Hi Vanda, Technically, if Columbus had had his way, all of the Islands in the Atlantic that he "discovered" plus all of North and South America might have become the West Indies. The Caribbean and the West Indies are technically not the same, the former is larger than the latter, as the Caribbean can include the Atlantic coastal areas of the USA, Mexico and Central and South America. Guyana and Suriname are in South America but are considered as West Indies for historical reasons. Belize formerly a part of Guatemala is also considered part of the West Indies for similar reasons. All are however properly in the Caribbean. The West Indies proper however are the Islands in the Atlantic, off the Southern Coasts of North America (i.e., off Florida) to the Islands off the Northern coasts of South America. That is, from Cuba down to Trinidad & Tobago. For your purposes however, relative to the Babington's, you will need to see if you can find the Ships Ticket for the persons in question. Since you do not seem to know which ship they were on, you might have to consult the Index to such records or do a Bebington name search on the PRO catalogue and see what comes up. Be sure to include the spelling Babington as well as with two bs for the two spellings. Ships Tickets are something that the list has already covered. I will find the relevant email and forward it to you off list. I hope all helps. Richard ----- Original Message ----- From: <WshireSD@aol.com> To: <CARIBBEAN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, June 22, 2003 12:44 PM Subject: Ships to the West Indies > OK - I am going to ask a stupid question - but would like a sensible answer. > > Are there any records of people who were on merchant ships from England to > the West Indies. Does the West Indies mean the same as the Caribbean??? (Sorry - > that must sound incredibly stupid) > > I am looking for Walter BEBBINGTON born in England in 1882 > > and George BEBBINGTON born in Bristol, 1946. > > Thanks > VANDA > > > ==== CARIBBEAN Mailing List ==== > ROOTSWEB MAILING LIST HELP PAGES > What is a Mailing List? > http://helpdesk.rootsweb.com/help/mail1.html > >

The islands of Bahamas, Barbados and Bermuda are all often grouped with the former British West Indies and the Caribbean culturally but also boast being geographic exceptions. The Bahamas and Barbados are the one just north and the other just east of the Caribbean. Bermuda is much closer to Virginia. The Guyanas have a Caribbean culture but are located in South America. Belize is on the Caribbean but part of Central America. It used to have a population majority of descendants of immigrants from Bermuda and the islands of Jamaica, the Caymans and St. Vincent. Today the majority population has switched to other Central Americans.