THE BARRETTS OF BELROSE STREET

"It's the bundle grandma!" were the excited cries she heard as she was greeted at the door by her grandchildren.  Marion Barrett Marville was not a wealthy woman, but she never arrived empty-handed.  It didn't matter that her gifts were the items left behind at the Coney Island Bath House where she worked.  They were treasured by her grandchildren because they came from the bundle grandma. 

Marion Rosalie Barrett was born on June 28, 1879 in Philadelphia at 439 Belrose St. (later called Bodine St.). Her father, Samuel, was a carpenter.  He enlisted with the 6th Pa Cavalry (Lancers) in 1861. We believe her mother was Mary J. PAULINE or PAULLIN. She may have died when Marion was very young (betw 1880 - 83) and Samuel remarried shortly thereafter.  Her brother Franklin was an artist.  He painted wonderful oil paintings in his spare time.  Franklin and his son Royden owned a tropical fish store called Barrett's Aquarium.  It became well known as one of the areas finest pet stores.  Later in life, Franklin became an art teacher.

Marion married George Stuart Marville, a talented machinist.  Stuart, as he was called by his family, had a touch of the wanderlust and a taste for alcohol.  He travelled from town to town fixing knitting machines, but never putting down roots for very long.  In the end, he died in 1916 of tuberculosis, leaving his wife and daughter to fend for themselves.

After her daugher married, Marion moved to Coney Island where she lived but a few blocks from the Boardwalk.  She took a job working in the Bath House and lived in a boarding house with the side show people.  Her life, while somewhat tragic, was nonetheless interesting.  It is to Marion that I dedicate this web page and to all the Barretts who came before and after her.

I am searching for the descendents of Charles BARRETT and Samuel Raynor BARRETT.  Charles was born abt 1813 in PA. He had daughters Mary (born abt 1854), Emma (born abt 1856) and Samuel born in February of 1843 in Pennsylvania.  Charles had either a daughter or 2nd wife named Elizabeth (born 1831 in NY). Samuel's second wife was Frederica.  They had four children: Oliver, Walter, Mabel and Elmer.  To see his descendency chart, click here.