Good evening, I am a new subscriber. I recently received a copy of my grand uncle's death certificate. His name was John Lyell Middleton and he died in 1936 in London. His death registration shows his occupation as "former Government Inspector of Schools Jamaica". I have a good track of his whereabouts from his birth in 1859 to the 1881 census (Liverpool) and from 1907 to his death (London). If he was in Jamaica, it had to be between 1881 and 1907. It also appears that during that time he acquired considerable wealth, possibly by marriage. Are there any records available that might help me confirm that he was in Jamaica during that time frame? Regards, John Middleton -- -- John Middleton, Leawood, Kansas, TVFHS #4418 Middleton, SCT>Liverpool, Eng>Chicago, IL, 1700-1920; Neely, IRL>PA, 1759-1900; Chid(d)ester, WV>OH, 1800-1900; Som(m)erville, Grasmere, Eng, 1700-1850 Web Page: http://www.planetkc.com/jmcpa

Hi John, You need have no doubt as to whether your G-Uncle was in Jamaica as that is what it says on his death cerificate. Have you searched the web for the terms Middleton & Jamaica? I have found a website with the 1840 Jamaica Alamanac. There are Middletons there with land ownership and parish details. I also came across another Middleton as a founder of one of the Colleges. There might be some relationship there even if he was born in the UK. The Almanac points to one source of information, so you will need to formulate your request to the group in terms of Almanacs and Directories of Jamaica for the period. That is if any-one has copies or access to them. As it is stated that he was Inspector of Government Schools (and you think most likely between 1881 and 1907), he is sure to be mentioned in one of those Almanacs or Directories. On this basis also, he would be mentioned in the Civil List or Civil Service Establishment employees of the Government of Colony Jamaica for the period. There would be annual repetition of lists of employees and their posts. These were usually Gazetted, so you would be looking for some periodical of Jamaica with Gazette in the title. The Government Gazettes were usually called Royal gazettes. If as Inspector he would make some pronouncement or decree that would also be gazetted and his title and name appear under the notice. But since you are in Kansas .. You might also search the PRO using his full name. If he retired from the Service he would have received a pension. He would also receive that pension in the UK from the British Colonial Government of Jamaica. Such incoming funds would be noticed or approved by the Department of Treasury in the UK. So chances are that you might find some reference to him in the PRO records of the department of Treasury. There is also the A2A which links local archives (municipal, and university) and record offices (of counties). You might also want to search the A2A using his name. There might be a mention of a Will or papers relating to him. Who knows there may even be an unpublished or published memoir that might turn up. I hope this helps. Richard Allicock Toronto, Canada ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Middleton" <jmcpa@planetkc.com> To: <CARIBBEAN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2003 6:27 PM Subject: Government Inspector of Schools Jamaica > Good evening, > > I am a new subscriber. I recently received a copy of my grand uncle's > death certificate. His name was John Lyell Middleton and he died in 1936 > in London. His death registration shows his occupation as "former > Government Inspector of Schools Jamaica". I have a good track of his > whereabouts from his birth in 1859 to the 1881 census (Liverpool) and > from 1907 to his death (London). If he was in Jamaica, it had to be > between 1881 and 1907. It also appears that during that time he acquired > considerable wealth, possibly by marriage. > > Are there any records available that might help me confirm that he was > in Jamaica during that time frame? > > Regards, > > John Middleton > > -- > -- > John Middleton, Leawood, Kansas, TVFHS #4418 > Middleton, SCT>Liverpool, Eng>Chicago, IL, 1700-1920; Neely, IRL>PA, 1759-1900; > Chid(d)ester, WV>OH, 1800-1900; Som(m)erville, Grasmere, Eng, 1700-1850 > Web Page: http://www.planetkc.com/jmcpa > > > > ==== 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/ > >

John If you can get hold of a copy of my guide (Tracing Your West Indian Ancestors) I describe the colonial civil service in some detail with examples of documents. The first place to start is the colonial Blue Books of statistics for Jamaica (TNA: Public Record Office series CO 142) - these annual returns as well as giving general statistics on the state of the country include details of civil servants (local and colonial) - they are arranged by department and give date of appointment, by whom, salary and date first appointed to the colonial government. It is important to recognise the difference between colonial civil servant and local civil servant - if he was appointed by the local department or governor then any surviving papers will be in Jamaica; if he was appointed by the governor or by the Colonial Office, the Board of Education or higher then there may be papers in The National Archives (Public Record Office) - such papers may include application forms and correspondence (most will be in CO 137 or ED series for the Board of Education). Another series to check is the colonial Government Gazettes for Jamaica (series CO 141) which often include details of appointments, transfers, promotions, leave etc for both colonial and local civil servants. All of these series are available at The National Archives (PRO) in the UK. The government gazettes and Blue Books will also be in the Jamaican archives; they were published so may be available in other archives or national libraries. The annual printed Colonial Office List shows colonial civil servants and most senior local civil servants - at the end of each volume there are potted biographies of senior colonial civil servants. Hope that this helps. Guy Grannum ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Middleton" <jmcpa@planetkc.com> To: <CARIBBEAN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2003 2:27 AM Subject: Government Inspector of Schools Jamaica > Good evening, > > I am a new subscriber. I recently received a copy of my grand uncle's > death certificate. His name was John Lyell Middleton and he died in 1936 > in London. His death registration shows his occupation as "former > Government Inspector of Schools Jamaica". I have a good track of his > whereabouts from his birth in 1859 to the 1881 census (Liverpool) and > from 1907 to his death (London). If he was in Jamaica, it had to be > between 1881 and 1907. It also appears that during that time he acquired > considerable wealth, possibly by marriage. > > Are there any records available that might help me confirm that he was > in Jamaica during that time frame? > > Regards, > > John Middleton > > -- > -- > John Middleton, Leawood, Kansas, TVFHS #4418 > Middleton, SCT>Liverpool, Eng>Chicago, IL, 1700-1920; Neely, IRL>PA, 1759-1900; > Chid(d)ester, WV>OH, 1800-1900; Som(m)erville, Grasmere, Eng, 1700-1850 > Web Page: http://www.planetkc.com/jmcpa > > > > ==== 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/ > >