Hello all, As promised, here is a little report on my experience doing some research in Barbados. I had two main goals, learn more about the Barbados branch of my WInter line, and find out more about Sir Anthony de Freitas. Thanks to several people on the list, some of whom wish to remain anonymous, I had some idea of where to go and who to see prior to getting there. According to some sources, the Archives were undergoing renovation and access would be restricted. I decided to focus my time at the Shilstone Library of the Barbados Museum (http://www.rootsweb.com/~brbwgw/Contacts2.htm and http://www.barbmuse.org.bb/the.society/). Mrs. Shannon, the Head Librarian, was extremely helpful. I focused my search in the Journals of the Barbados Historical Society. The Museum Library has an index of names that can be referenced, and I found quite a number of articles and extracts that mentioned the Winters. Mrs. Shannon photocopied the relevant portions out of the Journals for me, at a nominal fee. (Note: the library is quite likely the COLDEST room in Barbados! They keep the temperature pretty low in there to help preserve the books.) Unfortunately, I had no luck with Sir Anthony de Freitas as he was a 20th century resident. Mrs. Shannon suggested that I call the Barbados Advocate to inquire about obituaries, which I did. They referred me to the National Library's Main branch in Bridgetown (http://www.rootsweb.com/~brbwgw/SourcesContacts0.htm). Meanwhile, I had learned that, although the Archives were having the roof replaced on the building with the reading room, they had temporarily relocated to a smaller room in the complex. I called and set up an appointment to use the microfilm room at the library in the morning, and another one to go to the temporary reading room at the Archives in the afternoon. The National Library is located in Bridgetown, near to the Main Police Station. My goal here was to find an obit for Sir Anthony. (Side note: navigating through Bridgetown is quite the experience! For those of us from the Islands, this will come as no surprise, but for non-natives, prepare yourself for adventure. None of the streets seem to run at right angles, they are almost all one-way, and pedestrians make a sport out of jaywalking. I am still surprised that I didn't kill anyone in my time on the road. Directions are given by landmarks, not street names i.e. "turn left at the bank" etc.) The people at the library were also quite helpful. They set me up in the microfilm room (actually a closet with air conditioning, filing cabinets for the microfilm, and two readers). Since I did not know exactly when Sir Anthony died, I resolved to look through all the papers for 1940, but after four hours of very interesting reading, I had only made it through March, with no luck. Next, I headed to the Archives, which is located a little north of Bridgetown, just off the Coast Road. Apparently, the normal Reading Room is stocked with volumes of Who's Who, Colonial Office Lists, almanacs etc., but in the temp space, you had to request a certain book and they would bring it to you, making browsing virtually impossible. They also provide access to BDM's and wills. I had decided to use my limited time here to look at wills for the Winters, since I had many of the BDM info already through Ernest Wiltshire's generosity. The proved wills are indexed in a volume by year and surname. I took note of all the Winter wills I could find when, lo and behold, I came across Sir Anthony's will! I filled out a request form and received Sir Anthony's actual will, as well as the Will Book with a transcribed copy of George Winter's will. His will ran across five hand-written pages in this ledger, so I was only able to make some quick notes. I'll have to order a copy of his and some of the other Winter wills from the Registry at some point. Sir Anthony's will was much shorter, so I was able to transcribe the whole thing within a few minutes. Armed with the date of his death, I zipped back over to the Library, and was quickly able to locate a quite detailed editorial in the Advocate about Sir Anthony published subsequent to his death. I made a photocopy of the article before heading home for the day. In summary, my experience was pleasant and fruitful. Everyone I encountered was extremely helpful. Unfortunately, my family only granted limited periods of time in which to indulge myself - about 12 hours , all told. I wish I could have stayed longer, I could have learned so much more. I guess I'll just have to go back! If only all the islands were so diligent in preserving their resources.... Regards, Dean P.S. I had the pleasure of briefly meeting, both in person and by email, with several paid researchers in Barbados, two of whom (silently) subscribe to the list. If you want contact info for them, let me know and I'll see what I can do. Note, these are PAID researchers, they don't work for free, but can be quite helpful for those who can't get to the island.

Dean.. I told you how grateful I am for the Sir Anthony papers and info.. but after reading HOW you got it amazes me! If "I" were to go there and try that,, never having been there before...they would be sending for someone to take me away! Lenora ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dean de Freitas" <caribgw@bellsouth.net> To: <CARIBBEAN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, June 07, 2003 8:36 AM Subject: Research in Barbados - My Personal Experience (LONG) > Hello all, > > As promised, here is a little report on my experience doing some > research in Barbados. I had two main goals, learn more about the > Barbados branch of my WInter line, and find out more about Sir Anthony > de Freitas. > > Thanks to several people on the list, some of whom wish to remain > anonymous, I had some idea of where to go and who to see prior to > getting there. According to some sources, the Archives were undergoing > renovation and access would be restricted. I decided to focus my time > at the Shilstone Library of the Barbados Museum > (http://www.rootsweb.com/~brbwgw/Contacts2.htm and > http://www.barbmuse.org.bb/the.society/). Mrs. Shannon, the Head > Librarian, was extremely helpful. I focused my search in the Journals > of the Barbados Historical Society. The Museum Library has an index of > names that can be referenced, and I found quite a number of articles > and extracts that mentioned the Winters. Mrs. Shannon photocopied the > relevant portions out of the Journals for me, at a nominal fee. (Note: > the library is quite likely the COLDEST room in Barbados! They keep > the temperature pretty low in there to help preserve the books.) > > Unfortunately, I had no luck with Sir Anthony de Freitas as he was a > 20th century resident. Mrs. Shannon suggested that I call the Barbados > Advocate to inquire about obituaries, which I did. They referred me to > the National Library's Main branch in Bridgetown > (http://www.rootsweb.com/~brbwgw/SourcesContacts0.htm). Meanwhile, I > had learned that, although the Archives were having the roof replaced > on the building with the reading room, they had temporarily relocated > to a smaller room in the complex. I called and set up an appointment > to use the microfilm room at the library in the morning, and another > one to go to the temporary reading room at the Archives in the > afternoon. > > The National Library is located in Bridgetown, near to the Main Police > Station. My goal here was to find an obit for Sir Anthony. (Side > note: navigating through Bridgetown is quite the experience! For those > of us from the Islands, this will come as no surprise, but for > non-natives, prepare yourself for adventure. None of the streets seem > to run at right angles, they are almost all one-way, and pedestrians > make a sport out of jaywalking. I am still surprised that I didn't > kill anyone in my time on the road. Directions are given by landmarks, > not street names i.e. "turn left at the bank" etc.) > > The people at the library were also quite helpful. They set me up in > the microfilm room (actually a closet with air conditioning, filing > cabinets for the microfilm, and two readers). Since I did not know > exactly when Sir Anthony died, I resolved to look through all the > papers for 1940, but after four hours of very interesting reading, I > had only made it through March, with no luck. > > Next, I headed to the Archives, which is located a little north of > Bridgetown, just off the Coast Road. Apparently, the normal Reading > Room is stocked with volumes of Who's Who, Colonial Office Lists, > almanacs etc., but in the temp space, you had to request a certain > book and they would bring it to you, making browsing virtually > impossible. They also provide access to BDM's and wills. I had > decided to use my limited time here to look at wills for the Winters, > since I had many of the BDM info already through Ernest Wiltshire's > generosity. The proved wills are indexed in a volume by year and > surname. I took note of all the Winter wills I could find when, lo and > behold, I came across Sir Anthony's will! I filled out a request form > and received Sir Anthony's actual will, as well as the Will Book with a > transcribed copy of George Winter's will. His will ran across five > hand-written pages in this ledger, so I was only able to make some > quick notes. I'll have to order a copy of his and some of the other > Winter wills from the Registry at some point. Sir Anthony's will was > much shorter, so I was able to transcribe the whole thing within a few > minutes. > > Armed with the date of his death, I zipped back over to the Library, > and was quickly able to locate a quite detailed editorial in the > Advocate about Sir Anthony published subsequent to his death. I made a > photocopy of the article before heading home for the day. > > In summary, my experience was pleasant and fruitful. Everyone I > encountered was extremely helpful. Unfortunately, my family only > granted limited periods of time in which to indulge myself - about 12 > hours , all told. I wish I could have stayed longer, I could have > learned so much more. I guess I'll just have to go back! If only all > the islands were so diligent in preserving their resources.... > > Regards, > > Dean > > P.S. I had the pleasure of briefly meeting, both in person and by > email, with several paid researchers in Barbados, two of whom > (silently) subscribe to the list. If you want contact info for them, > let me know and I'll see what I can do. Note, these are PAID > researchers, they don't work for free, but can be quite helpful for > those who can't get to the island. > > > ==== CARIBBEAN Mailing List ==== > ROOTSWEB MAILING LIST HELP PAGES > What is a Mailing List? > http://helpdesk.rootsweb.com/help/mail1.html

I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience When I finally found the obit, I was so excited, I felt like Sherlock Holmes for a minute. The librarians were tickled by my response.... The thrill of the hunt is what makes this addiction we call genealogy so interesting, isn't it? Dean On Saturday, June 7, 2003, at 12:20 PM, Lenora Anderson wrote: > Dean.. I told you how grateful I am for the Sir Anthony papers and > info.. > but after reading HOW you got it amazes me! If > "I" were to go there and try that,, never having been there > before...they > would be sending for someone to take me away! Lenora