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Research in Other Countries => Other Countries => Topic started by: drobbo on Sunday 17 July 11 20:43 BST (UK)
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Dear Listers
I am trying to locate ancestors who moved from South India (we think Madras) to British Guyana. I have been told that if I can find the boat/ship that took them from India to Guyana it will possibly help me to throw some light on their emigration.
Surnames I am trying to trace are Tajswah and Dhanpal (sometime spelt Dhanpaul)
I hope you can point me in the right direction
Dave
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It may be difficult to locate passenger lists but can you give us an idea of dates and names?
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Thanks for your prompt reply....
I need to do further work but do know that my wife's grandmother was Elsie Dhanpal and she married Daniel (believe this was his 'english' name) Dhanpal. Elsie we think was born in Guyana @1928 and had a daughter * who married * Deoraj 1961 in Guyana. (I am trying to trace the Deoraj side of the family but need to check more details first)
Trying to find out Elsie and Daniel's parents and when they arrived in Guyana.
Really grateful for any help
Dave
*recent family details removed
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Dear Listers
I am trying to locate ancestors who moved from South India (we think Madras) to British Guyana. I was told that if I can find the boat/ship they travelled on from India to Guyana it will possibly help me to throw some light on their emigration.
I know that my wife's grandmother was Elsie Dhanpal (not sure of her maiden name) and she married Daniel Dhanpal. We think Elsie was born in Guyana @1928 and she had a daughter who married in 1961 to the Deoraj family.
Trying to find out when Elsie and Daniel's parents arrived in Guyana.
Also trying to trace the Tajswah family who we think arrived at a similar time.
Really grateful for any help you can give
Dave
Note: thread merged with previous thread to avoid duplication
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One possibility might be the British Library which has many records of the British in India. Another possibility might be to try the National Archives at Kew, and also the Guayana national archive.
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Do you know where they lived once they got to Guyana? The reason I ask is that a certain group on Facebook, Guyana Gallery, posts alot of information on the Berbice area of Guyana. The tough part is that even though the Guyana library has the documents, they are not currently doing anything (to my knowledge) of getting them on a database.
The other option is to google Guyana genealogy. There are some small groups that can try to assist you. Also, give ancestry.com message boards a try. There is a Guyana forum that might be helpful.
Good luck.
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On reflection I remember contacting a West Indies Family History Group who were at Olympia in February. Perhaps they cover Guyana?
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Thank you both for your comments
I've contacted National Archives and they were helpful. Also I have been told that the family lived in Demerara.
Although I'm not sure of the dates they arrived I think it was late 1800s. I have since found that my wife's fathers line (Deoraj) travelled on ships from India. I hope to have the names of the ships that they travelled so I assume then if I go on something like www.ancestorsonboard I might be able to trace them more accurately.
I'll log back in later once I have the information
Dave
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I've now found that the family (Deoraj and Backtaor or Baktawar) arrived in 1895 on the ships called Elbe and Avoca.
From a birth certificate of Mangri Baktawar I have found that her parents Backtaor and Sowiya or Soriya were on these ships and there is a passenger/immigration number of 71767 and 69815.
Mangri was down as living in Pl La Bonne Intention - can listers please find out more about where these ships left and her parents?
Many thanks
Dave
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La Bonne Intention-Better Hope Village District - Demerara-Mahaica, Guyana is the location where they most likely resided. It was a "plantation", and if I am not mistaken it is closer to Berbice than Georgetown, or at least it is in the direction of Berbice.
Here is a link to the geographic location:
http://www.tageo.com/index-e-gy-v-12-d-m1363621.htm
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thanks for the information...trying to trace ancestors based on the ship passenger lists and numbers but not having much luck...I wonder if there are church records that may help?
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Have you tried the new version of family search? They have a lot of West Indies BMD's but I am not sure of the latest date.
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Thanks - how do I log into family search? Sorry for the 'numpty question'!
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It is the Latter Day Saints site. Just google Family search and take it from there. The link to the West indies information is near the page bottom.
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thanks Redroger!
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No luck with this I'm afraid.
I have found a useful Guyanese online forum which has given more information about what the numbers next to the name of the ships my ancestors came on in 1895 on a birth certificate means. I believe that these are the unique immigration numbers and have been told that the next step is to enquire at the National Archives in Guyana where the ships logs are held. This should reveal the full names of the parents, the exact date they arrived, what they did and where they were intending to live. Only problem is that I don't think they (National Archives) have an online search so it means hoping that someone in the National Archives can help or visiting Guyana myself. Any other ideas Listers?
Dave
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Try posting a general query to this facebook group:
GuyanaGallery[at]groups.facebook.com
The administrator is from that area, and I have seen photos and discussions in the past about exactly this topic. You are bound to get some responses.
Never give up...
Moderator Comment: e-mail edited, to avoid spamming and other abuses.
Please replace [at] with @
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Thanks - have joined - fingers crossed I'll get some information/help
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Dear Listers
I'm trying to restart searching for my wife's ancestors again who travelled from India to Guyana in the late 1800s (see trail below). So far I have not managed to trace anything and I wondered if anyone had any ideas on how I could make some progress.
I've joined the Guyanese facebook as suggested below and have tried to access shipping records but without success. I searched on Find my Past and there is a 'Deoraj' quoted as dying at sea (overseas) in 1885 but not sure whether this is related in any way to the family as I do not have a paid subscription.
Any other ideas please?
Thanks
Drobbo
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Hello,
My grandma's parents were taken from India to Guyana and I am trying to locate her family. She was born in 1933 and doesn't know any of her family from India.
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Hello drobbo,
Elsie and Daniel are my great-grandparents. I am part of the first-generation Deorajs living in Canada. I am also trying to find out more about my ancestors, and I came across your posts in a Google search. I would love to chat more to find out how you (your wife) and I are connected.
Thanks!
K.
Dear Listers
I am trying to locate ancestors who moved from South India (we think Madras) to British Guyana. I was told that if I can find the boat/ship they travelled on from India to Guyana it will possibly help me to throw some light on their emigration.
I know that my wife's grandmother was Elsie Dhanpal (not sure of her maiden name) and she married Daniel Dhanpal. We think Elsie was born in Guyana @1928 and she had a daughter who married in 1961 to the Deoraj family.
Trying to find out when Elsie and Daniel's parents arrived in Guyana.
Also trying to trace the Tajswah family who we think arrived at a similar time.
Really grateful for any help you can give
Dave
Note: thread merged with previous thread to avoid duplication