Jimmy Buffett

Buffett in 2015, photo by Prphotos

Birth Name: James William Buffett

Date of Birth: December 25, 1946

Place of Birth: Pascagoula, Mississippi, U.S.

Date of Death: September 1, 2023

Place of Death: Sag Harbor, New York, U.S.

Ethnicity: English, some French/Cajun/French-Canadian, Spanish, German, Irish, Scottish, distant First Nations

Jimmy Buffett was an American musician, singer, songwriter, best-selling author, actor, and businessperson. He sold over 20 million albums. His songs include those referred to as “The Big 8,” which are “Why Don’t We Get Drunk,” “Come Monday,” “A Pirate Looks at Forty,” “Margaritaville,” “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes,” “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” “Fins,” and “Volcano,” recorded with his Coral Reefer Band, as well as “Son of a Son of a Sailor,” “One Particular Harbour,” and “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere.” His music portrayed tropical rock and “island escapism.” He also founded hospitality chain Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville, owned the Margaritaville Cafe restaurant chain, and co-developed the Cheeseburger in Paradise franchise, as well as other hotels, casinos, liquor establishments, and retirement communities. He co-starred in the film Hoot.

Jimmy was the son of Mary Lorraine (Peets) and James Delaney “J.D.” Buffett, Jr., who worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He was partly raised in Mobile and Fairhope in Alabama. He was exposed to sailing through his grandfather, and was a first mate on industrialist Foster Talge’s yacht, the Petticoat III, in Key West. Jimmy was married to Jane Slagsvol, until his death, with whom he had three children, including radio personality Savannah Jane and filmmaker Sarah Delaney.

Jimmy’s paternal grandfather was Capt. James Delaney Buffett (the son of William Buffett and Catherine/Catharine Skinner). James was born in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada, to parents from Rose Blanche, South Coast Census Division, Newfoundland and Labrador. He was a Gulf Coast master mariner. William was the son of Snook Buffett and Elizabeth.

Jimmy’s paternal grandmother was Hilda Norma Seymour (the daughter of Norman Seymour and Condalaura Elizabeth Flechas). Hilda was born in Pascagoula, Mississippi, of French (both Cajun/French-Canadian and Colonial American-French), Spanish, German, English, Irish, Scottish, and distant First Nations, descent. Norman was the son of Moses Seymour and Adolphine Bellman, whose own father, Charles/Carl Friedrich Nicolai Bellman, was German. Condalaura was the daughter of Captain Joseph J. Flechas, who was Spanish, and of Condalaura Villar.

Jimmy’s maternal grandfather was Thomas Delos Peets (the son of William O’Butler Peets and Sarah/Sallie Elizabeth Davis). Thomas was born in Midway, Mississippi. William was the son of George Peet/Peets and Sarah Ann Traylor. Jimmy’s great-grandmother Sarah was the daughter of Samuel D. Davis and Mary Ann Day.

Jimmy’s maternal grandmother was Bessie Love Thompson (the daughter of William Henry Thompson and Kittie Love/Lou Sproles). Bessie was born in Durant, Mississippi. William was the son of Mickens Huff Thompson and Mary E. “Mittie” Simmons. Kittie was the daughter of Alfonso/Alphonse A. Sproles and Ada A. Johnson.

Sources: Genealogies of Jimmy Buffett – https://www.geni.com
https://www.findagrave.com