Man of Distinction: Dr. Ivan Van Sertima.

Some Thoughts on the Passing of A Man of Distinction: Dr. Ivan Van Sertima.

THE MAKING OF AN ACADEMIC FREEDOM FIGHTER – A TRUTH WARRIOR
I am not absolutely sure I can accurately pinpoint the precise date when I first heard of Dr. Ivan Van Sertima. I would not be wrong by concluding - I first heard of Dr. Van Sertima in perhaps 1976 – the year his life - defining text “They Came Before Columbus”, was published.
Let me quickly state the premise was nothing new to many of us in the rural communities in Guyana. I evocate, I had heard arguments profiling Cristobal Colon(Christopher Columbus) as an opportunist, a liar, a thief, mass-murderer, pirate and oppressor , long before Van Sertima’s book, “They Came Before Columbus”, and the Reggae Anthems, Burning Spear,” Christopher Columbus” and Peter Tosh’s, “Here Comes the Judge”, were presented to the consumers.
In fact, many hours were spent under the Tamarind tree on the Middle Walk north of the Public Road at Nabaclis, on the Sea Coast, East of the Demerara River, discussing all phases of life respecting the Global Black Experience with particular emphasis to the African Experience in British Guiana (Guyana) and the Caribbean Basin.
Thus, “They Came Before Columbus,” became the third publication, joining “Stolen Legacy” and “How Europe Underdeveloped Africa” which preceded it in 1954 and 1972 respectively. Those works produced by Guyanese Scholars in the decade prior to and in the post independence period were highly heralded in the academic world. Those works gave many young Guyanese the assurance that our academics can garner worldwide acclaim, especially where it matters most in the African Diaspora. Therefore, if they apply themselves they too could very be so recognized, in the near future.
Van Sertima stands upon the works of the schoolmasters and their protégées who benefited from the programs at the institutions established by Bishop Percy Austin in the colony of British Guiana. Two academic institutions; The Bishop’s College for the Training of Teachers in Charlestown, on the East Bank of the Demerara River and Queen’s College, a Grammar School for Boys in Georgetown is part of the legacy of Bishop Austin
The scholarship of Van Sertima is indeed that of the social reformation. It merits accolades. It harkens back to the period when Blackman ruled the planet. Imhotep, the renowned scholar and philosopher of the most ancient of civilizations would be proud to be associated with a scholar of the magnitude and the class of Professor Ivan Van Sertima.
One has to understand that the people of the colony of British Guiana depended on the media for information. The print media ruled the roost from around 1795 to the end of the so-called First World War in the twentieth century - when radio was introduced into the colony. By 1880 The Daily Chronicle and the Daily Argosy were established. Those publications began printing articles on the emerging Guianese intelligentsia. Notices are found therein - informing readers- that persons are attending universities abroad and they successfully completed their studies. That aspiring young Guianese certainly felt it was quite an achievement to appear in the publications. Also it was a matter of family pride and honor as much as it was personal.
By the early 1950s, ALF-CIO had infiltrated the Labor unions in the Colony of British Guiana. McCarthyism had arrived in the Colony of British Guiana. They came to root out communism in South America. One is not quite sure what role the effects of these developments played if at all any in the decision Van Sertima made to migrate to the United Kingdom.
It is such a pity Professor Van Sertima did not research and/or publish presentations on the humanities and social sciences respecting the political boundary known as Guyana, as he did on the subject of the African Presence on the entire planet.
I emailed perhaps three correspondences to Professor Van Sertima. He did not respond to enquires I made. All were relative to Guyana. The contents are relative to my belief;

1.African people dwelt amongst the indigenous people of Guyana, before Columbus was found in the Americas.
2. Also concerning the origins and the identity of the Picture Writings
3. The bark less-dog
4.The Islamic emblem; the sun, moon and star probably of the Mendi people found amongst the indigenous people of Guyana,
5.The origins of the name and/or word; Berbice
6.The 1976 Denis Williams article found in the Guyana Chronicle.
7.The Death announcement of Sydney Jacob Van Sertima.
8.What is his relationship to Sydney Jacob Van Sertima?


It is clear to me that research is necessary to determine and expose the African contact with the people resident between the Amazon and the Orinoco Rivers prior to the arrival of Cristobal Colon in the Americas in 1492.
It is however, much more frustrating that the dumb, deaf and the blind amongst us still refuses to accept as factual the African presence all over creation long before that pirate Cristobal Colon (Christopher Columbus).
The scholarship is referred to as “Out of Africa” and “Before Columbus”. It is much maligned in the academic institutions of the western world. The media has continued its stout resistance. It is irrational opposition to the undeniable truth. The birth place of humanity is in the vicinity of the Mountains of the Moon. Social Scientists stated several waves of people of the Great Lakes Region of East Africa migrated to various locations on earth. There, their descendants became the autochthonous of the land. They continue to catch hell, as their ancestors did beginning some four thousand years. Today, they are fighting for Aborigines Rights on every location on this planet.

WHO IS THIS MAN, IVAN VAN SERTIMA?
Van Sertima is of Dutch origins. It is the family name of Dutch Colonists in the colonies of Essequebo, Demerary and Berbice. By most accounts Dr. Ivan Gladstone Van Sertima was broadcaster, critic, Poet, teacher, scholar, and story writer. Dr. Van Sertima birthed on January 26, 1935 in the Village of Kitty, on the Atlantic Sea Coast East of the Demerara River, in the colony of British Guiana, on the South American Continent. He is one of five children of, the Trade Unionist and politician, Frank Obermuller Van Sertima. He was educated at the School of Oriental and African Studies, London University. Certainly, the ancestral heritage of Professor Van Sertima dates back to Dutch immigrants, and it includes enslaved “Africans,” the Macusi, an indigenous people of Guiana and members of the kinships of Obermuller and Van Sertima.
It is very likely the legal mind Sydney Jacob Van Sertima is an Uncle of Professor Van Sertima. The early twentieth century academic was a Sub-Editor, Argosy newspaper. On February 12, 1931, Sydney Jacob Van Sertima was the Commissioner of inquiry into the Affairs of the Village of Beterverwagting, on the East Sea Coast of Demerara in the colony of British Guiana.
Joseph Alexander Van Sertima is known to publish three books between 1897 and 1905. Amongst the members of the kinships of VAN SERTIMA and OBERMULLER are persons of note such as the following; Willem August Van Sertima, George Aubrey Sydney Van Sertima, John Augustus Van Sertima, Joseph Alexander Van Sertima, Joseph Aubert Van Sertima, Lionel Obermuller Van Sertima, William Van Sertima, Eulalie Van Sertima, E. V. Van Sertima, J. A. Van Sertima, Frank Obermuller Van Sertima, Maria Catherine Obermuller, Arnott Francois Obermuller, Carel Emanuel Obermuller, Henrietta Johanna Obermuller, Jan Frederick Obermuller, Johan Wilhelm Obermuller, Johanna Obermuller, Sophia Hellena Christina Obermuller, David Obermuller, and John Angus Obermuller.
It is clear that “Africans” enslaved by the Dutch in the colonies of Berbice, Demeraray and Essequebo were literate. It is known; a number of enslaved Africans on plantations on the East Coast of Demerara planned a revolt to begin at Stabroek on Christmas day 1807. The revolt was foiled. A daughter of the leader betrayed the revolt. She informed her lover, an overseer, a Scotsman. Her father and eight others were hanged as consequence of that betrayal. Also, during this period December 1807, a document was found written in characters resembling Arabic. It was believed to originate in Essequebo, and written by Africans. This, thus, clearly demonstrated Africans were literate. (St. Clair 1947:240) Colonel Nicholson and Governor Bentinck waged several campaigns against runaway slaves. The colonial authorities burnt their cultivation of which included Rice and Yam. Please note: neither Chinese nor East Indians were in the colonies of Berbice, Demeraray and Essequebo. They arrived after the colonies were united and known as British Guiana in 1831. Rice was introduced into the colonies by Africans. This debunks the misinformation and/or the misconception which have stigmatized generations of Africans – that Black people were sitting upon their hands and knees praying and hoping for some Messiah, and/or others to come to their rescue, in their efforts to realize emancipation and self-sufficient. Nothing can be further from the truth.
In 1839, the British Guiana African Association (BGAA) begun to produce its organ, “The Freedman’s Sentinel”.(Westmaas, 2007:7) However, it was not until 1874 when the Reverend John Richard Moore published the text, “A Handbook of the Causes of Non-Success and Degradation of the Negro Race in British Guiana”, that the beginning of African Guianese scholarship is recognized.

What are the ingredients which comprised the mind the man and his works?
It is hoped this exercise will serve as perhaps, as a springboard to someone more talented, and acclaim than myself to research and document that effort bringing to life and light, and thereby preserving for posterity the story of a truth warrior most deserving of such acclaim.
It is really tiresome, and defeating that in this late date, Black people continue to allow others to determine for us who our heroes are and/or who our heroes should be. It is such a shame the transition of The Most Honorable Dr. Ivan Gladstone Van Sertima was overshadowed by that of a Peter Pan character.
Only those that are ignorant of the knowledge of self, and/or have no intention to acquire the true history of the human experience will lift up buffoonery over truth of their existence.
Professor Van Sertima must and will be remembered for his scholarship. His efforts helped immensely to counter the mis-education of Negroes in the Americas and elsewhere on the planet. Thus Van Sertima belongs in the same argument as the following; Arturo Alfonso Schomburg (1871-1938), Malcolm X (1925-1965), Betty Shabazz, Hairiest Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Mariana Grajales (1808 -1893), Shirley Anita Chisholm, Edward Wilmot Blyden (1832-1912), Lucy Parsons (1853-1942), Frederick Douglass, Martin Robinson Delaney, Antonio Maceo (1845-1896), Ella Reeve Bloor (1862), Hubert Henry Harrison (1883 -1927), Marcus Garvey (1887 -1940), Franz Fanon, Wesley McDonald Holder (1897-1993), Walter Anthony Rodney, George Granville Monah James, Jan Rynveld Carew, Eric Eustace Williams, Cyril Lionel Robert James, Henry Sylvester Williams, Richard Benjamin Moore, Yosef Alfredo Antonio Ben-Jochannan, John Hendricks Clarke, Chancellor Williams, Gerald Massey, John George Jackson, Edward Scobie, Cheikh Anta Diop, Rafique Ali Jairazboy, Alexander Von Wuthenau, Theophile Obenga, Runoko Rashidi, Llaila Afrika, Joel Augustus Rogers, Aime Cesaire and Rene Maran and the African teachers and advocates of self- emancipation and self-love. They are in my opinion without doubt heroes of Black people all over the Diaspora.
In the context of Guianese scholars and scholarship, Van Sertima will be compared and favorably so, with the likes of Rev. Dr. John Edward London, John Monteith Rohlehr, Dale Arlington Bisnauth, Norman Eustace Cameron, Jan Rynveld Carew, Martin Carter, Bertram Aggrey Nathaniel Collins, Vere T. Daly, Rawle E. G. Farley, Elsa Govieva, Violet Graham, Ivelaw Griffith, Theodore Wilson Harris, George Granville Monah James, Eusi Kwayana, Joycellyne Loncke, Harold Alexander Lutchman, Basdeo Mangru, Mary Noel Mendes, Brian L. Moore, John Richard Moore, Robert James Moore, Dwarka Nath, Lesley M. Potter, Shirdatt Ramphal, Walter Anthony Rodney, Joseph Ruhomon, Peter Ruhomon, Thomas Anson Sancho, Clem Seecharan, Arthur James Seymour (1914-1989), Clive Yancey Thomas, Alvin O. Thompson, Nigel David Westmaas, Denis Williams, and John Allan Ethelbert Young and others of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

JAMES, CAREW, VAN SERTIMA, and RODNEY
James, Carew, Van Sertima, and Rodney are recognized as the most outstanding Guianese historians in the international arena. However a brief look at the contributions of African-Guianese to academic, including the sciences, arts, and literature will reveal that Africans were writing in Arabic during the failed attempt at self-emancipation in December 1808. However by 1839 Africans attached to the British Guiana African-American Association began publishing their organ. The newspaper became known as Freeman Sentinel. During the period shortly after apprenticeship, between November 18, 1839 and December 31, 1852, this period now known as the Village Movement gave rise to letters of protest. Numerous petitions were addressed to the governor of the colony of British Guiana. One such petition resulted in the Land Partition Ordinance for estates and Village management in February 1851. It was referred to as Buxton Ordinance. Between 1852 and 1900 the rise of the Schoolmasters, Poets, Local Preachers, doctors, lawyers, African-Guianese newspapers, the Village Councils’ Conferences, the Village Chairman’s Conferences and the British Guiana Teachers’ Association. The John Richard Moore publication is widely regarded as the first book written and published by an African-in-the-Guianese experience. However, folks, such as the Reverend John George Urling, were publishing articles in the local press of African-Guianese newspapers. also, between 1861 and 1879, the writings of Reverend John George Urling were printed in outlets such as the Christian Recorder
Stephen Arminius Robertson is the maternal grandfather of Jan Rynveld Carew. He was the President of the British Guiana Teachers’ Association 1894-1910 and again, 1915-1916. Mr. Robertson was the president of the Peoples’ Political Association, in 1901. He was the headmaster of Agricola Wesleyan School. Schoolmaster Robertson resided at Agricola on the East Bank of the Demerara River. It is my humble opinion the gentle revolutionary’s work is not completed. He needs to write and publish a biographical account of the life and time of his grandfather.
Thus Professor Ivan Van Sertima is a product of the tradition of Guianese academia. in the early 1850s, Guianese scholarship begun to attract attention of the working class people of the populace. This period produced teachers and preachers on the local scene. The schoolmaster was looked upon with great admiration and respect in the colonial era and especially so, in the rural communities. Kitty was then a village. The representatives and the administration of Kitty were closely linked with those of the major progressive villages of the East Coast of Demerara.
The Reverend George Granville Monah James is the father of Professor James. He was an advocate for local self-government. At the beginning of the twentieth century, he was a force in the socio-political movement in New Amsterdam. It is said Professor James died mysteriously shortly after the text stolen Legacy was published in 1954. in June 1980, Rodney was assassinated by loyalists to the illegal and ruthless regime of the callous dictator Forbes Burnham. Thus James and Rodney were physically removed under suspicious means.
Ivan Van Sertima recently joined the ancestors. Carew the gentle revolutionary is aged. He is sickly. Thus the four major African-Guianese scholars of the twentieth century are off the lecture circuit. However, I believe it is relevant and necessary to point out that The Reverend John Richard Moore and Norman Eustace Cameron were admirable forerunners.
It must be understood that the tradition which gave rise to Moore, Cameron, James, Carew, Van Sertima Rodney, and numerous others has now been all but abandoned, for all that has been coming out of the marginalized Black communities in Guyana during the last seventeen years are the industry of criminal enterprise which continue to graduate thieves, and murderers specializing in the illegal narcotic drugs trade. Thus it is more than a bit much; that European domination has been replaced by East Indian domination much to the chagrin of the Africans in the Guianese experience.
Certainly, the warnings of the Prophet Wills of Buxton were not headed. Gang culture is now a dominant factor amongst the youth of Guyana. The government is unable and unwilling to provide impetus for change and the greatest amount of blame rests precisely upon the heads and shoulders of the population of Guyana. They provide fertile ground for the continuance of the culture of ineptitude and governance of racism in Guyana. It is certainly unacceptable that under the administration of Guianese government between may 26, 1966 and this very day; Africans are not inclined to pursue industry or education but participate in the process of making life unbearable in the communities their ancestors gave their lives to preserve their heritage. The remains of A man of distinction such as Dr. Ivan Gladstone Van Sertima should have been given a national send-off. The government of Guyana should have declared A national day of mourning. Professor Van Sertima should be given the highest national award a civilian is eligible to receive. Also institutions and streets should be named in his honor. A good man is seldom honored in his own country and such is the scenario respecting the life and contributions of Professor Van Sertima.

RECOMMENDED READING:
Cameron, Norman E., (1951) A History of Queen’s College (Georgetown, British Guiana) - Cameron, Norman E., (1968)150 years of Education in Guyana 1808-1957 (Georgetown, Guyana) Daly, P. H. (1948) Story of Heroes book two (Georgetown, British Guiana) Daly Vere Tresvlyn (1985) Short History of the Guyanese People. London St. Clair, Thomas Staunton A Soldier’s Sojourn in British Guiana, 1806-1808. Edited by Vincent Roth. Georgetown, British Guiana, Daily Chronicle, 1947. Webber, A. R. F., (1935) Centenary History and Handbook of British Guiana (Georgetown, British Guiana)
Westmaas, Nigel David, [2007] The newspaper press of Guyana,1839-1899. State University of New York at Binghamton, New York, USA, 2007
Carew, Jan R. The rape of paradise: Columbus and the birth of racism in the Americas
Carew, Jan R. Ghosts in our blood: with Malcolm X in Africa, England, and the Caribbean. New York: Lawrence Hill Books, c1994.
Carew, Jan R. Fulcrums of change: African presence in the Americas.1988
James, George G. M. (1941) The fate of black people under Germany- World War, 1939-1945 -New York, 1941.
James, George G. M. League of Colored Peoples (1950) The need of a new education for the subject peoples of the world: a lecture delivered before the League of Colored People Georgetown, British Guiana, on August 24th, 1950 by Associate Professor George G.M. James of Arkansas State College
Van Sertima, Sydney Jacob, Hints on Village Administration and Parliamentary Procedure.
Sydney Jacob Van Sertima Commissioner of inquiry into the Affairs of the village of Beterverwagting, on the East Sea Coast of Demerara in the colony of British Guiana. February 12, 1931.
Van Sertima, Joseph Alexander, ‘Among The Common People Of British Guiana, (Demerara, The Argosy Press, 1897)
Van Sertima, Joseph Alexander, Scenes and Sketches of Demerara Life(Demerara, The Argosy Press, 1899)
Van Sertima, Joseph Alexander, “The Creole Tongue of British Guiana”[New- Amsterdam: The Argosy Press, 1905],
Thompson, Alvin O., Colonialism and Underdevelopment in Guyana, 1580-1803
Van Sertima, Ivan Egypt: child of Africa
Van Sertima, Ivan They came before Columbus, the African presence in ancient America

VAN SERTIMA-OBERMULLER

The Members of the Kinships of VAN SERTIMA and OBERMULLER

Willem August VAN SERTIMA (c. 1789)
John Frederic OBERMULLER, between January 1812 and February 1815, Assistant Agent for the Commission for the Management of Crown Slaves in the Colony of Berbice,.

EULALIE VAN SERTIMA
Second Grade Telephone Attendant, Telecommunications Branch, Post Office Department.
Resides in Georgetown.
Born: September 6, 1900
1934 – Present Appointment
(Source: Who is Who in British Guiana [Fourth Edition] 1945-48: Pages 534-535)

E. V. VAN SERTIMA
Sugar Planter, Head Overseer, Plantation Versailles, West Bank Demerara
(Source: Who is Who in British Guiana [Fourth Edition] 1945-48: Pages 534-535)

J. A. VAN SERTIMA
Sugar Planter, Head Overseer,
Resides at Plantation Versailles, West Bank Demerara.
(Source: Who is Who in British Guiana [Fourth Edition] 1945-48: Pages 534-535)

FRANK OBERMULLER VAN SERTIMA
Chief Clerk, Road Transport, Bartica.
Resides at Bartica, Essequibo River.
Born: December 28, 1897Educated at St. Thomas’s Scots School and Queen’s College, Georgetown.
1917 – Served with Berbice Steam Saw Mill and Foundry Company Limited.
1923 – Clerical Assistant, Goods Department, Transport and Harbour Department.
- Acting Cashier, Goods Department, Transport and Harbour Department.
1924- Invoice Clerk, Goods Department, Transport and Harbour Department.
1929 – Cashier, Goods Department, Transport and Harbour Department.
1942 – Present Appointment
Has acted on several occasions as Chief Clerk, Goods Department, Transport and Harbour Department.
Public Auditor for Friendly Societies.
Chairman, British Guiana Trades Union Assembly
Twice Married
Has five children.
(Source: Who is Who in British Guiana [Fourth Edition] 1945-48: Pages 534-535)

JOSEPH AUBERT VAN SERTIMA
Superintendent Engineer, Power Plant Mackenzie.
Resides at Mackenzie, Demerara River. Born: October 23, 1892, at Essequibo, to John A. Van Sertima, Balata Agent, and his wife, Sophia, nee Toby.
Educated at Berbice Boys’ School and Collegiate School Georgetown.
Is an Associate Member of the Institute of British Engineers.
1907-1910 – Apprenticed to Berbice Foundry, worked at Sprostons for two and a half years, was chief engineer, Navy Patrol Boat and was for two years refrigeration Engineer “R.M.S. Chateur” 1923 – Present Appointment
Married: July 30, 1916:- Gladys Leonora Binning.
Has five sons and two daughters.
Recreation -Tennis and Billiards.
Hobby – Fishing.
Holds Distinguished Service Medal rendered Service Patrol Boat “Essequibo” when Boiler tubes burst, killing Chief Engineer, Freeman and Oiler during 1914-1918 war.
1945 – Justice of the Peace.
(Source: Who is Who in British Guiana [Fourth Edition] 1945-48 : Pages 534-535)

JOHN ANGUS OBERMULLER
Head Teacher, Orealla Anglican School.
Resides at Orealla Mission, Corentyne River, Berbice.
Born: March 18, 1912 at Expectation #9, West Coast Berbice, to David Obermuller, Engineer, Rice and Live-Stock Farmer and his wife, Ellen nee Alexander.
Educated at St. Oriel’s now renamed St. Nicholas Anglican School, Bath , West Coast Berbice and Teachers’ Training College, Georgetown.
Holds class Two Trained Teachers’ Certificate
1926-1934 – was a private Teacher and Un-Certificated Assistant, St. Nicholas Anglican School.
1934-1936 – Certificated Assistant, at St. Nicholas Anglican School.
1938-1943 - Certificated Assistant, at Skeldon Anglican School.
1943-1945 – First Assistant, at St. Nicholas and Skeldon Anglican School.
1945-1946– Present Appointment
Married: January 8, 1941:- Edna S. Pitt.
Recreation –Boating.
Hobby – Gardening.
(Source: Who is Who in British Guiana [Fourth Edition] 1945-48: Page 391)

Partition of Plantation Anna Clementia

Partition of Plantation Anna Clementia: Alma/Inkernian Village, left bank of the Canje River, April 1953
Lucy Adams, Sarah Bascom, Marion Benfield, Boodhoo, Ali Bramna, Malvina Chapperfield, Victoria Duncan, Angelina Catherine Ellis, Nancy Ellis, Nathaniel Ellis,
Peggy Galloway, Nathaniel Grant, John Greenidge,
Caroline Haywood, John Hill, Altaf Hussain,
Letitia King, Soondri Kumar, Lucy McAlman, Ellen Mitchell, Minta Money, Moogola, Margaret Morris, George Noel, David A. Oldfield,
B. P. Panday, Diana Paul, Chandra Persaud, Esrom Persaud, Adolphus Quail,
Charles Richards, Ernest Richards, John Richards, Trenton Richards, Herman Rohlehr, Keturah Rose, Sewnateh, Madodri Sumintra,
Clement James Telford, Angelia Thom, and Mariam Welcome.
Source: Local Government Board; Notices # -Partition of Plantation Anna Clementia, Canje River - Official Gazette of British Guiana – April 18, 1953: page 1577.

Partitioning of Plantation New Orange Nassau

An Ordinance for partitioning, Plantation “New Orange Nassau," a part of which forms the Village of Buxton, among the Joint Proprietors thereof, and for partitioning other Lands and Villages similarly circumstanced. By Command, on February 18, 1851, and published on February 19, 1851, Henry Barkly, Governor of the colony of British Guiana. Guiana Public Buildings, Georgetown, Demerara, British Guiana W. B. Wolseley, Acting Government Secretary.
The following were enacted by this legislation;

1. Justice Of The Peace Nominated By the Governor, To Convene Meeting of the Proprietors.
2. Meeting Shall Consist Of One Fourth In Number Of Proprietors, And Shall Elect Commissioners.
3. Any Commissioner Dying, His Place to Be Filled Up.
4. Commissioners to Take Oath.
5. Chairman May Convene Meeting Of Commissioners
6. Posts, Denoting Boundaries of Lots to Be Placed.
7. Effect Of Boundaries Of Lots Being Defined
8. Certificates Of Survey
9. Commissioners to Pass Transports.
10. Cost of Transports.
11. Assessment of Lots for Expenses.
12. Amounts of Assessment, How Recoverable.
13. Lots Liable For Amounts of Assessments.
14. Joint Proprietors of Other Lands than Those of New Orange Nassau May Be Entitled To Advantages of This Ordinance.
15. How Commissioners Of Other Lands Are To Act.
16. Interpretation Clause.
17. When Ordinance To Take Effect.

Partition of Plantation Bel Air, West Coast Berbice, 1953

Partition of Eastern half of Plantation Bel Air, West Coast Berbice, 1953
Bel Air Country District 1953
Abel Alexander, Chesney Alexander, Princess Alexander, William Alfred, Beatrice Arrindell,

Edward James Baird, Daniel Hamilton Baker, Dorcas Baptiste, Christopher Benjamin, Clement Benjamin, Clifton Benjamin, Cornwall Benjamin, Cortwright Benjamin, Daniel Benjamin, Fitz Benjamin, Gladford Benjamin, Harriet Maria Benjamin, Harris Benjamin, Leah Benjamin, Marcia Benjamin, Sarah Virginia Benjamin, John Leyland Blair, London Clifford Blair, Watson Eustace Bowling, Albertha Bowman, Jacob Bowman, Randolph Bowman, Sarah Bowman, Thomas Britton,

Eleanor Charles, Ethel Charles, James Chesney,
Lydia David, Edna Dublin, Hildred Dublin,
Moses Edwards, Ellen Embrack,
Benjamin Fraser, Levi Fraser, Lydia Fraser, Rupert Nathaniel Fyffe, Samuel Josephus Fyffe,

Winston Gillis,
Josephine Halley, Frances Europa Harte, Heeralall, Frederick Hero, Betsy Homer, Edward Hyderkhan, John Hyderkhan, Mark Hyderkhan, Matthew Hyderkhan,
James Jacob Isaacs,
Alexander James, Allonzo James, Archie Pilbert James, David James, Dora James, Edward James, Eleazer James, George W. James, Henry James James, Hilton Nathaniel James, James James, Jacob James, John James, Martin James, Nathalee Mayleen James, Rachel James, Rhoda James, Samuel James, Samuel Alexander James, Sarah James, Thomas James, Trenton James, Walter James, Whitfield James, Edwin John, Adam Alexander Johnson, Albert Johnson, James Jacob Johnson, Martha Johnson, Wilhelmina Johnson, Alexander Joseph, Archibald Joseph, Archie Philbert Joseph, Daniel Joseph, Frances Joseph, George Joseph, Ivanhoe Joseph, Oscar Joseph, Watson Oswald Benjamin Joseph,
Charles Lewis, Thomas Luther,
Charles Mars, Dorcas Mars, Edward Mars, James Victor Mars, Thomas Whitfield Mars, Edward McAlmont, Daniel McCalmon, Betsy McCammon, Abel McDonald, Lillian McDonald, Nathaniel McDonald, Renford McDonald, William McDonald, Edward McKenzie,
Thomas Nicholson,
F. Parris, Justina E. Parris, Bisie Persaud,
Ramdhan, Jane Roberts, William Rogers,
Phillip Semple, Richard Semple,
Eucil Thompson, Princess Maria Thompson, Thomas Theophilus Thompson,
Cedric Wayne, David Wayne, Isaiah Wayne, John N. Wayne, Laurence Wayne, Mary Wayne, Morrell Wayne, Rolleston Wayne, and Edward Richard Webster.

Source: Local Government Board; Notices # 784 -Partition of Eastern half of Plantation Bel Air, Lot 22, West Coast Berbice - Official Gazette of British Guiana – April 18, 1953: pages 1574-1576.

Jasodia Nehaul, Mother of Mr. Harry Manghan Nehaul

Dr. BALBIR BALL GREENE NEHAUL
Government Bacteriologist and Pathologist, Central Medical Laboratory, Georgetown.
RESIDES: at 233 Camp Street, Georgetown
BORN: September 6, 1912, Friendship Village, East Coast Demerara, British Guiana, son of Harry Manghan Nehaul and his wife Bipti.
EDUCATED: St. Augustine's School; Queen's College, University College, University College Hospital, London, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Pathology Department, Leeds University and Forensic Medicine Department, University of Edinburgh.
Is an M.B.B.S. (London), M.R.C.S. (England), L.R.C.P. (London), and DT &M(England),
Is an M.B. (Queen’s University, Ontario).L.R.C.P., L.R.C.S. (Edinburgh)L.R.F.P.F., (Glasgow).
Holds Certificate of London School of Hygiene, and Tropical Medicine.
1939 - Acting Government Medical Officer.
1940 – Assistant Venereal Disease Officer (Part-Time) Public Hospital , Georgetown.
1940 – Acting Assistant Government Medical Officer.
1940 – Acting Resident Surgeon, Public Hospital, Mabaruma.
1941 - Assistant Government Medical Officer.
1941– Acting Government Bacteriologist
1943 – Honorary Research Assistant and Demonstrator in Pathology and Bacteriology, Pathology Department, University of Leeds.
1944 –Assistant and Honorary Demonstrator, Department Forensic Medicine, University of Edinburgh.
1945–Present Appointment.
MARRIED: April 15, 1939 :- Aileen Jaikaran.
Has one son and two daughters.
RECREATION – Tennis.
HOBBY – Photography.
Is a winner of First Buxton Scholarship, Percival Exhibition and Queen’s College Scholarship at Queen’s College.
Holds Liston Gold Medal for clinical surgery and Proxime Accesit Erichsen Prize in Practical surgery at University College Hospital, University of London.
Medical Officer selected for training in Pathology and Bacteriology in England, 1943-1945.
PUBLISHED PAPERS: Dermal Leishmaniasis, Caribbean Medical Journal, 1942-44 Pages: 101-103.
Elastiglass Dermatitis, Caribbean Medical Journal, 1942-44 Pages :103-104.
Report on the Physical Development and Health of a Sample of School
Children In the Island of Leguan, British Guiana, 1941. British Guiana Medical Annual, 1942 Pages:95-113.
MEDICAL SOCIETIES:
Member of the British Medical Association.
Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine (London).
Fellow of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (London).
Member of the American Society of Tropical Medicine.
Member of the Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
Member of the American Society of Pathologists and Bacteriologists.
Member of the Association of Clinical Pathologists (Great Britain).
Member of the American Society of Parasitologists.
Member of the American Public Health Association.
1947 - Member of British Guiana Medical Board.
- Secretary of British Guiana Branch, British Medical Association.

SUGREEN AUGUSTUS SHAKURDIAL NEHAUL
Sworn Land Surveyor
RESIDES: at 14 Vlissengen Road, Newtown, Kitty, East Coast Demerara.
BORN: June 3, 1914, Buxton, East Coast Demerara, British Guiana, son of Harry Manghan Nehaul, Landed Proprietor, and his wife Bipti.
EDUCATED: St. Augustine's Anglican School, Friendship, East Coast Demerara and Queen’s College, Georgetown.
Was a Surveyor with the Demerara Bauxite Company Limited.
MARRIED: August 10, 1935: Ivy Guiana Binning.
Has two sons and one daughter.
RECREATION – Billiards, Football, and Cricket.
HOBBIES – Philately, Correspondence and Photography.
Has had experience in Drainage and Irrigation work.
SOURCES: Roth, Vincent and Delph, Charles Noel (editors) Who is Who in British Guiana, 1945 - 1948 (Fourth Edition) Pages: 361-362.
Personalities in the Caribbean‎ -1962- Page 491.

Obituary:-Jasodia, Mother of Mr. Harry Manghan Nehaul
Buxton, East Coast of Demerara - Jasodia, mother of Mr. Harry Manghan Nehaul, Councillor of Buxton and Friendship Village District and Proprietor of Chapman Grove, died on Monday, November 12, 1934 at age of 85 and was laid to rest in the Friendship cemetery on Tuesday, afternoon.
Born in India, she came to British Guiana in the year 1851 an orphan but three years of age, her parents having died on board the ship. She went to Plantation Nonpareil and was placed under the guardianship of the Head Driver. At the age of 20 years she got married to Mr. Nehaul, who was then the Head Driver. After two children were born the family left for India, where they remained for a year, and then returned to British Guiana. Time went on and the family increased. The children alive are – Neranjan and Mr. H. M. Nehaul. She was of genial disposition, a sympathetic mother, and a very religious individual. She was ill only for a couple of days and predicted her death. She left to mourn her loss two children and several grand children.
The funeral was largely attended, and the chief mourners were: Harry Manghan Nehaul and Neranjan (son and daughter); Balbir Ball Greene Nehaul (Medical Student, London), Sugreen Augustus Nehaul and G. B. Nehaul (grandsons).
Among those present were the following; Dr. James Edwin Rampersaud Ramdeholl, Messrs: Abrams, Robert Reuben Baird, Boney Persaud, Lallabahadur, M. Sumner, R. Persaud, J. Jaikaran, John Jaikaran, G. B. Seeraj, A. M. Leo, F. Moses, J. R. Gomes, May Fung-a-fat, Mary Gomes, Messrs; Blackie Shaw, S. Persaud, H. Warren, Mrs. Shedarsan, Messrs; Prashad, J. Rampaul, H. Rampaul, W. Sam, Kempt Carter, H. Dolphin, S. Morgan, J. DeSouza, D. G. Munroe, W. Dinally, S. K. Singh, J. G. Stephens, Mohabeer, Ouditsingh, M. G. Ghanie, J. Inasie, M. Haniff, Gango, G., & M. McKinnon, J. France, W. B. Moses, H. A. Moses, George Wilson, S. G. Charran, Miss Douglas, Messrs; Debidan, J. P. Gordon, J. P. Barlow, Narain, C. P. Persaud, D. French, Mr. & Mrs. Rodrigues, Rhikieran,J. Shortt, Mrs. V. Stephens, Mrs. D. Peters, L. Lovell, Suteh, Jagdeo, Ragnarain, Maraj, Hansa Persaud, Mrs. Easton, Misses Melbourne, Gertrude Paul, Ivy Seaforth, Messrs; Mance Phillips, Joe Phillips, Gangu, N. Martins and S. A. King.
Floral tributes were received from Messrs; Mohabeer, Persaud brothers, and Mrs. Rodrigues.

Source: Obituary – Jasodia, Mother of Mr. H. M. Nehaul - The Daily Chronicle, Georgetown, British Guiana - Sunday, November 18, 1934: Page seven.

Please note:
If you can either identify or obtain the identity of the persons mentioned herein - will you please do so and enlighten me soonest.
Also if you are aware of persons mentioned herein feel free to forward the information to their relatives and/or to persons connected to the Buxton-Friendship Village District on the East Coast of Demerara. They perhaps, will find it necessary to enlighten me respecting the identification of the persons mentioned in the publication. I would also love to be enlightened concerning contributions persons of East Indians, Chinese and Portuguese heritage made to the development of all phases of life in Golden Grove-Nabaclis and the Buxton-Friendship Village Districts.
Thank you for contributing.

Mrs. Elizabeth Fraser: Centenarian

Obituary – Mrs. Elizabeth Fraser: Centenarian -

Georgetown, Thursday, November 15, 1934.

– The death of Mrs. Elizabeth Fraser occurred at 11.55 AM on Thursday, November 1, 1934 at Ann’s Grove, East Coast, Demerara. Mrs. Fraser who had attained the advanced age of 103 years, was born at Victoria Village, on the East Coast, Demerara and as a girl was taken to Ann’s Grove by her father, the late Mr. Benjamin Kennedy, who was the first ticket Collector on the extended railway at Clonbrook.
She was married to the late Cornelius Fraser, engineer of Plantation Hope, East Coast, Demerara, who died many years ago. They had four children, two of whom are alive – Mr. B. C. Fraser of Plantation Providence, Berbice and Mr. N. B. Fraser of the Public Works Department.
The late Mrs. Fraser was of cheerful disposition and was dear to the whole community of Ann’s Grove. She was fondly called “Auntie Bet”. For a number of years, she was a member of the Ann’s Grove Methodist Church. The funeral which took place on Friday, November 2, 1934 was well-attended.
At 4 PM the procession moved from the residence to the Ann’s Grove Methodist Church. In the absence of the Reverend R. Daniel, Minister-in-Charge, Mr. J. N. Small, School-Master, conducted the funeral service, which was choral. Mr. B. C. Fraser presided at the organ.
The chief mourners were Messrs, Mr. B. C. Fraser and Mr. N. B. Fraser (sons), F. Fraser, S. Fraser, E. Fraser, Stanley Fraser, Mrs. Clothie McDougall, Baby Richmond, Mrs. M. Anderson, the Misses Agnes and Geralda Fraser (grand children) and three great grand children.
The Pall-Bearers were: Messrs. Felix Fraser, W. Anderson, E. Bristol, S. Maynard, J. Bookey, and Thos. Sertima.

The Attendance

Among those who attended the funeral were: Messrs. Hubert Alfred Thompson JP, Simon Eleazer Alpheus Talbot, S. Maynard, P. Pellew, T. N. Alexander, P. Nedd, H. Thomas, D. Sam, N. Collins, Sidney Lewis, B. Collins, Thomas Adams, A. Pellew, J. Lindo, J. Dodson, L. Wilson, J. R. Massiah, Thomas Sertima, J. Bookey, Felix Fraser, W. Anderson, and E. Bristol. Mesdames; E. Henry, F. Jenkins, F. Dublin, L. Wilson, R. Jerrick, the Misses; Harmon, C. Hector, Nellie Johnson, D. Simon, N. Samuels, H. Williams, F. Greene, and Matilda Nelson.

Floral tributes were numerous.

Source: Obituary – Mrs. Elizabeth Fraser: Centenarian- the Daily Chronicle, Georgetown, British Guiana - Thursday, November 15, 1934: Page 6.

PLEASE NOTE:

If you can either identify or obtain the identity of the persons mentioned herein will you please do so and enlighten me soonest.
Also if you are aware of persons mentioned herein feel free to forward the information to their relatives and/or to persons connected to the villages of Victoria and Ann’s Grove on the East Coast of Demerara. They perhaps, will find it necessary to enlighten me respecting the identification of the persons mentioned in the publication.
Thank you for contributing.

Death of A Well-Known Colonist – the Late Rev. J. R. Mittelholzer

Death of A Well-Known Colonist – the Late Rev. J. R. Mittelholzer
After a long and painful illness, borne with remarkable patience, the death occurred in New Amsterdam on Friday night of the Rev. John Robert Mittelholzer, pastor of the Ebenezer Lutheran Evangelical Church, and one of the most public Spirited of the Citizens of New Amsterdam.
For more than a year Mr. Mittelholzer was confined to his room, and although on more than one occasion his life was despaired of he rallied through his illness until Friday night when the end came in the presence of nearly all the members of a well-known and much respected Berbice family. In his young days Mr. Mittelholzer was a Congregational Schoolmaster and subsequently took to the ministry of that denomination, being trained by the late Reverend John Dalgleish. When the vacancy occurred at the Lutheran Church Mr. Mittelholzer accepted the invitation of the members, led by the late Mr. Schwartz, and for over a quarter of a century ministered to his flock. He practically rebuilt and enlarged the present church which to-day in one of the architectural ornaments of New Amsterdam. Of scholastic attainments he conducted an academy at the Lutheran Manse for several years where he not only educated his children, but several of the prominent citizens of New Amsterdam to-day received their education at his hands. He was connected with the Berbice Auxiliary of the British and Foreign Bible Society for a long period and for a number of years discharged the duties of honorary Secretary with much satisfaction locally and abroad. It was only a few years ago when active work began to tell upon him that he was compelled to resign the position which was regretted on all sides.

A Public Spirited Citizen
A Berbician to the core he took a prominent and leading part in the agitation when the Government in the interests of economy attempted to remove the public institutions and officers from New Amsterdam. He had great faith in the prospects of Berbice and particularly the river district where he successfully carried on several missions. He was very kind and charitably disposed to the poor and his familiar figure and the influence of his personality will be much missed. The deceased gentleman was also chairman of the Cumberland Village Council at one time and on several occasions represented the Council at the conference of Village Chairmen. His advice, no matter in what business or purpose, was always readily given. Thought not a brilliant orator – he belonged to the old school – his appearances on the public platform were always the source of much satisfaction and he invariably found a point which appealed to the audience. He was born in Berbice and had some distant connection with the Dutch. To his credit be it said he had not an enemy and there was never an ill-word uttered of him. At the time of his death he was 73 years of age.
The late Mr. Mittelholzer was twice married and leaves a widow and seven children – three sons and four daughters – to mourn their loss. One of his sons is Mr. J. V. Mittelholzer, of the Customs Department, Georgetown, another Mr. E. A. Mittelholzer, of the local branch of the Registrar’s Office. The deceased was of a musical turn of mind and took a keen interest in stringed instrumentation as instinct which he has handed down to his several children, all of whom are musicians of some ability. It might be mentioned that Mr. Mittelholzer, was at one time a member of the old Board of Superintendence.
Source: The Argosy, Georgetown, Demerara, British Guiana – Sunday, August 24, 1913 page 4.

100_1406

100_1406
Originally uploaded by childrenofsancho

100_1405

100_1405
Originally uploaded by childrenofsancho

100_1404

100_1404
Originally uploaded by childrenofsancho

100_1407

100_1407
Originally uploaded by childrenofsancho

Books-The British West Indies Regiment

Books-The British West Indies Regiment

Posted using ShareThis

POLICE MEDAL AWARDS

POLICE MEDAL AWARDS
The Colonial Police Long Service Medal has been awarded to the following:-
INSPECTOR:
4930 Vincent Ivor Renaldo, 5016 James Grosvenor
SERGEANTS:
4230 Alonzo Theophilus Augustus Fenty, 4550 Teddy Anselmo Heyliger, 4558 John Bearam, 4597 Alexander Josephus Klass, 4748 Sydney Archibald Richmond, 4878 Thomas Adolphus Junor, 4928 Ezurick Adolphus Mickle, 4958 Damechand, 4981 Percival McLeod, 4996 Allan McIntosh, 4998 Edward Anthony, 5008 Arthur Fraser, 5011 Harold London
CORPORAL:
4238 Rupert Cort, 4570 Edgar Yaw, 4600 McDonald Fitzpatrick Osborne, 4607Gershom Eustace Anderson, 4689 Charles Constantine Ceres, 4732 Thomas Chalmers, 4775 Nathan Isaac Brown, 4781 William Piercy Babb, 4792 Leyland Ovid Holder, 4803 Lanceworth Rolston, 4886 Abraham Bertnice Scott, 4896 Wilfred Jackson, 4915 Richard Archibald, 4934 Periweeran Karpenna, 4937 Charles Amsterdam Lynch, 4940 Reuben Ovid Housty, 4947 Frank Ernest Collins, 5002 Victor Holder, 5006 Cleveden Harris, 5032Edward Horatio
CONSTABLES:
4686 Charles Robert Bourne, 4691 Joseph Christopher Caleb, 4745 Frank Albertis Knights, 4749 Timothy Richardson, 4768 James Amsterdam, 4773 Lloyd Bowery, 4793 Alvin Archibald Hendericks, 4832 Reginald Hubert Innis, 4844 Jeffrey Trim, 4852 Abraham Dalrymple, 4866 Vere Yelverton Thomas, 4868 Brentnol Williams, 4895 Theodore Emanuel Van Brook, 4899 Joseph Alexander Browne, 4906 Sudat Rampersaud, 4907 Egbert Nathaniel La Rose, 4919 Samuel Augustus Francis, 4960 Richard Budhoo, 4967 Joseph Bayley, 4968 Joseph White Webb, 4972 Ovid Gladstone Andrews, 4994 Thomas Lovell, 5003 William Thom, 5013 Donald Thomas, 5029 Thomas Henry Eustace Coppin, 5030 Hector Fraser, 5036 Thomas Heyligar, 5039 Theophilus George,

The First Clasp to the Medal has been awarded to the following:-
INSPECTOR:
4344 Bruce Billington James, 4358 Leslie Wallace Ogle, 4360 Eric Randolph Bryan
SERGEANTS:
4342 Cornelius Alphonso Douglas, 4348 Emulus Alphonso Duncan, 4351 John Hannibal Thomas Fredericks, 4260 Wilfred Robinson Mitchell,
CORPORAL:
4238 Joseph Newton Fenty, 4570 Edward Gladstone Williams,
Winter Henry Thompson
CONSTABLE:
4336 Lionel David Gill,
The Second Clasp to the Medal has been awarded to the following:-
CHIEF INSPECTOR:
4167 Edward Alexander Washington,
CONSTABLE:
4233 Joseph Noble,

A. A. Abraham
Secretary to the Office of the Governor.
Source: The Official Gazette of British Guiana; 1962: