Rene,

For the last several months I have been researching my Jewish family ties in St. Thomas and Curacao. The main surname in my family line is SASSO. However the Jewish community in St. Thomas was pretty small -- I would like to chat with you and would certainly volunteer any info I have gathered in my search. Feel free to email me directly.

Erik Speed

Dear friends,

I would like to think aloud and find out if there are participants in this group who have an interest in jewish genealogy in respect to St. Thomas.
The reason for my asking is the following; members of my DELVALLE family have been living on this beautiful island for several years and belonged to the jewish community.

This SALOM DEL VALLE family originated from 17th century Amsterdam and some members found their destination via Curacao in St. Thomas.
One of the first members of the Delvalle family leaving for St. Thomas was
Benjamin Delvalle (Curacao1811-1876 St. Thomas), he was married to Judith de Castro ( Curacao1806-1871 St. Thomas). Benjamin begot 9 children.

It would be nice to hear from you if you are in this same line of research and perhaps we could help and exchange information.
Any information re: Delvalle is much appreciated

René van Wijngaarden/Netherlands

Rene,

I too have been researching a family connection to St Thomas And the Jewish Community there also. The information I have is very limited with respect to the family names listed.

However what Little that I do have shows a John Alexandria MESCUS Sr. was married to a Julia Domingo, Dates of birth and death and marriage, I don't have. However it is believe that the time period was sometime before 1890-95 for their marriage. The earliest birth of a male child was listed 1895. His name was Arturo. Other children listed for this couple Lacy, Alonza, Camile.(b:1908-d ?) John A. Mescus Sr. was said to have been a Danish Policeman there in St Thomas Danish W.I.

John was said to have had a common-law relationship with a female name Emeila Monsanto, a possible house servant from Haiti, West Indies. From this union a child was born named John Mescus Jr.

Any information you might know of concerning this family member would be greatly appreciated.

Also I have listed a Peter James Thomas and a Sarah LEVY. here again information is very limited on these two. They had at least one daughter name Glady Georgiana said to have been born 8 Dec 1898 in St Kitts, BWI. Glady died 2 Nov 1969 in Aruba, DWI, Netherland Antilles. I am very interested in find out any information about Sarah LEVY and Peter James Thomes. Parents name for both, dates of birth, death anything that may help further my family histroy research.

I look forward to hearing from you if you can assist me.

Thanks you.

Michael

The library in StThomas has a card file developed by the former director, Enid Baa. It includes information on Jewish families in StThomas and StCroix. The Monsanto family and the family of Judah Benjamin are included.

My grandfather- Edmundo de Marchena- was born in Dominican Republic. His brothers and sister-Aida de Marchena(never married)-moved to
different countries in the Caribbean. He married a Catholic Venezuelan lady at the age of 54 in Venezuela. He had three daughters and 5 grandchildren.
He died in 1975 and was a quiet reserved man, so there is not much we know about our family. I wish to find out more about his nieces, nephews and
their grandchildren, but also about his ancestors, why they came to America, etc. I know many have remained Jewish and other converted, even in
Venezuela you may find both but less than 20 de Marchenas in all. I would greatly appreciate any guidance or imformation related to our ancestors and
their descendants.

Hi Yla, I have been trying for many years to find the marchena family connections in the islands. I do have some clues for you. email me and we can figure this out together.

Do you have any information if there were Sephardic Jews with the surname Garcia who mirgrated to the Danish Virgin Islands ? Also surname Mena. Thank You Philip Garcia

Is there any chance of a relation between Judith "de Castro"and the St.Croix family that spelled their name DaCosta/DeCosta? An appendix in the book "Robert Skeoch: Cruzan Planter" by Irene Armstrong contains a story about a Spanish Count DaCosta who renounced his Catholic heritage and became a Jew when the King of Spain would not forgive him for marrying a Jewish woman. The Count took up residence in Portugal and is said to have been progenitor of the Jewish DaCostas.

I think both of these families existed on St. Thomas but you should contact Dorothy Kew on the online geneaology mailing list and ask her to see if Emannuel's has a coroboration.

Hi,
I have photos of ALL jewish graves in St. Thomas. I have not finished the transcriptions yet, but quite a few were from Curaco. So far, I have one Delvale, a Grace Cardoze. Below is her transciption. I can send the photo if you would like. Just send me a message directly to maria.peay@mpcc.net. If I find any more, I will let you know.

Thanks,
Maria

In
Loving Memory
Of
Our Beloved Mother
Grace Cardoze Delvalle,
Born June 2nd 1857,
Died June 13th 1914.
"Into His Hands My Spirit I Consign."