TOMBSTONE TUESDAY

TOMBSTONE TUESDAY

When you’re on a genealogical journey, one thing is certain you can’t be afraid of spending time in the cemetery. The cemetery holds the facts, with its monuments, headstones and markers that assist you with not only name time and date but sometimes there is a story to be found on an ancestor.

In St Croix we have the Historical Danish Cemetery that is maintained and kept in good shape. In fact tourist from Denmark plan group trips to US Virgin Islands and heading to the cemetery is always on their list of “places to visit”. One of the tombstones that are of importance to the Danes is seeing the tombstone of my relative Aaron Bough who is the grand-son of Sarah Beaudhuy. The story of Aaron and Sophia Bough Danish connection has been past down throughout many generations. By seeing this tombstone at the cemetery and on-line it added credence to my own family history.

Aaron Bough & Sophia Bough, Grave #130 “In Memory of Aaron Bough and his wife Sophia born Netlohcs R.I.P.” The grave is of historical significance because of the woman buried there, Sophia Bough. Sophia’s maiden name was Netlohcs, which designates her as the illegitimate child of one of the Von Scholten’s. Born out of wedlock, Sophia was given a name that would not arouse scandal. Her father’s name “Scholten” was manipulated slightly by inverting the letter order and spelling it backwards in order to create the name “Netlohcs”.

Source: Royal Danish Consulate, (http://www.dkconsulateusvi.com: accessed August 14, 2012)

By shelley dewese

As I continue to search out my history, I am discovering how much I did not know. The more information disclosed about my ancestry, the more I learn and understand how I am the person that has evolved today. My family's research efforts have taken me on an enlightening journey back through the past in the U. S. Virgin Islands (formerly Danish West Indies) and Coastal Georgia. As with most people of Afro-Caribbean descent, my ancestry stems from peoples brought together by colonialism and conquest; it stems from people thrown together, albeit forcibly, by the throes of enslavement. As a result, my DNA tells me that my people originate in Africa, Europe, England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Lesser Antilles, and Leeward Caribbean Islands. Two collections made my dream to research my ancestors in the Danish West Indies a reality. I have conducted extensive research using the St. Croix Population Database 1734-1917, a St. Croix African Roots Project product, and a research and document transcription effort sponsored by the Virgin Islands Social History Associates (VISHA). The other catalyst has been accessing the extensive photo, manuscript, and microfilm collections at the Library and Archives of the St. Croix Landmarks Society at Estate Whim in St. Croix. My heartfelt thanks go to all my cousins, extended "cousin-family," friends, and research colleagues from the St. Croix-based Virgin Islands Ancestry Discovery Group, for their input and collaboration. I also want to thank the UJima Genealogy Group in Coastal Georgia and GlynnGen.com; webmaster Amy Hendrick has introduced me to Southern History and its people. This site allows you to transform yourself to a time during the Danish period (1734-1917) when life was both complex and straightforward. If you have any questions, comments, or need assistance searching for a Danish West Indies ancestor, I invite you to drop me an email. Its.sheldew@gmail.com I especially appreciate the followers' encouragement.

View all of shelley dewese's posts.