In this sixth episode of Series Three - THE MATRIARCH, Andrew meets genealogist and RootsTech Ambassador Yetunde Abiola to find out how she researches her family history in Jamaica and Nigeria, and what kind of records are available in two countries involved in the slave trade in seemingly different ways.

Life Story: Agnes Ancita Chambers
Yetunde has chosen her 2x Great Grandmother Agnes Ancita Chambers for her Life Story.

After being shown a photograph of Agnes dressed in her finery, Yetunde needed to find out more, and she soon discovered that Agnes was born in 1867 in Jamaica, right at the end of slavery. Agnes was a woman of means.

After marrying her seemingly secretive (more on that later) husband Charles Adolphus Williams, in 1889 in Manchester, Jamaica, the couple had 15 children (12 of whom survived).

The Brick Wall: Charles Adolphus Williams
It's now the turn of Agnes' husband (and Yetunde's 2x Great Grandfather), Charles Adophus Williams, whom is giving Yetunde a long-term brick wall. 

He was born in about 1863, and is known to have owned property. He also had 5 or 6 brothers, and according to a court record, he was a 'staunch Moravian' (an old Protestant denomination of Christianity). 

Yetunde has seen the marriage certificates for Charles and his brothers, all of whom name their father as 'Robert'... but this is where the trail goes cold. 

Yetunde cannot locate Charles or his brothers' birth certificates that would otherwise confirm if this 'Robert' really was Charles' father, and whether they were all full-blood siblings, and who the mother was.

• Where are the births (and the certificates) for Charles and his brothers?
• Who were the parents?

If you think you have a clue, or a research idea, that might help Yetunde demolish her research brick wall, then you can contact her at [email protected] or you can send her a message via our contact form, and we'll pass them on to her.

In the meantime, Yetunde is curious of Andrew's offer of help, but have recent updates made things more accurate?

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Episode Credits
Series Three, Episode Six

• Andrew Martin - Host and Producer
• Yetunde Abiola - Guest
• John Spike - Sándor Petőfi

Show notes and more: familyhistoriespodcast.com

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