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Bermuda History – Genealogy

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Bermuda History – Genealogy

This entry was posted on August 29, 2011 at 10:52 pm. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Posted in Publications by ryork 227 Comments

227 Responses to "Bermuda History – Genealogy"

  • Julie S Paul Obney says:
    August 12, 2016 at 10:18 am
    Reply

    Hi,
    I am descended from John Bonnel and Mary Ann Yates mentioned in a previous post. I was wondering if any information was found about them especially their parents.
    Thank you.

    • Robbie Smith says:
      September 8, 2023 at 10:34 am
      Reply

      Julie…Robbie Smith here (Curdog170@gmail.com)…I also am a Bonnell descendant. As you know, the Bonnells were Charleston seafarers and were direly affected by the American Revolutio, which sundered the family. Your forebear, John, is likely the refugee son of John and Winifred Bonnell of Georgia. My 4th grt-grandfather was also a John Bonnell who, after abandoning his young family (including my 3rd grt-grandfather, also a John Bonnell, who escaped hanging in Georgia for his loyalist cooperation
      and became a citizen of Nova Scotia. Our grt-grandfathers appear to be first cousins.

  • Ann Dickinson Sargent says:
    August 16, 2016 at 10:02 pm
    Reply

    My maternal ggrandfather was Capt. Henry Hilgrove Hollis of Bailey’s Bay. (My grandmother, Matilda Hollis, emigrated to the US in 1900.) My family had about 1000 letters between HHH and his wife, which we donated to the Bermuda archives. I’m trying to find more information about the family legend that John Hollis, a goldsmith in London in the early 1600’s, was “impressed” into the Royal Navy, and so didn’t die with the rest of the family in the Black Plague of 1603 (their deaths are documented in a professionally researched genealogy, which I have). Family lore says that John Hollis jumped ship in Bermuda, and founded the family there. This seems unlikely, as desertion was a capital offense, I thought. What can you tell me about how and when John Hollis arrived in Bermuda?

    • ehollis says:
      November 3, 2016 at 7:50 am
      Reply

      Good day,

      I am sorry that I was not made aware of your post to the Genealogy brochure at http://www.bnl.bm. I too am a descendant, although our family legend was that John Hollis bought his way off the ship in Bermuda(?). Family genealogist, Mrs. Betty Hollis, quoted Capt. Henry Hollis as writing “The first Hollis who came to Bermuda and who was the ancestor of all the Hollises in Bermuda was named John, he was seized when a lad by a Press Gang one night in the streets of London and pub aboard a Man of War and after serving some time finally obtained his discharge in Bermuda. He was so pleased with the place, he decided to make it his home.”

      Betty Hollis postulated that ‘our’ John Hollis was the one baptized in Twickenham Parish Church, Middlesex, England on 27 July 1744, son of John and Margaret. Information she collected indicates that John Hollis served in the Royal Navy between 1775 to 1781. Captain John Hollis married Jane Mason in Bermuda on October 28, 1782. There is further supporting information that speculates on just how Captain John Hollis would have met the young Miss Mason (of Virginia, with a Bermuda-born mother).
      Please contact me at ejhollis@gov.bm for more information. – Ellen Jane Hollis, Local Studies Librarian.

    • alistair gregory swart says:
      June 18, 2019 at 6:50 pm
      Reply

      Dear Ann Sargent,
      My Grandfather is Gregory Haycock who’s father was Elystan Haycock the grandson of Capt Henry Hollis. I think you may know of Elystan Haycock but not my grandfather Gregory Haycock. My grandfather has at his home sever items of interest – the shipbuilders half model of the Harvest Queen and the original compass that he used.
      Alistair

  • David Baynham says:
    September 18, 2016 at 6:54 pm
    Reply

    As follow-up to my April 14, 2016 post, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation did respond to my letter about a month ago.

  • Lynda Anglin says:
    September 18, 2016 at 10:32 pm
    Reply

    Looking for information on my Mother-in-law’s family. She was born in Padget, then married Donald Anglin, who is American. They came to America, and they had resided here until their individual deaths in the USA. Her name is Ruth Marie Robinson.

    Thank you, for you time and consideration.
    Lynda Anglin

  • Lynda Anglin says:
    September 18, 2016 at 10:33 pm
    Reply

    Looking for information on my Mother-in-law’s family. She was born in Padget, then married Donald Anglin, who is American. They came to America, and they had resided here until their individual deaths in the USA. Her name is Ruth Marie Robinson.

    Thank you, for you time and consideration.

  • Barbie Alice says:
    September 29, 2016 at 11:14 am
    Reply

    Good Day,

    Sonny Usher

    Looking for any information on the family of Frederick William Stanley Usher who passed away in Bermuda during the late 1970’s. He was a taxi driver for many years, and I believe his mother’s name was Ruth. Thanks

  • Jennie says:
    October 2, 2016 at 11:09 pm
    Reply

    I am a decendent of Captain Henry Hilgrove Hollis. We have continued until this very generation to have named a Hollis amongst us. Many items, writings, manifests and possessions can be counted in the trunks preserved over time by various family members. I believe we have a book of transcriptions. We have continued to plant, cultire and divide some of the lily bulbs that were used to create perfume on the family’s flower plantations established generations ago. I am curious about other documentation about Hollis heritage and plan to make a trip of it to finally discover my forebearers and their legacy. In your opinion, what is a good resource to begin my learning adventure — can you recommend a book? a website? a museum? All of the above?
    Kindly, and with thanks,
    Jennie

  • Liza says:
    October 19, 2016 at 6:31 pm
    Reply

    Hello, I am interested in finding out more about my ancestors who came from England to Bermuda then to Carlisle, PA.

    1. Ann Fox b. 1731 unknown
    2. James Edward Stiles b. 1786 in Bermuda

    Thank you for any help you may be able to give me.
    Liza

    • David Baynham says:
      January 3, 2017 at 3:26 pm
      Reply

      Good afternoon Ellen:

      This replies to Liza’s posting of October 19, 2016 in connection with her question about Edward James Stiles.

      There was an Edward James Stiles born July 25, 1786 in Bermuda who married Ann Duncan. E.J.S. was son of James Stiles (Edward, Daniel, Daniel, John) and Mary Ward. Reference free book available at google.books.com called, ” The Stiles family in America: Genealogies of the Connecticut Family….” I assume antecedents are in the book.

      Best regards,

      David

  • Altwood2009 says:
    December 3, 2016 at 11:58 am
    Reply

    Good Afternoon,
    I am researching John Seymour Howell. B. 1812 (approx) on Somerset Island, Bermuda.
    I am trying to trace his online Birth Records to establish his father’s and mother’s name which I believe to be John Howell and Elizabeth Burch Seymour.
    If anyone else is or has researched the Howell /Seymour family in the early 1800’s I would love to be connected with them.
    If any online records are available to me please send me some weblinks as I live in the UK.
    Many Thanks for all your help.Lynn mace

    • Bruce Duncan says:
      January 21, 2017 at 7:19 pm
      Reply

      Hi Lynn

      Probably have some common antecedents,as you can see from the next post on this page.

      E-mail me on bdatr@yahoo.co.uk.

      kind regards

      Bruce

    • Jenny Atkins says:
      September 7, 2017 at 1:28 pm
      Reply

      Hi Lynn. I see that you posted your message a while ago now, so you may already have lots of information, but I’m descended from John Seymour Howell and have quite a bit of information about him if you still need it. My family tree is on ancestry.co.uk if that helps. JSH’s parents were John Howell and Elizabeth Seymour – we haven’t been able to find out anything about John Howell, but Elizabeth Seymour was from a long line of Bermuda Seymours. John H seems to have disappeared shortly after JSH was born, as Elizabeth then went on to have at least 4 other children in Bermuda with someone named as ‘Squire’ Bennett, though they weren’t married. She eventually moved to Devon, England (possibly with Mr Bennett), with JSH and his siblings, where she later remarried, and the family all ended up in London. JSH is my several times great grandfather. Hope this helps. Do contact me if I can help with anything else.

  • Ian Wells says:
    January 15, 2017 at 3:39 pm
    Reply

    My great grandfather Henry Wells was in he Army in Bermuda. He married a local girl Ella Laura Palmer on 14th June 1866 in St peter’s Church, St Georges.
    Ella Laura was born on 4th April 1848.
    Henry bought himself out of the army in 1874 and went to work for Joseph M Hayward.
    The family came back to England in 1875.
    Can anyone help me with information on Ella laura Palmer and her family?

  • Bruce Duncan says:
    January 17, 2017 at 10:25 pm
    Reply

    Hi there,

    I’m looking for details from a marriage record for a John Howell who marries Elizabeth Burch Seymour and I have May 1814 as the date of marriage. I am trying to find out more about John so I can trace his lineage. I believe that I can trace Elizabeth back through Bermuda’s history.

    Kind regards
    Bruce

  • Michael Spence says:
    February 17, 2017 at 2:33 pm
    Reply

    Hi.

    Can anyone help with my conundrum? I have a lot of references to people who could be relatives/ancestors but no definite links.

    My Spence family were from Freeport, Long Island, New York and I thought they originated in Ireland and/or Scotland but I keep finding old newspaper articles form the late C19th to mid C20th referring to Spences who either definitely are or would seem to be my ancestors living in and having property in Bermuda over multiple generations even going back to the time when it was known as ‘Devil’s eye’. However, I just can’t tie it all down with actual records. I have looked through a list of inhabitants in Bermuda & all the other resources on Rootsweb to no avail. I have seen references to a Captain Spence in the early 1800s but have no particular link to him.

    It seems that the eldest son was always named Thomas James Spence after the father over eight generations and they apparently had business interests in both Freeport, Long Island and in Bermuda. In the newspaper reports of obituaries and social events in Nassau County, Long Island references to the Thomas Jameses always say ‘of Freeport and Bermuda’ or even ‘of Bermuda fame & fortune’. Apparently various family members were buried in the Spence plot in Bermuda and there are references to their ‘estate’ which may be the ‘South Estate’ in Devonshire parish. I also found a reference to ‘Spence’s Hill’ which doesn’t seem to exist on maps now.

    It would seem likely that a long standing residence should have left a trace but I haven’t found any. One particular event was the death & burial in Bermuda of Amelia Spence and at the same time her great grandfather Thomas James Spence as reported in a Nassau County newspaper dated 14th Feb 1800. Another burial in Bermuda was of Lieutenant Albert H Spence (1887-1918) as reported in the Freeport newspaper of 31st Jul 1918.

    The Thomas James Spence family members I do know about for sure include an uncle (born in Brooklyn) & g/father (born in Freeport) & a gg/father (born in Belfast, N. Ireland).

    I would be really grateful if anyone could give me some clues. I am in England and have never been to Bermuda. Are there churchyard plots with old graves one can still see or records somewhere of those buried? Perhaps there are records which have not yet been digitized.

    In hope & with thanks in advance,

    Michael Spence

    • Gill Chester says:
      November 21, 2018 at 6:25 pm
      Reply

      Hi Michael,

      My 3xG Gran, Susan Spence was in Bermuda in the early to mid 1800s. I have very little information on her apart from that she was married to Thomas George Foster and they had a least 5 children. The family story is that the Spence’s were from Ireland but I’ve no evidence of this. Are you aware of a Susan Spence in your family?
      I’m new to researching the Bermudan side of my family so any advice or information would be greatly appreciated.

      Thanks
      Gill

      • Susan Easterman says:
        March 25, 2019 at 10:59 pm
        Reply

        Hi Gill,
        Susan Spence was my 3x great grandmother too! According to the archives in Bermuda she married Thomas Foster July 26, 1834. There were no middle names recorded for either Thomas or Susan. Thomas died November 30, 1846, age 46 in St. George’s. Susan died either December 21st or 22nd, 1866, age 54 in St. George’s. She left 2 sons and 3 daughters. One of the daughters was Sophia Eliza who married Henry Dilnot Smith April 22, 1868 St. Peter’s church in St. George’s. They had 9 children one of whom was my great grandmother Annie Louise Smith. I am very new to this research too. Today was Day 2!
        Susan Easterman

        • Gill Chester says:
          August 11, 2019 at 1:39 pm
          Reply

          Hi Susan,

          Sorry for the late response, I’ve only just seen your reply! Thanks very much for the dates, they are a great help.

          I have copies of Thomas and Susan’s marriage document and Sophia Eliza’s and Henry’s if you haven’t already got them, I’d be very happy to send you copies. I also have a tree on Ancestry that I can give you access too if you that would be any help. I’ve just checked and I do have your Great Gran Annie on it.

          It’s so good to be in contact with someone else related to Susan, I had contact with a man on Ancestry.co.uk who I shared DNA with via Susan. His name was John but he didn’t know much about Susan, Michael Spence has also provided some very helpful information.
          Gill

          • Gill Chester says:
            August 11, 2019 at 1:48 pm

            Susan, if you’d like to get in touch my email address is gill.chester@yahoo.co.uk

          • Jo Mathieson says:
            February 5, 2022 at 3:32 pm

            Dear Gill, I have just started my ancestry research, turns out Susan and Thomas are also my 3x great grand parents too!!!

            Their daughter Louisa Isabella married James Connon, they settled in Fife Scotland eventually and their second youngest child Allan Connon is my great grandfather. I live in Edinburgh, I had no idea about any connection to Bermuda, I am totally intrigued!

            Do we know where either Susan or Thomas where from, I can see they were married in Bermuda, but I keep getting hits that they may have
            been from Jamaica. I would be delighted for any help. I am on ancestry.com as Joanne Mathieson (nee Connon).

  • Michael Spence says:
    February 21, 2017 at 4:49 am
    Reply

    Can anyone help with information or a marriage record in Hamilton, Bermuda for Catherine Jean Wylie & James Flood? Their engagement announcement was recorded on 9th March 1954 in the Nassau County (Long Island, New York) News and she was apparently the niece of a Thomas James Spence living in Bermuda and who was to give her away.

    • ehollis says:
      April 21, 2017 at 8:37 am
      Reply

      You may need to contact the Bermuda Registrar General’s office for this information. Please note that the research done by a Registry officer costs $58 per hour (or any part thereof).

      Indexes and Certificates of Births, Marriages, Deaths
      All births, marriages and deaths in Bermuda should have been registered with the local registrar. Information about Bermuda’s Registry General can be found at: http://www.registrygeneral.gov.bm

      Queries can be phoned in or emailed to:
      General Enquires: (441) 297-7739 taarchibald@gov.bm

      Alternately, please contact the staff at:
      The Registry General
      1st floor, Government Administration Building
      30 Parliament Street,
      Hamilton HM 12,
      Bermuda

      – Ellen Jane Hollis, Local Studies Librarian

    • Georges Gohier says:
      May 7, 2017 at 6:17 pm
      Reply

      thank you for your information.

      Progress!

      Georges

  • Georges Gohier says:
    April 20, 2017 at 11:59 am
    Reply

    My maternal grandmother was Julia Desrosiers (née Olney Ingham).
    I have pasted together a large part of our family tree, but have hit a brick wall with respect to Elizabeth Mary Frith (née James), who was born in Bermuda sometime around 1770 – and passed away 26 Aug 1836 in Sandy’s Parish, Paget, Bermuda.

    would you happen to have any information on her parents & grand parents?

  • Jackie Wedd says:
    July 21, 2017 at 11:33 am
    Reply

    Hi – I am a direct descendant of Maria Ann Seymour who was baptised on 2 Sept 1800 in Sandys Parish Bermuda, and married on 23 March 1817 at Sandys Parish Church. Her son James Seymour Pearce is my great-great-grandfather but I have not been able to discover who his father was. Would it be possible to obtain a copy of Maria Ann’s marriage certificate? Thank you.

    • ehollis says:
      July 27, 2017 at 12:10 pm
      Reply

      You need to contact the Bermuda Registrar General’s office for a copy of her marriage certificate.

      Indexes and Certificates of Births, Marriages, Deaths
      All births, marriages and deaths in Bermuda should have been registered with the local registrar. Information about Bermuda’s Registry General can be found at: http://www.registrygeneral.gov.bm

      Queries can be phoned in or emailed to:
      General Enquires: (441) 297-7739 taarchibald@gov.bm

      Alternately, please contact the staff at:
      The Registry General
      1st floor, Government Administration Building
      30 Parliament Street,
      Hamilton HM 12,
      Bermuda

      – Ellen Jane Hollis, Local Studies Librarian

  • Raymond O'Neil Frazier (nee Hollis) says:
    July 21, 2017 at 12:43 pm
    Reply

    Hello Ms. Ellen Jane Hollis – I hope you are well. I am the son of Percival “Percy” Hollis and Lavender Hollis (nee Smith) from Bailey’s Bay and am seeking my family history, as the whole of Harlem Road in Bailey’s Bay is populated by the Hollis family. The two boys who discovered the Crystal Caves would also be my ancestors (cousins, perhaps). Also, on my mother’s side, I wish to find information of the Smiths in Crawl Hill (my place of birth). My uncle was the late Bishop Goodwin C. Smith (married to Ruby Smith). My grandfather on that side was Wilfred Smith (but born Wilfred Hill) to a Campbell Hill. Wilfred’s grandfather was a man named Elishman Hill – and as I understand the area between Shelly Bay and Bailey’s Bay was once owned by that side of the family centuries ago – but we know little about anyone beyond Campbell. I’m also interested in the caucasian side of that family. How would I go about locating all such family history. I now live in New Jersey, as my mother re-married an American back in 1964 (Frazier). Please advise, and I look forward to your response. Who knows, maybe you and I are related somehow!

    Take care,
    Sincerely – Raymond O. Frazier – July 21, 2017

  • Andrew Duncan says:
    July 23, 2017 at 6:10 pm
    Reply

    Good day,

    I was wondering anyone would happen to have any information regarding a Robert William Duncan who, according to his marriage certificate was born in Somerset, Bermuda in June 1885. His parents names were John Duncan and Margaret Duncan (nee McGrath). I also know that he left Bermuda after some time, as he eventually joined the Imperial Australian Forces in 1914.

    Any information about Robert William Duncan or any possible relatives would be extremely welcome. We have reason to believe that he had a sister named Ruby Duncan, but we have no other information regarding his family.

  • Anastasia says:
    August 15, 2017 at 12:52 pm
    Reply

    I am looking for information on the family of my gggrandmother, Mary Jane Wood, born to Peter and Sarah (nee Cox) Wood. Baptism at age 3yrs old in Pembroke on 15 Feb 1829. The baptism record notes that both parents were Free – though I am starting to think that they were previously slaves or past generations were once slaves. Is the any way to find out from slave registers?
    Many thanks. if anyone can help me I would be very grateful.

  • A nnonymous says:
    August 27, 2017 at 12:53 am
    Reply

    Is it possible for you to find out the maiden name of a person for me? I have the married name. I’ll explain what I have.

    Stephen Benjamin Richardson was born about 1800. He died 4 Feb 1879 in North Side near Fort George, Bermuda, buried at Saint Georges Parish Anglican Cemetery.

    Stephen Benjamin Richardson was a slave, and he saved up enough money to buy his own freedom. Years later, he paid 30 dollars, Bermuda currency) to have his wife Violet freed from Slavery. Violet was born Nov 1802, at best estimate. Violet died 27 Aug 1880 in North Side, St. George’s, Bermuda. I do not have Violet’s maiden name. I do have the names of their children.

    The Children:
    1)Alphonso Augustus Richardson,
    2)Samuel Paynter Richardson,
    3)Israel Thomas Richardson, (He moved to St. John, New Brunswick, Canada)
    4)Letitia Anna Richardson,
    5)Littria Louisa Richardson,
    6)William Benjamin Richardson,
    7)James Butterfield Richardson, (buried in the same place as his father. Saint Georges Parish Anglican Cemetery, Saint George’s Parish, Bermuda)
    8)George Robinson Richardson and
    9)Mary Jane Richardson

    Do you have records stating the mother’s maiden name, or any information on the children, and who they married? Thank you in advance. 🙂

  • Liz B says:
    October 1, 2017 at 7:24 pm
    Reply

    Trying to track John Eve family of Pembroke Bermuda. My 4th great grandfather, born about 1721-23, died January 1840 married Susanna Tatem at Turks Islands in 1803. Had 2 sons – Francis Augustus Eve, M.D. and John Eve between 1803 and 1808. Have never found proof of birth. Susanna died February 1819, age 35. He married Elizabeth Holliday Stowe in September 1819. Just received my copy of the Pembroke Series from BNL. That states that Susanna was the widow of Samuel Tatem and maiden name was Manning. I have never come upon this before in my 15 years of researching the family. Does anyone know anything more about this or where I might get additional info on this? Any assistance would be appreciated.

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