Barbara Obaker wrote, 24/06/03: "I am still curious to know when the first ship from Germany arrived in Jamaica in 1834. If baby William was born in Woodfield, Jamaica on October 30, 1834 and slavery was abolished August 1, 1834, does that mean the German ships started arriving sometime between those dates or did they start arriving before August 1?" Hi Barb, It would be a mistake to think that all Germans arriving in this time period were indentured. In fact indentured persons could have arrived at any-time, as "indenture" simply meant contract. It may also be a mistake to think that because baptism says that Ferdinand was a native of Germany, that he had gone to Jamaica straight from Germany. It seems to me that to go to Jamaica iindicates some proficiency in the English language. It seems to me that you need to find out more about Ferdinand, his trade or profession, and where he was before he went to Jamaica, and where they went afterwards, as this may indicate where either or both Ferdinand or Agatha was from originally. In terms of a trade or profession, could Ferdinand have been an Engineer/Mechanic? The Germans - like the Scots - were noted for being good mechanics, understood in the broadest sense, as having to do with the maintenance and even construction of machinery. The fact that the child of Ferdinand and Agatha were baptised in the Catholic Church with Sponsors like the Clarkes, who may have been "persons of note" in the community, seems to me to indicate that Ferdinand and Agatha were above the level of a group of indentured labourers. You need also to consider whether the child was baptised in a church of convenience or was this the religion practised by either or both Ferdinand and Agatha. It might also be necessary to find out more about Agatha Faire. In regard to the latter, you cannot assume that Faire was her maiden name. I have done several transcriptions of records and "formerly" usually refers to a former married name. When spinster is used you know for sure that the surname given is the maiden name. I hope this helps. Regards, Richard