My ancestor John Sears, who was born in St Kitts 22 March 1845, used both Sears and Sawyer on records in New Zealand in the 10 years prior to him drowning. Verbal family history has his mother as Rebecca from Portugal and his grandmother as Lydia Maria. His father is said to be John Sears. He married a Maori woman called Hoana Te Amaru, and spelt her name Johanna on one document.

In an effort to establish the real surname - Sears or Sawyer? or both? I have searched Rootsweb, and Genealogy.com and that has been exhausting over a long period of time...but I have learnt alot.

I learnt that Portuguese and Spanish known as Sears and Sawyer in the colonies were actually anglicised names that were originally Soia, Suarez, Sorres, etc. Johns name may actually be one of these and needs to be explored further.

Although John was born in St Kitts, he may not have been brought up there. It was a very transient society and a gateway to the States, as well as to other British Colonies. Seeing how many people have come to a frustrating halt in looking for ancestors born in St Kitts bears this out...and makes this Portuguese West Indies message board so very exciting!

If anyone has a John, or Rebecca or Lydia Maria - Sears, Sawyer, Soia, Suarez, Sorres who may have been in St Kitts in the 1840s please contact me. Thank you. TeAwhi.