I received a marriage certificate saying this was where my great great grandmother Polly Mary Tobouch was born but it did not list her parents names. Does anyone know anything about this island or where I could try for some information?
Thanks in advance,
Michelle

The Kerguelen Islands are a French possession in the South Indian Ocean, not very far from Antarctica. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, the archipelago of one large island and 300 islets was discovered in 1772 by the French navigator Yves Joseph de Kerguelen-Tremarec, and later explored by Captain Cook. The archipelago was often frequented by whalers and seal hunters. Perhaps she was the daughter of one of them.
In 1950 a permanent base and scientific centre Porteaux -Francais was established on the main island- Desolation or Kerguelen Island
The Kerguelens are part of Terres Australes et Antarctiques Francaises- a French sub-division of government

Michelle,

Have tried your email but it did not go through. I am doing the same reserch as you but for a friend - her Great Grand Mother as well. Please contact me and we can help fill in the gaps together.

Liz Reeve

HI and thanks for contacting me. Im not sure why my email didn't work. I'm having great problems finding this lady and any help you can give would be much appreciated. I have her wedding certificate and her sons birth certificate but can't seem to get any further as certficates don't record her parents and I now have twoo different places of birth???
Hope to hear from you soon,
Michelle

That would be really astonishing that people were born in the Kerguelen islands!!!
There is very little inhabitant the winter (from 0 to 50) and only one hundred the summer.
All are scientists.
It is not really the cold which makes these islands inhospitable (average 4°C) but rather the wind (the winds of 150km/h are common)
The cold winds are worse of all!