Christian
1 March 2012
VIRGIN ISLANDS FAMILIES
Christian
Origin:
Related Families: Balge, Gerard, Lamb, Roebuck
V.I. Location: St. Croix
Contributors: Svend E. Holsoe
Johan Christian was baptized by the Moravians at Friedensthal, St. Croix, on 23
December 17701, as the son of Johan Gottlieb Balge2 [also known as Balke, Balcke], a
sometime distiller at la grande Princesse estate, who died in 1795,3 and Christiana, an
enslaved person at the same estate,4 who was born on St. Croix, and baptized by the
Moravians in 1761, or 1767.5 Her original name was Susanna.
She died on 25 October 1792.6
Child of Johan Gottlieb Balge and Christiana:
1. i.
Johan Christian, b. c1770
1. Johan Christian took as his partner, Ruth, originally named An. Cathr’a.,
who was born on St. Croix, and baptized in the Moravian church on 20 March 1786, an
enslaved person at la grande Princesse estate.
She was confirmed in the church on 29 March 1804.
She died on 6 February 1832.7
Child of Johan Christian and Ruth:
2. i.
Johan Christoph, b. c1801
1
Moravian Archives, Bethlehem, PA, Friedensthal Church, book, 1744-1832, men, children’s baptisms, no.
228.
2
Ibid.
3
See St. Croix Matricles (tax lists) for the period at both 11 Hospital Street, Christiansted, and Company
Quarter, estate la grande Princesse, owned by Skattemester von Schimmelmann.
4
Moravian Archives, Bethlehem, PA, Friedensthal Church, book, 1744-1832, men, children’s baptisms, no.
228.
5
She is one of two individuals, see baptisms in, Moravian Archives, Bethlehem, PA, Friedensthal Church
book, 1744-1832, females, female adult baptisms, nos. 285 or 605.
6
Ibid., female adult burials, no. 2611.
7
Ibid., baptism, adult females, no. 2853; confirmation, no. 2853 & death, no. 3090.
1
2. Johan Christoph [Christian] was baptized by the Moravians on 26 December
8
1801.
He took as his partner, Anna Rahel [Rachel], originally named Christine, who
was born on St. Croix and baptized by the Moravians on 11 May 1823, an enslaved
person at estate la grande Princesse.9
She died in 1841.10
He died in 1852.11
Children of Johan Christoph and Anna Rahel:
3. i.
4. ii.
5. iii.
Mannasse Christian, b. c1826
Helena Christian, b. c1829
Johannes Christian, b. c1831
3. Mannasse Christian was born on St. Croix in about 1826, and baptized by the
Moravians in Christiansted, on 20 January 1827.12
He was listed in 1850 as a Mason at la grande Princesse estate.13
In 1870 & 1880, he was living at his own estate, Mt. Welcome in East End A
Quarter,14 in 1870, a widower,15 and in 1880, aged 57 (c1823).16
Children of Mannasse Christian:
6. i.
7. ii.
8. iii.
John Ch's. Christian, b. c1849
Rosalin Christian, b. c1853
? Joseph Christian, b. c1854
4. Helena Christian was born on St. Croix and baptized by the Moravians in
Christiansted on 5 July 182917.
5. Johannes Christian was born on St. Croix and baptized by the Moravians in
Christiansted on 18 December 183118.
6. John Ch's. Christian was born on St. Croix in about 1849 and was baptized
in the Moravian Church.19
In 1870, he was resident at his father's estate Mt. Welcome.20
Ibid., 1744-1832, men, children’s baptisms, no. 1261.
Ibid., 1744-1832, women, adult baptisms, no. 3699.
10
Ibid.
11
Ibid.
12
Ibid., 1744-1832, men, children’s baptisms, no. 1980.
13
RA, VILA, Reviderede Regnskaber, St. Croix matricle, 1860, La grand Princess, aged 24.
14
RA, St. Croix Census, 1870 & 1880, East End A Quarter, no. 1a, estate Mt. Welcome.
15
RA, St. Croix Census, 1870, East End A Quarter, no. 1a, estate Mt. Welcome.
16
RA, St. Croix Census, 1880, East End A Quarter, no. 1a, estate Mt. Welcome.
17
Moravian Archives, Bethlehem, PA, Friedensthal Church book, 1744-1832, women, childrens’
baptisms, no. 2117.
18
RA, St. Croix Census, 1880, East End A Quarter, no. 1a, estate Mt. Welcome.
19
RA, St. Croix Census, 1880, East End A Quarter, no. 1a, estate Mt. Welcome.
20
RA, St. Croix Census, 1870, East End A Quarter, no. 1a, estate Mt. Welcome.
8
9
2
In 1880, he was unmarried and serving as an overseer at his father's Mt. Welcome
estate.
21
7. Rosalin Christian was born on St. Croix in about 1853 and was baptized in
the Moravian Church.22
In 1870, she was resident at her father's estate Mt. Welcome.23
8. ? Joseph Christian was born in about 1854 and was baptized in the Moravian
Church.24
In 1880, he was serving as a laborer at estate Mt. Welcome, and he was married to
Ann Eliza, who was born on Joost van Dyck Island in about 1849.25
She was baptized in the Moravian Church and came to St. Croix in 1866.26
Child of Joseph and Ann Eliza Christian:
8.
i.
Alexander Christian, b. c1879
8. Alexander Christian was born on St. Croix in about 1879 and was baptized in
the Moravian Church.27
------------------Maria Christian was born on St. Croix in about 1781 and was baptized in the
Anglican Church.28
In 1846, she was living, free, at 12 Strand Street, Frederiksted, as a widow.29
----------------John Christian was born in Africa in about 1796 and was baptized in the
Anglican Church.30
In October 1846, he was living at 33/34 Strand Street, Frederiksted, unmarried
and employed as a Carpenter, and exempted from service.31
----------------
21
RA, St. Croix Census, 1880, East End A Quarter, no. 1a, estate Mt. Welcome.
RA, St. Croix Census, 1870, East End A Quarter, no. 1a, estate Mt. Welcome.
23
RA, St. Croix Census, 1870, East End A Quarter, no. 1a, estate Mt. Welcome.
24
RA, St. Croix Census, 1880, East End A Quarter, no. 1a, estate Mt. Welcome. It is not certain he is a
son, but he carries the surname Christian.
25
RA, St. Croix Census, 1880, East End A Quarter, no. 1a, estate Mt. Welcome.
26
RA, St. Croix Census, 1880, East End A Quarter, no. 1a, estate Mt. Welcome.
27
RA, St. Croix Census, 1880, East End A Quarter, no. 1a, estate Mt. Welcome.
28
RA, St. Croix Census, 1846, Free, Frederiksted, 12 Strand Street.
29
RA, St. Croix Census, 1846, Free, Frederiksted, 12 Strand Street.
30
RA, St. Croix Census, 1846, Free, Frederiksted 33/34 Strand Street.
31
RA, St. Croix Census, 1846, Free, Frederiksted 33/34 Strand Street.
22
3
Susanna Christian was born on St. Croix in about 1798 and was baptized in the
Anglican Church.
In October 1860, she was living at her own property at 6b Queen’s Cross Street,
Christiansted, unmarried and employed as a Peddler.32
-----------------John Christian was born on St. Croix in about 1818 and was baptized in June
1819 in the Lutheran Church. 33
In October 1846, he was living at estate William, Northside A Quarter, unmarried,
employed as a Carpenter and a member of the Fire Corps. 34
--------------------Lucretia Christian was born in about 1824 and was a member of the Moravian
Church. 35
She had a relationship in about 1859-1860 with Jarvis Roebuck, who was born
on St. John in about 1838 and was baptized in the Anglican Church36/ Moravian
Church.37
----------------Johanna Christian, who was resident at estate Mon Bijou, born in about 1835
and a member of the Anglican Church, had a relationship with Samuel Edward Lamb,38
who was born about 182239/1832/183540 in Ireland,41 son of Samuel Lamb & Margaret
Reynolds.42
He was a member of the Anglican Church.43
In 1857, he was unmarried and a Manager at estate Cane Valley, West End
Quarter.44
In 1860, he was manager of estate Mon Bijou, in King's Quarter, owned by Hugh
45
Lang.
RA, RR, St. Croix Matricle, 1860, Christiansted, 6b Queen’s Cross Street.
RA, St. Croix Census, 1846, Northside A Quarter, estate William.
34
RA, St. Croix Census, 1846, Northside A Quarter, estate William.
35
Christiansted Lutheran Mission Church, Church Book, 1845-1860, f. 149, baptism no. 46/1860.
36
RA, St. Croix Census, 1860, East End Quarter, estate Solitude; Christiansted Lutheran Mission Church,
Church Book, 1845-1860, f. 149, baptism no. 46/1860.
32
33
37
RA, St. John's Census, 1841, 27 Maho Bay, Abrams Fancy, owned by Henry J. Hill.
St. Paul's Anglican Church, Frederiksted, Church Book, 1852-1870, Baptisms, no. 23, 1861, ff. 53-54.
39
St. Paul's Anglican Church, Frederiksted, Church Book, 1852-1870, Baptisms, no. 23, 1861, ff. 53-54.
40
"Lamb Family History"; RA, St. Croix Census, 1857, West End, estate Cane Valley.
41
"Lamb Family History"; RA, St. Croix Census, 1857, West End, estate Cane Valley.
42
"Lamb Family History"
43
RA, St. Croix Census, 1857, West End, estate Cane Valley.
44
RA, St. Croix Census, 1857, West End, estate Cane Valley.
45
RA, St. Croix Census, 1860, King's Quarter, estate Mon Bijou; St. Paul's Anglican Church, Frederiksted,
Church Book, 1852-1870, Baptisms, no. 23, 1861, ff. 53-54.
38
4
---------------Unknown Christian had a relationship with [Anna] Margarethe Purcell, who
was born on St. Croix in about 1771 and was baptized on the 23 April 1771 as free.46
In 1815, she was listed as a mulatto, a member of the Lutheran Church, a
Seamstress by profession at living on East Street, Christiansted, with her two children,
Dorothea Elizabeth Gordon and Anna Maria Christian.47
Child of Unknown Christian and Anna Margrethe Purcell:
1. i.
Anna Maria Christian, b. c1803
1. Anna Maria Christian was born free in about 1803 and baptized in the
Lutheran Church. In 1815, she was listed as living with her mother on East Street,
Christiansted.48
In 1847, she was listed at 6 East Street, Christiansted.49
In 1857 & 1860, she was living in her sister, Dorothea Gordon's home at 6 East
Street, Christiansted.50
By 1870, it would appear that Dorothea Gordon was dead, as the house at 6 East
Street was now in Maria Christian's name, where she lived, working as a Seamstress.51
She was still resident there in 1880, still engaged in the same profession.52
-------------------Frederikke Christian as born on St. Croix in about 1784 and was baptized in the
Lutheran Church. 53
In 1847, she was living in her deceased half sister, Kitzy Næser’s, home, at 11A
Company Street, Christiansted, unmarried, where she was occupied baking pastries.54
She was living there with her half brother, Frederik Fredericksen. 55
------------------
46
This was presumably in the Anglican Church, but no record is found for that date. In 1815, the baptismal
record was cited by the "Priest Flynn," see: RA, VILA, Vestindiske regiering, udtagne sager, 1815
Christiansted Free Colored Census, no. 979.
47
VILA, Vestindiske regiering, udtagne sager, 1815 Christiansted Free Colored Census, no. 979. She was
in fact living at 5/6 East Street.
48
VILA, Vestindiske regiering, udtagne sager, 1815 Christiansted Free Colored Census, no. 979. She was
in fact living at 5/6 East Street.
49
NARA, RG55, 1847 Head Tax List, St. Croix, Christiansted, 6 East Street.
50
RA, St. Croix Census, 1857 & 1860, Christiansted, 6 East Street.
51
RA, St. Croix Census, 1870, Christiansted, 6 East Street.
52
RA, St. Croix Census, 1880, Christiansted, 6 East Street.
53
RA, St. Census, 1841, Free, Christiansted, 11A Company Street.
54
RA, St. Census, 1841, Free, Christiansted, 11A Company Street.
55
RA, St. Census, 1841, Free, Christiansted, 11A Company Street.
5
Jane Christian had a relationship with 56 Peter Gerard, who was born on St.
Croix in about 1811 and was baptized in the Lutheran Church.57
56
57
Christiansted Lutheran Mission Church, 1818-1846, Baptisms, ff. 467-468.
RA, St. Croix Census, 1846, Free, Christiansted, 13 Little Hospital Street.
6