We are interested to hear your comments about the historical events relating to the British Empire which took place in the West Indies. Please complete the comment form below to add to our comments board.
Phillip Barker
My maternal lineage goes back to 17th century Barbados. Having lived there for several years I was surprised, on my return, to discover just how many people in the UK have little appreciation of Britain's colonial - and slave owning - associations with the West Indies. Nowadays, for most people, Barbados is just one of those holiday islands in the Caribbean that they mix up with the Bahamas or Bermuda.
In Monmouthshire, my new home, there is a hill in the Wye Valley called "Barbadoes Hill", on which - and I'm not sure of the detail here - either returning indentured servants or former transportees from the Monmouth Rebellion were settled.
Mrs Audrene F Sutherland
My maternal lineage includes management of slave on at least one plantation growing crops. The Waltham Estate, Jamaica may have been one. The family married into a Kennedy family. They maintained a wide family, even when the children were returned to Scotland with their mother to Edinburgh for an education at the expense of the family left in Jamaica. The income came from a Kingston Banker & Bill Broker who was my mother`s Great Grandfather. I look forward to a chance to re-evaluate my thoughts about this.
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