I am trying to solve two mysteries concerning my Esnard family. I am unable to follow the line of Jean/John Esnard, who was born about 1796 in Saint Domingue, and was baptized in 1799 in Charleston, SC. And also his brother, Charles Vincent Pebarte/Pebert Esnard, who was born about 1802, baptized in Charleston in 1803. Father was Jean Pierre Esnard, mother was Anne Euphrosine Pebarte. I have documentation that they traveled to Charleston as merchants from Matanzas in the 1820's. They are listed as french plantation owners in Havana in 1843. I have a copy of a will dated 1850 that mentions them both as living in Cuba. That is as much as I know about them. HOWEVER, there are other lines of ESNARD's that are from Cuba, that must descend from these two--if only I had more information! Does anyone descend from either Jean/John or Charles Vincent Pebarte/Pebert of Cuba??? I would love to communicate with you!!

I am not sure of how far back my ancestry goes. My name is Juan Esnard. I was born in Havana, Cuba. My granfather was also Juan Esnard. He was born in Oriente, and was the son of Juan Esnard who was a sugar plantation owner there.

have some bad photocopies of 1861 letters written in Spanish in which the following Charleston families are mentioned. I am trying to decipher the letters and establish the identity and relationships of various people mentioned. Some of these people (especially the Malgas) were in Pendleton ( in the summer of 1861, writing letters to Charleston to Emilio Puig and José (Puig?). Usually surnames only are given but occasionally a given name as well. An Esnard is mentioned in several of the letters written by Mr. Malga, but no first name is given. All these papers are from 1861.

W. P. Hall (William P. Hall)
Victor Malga
Francisca (Victor Malga's wife)
Emilio Puig
S. Puig
Emily V. Smith (married Puig) - NY connection
Sloan
Moncada
Triest
Esnard
Bomar
Mrs. Bomar
Mary Bomar
Robert Bomar (wounded in Virginia in 1861?)
Anne or Anna Owens

Puig and Malga had strong connections with Cuba and Spain (Barcelona and Mataró). In fact, I believe Malga had (re)established himself by 1863. W. P. Hall was still living in Charleston in 1880. Census indicates he was born in Cuba. One letter indicates that Emilio Puig has never been to Cuba, so he was likely born in Spain and possibly lived later in New York City (by 1880). All of these people were involved in commerce and shipping in one way or the other. They either worked for or had dealings with (W.P.) Hall and Co. Malga had a farm that he was trying to dispose of.

Any leads on these families would be appreciated.

Thanks
Terry Mount

I believe the Esnard mentioned in the letters that I described in the rootsweb response to Juan Esnard (also intended as a response to you) is probably John or Vincent. Do you have any idea if one of them ever worked for W.P. Hall and Co.? Is one more likely than the other to have been involved in maritime commerce or blockade running at the beginning of the Civil War?

Terry Mount

I would be interested in any information on the Esnard's in Charleston, SC and Cuba.

Please advise what you might be interested in, and I will see if I can help.