Surname Saturday-Boughs of US Virgin Islands

Although the Boughs have been in the Danish West Indies (now US Virgin Islands) since the 18th Century, family lore has it that the ancestors were living in County Cavan, Ireland before coming to St. Croix. As was typical during the 18th and 19th Centuries, the St. Croix population was mostly of English, Irish and Scottish descendants.

The St. Croix Free Males and Militia Combined document established, during 1807-1808, that George Bough, a White male, was in private business as well as a member of the St. Croix Volunteer Company in Christiansted. It is presumed that he met and had a relationship with Sarah Beaudhuy, (1772-1868) a former mulatto slave of Anthony Beaudhuy, who was set free in 1797.

Together they had two sons: David who died at the age of 10 years old and George Bough who becomes the Patriarch of the Bough family of the Virgin Islands. George Anthony Bough fathered 11 children which includes a set of twins and one daughter.

The Bough surname is an old family name that intertwines with the History of the U.S. Virgin Islands Government, Business and Civic Organizations.

In an attempt to gather and compile surnames I thought I would look at my direct Bough lineage beginning with the Patriarch classified as a free person of color because of his mother’s Free-given status.

Lord God of Saboath Lutheran Church, Christiansted St. Croix where family members attended. Photo by shelley dewese
Lord God of Saboath Lutheran Church, Christiansted St. Croix where family members attended.
Photo by shelley dewese

My Bough Lineage(CAPS):

Generation 1. GEORGE ANTHONY BOUGH, (1806-1856) born in St. Croix, the son of George Bough and Sarah Beaudhuy. He met Sophia Lincoln she was born in 1804 and died in St. Croix together they had 2 Children: Mary Elizabeth and GEORGE A. BOUGH.

Generation 2: George A Bough (1831-1854) born in St. Croix met Emelia Elizabeth Petersen-Marcus the daughter of Thomas Petersen and Anna Catherina DeWindt. She was born in St. Croix April 13, 1833 and died 15 of February 1897. Together they had 2 Children: AUGUST CURTIS BOUGH and Christine Luce Bough-Jacobs.

Generation 3: August Curtis Bough (1866-1939) born in St. Croix was the son of George A. Bough and Emlia Elizabeth Petersen-Marcus. He had Eleven children including JULIUS CURTIS BOUGH.

Generation 4: Julius Curtis Bough (1889-1936) born in St. Croix the son of August Bough and Georgianna Aagard. He had Eight children including my mother JOYCE FLORENCIA BOUGH.

Resources provided upon request.

By shelley dewese

With over 40 years in the Virgin Islands, I am a New Yorker with deep roots in the Danish West Indies, researching surnames Bough, Beaudhuy, and Gasper. Uncovering my history has revealed unknown aspects of my ancestry, shaping my present identity. I find joy in sharing stories and connecting with others. As a transcriptionist researcher, I compiled the digitized St. Croix Population Database, drawing from Danish, American, and Virgin Islands archives. I am a proud member of organizations like the Society of Virgin Islands Historian, Friends of Denmark and Ujima Genealogy Research Group. My dream of exploring Danish West Indies ancestors became a reality through the St. Croix Population Database and access to collections at the St. Croix Landmarks Society. I recently launched the VI Headline Rewinds podcast, delving into vintage Virgin Islands newspapers. I appreciate the support of collaborators and followers. For assistance with Danish West Indies genealogy, feel free to reach out via email. its.sheldew@gmail.com

12 comments

  1. How do you ever get such detail.. fascinating !.Who then married a female Smith *or may have carried a different last name) from Tortola whose father’s name was Jacob Wilson Smith?

    Like

    Reply

    1. Janet:
      The source that I use the most comes from the Virgin Islands Social History Association (VISHA) Database. This system holds historical records from the Danish West Indies/Virgin Islands Archives. The Web site is stx.visharoots.org.
      Ref: Female Smith
      On the Bough Family tree we have Alice Smith from St. Croix who married Joseph Bough. I am aware of a Tortola connection with the Smith line, however the name you provided Jacob W. Smith is not familiar therefore, I am unable to confirm or match without futher research. Will keep you posted on this effort. Thank you for sharing and stopping by.

      Like

      Reply

      1. Pleasant Good Evening. Perhaps I can help with the connection. As I indicated in the book, The Ties that Bind… A Virgin Islands Story, Alice’s mother is Emma Mueller and her father is Waldemar Joseph Smith. Waldemar was one of the eldest sons of Jacob Wilson Smith. Jacob had 10 children (that I have found) and 3 of those were daughters. Two sons moved to St. Croix. Hope that clears up one of the Smith ties to St. Croix! Talk to you soon my cousins, Nadine

        Like

      2. Hello
        Much thanks to you for stopping by and taking the time to clarify the family connection with the Smith’s of Tortola. I was not completely mindful of the book However from the short description on Amazon I have to add The Ties that Bind to my local collection. Thank you for following me on this genealogical journey. Your remarks, comments are welcomed.

        Like

  2. It is so good to see you blogging again Shelley, not to mention that you have such a fabulous rich lineage that I want to know more about.

    I hope all is well with you and look forward to more from you in 2014!

    Like

    Reply

    1. Liv:
      It is so good to be back, and it was good to take the break. What I learned from the Slave South Course was that I was not as multi-task as I might of thought. The deadlines were challenging and the course work was pretty intense. However I found it all quite interesting and useful. Thank you for sharing Coursera.
      As I stir the pot, I hope to put out more of my matrilineal lineage during this year. Your encouragement is always appreciated.

      Like

      Reply

    1. Hello Stephen:
      I am very happy that your search landed you on my genealogical journey. I’m so excited to read about two Baugh/Bough brothers and the reason for the letter change. The link and the information are quite helpful and perhaps this is the support I need for the oral history that was passed down throughout the generations. Thank you for the visit and stop back anytime.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  5. Hi Shelley, your research is amazing. I am also researching free blacks in Christiansted with the name of Baa. During my research, I came across your family name Bough and wondering if there is a connection. I have found some records that indicate that there may be. Sometimes the census taker spelled Baa as Bough, so not really sure about that. But in this record, a cousin of mine, Ana Louia Baa from St Thomas is listed with Christiana Lucia Bough from St Croix as aunt/niece. I see that Christiana Bough is one of your ancestors. Do you know of any connection? https://cs.sa.dk/picture/view-values/470851?selectedTab=79&locale=en

    Like

    Reply

    1. Thank you for visiting the site. It is always nice to know that others are researching the inhabitants of the Danish West Indies. The free blacks of the town in Christiansted cannot be exhausted. are always see my post “free gut” Getting back to the question. There is this thing with name variants that must be researched. But to answer directly I do not know of any connection to the Baa family. However, looking at the census showing a 9–10-year difference in age. Anna Baa and Christiana Bough suggest that Christiana’s mother Emelia Petersen-Marcus had to have a young sister. Emelia’s youngest sister is Victoria Louisa Johnson born in 1841. My question: Is Baa her married/maiden name? Let us find the connection.

      Like

      Reply

Leave a comment