants
were not from one section or quarter in Saint-Barth. Some were from the East
and some from the West and also from other parts of Saint-Barth.

There was NO FISHING VILLAGE on Saint-Barth

The persons who resided where the soil was fertile and fairly rock-free, chose
similar areas on St. Thomas. The ones who resided on the stony areas on
Saint-Barth were not really fishermen by trade. They endeavored, as best they
could to raise whatever crops the sparse soil permitted. They augmented that
with fish and other products of the sea... Living on an island made it necessary
that the rresidents should be able to deal with the sea which surrounded them.

The first persons who went to work and reside in the Carenage/Frenchtown were
from the Colombier and that section of Saint-Barth. When the families started to
arrive, there were not sufficient jobs in agriculture to keep them occupied and to
supply funds for their livelihood. That is when they took to the sea.. Finding it a
lucrative business, they kept right on fishing and selling their catch, until years
later,they were able to find other means of employment.

Again, I repeat, the people went wherever they could find employment as planters,
gardeners or maintenance persons. The families who came to join their menfolks
went to reside as close as possible to their loved ones.

Hope that helps answers your question.

--Islander

That's some interesting info on this thread. I noticed that about the Bryans too, a lot of them on the northside. Wonder why they changed their names from Brin to Bryan?

Hello Patrick,

Most of the original immigrants could not write or read so the name was apparently spelled the way it sounded to those writing it. A similar thing happened to other last names from St. Barths.

--Islander

Islander,

Your pursuing this is much appreciated. I never would have guessed that St. Barts had no fishing village per se. I visited there when I was about 12 years old but really have no recollection other than we were served wine with every meal and it was the first time I'd ever tried turtle.

I'm also surprised to learn that Bryan is nothing more than a different spelling for Brin. A classmate of mine was Danny Brin and I was good friends of the Bryan family who own Bryan's Nursery. Who knows, they could be related if you go back far enough.

Anyone know the history of the " Brin " family of St john,USVI ?

Hello C. Natelli,

I didn't know there were any Brin families on St. John?? I looked in the phone directory to confirm in terms of present families and there aren't any listed. There are lots of Brins on St. Thomas within the French Community - descendants of immigrants from St. Barthelemy.

Do you have a person in particular you are looking for?

--Islander

Hello,

My name is Starliesha. my grandmother was from frenchtown, st. thomas and i know very little about her. this is because my mother was adopted. i know her name is Maria Florina Greaux. i also know her father was a fisherman and mother made strawhats. does anyone know any thing else about the Greaux of Frenchtown, St. Thomas?

thank you

Hello Starliesha,

Several Greaux families in Frenchtown. Might you know your grandfathers name or any other names or dates? Was your mother born on St. Thomas - if yes, does she have her birth certificate that might give more information about your grand mother and grand father? If you don't know the dates can you approximate using your mothers age/birthdate? The description of occupation of your ancestors is true of almost every French person's grand or great grand parents - fishermen, strawcrafts or cultivator living in the VI! If you can figure out more information perhaps Anne Danet mentioned in the thread might be able to provide some more information or direction - she usually needs a few names and dates or else the search is too large because traditionally moms gave their daughters their name and fathers to their sons so each generation you had someone with the same identical name as the last generation - gets confusing.

Good Luck.

--Islander

Wow I have been searching for more information on Brin/Bryan family. I am the granddaughter of Joseph A. Bryan (Brin) AKA FaFa a farmer on South side St. Thomas. I have been working on our family tree for years and every time I research on my grandfather I hit a road block. Can anyone direct me in the right directions on where I can find my family tree information? I don't have all my information with me right now, but I do know he had a sister and they both came from St. Bart's.

the geocities link previously listed in this thread is no longer any good but Ms. Danet has another page where you might be able to find assistance with your search. http://www.angelfire.com/journal2/danfrhist/genealogy.html good luck in your search.