Heather Figueroa wrote: >They were not married, but that was either because of two >reasons......he really was married in England to this >Lady......or the fact that Elizabeth was 'a free woman of >colour'......slavery had not been abolished at that time. >So they could not be married as he was white. There was an interesting article in the June 2000 edition of the 'Genealogist's Magazine' - 'Hidden from history: black people in parish records' - by Kathy Chater. A significant black population in eighteenth century Britain (maybe 20000) doesn't get much of a mention in parish records. Why? The author argued that baptism, marriage and burial happened but ethnic origin simply wasn't considered significant enough to mention (unless there were poor law issues involved). The author suggested that some things point towards non-white ethnic origin - adult baptism, birthplace in a British colony, service (especially with a titled person or officer), absence of a surname, a classical name used as a surname, West African forenames as a surname (Cuffay, Quarshley, Narrangue), and Mungo/Mingo as a surname. Kathy Chater is (or at least was) collecting all reference to resident black people pre-1900. Her address is in the magazine and I can supply it if you want to write to her. Considering the number of Cumbrians with connections in eighteenth century America, I would think it likely that Cumberland had a resident black population, even if only a small one. Chris chris@dickinson.uk.net

Hi Chris..... Interesting and I would like to write this woman. As the West Indies, and Jamaica in particular, was largely populated by the English, it is quite likely that 'servants' were brought back on their return trips. And you just mentioned pirates...I was in Henry Morgan's quarters many years ago in Kingston. I don't think he was terribly 'couth'. He used the silver chalice and communion plate from the nearby church for his dinnerware. The British Governor on the Island made him the Commander of the Militia and he was eventually knighted in England. He already was an English Vice-Admiral of a Fleet of 15 ships. Not bad for the most bloodthirsty pirate of his time. Jamaican research is a genealogist's dream. Same church (C of E), but the detail is wonderful. A marriage in the 1800's for instance, would tell me their ages, their status (spinster, etc), their fathers and whether the fathers were alive or dead, their colour, their occupations, where they lived until day of marriage and more......... So when I started in on the English records, I was frankly disappointed in the paucity of the records. For John Bowness' burial in 1787, all I got was a name and date.....no wonder Dad missed it......no next of kin......nothing. But that's life. I have seen the odd person of colour identified in the Whitehaven records......but not often. There are about 10 levels of colour in the West Indies, but the earlier Spanish had 156!!! So it is quite a help when you are pretty sure that you are looking for someone who is white.....not many on a page. There are a couple of areas in Jamaica (Trelawny and Port Royal) where the British military had garrisons and I have found MI inscriptions there for a few from Cumberland and northern areas of England.. Slavery was officially abolished in Jamaica in 1834 and the 'slaves' immediately became 'apprentices'. But I have found a large number of 'free people of colour' back in the 1700's and the reasons are varied Slaves usually had no last names in the 1700's. I saw Slave Journals in glass cases, in a place called Devon House in Kingston, Jamaica about 25 years ago and was utterly fascinated. Like "Ole Tom"......had a bad leg.....gave his age and what was paid for him. These are just ordinary ledger books........remember, slaves were chattels. They were willed to family members as well as sold. Not pretty, but it is the way it was. These plantation owners had to be very wealthy.....slaves were often 500 to 1500 British pounds each. But they are no longer to be found......seems they 'disappeared' from Devon House and I have my suspicions who took them. All the staff looked horrified when I asked about the 10 years ago and denied they existed.....but, dammit, they did!! They were an invaluable record for these poor slaves. They often gave their tribe or African name. > The author suggested that some things point towards non-white > ethnic origin - adult baptism, birthplace in a British colony, > service (especially with a titled person or officer), absence of > a surname, a classical name used as a surname, West African > forenames as a surname (Cuffay, Quarshley, Narrangue), and > Mungo/Mingo as a surname. Yes.....all of the above are indications of slavery (which was not legal in Cumberland at that time, I believe). It certainly wasn't in France. Oh.....and Mungo is one surname that someone is searching for on the Carib List at the moment. I was typing the history of Jamaica from the day Columbus discovered it (1493) and I do have it here on my hard drive.....fascinating. And the English were a bloodthirsty lot....grin. The most bloody slaughters of say, the Spanish......or people from Hispaniola (Haiti and Dominican Republic). But that was life in those days. Considering the length of time it must have taken to sail from England to the West Indies, I was astounded at the politics and the constant exile of Brits from Jamaica. Sent back to England on trumped up charges by their Governor or Commanding Officer. Venables and Penn were two of the top men. > > Considering the number of Cumbrians with connections in > eighteenth century America, I would think it likely that > Cumberland had a resident black population, even if only a small > one. I would bet that there were more 'blacks' there than you realize. Look at Sally Heming (slave/concubine of Thomas Jefferson)......she was light skinned. Her son passed for white. And I have found Jamaican ancestors for Cumberland people and they always thought that it was perhaps Spanish or Italian blood. Not so. Very few took their wives out to the tropics.......too darn hot. And I will leave the rest to your imagination......grin. Sorry to go on so long.......but it is so interesting to learn all this Island history and see it tie back to Cumberland and surrounding areas...... Many of them probably came out from Whitehaven.......I should imagine. Plus they also went to Barbados and several other islands. Mostly English names in those places. Cheers.......Heather Researching BOWNESS & ALLANBY