Hi Ann, Thanks for the details. I am also making enquiries. Lets see what they come up with this time. Will get back to you on the results. Richard ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ann Whiting" <aqw8326@hotmail.com> To: <CARIBBEAN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2003 10:36 AM Subject: Re: Thomas Godwin b.1811 St. Kitts Search for more info. > It is actually Bethlehem, Pa is the national headquarters of the Moravian > church, When I spoke to the Library there, he said that the 'pages were very > delicate' and if I wanted to see them I could come to the library and view > what they had. That was impossible as I am in Las Vegas. It seemed, to me, > at the time that they were not,or had not had anyone requesting genealogy > information. That is just my feeling from the conversation. It seems now > that they have some genealogy information, but as usual, it is all for the > US. > The information that they have for the West Indies, is vital to many > searchers, I know in St. Thomas, they converted 13,000 during their period > there and kept records, mostly slaves, but those families remained members > of the church, due to the rejection of the other religions. > When I went to St. Johns in '95, there were no records, they were destroyed > by hurricanes, but was old that copies were in Pa. > Ann > > "Sharing the information." > > _________________________________________________________________ > The new MSN 8: advanced junk mail protection and 2 months FREE* > http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail > > > ==== CARIBBEAN Mailing List ==== > For information on individual islands, research aids, island bulletin boards or history please visit the CaribbeanGenWeb project at > http://www.rootsweb.com/~caribgw/ > >

It is actually Bethlehem, Pa is the national headquarters of the Moravian church, When I spoke to the Library there, he said that the 'pages were very delicate' and if I wanted to see them I could come to the library and view what they had. That was impossible as I am in Las Vegas. It seemed, to me, at the time that they were not,or had not had anyone requesting genealogy information. That is just my feeling from the conversation. It seems now that they have some genealogy information, but as usual, it is all for the US. The information that they have for the West Indies, is vital to many searchers, I know in St. Thomas, they converted 13,000 during their period there and kept records, mostly slaves, but those families remained members of the church, due to the rejection of the other religions. When I went to St. Johns in '95, there were no records, they were destroyed by hurricanes, but was old that copies were in Pa. Ann "Sharing the information." _________________________________________________________________ The new MSN 8: advanced junk mail protection and 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail

Fellow Listers, As most of you know, I am currently the CaribbeanGenWeb Regional Coordinator. When I accepted that position, I had great intentions and a number of ideas about how I was going to improve the Project. Unfortunately, I have been unable to dedicate the time necessary to act on much of anything. As a result, I've decided to relinquish my role as CaribbeanGenWeb Coordinator so that some one else might be able to better steer this ship forward.. If anyone here is interested in taking over the role, please contact me directly and let me know. Information on the responsibilities of a Regional Coordinator can be found here: http://www.worldgenweb.org/policy.html The position is primarily an organizational one. It entails maintaining the CaribGenWeb site, keeping tabs on the existing Country sites to make sure that they are being kept up to date, and recruiting Coordinators for the "orphaned" sites. I have found that the actual day-to-day work load is very light. What will take some effort and time is any initiative to improve and build on the Project. Note that there is already an Advisory Board in place that has volunteered to help improve the Project. If the technical aspect of the position is intimidating, note that I am more than willing to stay on board to help out with the those types of issues, but I simply am not able to dedicate the organizational effort necessary to build on what is already here. I hope one of you will consider assuming the position. Regards, Dean P.S. I plan on keeping my position as Trinidad&TobagoGenWeb Coordinator.

Please have a look at http://www.gedvisual.com/, where you can download the latest version of GEDvisual. GEDvisual is a shareware program that allows you to turn your GEDCOM file into a complete website with just the push of a button. Data is presented graphically in GEDvisual family sheets (c), immediately revealing family relations while at the same time showing all relevant data. Browsing through family sheets is very straightforward. GEDvisual supports photos, notes and sources. Output that is generated can be customized to your taste (backgrounds, colors, icons, etc.). Several output languages are supported. There is a lot more to tell, but it's probably better to visit the sections 'GEDvisual Tour' and 'Output Examples' of the above URL. GEDvisual is shareware, where basic functionality will always be available (no time limit). Full functionality is available after registration (valid for all future versions of GEDvisual). Have fun. Note: At the moment of writing this text the GEDvisual site contains the following statements (maybe they are still there when you visit): Until further notice registration is free of charge ! Some feedback in return (positive or negative) is highly appreciated.

Does anyone have any information on the Potters in Tortola, British Virgin Islands, Anegada and Santo Domingo (now Hati and Santo Domingo)? We have a family story that the Potters on these three islands are the decsendants of three Potter brothers and I am looking to verify that claim. Also looking for any info on the Leonards, George and Jennings families from Tortola, BVI. If no one has any info, any tips on how I could find out?

Hi Ann, I did know when the Moravian Churches were established in St. Kitts, and that some of the records had been taken to America, but I did not know that it was Philadelphia. So thanks for this information. Richard ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ann Whiting" <aqw8326@hotmail.com> To: <CARIBBEAN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2003 3:01 PM Subject: Re: Thomas Godwin b.1811 St. Kitts Search for more info. > I am trying to ascertain that information at this time, and will post. > As far as I know the Moravian documents were not filmed by the FHL, and the > Moravians had not made the information available to the public, when I > checked two years ago. > I did speak with Philadelphia, at the time, and was told if I wanted to see > the documents I had to come to Pa. > It would be a wealth of information that would be greatly appreciated by > Caribbean searchers. > > "Sharing the information." > > _________________________________________________________________ > Add photos to your e-mail with MSN 8. Get 2 months FREE*. > http://join.msn.com/?page=features/featuredemail > > > ==== CARIBBEAN Mailing List ==== > For information on individual islands, research aids, island bulletin boards or history please visit the CaribbeanGenWeb project at > http://www.rootsweb.com/~caribgw/ > >

I am trying to ascertain that information at this time, and will post. As far as I know the Moravian documents were not filmed by the FHL, and the Moravians had not made the information available to the public, when I checked two years ago. I did speak with Philadelphia, at the time, and was told if I wanted to see the documents I had to come to Pa. It would be a wealth of information that would be greatly appreciated by Caribbean searchers. "Sharing the information." _________________________________________________________________ Add photos to your e-mail with MSN 8. Get 2 months FREE*. http://join.msn.com/?page=features/featuredemail

The Newspaper Library of the British Library contains the following newspapers that cover the period 1901-1911: Barbados Agricultural Reporter (imperfect run) Barbados Globe & Colonial Advocate Weekly Recorder (imperfect run) Rgds Tikwis

Are there any records for those churches egbaptisms,marriages? Thank Ann Whiting wrote: > Irving, > the following Moravian churches in St.Kitts, and date established.: > > Zion - 1774 > > Bethesda - 1819 > > Bethel - 1832 > > Estridge - 1839 > > Ann > > "Sharing the information." > > _________________________________________________________________ > Protect your PC - get McAfee.com VirusScan Online > http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963 > > ==== CARIBBEAN Mailing List ==== > all messages posted to CARIBBEAN-L are archived at http://archiver.rootsweb.com/ > Before posting a query, see if the question has already been asked

Thanks very much for your responses. I deliberately did not limit my query to one geographic area because I wanted a broader answer, not being sure at this point how, when or where I am going to go about looking. As it happens, Dean's suggestion of the University of Chicago is particularly apt. Also, by the way, I don't put my name on queries to the List, not because I want to be mysterious but because I don't want anyone 'googling' on my name to pick up everything I have ever said here via the Internet archive.

Irving, the following Moravian churches in St.Kitts, and date established.: Zion - 1774 Bethesda - 1819 Bethel - 1832 Estridge - 1839 Ann "Sharing the information." _________________________________________________________________ Protect your PC - get McAfee.com VirusScan Online http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963

If you are in the US, here are links to some universities with Latin American and Caribbean newspaper collections. You may be able to borrow microfilms on inter-library loan. University of Florida http://web.uflib.ufl.edu/lac/newspaperlist1.html Tulane University of Louisiana (in New Orleans) http://lal.tulane.edu/lalnews.html University of Chicago http://wwwcrl.uchicago.edu/DBSearch/ForeignNews.asp Dean de Freitas ----- Original Message ----- From: "Richard Allicock" <richwyn@idirect.com> To: <CARIBBEAN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2003 4:10 AM Subject: Re: Barbados Newspapers 1902-1911 <SNIP> > There are also parts of the Eastern USA that had long historical links with > B'dos, and these collected material relating to B'dos inclusive of > Newspapers. You may find such Newspapers in University Libraries and in > their State Legislature Libraries.

Further to my previous email, while you might not be able to search the papers in the BL without employing a researcher, you can find out if there are micro-films of the newspapers. It is also helpful if people on this list make a habit of saying where they are. For example if you are anywhere near Washington D.C you can see if the Library of Congress has micro-film of the newspapers. There is also another possible source, and that is NARA, the National Archives and Records Administration, in their collection of consular records. US Consuls from al over the world frequently sent reports to the State Department and others with actual pages of local newspapers if not entire newspapers themselves. These end up being micro-filmed. There are also parts of the Eastern USA that had long historical links with B'dos, and these collected material relating to B'dos inclusive of Newspapers. You may find such Newspapers in University Libraries and in their State Legislature Libraries. So if you had said where you are I would not have had to write this much. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Edward Crawford" <tcrawford@revhist.datanet.co.uk> To: <CARIBBEAN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, May 12, 2003 3:23 PM Subject: Re: Barbados Newspapers 1902-1911 > You can search catalogues on-line - not alas the papers. > Edward Crawford > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Richard Allicock" <richwyn@idirect.com> > To: <CARIBBEAN-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2003 1:45 AM > Subject: Re: Barbados Newspapers 1902-1911 > > > > Have you tried the Newspaper collections at the British Library? You can > > also search the BL on-line. > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: <MReilly169@aol.com> > > To: <CARIBBEAN-L@rootsweb.com> > > Sent: Monday, May 12, 2003 2:13 PM > > Subject: Barbados Newspapers 1902-1911 > > > > > > > I have pretty good reason to believe that my ggrandfather wrote for a > > Bridgetown newspaper, possibly as a columnist, between 1902 and 1911, more > > likely toward the end of that period, and have been trying to get access > to > > the Bridgetown papers from that era for at least a spot check. I am a > long > > way from Barbados. A researcher in Barbados told me recently that it > would > > not be worthwhile for her to try to scan them at the National Archives > > because of conditions for microfilm viewing there (including the attitude > of > > the staff). Does anyone know whether they might be available somewhere > > else, like a university library? By the way, my understanding is that Jim > > Lynch's project covers only much earlier dates. > > > > > > > > > ==== CARIBBEAN Mailing List ==== > > > For information on individual islands, research aids, island bulletin > > boards or history please visit the CaribbeanGenWeb project at > > > http://www.rootsweb.com/~caribgw/ > > > > > > > > > > > > ==== CARIBBEAN Mailing List ==== > > For information on individual islands, research aids, island bulletin > boards or history please visit the CaribbeanGenWeb project at > > http://www.rootsweb.com/~caribgw/ > > > > > > ______________________________________________________________ > > This message has been scanned by the Datanet VirusScreen Service, > > powered by BT Ignite and Messagelabs. For more information please > > visit http://www.VirusScreen.co.uk. > > > > > ______________________________________________________________ > This message has been scanned by the Datanet VirusScreen Service, > powered by BT Ignite and Messagelabs. For more information please > visit http://www.VirusScreen.co.uk. > > > ==== CARIBBEAN Mailing List ==== > all messages posted to CARIBBEAN-L are archived at http://archiver.rootsweb.com/ > Before posting a query, see if the question has already been asked > >

Quite true Edward. It might be helpful if you say who he was. Some-one might have seen a By-line by him some-where. Also many journalists went on to write something else that was published. Poems, short stories, travel books, short histories. Your ggfather might even be listed in Mitchell's which is also on-line. From the dust-cover of some book written by him, or to which he contributed, you may learn definitely that he did write for a newspaper and which. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Edward Crawford" <tcrawford@revhist.datanet.co.uk> To: <CARIBBEAN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, May 12, 2003 3:23 PM Subject: Re: Barbados Newspapers 1902-1911 > You can search catalogues on-line - not alas the papers. > Edward Crawford > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Richard Allicock" <richwyn@idirect.com> > To: <CARIBBEAN-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2003 1:45 AM > Subject: Re: Barbados Newspapers 1902-1911 > > > > Have you tried the Newspaper collections at the British Library? You can > > also search the BL on-line. > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: <MReilly169@aol.com> > > To: <CARIBBEAN-L@rootsweb.com> > > Sent: Monday, May 12, 2003 2:13 PM > > Subject: Barbados Newspapers 1902-1911 > > > > > > > I have pretty good reason to believe that my ggrandfather wrote for a > > Bridgetown newspaper, possibly as a columnist, between 1902 and 1911, more > > likely toward the end of that period, and have been trying to get access > to > > the Bridgetown papers from that era for at least a spot check. I am a > long > > way from Barbados. A researcher in Barbados told me recently that it > would > > not be worthwhile for her to try to scan them at the National Archives > > because of conditions for microfilm viewing there (including the attitude > of > > the staff). Does anyone know whether they might be available somewhere > > else, like a university library? By the way, my understanding is that Jim > > Lynch's project covers only much earlier dates. > > > > > > > > > ==== CARIBBEAN Mailing List ==== > > > For information on individual islands, research aids, island bulletin > > boards or history please visit the CaribbeanGenWeb project at > > > http://www.rootsweb.com/~caribgw/ > > > > > > > > > > > > ==== CARIBBEAN Mailing List ==== > > For information on individual islands, research aids, island bulletin > boards or history please visit the CaribbeanGenWeb project at > > http://www.rootsweb.com/~caribgw/ > > > > > > ______________________________________________________________ > > This message has been scanned by the Datanet VirusScreen Service, > > powered by BT Ignite and Messagelabs. For more information please > > visit http://www.VirusScreen.co.uk. > > > > > ______________________________________________________________ > This message has been scanned by the Datanet VirusScreen Service, > powered by BT Ignite and Messagelabs. For more information please > visit http://www.VirusScreen.co.uk. > > > ==== CARIBBEAN Mailing List ==== > all messages posted to CARIBBEAN-L are archived at http://archiver.rootsweb.com/ > Before posting a query, see if the question has already been asked > >

You can search catalogues on-line - not alas the papers. Edward Crawford ----- Original Message ----- From: "Richard Allicock" <richwyn@idirect.com> To: <CARIBBEAN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2003 1:45 AM Subject: Re: Barbados Newspapers 1902-1911 > Have you tried the Newspaper collections at the British Library? You can > also search the BL on-line. > ----- Original Message ----- > From: <MReilly169@aol.com> > To: <CARIBBEAN-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Monday, May 12, 2003 2:13 PM > Subject: Barbados Newspapers 1902-1911 > > > > I have pretty good reason to believe that my ggrandfather wrote for a > Bridgetown newspaper, possibly as a columnist, between 1902 and 1911, more > likely toward the end of that period, and have been trying to get access to > the Bridgetown papers from that era for at least a spot check. I am a long > way from Barbados. A researcher in Barbados told me recently that it would > not be worthwhile for her to try to scan them at the National Archives > because of conditions for microfilm viewing there (including the attitude of > the staff). Does anyone know whether they might be available somewhere > else, like a university library? By the way, my understanding is that Jim > Lynch's project covers only much earlier dates. > > > > > > ==== CARIBBEAN Mailing List ==== > > For information on individual islands, research aids, island bulletin > boards or history please visit the CaribbeanGenWeb project at > > http://www.rootsweb.com/~caribgw/ > > > > > > > ==== CARIBBEAN Mailing List ==== > For information on individual islands, research aids, island bulletin boards or history please visit the CaribbeanGenWeb project at > http://www.rootsweb.com/~caribgw/ > > > ______________________________________________________________ > This message has been scanned by the Datanet VirusScreen Service, > powered by BT Ignite and Messagelabs. For more information please > visit http://www.VirusScreen.co.uk. > ______________________________________________________________ This message has been scanned by the Datanet VirusScreen Service, powered by BT Ignite and Messagelabs. For more information please visit http://www.VirusScreen.co.uk.

HI, Looking for Hewson in St Thomas, US Virgin Islands. Theresa Hewson specifically. I don't know if this is her maiden or married name. Cheryl Hazell Toronto, ON _________________________________________________________________ Add photos to your e-mail with MSN 8. Get 2 months FREE*. http://join.msn.com/?page=features/featuredemail

Have you tried the Newspaper collections at the British Library? You can also search the BL on-line. ----- Original Message ----- From: <MReilly169@aol.com> To: <CARIBBEAN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, May 12, 2003 2:13 PM Subject: Barbados Newspapers 1902-1911 > I have pretty good reason to believe that my ggrandfather wrote for a Bridgetown newspaper, possibly as a columnist, between 1902 and 1911, more likely toward the end of that period, and have been trying to get access to the Bridgetown papers from that era for at least a spot check. I am a long way from Barbados. A researcher in Barbados told me recently that it would not be worthwhile for her to try to scan them at the National Archives because of conditions for microfilm viewing there (including the attitude of the staff). Does anyone know whether they might be available somewhere else, like a university library? By the way, my understanding is that Jim Lynch's project covers only much earlier dates. > > > ==== CARIBBEAN Mailing List ==== > For information on individual islands, research aids, island bulletin boards or history please visit the CaribbeanGenWeb project at > http://www.rootsweb.com/~caribgw/ > >

I have pretty good reason to believe that my ggrandfather wrote for a Bridgetown newspaper, possibly as a columnist, between 1902 and 1911, more likely toward the end of that period, and have been trying to get access to the Bridgetown papers from that era for at least a spot check. I am a long way from Barbados. A researcher in Barbados told me recently that it would not be worthwhile for her to try to scan them at the National Archives because of conditions for microfilm viewing there (including the attitude of the staff). Does anyone know whether they might be available somewhere else, like a university library? By the way, my understanding is that Jim Lynch's project covers only much earlier dates.

Please find enclosed information regarding the I Colloquium of The International College for Family History Studies http://www.iagi.info/IColloquio/index.htm or http://www.geocities.com/icolloquium/ which will be held Rome from the 7th to the 11th October, 2003. The theme of the Colloquium is: "Family history and genealogy in every day life". The Colloquium will be held in historic buildings of Rome. The Opening Ceremony will take place in the Senate of the Republic of Italy and included in the various events is an Audience with H.H. Pope John Paul II is foreseen, as are visits to the Quirinal Palace (the Official Residence of the President of the Republic of Italy) and the Secret Archives of the Vatican. For information please contact the Secretariat. To receive further notices please fill in the relative form which can be found at http://www.iagi.info/IColloquio/Application.htm or http://www.geocities.com/icolloquium/Application.htm with regards Pier Felice degli Uberti Co-ordinator www.iagi.info

This might be of interest to others, or some-one else might have some input, especially in relation to the chronology of the establishment of the various denominations in St. Kitts, and the inclusion of slaves, ex-slaves, free Blacks and free Coloured, in the Anglican Church. I already sent info. that the Moravians were establishing their missionary society in the C'bean from 1736; the Lutherans from 1757; the Baptists from 1782; the Scottish from 1800, the LMS from 1795 and the Methodist from 1813. All we had to go on is Ship's (Employment) Ticket and a Bristol marriage certificate for 1843. The ships ticket had among other information that Thomas had dark skin, face pock-marked; could not write; his date of birth, May 13th 1811; year first went to sea, 1833, occupation, cook; date ticket issued 1844. The marriage certificate provided among other info. that his father was also a seaman by name of Thomas Godwin. ----- Original Message ----- From: Richard Allicock To: Ivan@Torrington39.freeserve.co.uk Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2003 12:25 PM Subject: Re: Certificates/ Next steps Hi Ivan, Thanks for the details on Sarah Porter's father as well as Thomas's. If ships still used stone for ballast in the 1830's/40's, then we can understand how Sarah and Thomas might have come together. I see on Thomas's Ships Ticket. that he could not write. This might be a clue on the extent of missionary influence in St. Kitts when he was a kid, as well as social back-ground as Free Coloured or Black. I think we have to put him closer to Black than free coloured, since this free coloured group were well into religion and education, especially reading and writing long before 1811. The Black back-ground might/would eventually take you back to the slave registers the further back you want to go. So we will still have to locate the slave registers for St. Kitts, but these generally start after 1806 and closer to 1820. These are the ones that were set up when it was decided by the British Government that slavery itself was going to be abolished. But there are other registers of property which may list the slaves and their children. But this is just to chart a possible future course of research. For now we have to assume that Thomas Godwin was a free man, maybe free born, may have been baptised but not educated in the 3 R's. By 1811 the Anglican church might not have loosened up to even admit free Blacks or coloureds for that matter. This does not mean that they did not do so closer to 1834, when the apprenticeship period was to start, or even earlier when the period of amelioration of slavery begun. So some-time between 1811 and 1833, Thomas Godwin might have been admitted to the Church of England, but not taught to read and write. Of course it still could be that he became a Church of England member when he got to the UK, because generally the UK was more liberal to free Blacks and Coloureds than the Colonies were. All this means is that the Church of England records in St. Kitts still remains a source of enquiry. A better bet for a record of baptism might be the Moravians. These were well into the practice of baptising the slaves and off-spring, and free blacks and coloureds even before the slave trade and slavery itself were abolished in 1806 and 1838 respectively. What is important to note about the Moravians, is that they were very accomodating to the wishes of the planters/slave owners that the slaves should not be thought to read and write, and should not be educated with parts of the Bible that would make them or the free blacks discontented with their lot. That they should teach them virtues of obedience, respect for their betters/masters and to expect their rewards for their sufferings in heaven and not in their life-time on this earth. This may be the reason why Thomas could not read and write. It is because of this orientation that the Moravians got a headstart over others like the London Missionary Society, which were given a hard time right up to the abolition of slavery and after in their attempts to administer to the spiritual well-being of the slaves and later free-men. But the LMS was a late comer in any case, compared to the Moravians. But even Ministers sent out by their absentee owners from Holland very early in the 1700's to convert their slaves to Christianity were driven off the plantations, some-times horse-whipped, tarred and feathered, by the Plantation Attorney (the person in charge of the the owners' affairs locally, as in Power of Attorney), Manager or Overseer. The latter could always tell the owners that the Minister was preaching stuff that would make or made the slaves discontented, and thus affect production and profits and the owners ability to meet their financial obligations to the Mortgagers./Credtiors. I think what you should do next is to write to the St. Kitts Heritage Society and ask them when the Moravians, Baptists and Methodists were first established in the colony, and if possible where their principal churches or areas of Ministry were between 1800 and 1833. You might also pitch in a question on whether the Anglican church accepted Free Coloureds, Free Blacks and slaves at any time between 1800 and 1833. The St. Kitts/Christopher Heritage Society is schs@caribsurf.com You can write to Ms. Jacqueline Armory. You can also send the same questions to Vicki O'Flaherty at the archives. If you write her back on Thomas Godwin, I am sure that all she would do is to send the address of the denomination or denominations which I have already sent to you. But you can write her back and say that Thomas's denomination might have been Anglican or Moravian, and pitch in the additional query. You can wait for a week to get a reply from the fore-going two places, or you can go right ahead and write the Anglican and Moravian Churches. You can write in the same brief manner and with no additional detail as to where you think he was born, to see if they are willing to do a search and if there is a cost attached. If they write you back asking where he was born you can say it may have been Godwin Village, but that you are not sure. There is an advantage with St. Kitts because of its size, so small. Also in many of the colonies regardless of size, there was the practice of itinerant preachers. So most records would have been kept in a central location. The disadvantage is that those places were notorious for fires. So keep your fngers crossed. I hope all the above helps. Rich ----- Original Message ----- From: Ivan@Torrington39.freeserve.co.uk To: Richard Allicock Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2003 5:27 AM Subject: Re: Certificates Hi Rich, In answer to queries. The occupation of Sarah Porter's father was 'Stone Cutter' . Also you might have noticed that on his Marriage cert. it says Thomas's father ( who was also named Thomas ) was a seaman and it does not say he was deceased , from which you could therefore assume he was still alive somewhere ! Regards the Ships ticket of Thomas Godwin1811 ; you are looking at the wrong bloke. If you can scroll down the page you will see the right one, 2nd down list. there is 4 persons on the list , the writing is rather sketchy and not easy to read For more clarification I write out the details on the ticket. Register ticket number= 74,570. Thomas Godwin. Born at = St.Kitts 13th May 1811. First went to sea as= cook in 1832.(was 21years old ) Age when ticketed=33 years.(on this ticket issued 1844). Capacity = steward ( when ticket was issued at Bristol 28th December 1844 ). Height =5'9" Complexion=Dark. Marks=Pockmarked. First went to sea as=cook ( age 21 ) When unemployed resides at = Bristol. ---------------------------- It is interesting to note that 3 of Thomas's ( 1811) sons and 2 son-in-laws all went to sea as seamen and the records, at this stage of research , goes up to 1881, and most voyages are to the West Indies. ---Ivan--- P.S. I went into the Web. sites about St.Kitts that you sent me . ----- Original Message ----- From: Richard Allicock To: Ivan@Torrington39.freeserve.co.uk Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2003 3:11 AM Subject: Certificates Hi Ivan, Thanks for the copies of the certificates. They opened very well, but as you know a few of the items were not clear enough. So thanks for clarifying that her name was Sarah Porter. I still did not see what her father's profession was. If you can figue it out let me know. I see they were married in the Church of England. I know of people not being allowed to marry in church if one of the partners was not of the same church. This means that Thomas might have already been a member of the Church of England. This must mean that he became one in the UK or was already one when he arrived. But more probably the former, unless things had loosened up socially back in St. Kitts before he left. The ship's ticket for Thomas Godwin was clear but confusing. Is this the same Thomas who we think was born in St. Kitts? I ask because I see Born at Helstone, County of Cornwall ? Day of May 1825; Complexion, Sallow; Age when ? 19, First went to sea Boy?, in the year 1840. The latter year was when the ticket was issued I presume? Please clarify any of the above. Thanks. Rich