Ann Barrass

[jmsstks]

Hi all.

I'm currently investigating into another Ann Barrass who was born circa 1815 in Jamaica (West Indies) and who somehow made her way back to the UK and is shown on multiple Census entries from 1841 marrying and living in Newcastle-upon-Tyne (UK). Following her marriage she lost the Barrass surname, but the mystery I'm currently having is where the surname originally came from, and then similarly what brought her to the Newcastle area.

Looking into the Barrass family, there appear to have been a long line of Barrass' living in Whickham, Durham (south-west of Newcastle).

So my question is, does anyone know of any connection between the surname Barrass and Jamaica / West Indies / plantations or know of any specific voyages/trips over there any time between approx 1815 - 1840 which may have resulted in Ann Barrass (Jamaican) being brough back to the UK ?

[fiddlerslass]

It is also possible the father of Ann b. Jamaica could have been in the army and stationed over there.

[AlanBoyd]

Not directly relevant but found this through Ancestry

St Elizabeth, Cornwall, Jamaica

Jane Barrass, a free Mustee child aged about 2 months was baptiized on the 30th March 1823.

(my transcription)

at that time
one white parent + one black parent > mulatto
one white parent + one mulatto parent > quadroon
one white parent + one quadroon parent > mustee or mestee

A mustee could also be referred to as an octoroon. Either way it was a person with one-eighth black ancestry.