Hello!
My fourth great grandfather was Jacque Souffrain. His United States naturalization record shows that he entered America as Jacque Souffrain, but after took the name of John Souffrain. Some family members later spelled it Suffrain.
Jacque Souffrain was born abt 1776 in Bourdeaux, France. He entered the French military at the age of 14, and served for many years in the French navy during Napolean's time. At one point, he was captured by the British, escaped, and was picked up by a French vessel in 1802. He was put off at St. Domingo after becoming ill with yellow fever. He recovered at St. Domingo, and entered America at Philadelphia abt 1803. He decided to remain in America after marrying in 1804, and never returned to France as intended. His daughter, Marinetta Lavalade Suffrain, was born in 1812 and is my 3rd great grandmother.
I do not know enough about the history in that part of the world. I do know that Souffrain is an unusual name and difficult to find anything about it in my genealogy searches. I have seen postings on the LDS sites of wills and marriages of some Souffrains that came from St. Thomas.
What do you think? Is it possible that having spent some time at St. Domingo, that my Jacque Souffrain might be related to the Souffrains in that part of the world? Thank you for your reply to my message. I look forward to talking to you.
L Dalton