Hello from a new lister.. My maternal family name is Gorst (or Gorse in earlier times), from the Lancashire and Cheshire areas of England. During the period around the 17th/18th Century there was apparently a lot of shipping between Liverpool (County of Lancashire) and the W. Indies with slave trading etc. As the name Gorse appears on a 20th century map I have of St Vincent, (on the windward or eastern side) I am keen to find out if there was any association with the island or area by my ancestors. There was apparently a reference in "An Historical Account of the Island of St. Vincent" pub. 1831, to a Charles Gorst with an estate "Layou" which was on the leeward (west) coast of St. Vincent but "Gorse" is on the opposite side of the island. Can anyone advise me of the origin of the area referred to as Gorse, what is the area concerned, is it a town, locality etc.? Is anyone researching or interested in the name Gorse/Gorst. Does "Layou" still exist in some form? Any help will be appreciated. John Williams (Australia) williams@ix.net.au