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Windrush Beyond | Using Passenger Lists to Trace Your Ancestry

Tuesday 21th June

Join us for a black ancestry masterclass in collaboration with Ealing Libraries as we reveal the secrets of tracing your Windrush ancestry

 

Black British family historian Paul Crooks traced his Great Great Great Great Grandmother. Paul’s family tree reaches back 6 generations, a journey that took him back 200 years to the Gold Coast, via Jamaica.

Through the lens of his pioneering research into Black ancestry, Paul will discuss how

  • he used passenger lists records to search for his family tree and back story
  • the passenger list complements other sources of ancestry information.
  • you can use the Windrush Generation Passenger Lists to explore your African and Caribbean history, fill a gap in your family tree and bring your family’s Windrush backstory to life.

Come and ask questions about how to start exploring family history. Who knows? Maybe you’ll be inspired to explore your Ancestry.

Who Is This Talk For?

The talk is suitable for you if

  • you’re new to exploring family history
  • you have some experience of searching for your ancestors and want to know about other sources of information
  • you’ve started and you’re having problems furthering your search

About the speaker

Trailblazing family historian Paul Crooks pioneered research into Black genealogy during the 1990s. He traced his family history from London, back 6 generations, to ancestors enslaved on a sugar plantation in North America.

Paul was told that it would be impossible to trace records of slave-ownership let alone his Ancestors enslaved on plantations in North America. “No one had tried because such records did not exist.” Undeterred, he embarked on a journey of discovery that led from suburban North London to North America and ultimately back to the Gold Coast.

His books, Ancestors and A Tree Without Roots – The Guide To Tracing British, African And Asian Caribbean Ancestry brought him international recognition for his breakthrough research into Black genealogy.

Paul is credited with inspiring an upsurge in interest in Black and British ancestry. He is also recognised for having spawned an industry in African Caribbean genealogy.