Mis Abuelo's/ My grandparents....Before I was born into the East Harlem society

Christino Esquilin was my great grandfather. He was born and raised in Puerto Rico. He was a working man, a carpenter. He moved wherever there was work for him. He lived in Puerto Rico, Jamaica, and St. Croix throughout his years. His last and final move was to the Lower east side, Manhattan, where he took his daughter (my grandmother) Alexandria Esquilin along with him. Pedro Richard Beauchamp (my grandfather) was born in Puerto Rico but moved to East Harlem as a child. His family immigrated to East Harlem for better opportunities as most Puerto Ricans at this time did. Pedro and Alexandria met each other in New York City when they were young teenagers. Alexandria was 14 and Pedro was 13. Young love is what it was and in 1966 Alice Beauchamp (my mother) was born. My grandmother was 19 when she gave birth. For the first 10 years of my mothers life, she grew up in the projects on the lower east side but in 1977 she moved to Harlem and remains in the neighborhood today. My family has been living in the neighborhood since the 1950's.

 Grandfather Pedro

 Grandmother Alexandria

 Great Grandmother Donecia 

Great Grandfather Christino