Hello Denise:

I may be sending you on a wild goose chase, but it will be a pleasant one. I kept coming back to your post because the names from Saliche to Saluche seemed familiar. I have spent some time in Corsica which you know is part of France. The names are similar (without the "L") to SAUCHE (or Souch, Souche, Socci, Soccy. I found these names when I was looking for ancestors in Florida. (Souchet)

The website that I have included will give you a little history of Corsica and its link to the Caribbean. A Puerto Rican friend told me that some of her ancestors were Corsican and came to Puerto Rico (around the time you have quoted) to seek work in the fishing industry. There was a significant immigration to Puerto Rico.

The L in the names you mentioned may have been added to accommodate the Spanish double LL. In addition, the Corsican language is neither French or Italian. (Don't ever suggest that a Corse is Italian (wink). But sounds very similar to Italian.
Start here on the home page and click on many of their links.

http://www.corsicacorsica.homestead.com/index.html

Another scenario may be that the immigrants went to Hait and then to Puerto Rico.

If there is a family lore that mentions Italians then you may want to explore Corsica further. Corsica is one of the most beautiful places on earth. The links might take you on a different journey, but it is well worth taking a side trip to paradise.

Click on the link below and find the names that I referenced. Also there are many links to the Caribbean that may help.

Good luck bonne chance.

K Wyer Lane

Am researching my husbands ancestors - some of whom were
: Afro-Puerto Ricans from the Ponce area in Puerto Rico, early
: 1800's to 1920. the spelling varies - have forund SALICHE,
: SALICH and SALUCHE so far.

: All indicators point towards Haiti as a possible migration point to
: Puerto Rico - but I have no proof as yet.

: Would be interested to hear if anyone runs across this surname.

: Denise