Correspondence with Ian Bruce who has ancestry in St Helena and whom I queried for a possible connection. None apparent. Ian lives in Huddersfield Yorkshire and is a book publisher. He has considerable knowledge of the history of St Helena. Suggests I look into the Ancestry DNA analysis which provides more rigorous proof of connection. I could, for example, compare my code with his.
Feb 11, 2019
Hi Ian,
I was thrilled to get your prompt and helpful reply. In light of your busy days, it was kind of you to take the time. Thank you. I had noted the absence of Elizabeth Watts on your tree but anxious to make inroads on mine, I added Elizabeth, per the trees of Peter Gyton and Joan Mary Campbell. Then blithely went ahead and added half the population of St Helena. On receiving your email I had an uh-oh moment and went back to check the sources for Elizabeth. There are none! So for the month of February (not a particularly inviting time in this part of the world anyway) you may well find me sitting at the computer deleting half the population of St Helena from my tree — one by one. Joan’s source is simply not credible to me; Peter I will contact for his source. Ah me.
It’s interesting to hear that you have or are aware of considerable info on the Caldwells. I have very little. Several years ago I canvassed the St Helena Yahoo group for info but got nothing. If you could steer me in the right direction I’d be most grateful. No rush, whenever the smoke clears for you.
Yes, I have done the ancestry DNA test. I have not explored the code. I will do so and let you know what I find. Many thanks for the info Ian. You are clearly a details person. From the Elizabeth Watts matter, I evidently, am not.
Yorkshire, is it? Damn shame we didn’t meet sooner. My wife Randi and I were in Yorkshire (York mostly) in September. Did not see you around but did not go to Huddersfield. That could account for it. I’ve got deep roots in Yorkshire — Richardsons, the chocolate people, Wighams, etc. — Quakers all. More roots in Birmingham and Worcester. Well, all over England and Ireland, actually.
Thank you again for your help Ian. Let’s stay in touch. Attached are the promised edited images. All the best, Peter
Feb 14, 2019
Hello Peter
After centuries of interbreeding between white European farmers/merchants/administrators/military/seamen with Indian/Madagascar/Indonesian/Chinese/African mainly of slave origin, St Helena is a hotchpotch of a great many races. I think it is what the population of a shrinking and intermixed world is likely to look like in a few centuries time.
This wide range of colours and ethnicities has already been a feature of St Helena for several centuries. In my experience, “native” is not a common term on St Helena. However, it is safe to assume that white children born on St Helena would not be described as “native”. Because of the level of interbreeding, there was a wide range of skin colours and it is hard to know how dark the colour of children described as “native” would be.
Far more common is the term “free” and almost all such persons would have slave ancestry. That said, anyone claiming ancestry from St Helena is highly likely to have some slave blood within them. Some slaves were freed even in the 1600s, although they were not given easy lives by the ruling white population and were encouraged to leave the island. St Helena was one of the first EIC/British colonies to start the process of emancipating its slave population, but for that very reason was one of the last to end it. Whereas most owners were compensated by the Government for the loss of their slaves, at St Helena the slaves were effectively expected to pay for their own freedom via a loan which was passed onto their owners. Each liberated slave was encumbered with a crippling debt that would take years to pay off. Whereas most colonies liberated their slaves overnight, the process took many years at St Helena and did not end until about 1836.
Regards Ian
Feb 14, 2019
Once again Ian, thank you for your very cogent and interesting piece on racial intermixing on St Helena. My DNA analysis shows 2% SE Asia and 5% China, both probably a mix of my St Helena connection and notably my Chinese GG grandmother (Hong Kong). As they say, the great thing genealogy teaches us is that we are indeed, all one. It is also a reminder about (a) how brutal we human beings have been and continue to be to one another and (b) how determined and successful we can be to build a better world — slaves and slave owners, warriors and saints, dictators and rebels, often all in one tree. It is certainly true of my tree. Such an odd species, we are.
All the best, Peter
