About My Genealogical Journey

Welcome to my family history blog! I am Shelley DeWese, a dedicated family history researcher with over 10 years of experience in Danish West Indies genealogy. I have delved into tracing my own ancestry and have been assisting residents and visitors to St. Croix with their genealogical searches. 
 
In my journey, I have worked as a transcriptionist researcher, compiling a digitized searchable St. Croix Population Database that includes historical records from Danish, American, and Virgin Islands archives. I am proud to be a member of various organizations such as the Society of Virgin Islands Historian, Caribbean Genealogy Library, Friends of Denmark, Coastal Georgia Genealogy Society, and Ujima Genealogy Research Group.
 
My research has led me back through the rich history of the US Virgin Islands, formerly known as the Danish West Indies, and coastal Georgia. Like many individuals of Afro-Caribbean descent, my ancestry is intertwined with the complexities of colonialism, wisdom, and conquest, often rooted in the painful history of enslavement. Through DNA testing, I have discovered my ancestral roots in Africa, the Lesser Antilles, Leeward Caribbean Islands, Europe (including England, Ireland, Scotland, and France).
 
I extend my heartfelt thanks to my family, friends, and research colleagues from the Virgin Islands Ancestry Discovery group in St. Croix, as well as the Ujima Genealogy Group in Coastal Georgia and GlynnGen.com for their invaluable support and collaboration. To my followers, thank you for your continued feedback and encouragement.   
 
On this site, you can immerse yourself in the Danish period (1734-1917) and explore the complexities of life during that time. I have also recently launched the VI Headline Rewinds podcast, connecting historical headlines to current events.   https://www.buzzsprout.com/2329682
 
 
If you have any questions, comments, or need assistance in searching for your Danish West Indies ancestors, feel free to reach out to me via email. its.sheldew@gmail.com 
 Thank you for joining me on this genealogical journey!
 
 
 
 
 

23 comments

  1. What a wonderful Blog. I am eager to read more of your findings, and looking forward to discovering more of our family history. How lucky we are to have you there at our beginnings 🙂

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  5. I read about your blog via Geneabloggers and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. In addition I also learned something because I had never heard about the danish West Indies. The French, British and Dutch (I am Dutch) West Indies yes but the Danes are new to me there. That also includes the fact about the Danes being involved in the slave trade. I thought that was a Dutch specialty 🙂
    Anyway, I’ll try to follow your progress, good luck!

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    1. Thank you for the welcome…
      Slavery was the economy of the day most countries were involved one way or the other without going into details.
      In reference to the danes being involved with the slave trade. Please note that Denmark was the first European nation to end its participation in the slave trade. Ended in 1802.

      In St. Croix,, 1848, 3rd day of July
      The slaves were emancipated.
      The famous Proclamation of Emancipation was read by the Governor General Peter von Sholten
      on St. Croix July 3rd 1848
      “All unfree in the Danish West India Islands are from to-day free”

      Hope this brings some light. Recommended book is “Negotiating Enslavement” Perspectives on Slavery in the Danish West indies. by Arnold R. Highfield and George F. Tyson

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  6. Ohh Shelley, what a great inspiration your blog is. It makes me long for one too!! I have been sitting all morning reading, and can’t wait for a new entry. Hugs, Camilla.

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      1. Thanks Shelley… silly me is already a follower and must have had my head in the clouds when I posted this. Many thanks for getting back to me 🙂

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  12. All quiet for a year – hope all is well. I’m a descendant of the Beverhoudts from St Croix – I live in Australia and getting info is a bit remote – what did we do before the internet? Is there a register of the graves on St Croix?

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  13. Good evening, my name isKarla Cochrane-Gachette. I’m the granddaughter of Blanch Phaire – Cochrane who is danish and was born their in St.Croix. She’s turning 100 yrs old January 2, 2017, and I’m trying to trace back my roots,. If there’s any information needed please feel free to contact me jgachette63@gmail.com,.

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