Mary Smith Chevalier

Here’s this month’s little bit of history, Part III in our series from the San Juan Historical Museum…

November reminds us of family traditions, like a Thanksgiving dish that must be on the table because “it was Grandma’s recipe and we’ve always had it.” Passed down family stories are often about food or our ancestors’ lives. In this undated photograph shared by the Chevalier family, we see family matriarch Mary Smith Chevalier (1878-1966). Mary was the daughter of Lucy Jack, a Native of the islands, and Royal Marine Robert Smith. Mary’s future husband, Ed Chevalier, wrote in his journal that he was mesmerized by her beauty when he first saw her on the shore of Stuart Island, her long black hair being brushed by an elderly woman.

Do you have an island story to share? To contribute to family files, please contact the San Juan Historical Museum. www.sjmuseum.org

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