I have an ancestor, John Marion Dallas, born about 1820 who "moved to Kentucky" but the only previous information I can find is that he was born in Kingston, Jamaica. Is there any particular historical reason an Irish boy would be born in Jamaica in approx 1820?
Thanks in advance- Christine (51% Irish BTW)
Hi Christine,
Ireland and Jamaica were British colonies. Many people moved to and were brought to the Island from Britain and Ireland to work on various projects. Google " History of Jamaica".
Regards,
Quite a lot of people born in Ireland owned plantations in the West Indies. The legacy of British slave ownership site lists 189 with Irish addresses. (Compiled around 1834 when slavery had just been abolished). The name Dallas is not on the website but it’s an example of the sort of reasons why folk ended up in Jamaica and West Indies generally.
I am sure there are many Americans today born in apparently surprising countries due to their parents serving there with the forces or working there for a US company. It wasn’t so different in the 1820s.
Hi,
I see John Dallas' Baptism 17th Feb 1821, he was 2 years old.
This is in Familysearch.org it's free.
Margot
McCoy- Shortly after I posted that message it hit me- why don't I search it in a browser? Maybe it's not such a strange thing! Now, this is where you are going to laugh at me. Not only did I learn the connection- I learned I should have either paid more attention in history class or had a better history teacher AND that I completely had the wrong understanding of Black Irish! I gave it the meaning of 'black sheep of the family' or someone who got drunk in the bars a lot. So uneducated for a smart girl, am I!
Elwyn- Yes, I agree and I love your name.
Margot- thank you! Thank You, Thank you! I am off to see what I can learn from Familysearch.org.
Margot-
Wondering if you could help. I was on Family search for quite awhile last night and tried again this morning. I have found a baptism for a John Dallas but it states his age as 8, It was on page 366 and was 1821. I don't see where it states Feb. 17th. Would you mind taking another look? If we are indeed looking at different records perhaps you could give me the record number? Thank you!
Christine
Oooops! it's me sorry, yes he is 8 years old.
Need my eyes testing.
Sorry
Margot
Thanks for your time, Margot!