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.