Celebrating Black British history and heritage

I was interested in finding out more about my great-grandparents – all of whom settled in Cardiff due to their links with the maritime industry – none of them were originally from Cardiff. They say Tiger Bay in Cardiff was unique in the way people from different countries would live together – this is where they all settled.

I mentioned my interest to a friend, who told me about the Merchant Seamen Records on Findmypast. I was so excited, particularly because she said there could be photographs.

I didn’t wait a moment and came across both great-grandfathers within minutes of searching the records. I found my great-grandfather, Cuthbert Ruthwin Phillips from Barbados, discovered that his father was working in the waterworks in Grenada and saw a photo of him as a young man, aged 20, for the first time.

Even more exciting, I found a record of my other great-grandfather, Abraham Farah from Somaliland. Even my late grandmother had never met him, as he died a month before she was born.

No living family member has even seen a photograph. I clicked ‘view image’, and there he was – my great-grandfather Abraham as a young man.

My late father’s family were from Lancashire and my mother, Fay Diana Farrington (1932-2011) was born in the Bahamas of mixed parentage, to Ira Willis Farrington and Pearl Melinda Dean. I knew I would have to look into my Caribbean family history.

I first visited Nassau aged 13, where my mother was born and raised.

I’ve discovered that the first Farrington in the Islands was born in London (William Farrington c. 1774) but travelled to Nassau around 1799 to work at The Bahamas branch of Telfair of London. He became a merchant and acquired lots of land on several islands, dying there in 1839. His children (from 2 marriages) mostly remained in Nassau and married locals.

It’s a challenge to discover more records at a distance. However, I’ve found several gems in The National Archives. Wills, in particular, have been a tremendous help, especially William’s will. It stated that he owned property on the main street in Nassau and that his children were not to sell it.

At the time of Emancipation, the family owned 80 slaves on various properties in the Bahamas, so I presume they were plantation slaves. This has been confirmed by compensation papers. It hasn't been easy to discover more about my grandmother due to how records were kept. But, I look forward to returning to the archives, which keep growing, and discovering more of my Caribbean family history.

I’ve been researching my paternal ancestors for over 20 years. Charles Martin is my only confirmed Black ancestor, in that he would have been of Native American origins, most likely from Central or South America. I believe that his ancestors were taken into slavery and transported to Europe.

When I initially started this journey, I had assumed that my Martin ancestors had always resided in Frome, Somerset. With much help from existing and newfound cousins, we established Charles Martin was from Prussia.

A family letter, written about 1879 by his youngest son, Charles Alfred Martin (born 1824), shed a little light on his father, as told to him by his mother since Charles senior had died when he was an infant. It confirmed Charles’ Prussian birth but of Native American origins. A Y-DNA test also confirmed this. Today, I remain committed to tracing my true paternal origins. I also have a DNA match with an ancient Taino female named Atunwu Inaru.

The only British heritage centre dedicated to preserving and celebrating African and Caribbean family history. Visit the Black Cultural Archives website.

With contributions from experts in Black history, our sister site, Genes Reunited shares amazing discoveries from its members with Black heritage. Plus, tips for tracing African ancestry. Read the Genes Reunited article.

The Windrush generation are listed on these original passenger lists, held by The National Archives. View the passenger lists on The National Archives.

Our partners in The National Archives explain the history of West Indians in Britain, the records that are available and the research pitfalls to watch out for. View article on The National Archives.

From surname clues to watch out for to a reading list of useful books and online resources, this is a must-read for anyone with Black heritage. View the BBC article.

An essential read for anyone with Asian roots, this handy guide examines local history, indentured servitude, military connections and more. View the BBC article.

Google teamed up with Black Cultural Archives and Patrick Vernon OBE to bring you this interactive journey through African heritage. It covers maps, photos and everything in between. View the story.

University College London has compiled a useful database of estates, maps and legacies, all searchable online. Search the database on the UCL website.

From the records you'll need to the events that shaped the country's history, this three-part video series teaches you everything you need to know for tracing ancestors in South Africa. Visit the FamilySearch website.

Southwark Local History Library and Archive has produced this go-to information sheet. Handily, it lists the relevant record archives and institutions in each Caribbean country. Download the information sheet.

In an article published by Family Tree Magazine, Adrian Stone has some useful tips and resources for tracing Caribbean family history. View the article on the Family Tree Magazine website.