Sarah Beaudhuy Close to Home (#9 of 52 ancestors)

Week 9 (Feb 26-Mar 4) – Close to Home. Which ancestor is the closest to where you live? Who has a story that hits “close to home”?

When I look at the family tree and look at residences, my 4th great-grandmother Sarah Beaudhuy is the closest to where I live, six blocks over on 15 Market Street, Christiansted St. Croix. Albeit there aren’t any stories to pass down about Sarah. Through the evaluation of Wills, Census and Church records, I was able to get a view of her life and her way of life.

Sarah was born in St. Croix, Danish West Indies, and was baptized in the Dutch Reform Church. From the 1779 Christiansted Anglican Church Records: Three mulatto slaves: Peter, Adam and Sarah property of Mr Beaudhuy together were re-baptized in St. Johns Anglican Church and took on the Beaudhuy name.

Sarah Beaudhuy,and her brothers grew up between being on the Betsey Jewel Plantation and a Town apartment on Market Street owned by White Planter Anthony Beaudhuy. Regularly, Sarah was leased to Danish families to work nearby as a house servant.

Anthony Beaudhuy liberated Sarah on April 22, 1797, and it was recorded in the Christiansted City Court on April 24, 1797. She received her Freedom Certificate on July 27, 1797 from Governor Malleville.

Sarah was among the alleged Free Colored populace. The Ordinance of March 16, 1776 secured that the offspring of free-colored women were born free. Hence, her two children took after their moms status. In any case, the free-colored populace was managed by serious limitations which were gradually relaxed after a while. She supported herself by sewing. Sarah had a relationship with a man named Bough/Bauch with whom she had two children. David, who died in adolescence and George Anthony Bough, who lived all through adulthood.

Now and again, when I drive in the town of Christiansted I envisioned how Market street was very noteworthy financially,for my ancestor who alongside many other woman peddling their wares. I generally consider my 4th Great-grandmother’s hardship and at the same time, assembling significant family bonds. As she matured, these same family bonds were displayed in the census where you see that her son, George was living with his wife and his large family which also included his mother, Sarah. Sarah outlived her son, George.

Sarah died at a ripe old age about 96 and was buried as a Moravian in Christiansted. Sarah Beaudhuy is the Great Matriarch of the Bough Lineage.