Individual Notes
Note for: Neriza Henrietta Mary Bernez, 24 JAN 1901 - JUL 1981 Index
Christening:
Date: 19 FEB 1901
Place: Castries, St.Lucia
Individual Note: Lived in New York As per internet records at rootsweb.com searches Last known residence: 11566 (Merrick, Nassau, NY ) Social security:061-16-4705
Nerissa MH Bernez is recorded as entering the USA via Ellis Island on 2nd November 1923 aged 22 years and 9 months. She arrived on the ship "Guiana", having left from St.Lucia. She is described as African, black, British, single, 5' 1", with a mole of the right hand side of her nose. She is going to join her cousin, Mrs George Floissac at 241W, 139 Street, New York City. She is a seamstress and can read and write English and her father is Henry Bernez.
Individual Notes
Note for: Othoniel Aloysius Alcée, 17 JUL 1907 - 4 AUG 1979 Index
Burial:
Date: UNKNOWN
Place: Riverside Cemetery, Castries, St.Lucia
Individual Note: Othoniel was a strict disciplinarian. One of his well known phrases was "even if the heavens fall, always speak the truth". He went to Venezuela in the 1920's to work in the oil refineries. Many other young men including Primrose, John Compton, Vincent Floissac and Kenneth Foster went to Curasco to work in the refineries to make enough money for their education in England. There is a photo of Othoniel in postcard format dated 12th September 1926 that he sent to Camille LaPorte, his fiancée at the time. It is inscribed, "with fondest love, to Cam from Otto".
Before the 1928 fire, he was a partner in the Heirs Alcée business, with Uncle Sam and Aunty Minnie who ran it. However the business was lost as the insurance which was due on the Friday was not paid, the fire came on the Sunday and the firm went bankrupt, unable to claim for the losses. After the 1928 fire, he studied dentistry with Dr Howell. However he was not earning enough money to keep the family, so decided to open his own business on Victoria Street, which later moved to 37 St.Louis Street and became the International Cafe. The City Council offices now occupy that location in Castries, at the corner of Peynier Street. The family used to look after the French Resistance at 37 St.Louis Street and a couple were married there. According to Andreuille, when he first opened the business he tried to get a loan from Dr Howell for his stock of alcohol. Dr Howell advised him to fill bottles with different coloured water and stack them on the shelves as a temporary measure. Othoniel was married at 21 and ran several business in Castries, including a dry goods store, rum shop, pharmacy and the International Cafe. He was also a landlord, renting out many houses in Castries. Othoniel was also a founder member of the "Seamen & Waterfront Workers" Union, one of the largest in St.Lucia.
Othoniel saved Jim Clarke (later the Governor of St.Lucia) from drowning at Vigie Beach. Jim was a good swimmer, but the current was too strong. Othoniel went out to rescue him, but could not fight the current either, so he supported Jim all the way around the peninsular to Faux-a-Chaud in Castries harbour.
A story often told about Othoniel is when he avoiding hitting a child in his car on the Vigie Stretch. Apparently he saw a little "urchin boy" run out in front of him in the road, and he swerved to the left and swerved to the right narrowly missing the boy, and said to himself; "Othoniel, you can drive " He was however, afraid to fly.
His birthday could be 17th or 19th as it was the same as his brother and confused people so his was celebrated on a different day? As he had some dentistry training he used to look after the family's teeth every holiday. His Godmother was Mrs Lucinde Jules, grandmother to Dan Floissac and sister to Rosela Louis who was married to Alexander Alcée.
Othoniel died at the family home at Lunar Park, on the evening of Hurricane David. He refused to be moved to a safer location further away from the sea, as he wanted to die at home. He died later that evening.
Othoniel and Virginia raised Margaret-Ann Stephen. Margaret-Ann's natural parents were Emile Travis and Mary Stephen. Emile was a jeweller and a driving instructor. He lived in Fort-de-France, Martinique and the family would "commission" gold bracelets from him for the girl's 21st birthdays. Mary was from Choiseul and died of TB when Margaret-Ann was 9 months old, although Margaret-Ann lived with the Alcées from when she was 3 or 4 months old. The adoption of Margaret-Ann was never legalised as Othoniel could not obtain permission from her birth father. Hence she remained a Stephen, although she was raised as an Alcée. Her Godmother was Ju George and her Godfather was Othoniel Alcée.
Individual Notes
Note for: Herburt Edward Durant Bernez, 1903 - Deceased Index
Christening:
Date: 15 FEB 1903
Place: Castries, St.Lucia; Quality: 0
Individual Note: According to Bruce King in the biography of Derek Walcott, Herbert was a wealthy Government official who claimed to be from an aristocratic Creole family who lost its title in the French Revolution. Herbert was awarded the Imperial medal, and used to be responsible for the surverying of crown lands, so many Government land deeds will have HED Bernez noted on them.
It is also believed that Herbert had another daughter with an Indian woman, but no additional details are available yet.
Individual Notes
Note for: Ione Marie Therese Bernez, 1907 - Deceased Index
Christening:
Date: 3 MAR 1907
Place: Castries, St.Lucia; Quality: 0
Individual Notes
Note for: Joseph Samuel Bophile Bernez, 1909 - Deceased Index
Christening:
Date: 20 JAN 1909
Place: Castries, St.Lucia; Quality: 0
Individual Note: Died on a motorcycle
Individual Notes
Note for: Marie Therese Geraldine Bernez, 22 OCT 1910 - 1 NOV 1995 Index
Christening:
Date: 23 NOV 1910
Place: Castries, St.Lucia; Quality: 0
Individual Note: Lived in Panama
Individual Notes
Note for: Iris Victoire Cecile Bernez, 1913 - Deceased Index
Christening:
Date: 28 MAY 1913
Place: Castries, St.Lucia; Quality: 0
Individual Note: Died Young
Individual Notes
Note for: St. George Sydney Bernez, 1 NOV 1915 - 19 APR 1993 Index
Christening:
Date: 28 NOV 1915
Place: Castries, St.Lucia
Individual Note: In the USA. Two of the boys died in a swiming accident in a reservoir. As per death records on internet, rootsweb.com search: Last known residence:11225 (Brooklyn, Kings, NY ) Social Security number: 050-38-0969
Individual Notes
Note for: Charles Mauricette, - UNKNOWN Index
Individual Note: Charles was a well known professional photographer in Castries for
many years.
Individual Notes
Note for: Warwick Walcott, 1897 - 1931 Index
Individual Note: Buried at the Anglican Cemetry, Castries.
Individual Notes
Note for: Neil John Kilbane, 16 FEB 1924 - 28 APR 2003 Index
Alias: /John/
Burial:
Date: UNKNOWN
Place: Bunnacurry, Achill, Ireland
Birth Note: Source: Birth of Neil John Kilbane, #129 - 1918, Blythwood, Glasgow, Scotland.
Individual Note: John was born at 6:00am at 52 Douglas Street, Glasgow. He and his five siblings were later brought up in Dookinella, near River (Achill) by their mother after their father Michael left for work in Australia (possibly when John was 4 years old). Michael did not return to England and nobody knows what happened to him or whether he ever made it to Australia. John went to the school in Dookinella, which is still open today and is the oldest established on the island.
When John was about 15 he contracted TB and nearly died. He was hospitalised at Castlebar for 6 to 12 weeks and was in a tent in an isolated room, and fed through a tube. In anticipation of his death, his family prepared the front room for the wake, and to receive his corpse and mourners. The Doctors said that he was one of the only people known to survive TB at that time, and so was extremely lucky to be alive.
As a youngster on Achill John sometimes worked as a shepherd, which he really enjoyed. John later moved to Scotland where he met Annie. He then left Scotland to work in Meols, Wirral, in England and Annie later followed him out there, where they were married when John was 22. His occupation at the time was Farm Labourer, resident at Holmfield Farm, Meols. While on the Wirral he worked on the construction of the Queensway tunnel to between the Wirral and Liverpool.