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Mowgali
Joined: 04 Feb 2008
Posts: 2
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 Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 5:33 am Post subject: Cathy Freeman inspired me to write |
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Hi!
After watching last nights show, and seeing the anguish on Cathy’s face when she found how badly her family was treated, I just had to share my experience on finding my great grandfathers history. I certainly wasn’t prepared for what I found.
As I child I grew up knowing where my great grandfather came from, but not much more than that.
After ten years of searching, and a lot of blood sweat and tears...The West Indies is not the easiest place to do research, due to records being lost, damaged or destroyed. But what I did find, and verified was heartbreaking...
My great grandfather was born into slavery,as was all my family from this region…I have managed to go back to my 6th great grandmothers on both sides. All had been slaves…none knew freedom.
Why my great grandfather decided to come to Australia I guess I’ll never know.  But I’m certainly glad he made that journey.
We all share a very rich tapestry in our family trees, but I guess some are just a little richer in spirit….I consider mine amongst the richest of all.
Last edited by Mowgali on Sun Apr 06, 2008 8:12 am; edited 3 times in total |
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jk48au
Joined: 04 Feb 2008
Posts: 3
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| Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 7:22 am Post subject: finding out secrets? |
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I would like to congratulate Mowgali for what they wrote about discovering some not so pleasant things about their family. When I first started out to find about my husband's family, my mother in law was very upset, and said it is better to let sleeping dogs lie. I have no idea what she thought I would discover, but other than a few ancestors having numerous children and not being married, which I didn't think twice about, I could find nothing to be ashamed about.
I have discovered two convicts in the family, which we are proud to accept, their lives were terrible in those days, and they were forced to steal to live at times, I even have a murderer in my own family, way back, BUT, I am still proud of them all, as they in turn helped to make who I am today.
We should always be proud of our ancestors and how hard they fought to survive in very difficult times. |
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Mattneedham01
Joined: 17 Feb 2008
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 10:45 am Post subject: Re: Cathy Freeman inspired me to write |
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| Mowgali wrote: |
Hi!
After watching last nights show, and seeing the anguish on Cathy’s face when she found how badly her family was treated, I just had to share my experience on finding my great grandfathers history. I certainly wasn’t prepared for what I found, and like Cathy, I felt that anguish.
As I child I grew up knowing where my great grandfather came from, but not much more than that. And to date it has been nearly ten years since I first started my search, and there has been a lot of blood sweat and tears to have got as far as I have….The West Indies is not the easiest place to do research. But what I have found and verified was heartbreaking...
He was born in 1859, into slavery. As are all my family from this region…I have managed to go back to my 6th great grandmothers on both sides, his, and my great grandmothers family……All had been slaves…That never knew freedom.
Why my great grandfather decided to come to Australia I guess I’ll never know. But I’m certainly glad he made that journey...Still can’t find his entry into Australia. 
We all share a very rich tapestry in our family trees, but I guess some are just a little richer in spirit….I consider mine amongst the richest of all. |
Hi Mowgali,
Wow, great story - I am a family historian and have a West Indian slave connection too! My brother has married a great woman from a mostly Irish / Maltese sugar cane family in Mackay and her mother had some "secret" that her sisters and aunts never spoke about - we believe as we knew that her great grandfather came from Jamaica that he must have been a slave too (the dates fit) but would love to ask you where you found your sources to confirm your ancestor experienced that human misery. Am helping my young neices and nephews get interested in family history and they were interested in the West Indies connection too as they love Cricket - good to see a positive side of a sad history!
Thanks Matt |
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Mowgali
Joined: 04 Feb 2008
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Thanks for the kind words.
