November 2002 - Spotlight report

CASBAH project report

The following abridged report was taken from the CASBAH project. The aim of the CASBAH project was to identify and map research resources in Caribbean Studies and the History of Black and Asian History in the UK. The report provides an over-view of the sources found in Cardiff during a visit in July 2001.

Introduction

The selecting of the five regions in which to conduct the five additional surveys was based primarily on the geographic particularities of the areas, the numbers of Black and Asian people in the region, as well as the extent to which local research in the links between Britain and the English speaking Caribbean, or the lives of Black and Asian residents had been undertaken.

In the case of the Leicestershire survey, the aim was to explore an in-land area with a history of prosperity and with this, a history of new residents from all over the world, not least Asians from East African. Not a 'colonial/imperial hotspot', nor a port, the aim of the Leicester survey was to make contemporary links as well as exploring the historical links between the town and the British Caribbean. In the case of collection surveys conducted in Manchester, the aim was to examine the history of a large, urban conurbation with an established Black and Asian presence and clear link, well-documented links to Britain's colonial past. The aim was to explore how historical links and the legacies of these links in contemporary society have been archived and preserved. Similar links were explored during our Glasgow survey, where research has not been extensive. Overshadowed for so long by 'the troubles' of the two white ethnic groups, CASBAH's survey work in Belfast was timely and insightful, allowing us to map out sources in a region with a comparatively recent influx of Black and Asian people where research is only beginning to be published.

The initial reason for choosing Wales was to develop our national remit, and seek out new research resources in our subject areas. What became clear when conducting the preliminary research, however, was the value of conducting research in a region with an established Black and Asian presence. Would it be easier to find relevant collections in Cardiff, then for instance, in Leicestershire? Should we assume that one can more easily find relevant records in port cities such as Liverpool or Cardiff with long histories of a Black and Asian presence? The aim was to conduct investigative work at the local record office, as well as track the processes involved in gathering information from a centre dedicated to the preservation of resources related to the history of the local Black and Asian ethnic groups.

The primary survey was conducted at the Glamorgan Record Office between 23rd & 27th July 2001. Visits were also made to the Central Cardiff Library and to Race Equality First.

 

Local context & Cardiff Bay

In 1974 the historic county of Glamorgan was divided into the three counties of Mid, South and West Glamorgan. Although the Glamorgan Record Office serves the authorities of Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taff and the Vale of Glamorgan, our specific focus was in the area of South Glamorgan, covering the Cardiff Docks and Butetown in particular. The South Glamorgan County Council's '1991 Census Minority Ethnic Population Factsheet' published in 1993, provides the following statistics of note:

  1. White Ethnic groups make up 95.2% of the population (387,930)
  2. The total number of 'non-white' ethnic groups make up 4.8% of the population (19,390)
  3. The 4.8% of the population of South Glamorgan is comprised of:
    • 1.5% Black Groups:
      • Black Caribbean - 2,040
      • Black African - 1,360
      • 'Black Other' - 1,920
    • 1.9% South Asian Groups:
      • Indian - 1,050
      • Pakistani - 2,930
      • Bangladeshi - 1,730
    • 1.4% Chinese, 'Chinese Other' and 'Asian Other'
  4. The county's 'minority ethnic population' is spread unevenly throughout South Glamorgan, although the vast majority reside in Cardiff (91.8%). Nearly two fifths (39.5%) of Black, South Asian and Chinese groups live in Butetown, closely followed by Riverside South (33.9%). The electoral divisions with the largest number of Black, Asian and Chinese people are as follows:
Electoral District Black Groups South Asian groups Chinese Other, Asian Other
Butetown 24.7%   10.3%
Riverside 5.1% 23.8% 5.0%
Saltmead 4.4% 10.7%  
The Marl 4.5%    
Adamsdown 3.5%   3.3%
Park   9.5% 3.0%
Central   6.1% 8.1%
Mackintosh   5.8%  
South Glamorgan 1.4% 1.9% 1.4%

 

Cardiff Bay & Docks (taken from Butetown History and Art Centre Information page - Cardiff Bay)

Cardiff docklands has a rich and unique history - a history that began even before John, 2nd Marquis of Bute, opened the 19.5 acre West Bute Dock in 1839 and launched the Port of Cardiff on its rise to maritime greatness. By the 1890s, Cardiff was Britain's largest coal-exporting port, with exports peaking at over 10 million tons in 1913. The expansion of the port attracted British and international capital, symbolised most prominently in Mount Stuart Square with its famous Coal and Shipping Exchange. These industrialists, merchants and speculators invested in heavy engineering, steelworks, ship-repairing and various other trades.

The growth of Cardiff docklands also attracted a kaleidoscope of immigrants to build the docks, to work aboard the tramp-steamers, and to otherwise service the new industrial and maritime city. More docks had to be built to keep pace with the constantly expanding trade, culminating in 1907 with the opening of the 52 acre Queen Alexandra Dock. (Still in use today, its cranes remain a feature of the Cardiff Bay skyline.) Containerisation and the decline of the coal trade - a mere 229,105 tons were exported in 1964 - brought Cardiff's days as a major port to an end.

But by then, Cardiff docklands, especially the famed community known as Tiger Bay, was a cosmopolitan island. In addition to people from the Welsh valleys, mid-Wales, Ireland, the West Country and Scotland, the area was a magnet for people from at least 50 other nations including:

  • Greeks
  • Spanish
  • Portuguese
  • Cape Verdeans
  • Italians
  • Germans
  • French
  • Maltese
  • Turks
  • Cypriots
  • Caribbean islanders
  • Chinese
  • Malays
  • Indians
  • Somalis
  • Arabs
  • Jews
  • Poles
  • Russians
  • Baltic peoples
  • Ukrainians
  • Scandinavians
  • Mauritians
  • West Africans
  • South Africans
  • North Americans
  • South Americans
  • Central Americans
  • And a few others, including one Maori and at least one Fijian.

Cardiff Bay, has in recent years undergone substantial redevelopment. A barrage across the joint estuary of the Taff and Ely rivers has been recently completed and has created a large lagoon that will ultimately be fresh water. Much of the heavy industry has gone, to be replaced with new office development and government establishments, including the home of the new Welsh Assembly.

Information gathered about activities in the region related to CASBAH's subject areas

Race Equality First

Staff visited Shelagh Maher, Information Officer at the Race Equality First on 27 July 2001, to provide information about the CASBAH project and learn more about the activities of the organisation. Race Equality First, a registered charity funded by the Cardiff County Council, the Vale of Glamorgan Council and the Commission for Racial Equality, aims to work towards the elimination of racial discrimination and promote equality of opportunity and good relations between persons of different racial groups. The core areas of work are:

  • Race-specific casework
  • Policy development
  • Education and Community Development

Race Equality First also offer consultancy and advice on issues and provides training in the following areas:

  • Race legislation
  • Effective equal opportunities development
  • Nationality and Immigration
  • Recruitment and selection
  • Cultural Diversity
  • Community Development

Other services include:

  • Translation service
  • Talks and presentation to schools, and local businesses
  • Training and consultancy
  • Mobile exhibition
  • Public resource library

List of selected local organisations

Association of Muslim Professionals
62 Whitechurch Road, Cardiff, CF14 3LX
Telephone: 029 2022 4466

AWETU Black Mental Health Group
41a Lower Cathdral Road
Riverside, Cardiff
CF11 6LW
Telephone: 029 2039 4141

Bangladesh Association Cardiff
F. Haque, 15 Grisedale Close, Lady Mary Estate, Cardiff, CF2 5NX
Telephone: 029 2061 5669

Bangladesh Welfare Association
S. Rahman, 173 Cowbridge Road East, Canton, Cardiff
Telephone: 029 2034 4770

Barnardos (Multicultural Resource) Centre
7 - 9 Neville Street, Riverside, Cardiff, CF11 6LP

Black Voluntary Sector Network
Baltic House, Mount Stuart Square, Cardiff, CF10 5FH
Telephone: O29 2041 5708

Multicultural Crossroads
S. Batros, 1A Maria Street, Butetown, Caridiff, CF1 5HG
Telephone: 029 2048 0300

Pakistan Welfare Assocition for Wales, Cardiff
M. Javed, Celyn Avenue, Lakeside, Cardiff, CF23 6EQ

Somali Advice Centre
Unit 4, 8 West Bute Street, Butetown, Cardiff
Telephone: 029 2025 5527

Sri Lankan Sports and Cultural Association of Wales
S. Sivapalan, 21 Kyle Crescent, Whitechurch, Cardiff
Telephone: 029 2078 5372

Welsh Asian Council
A. Rashid, 82 Waterloo Road, Penylan, Caridiff, CF3 7BH

For further information about local organisations, e-mail race.equality@enablis.co.uk, or telephone (020) 2022 4097.

Cardiff Central Library
St David's Link, Frederick Street, Cardiff

The Local Studies section of Cardiff Central Library offers a huge range of research material on all aspects of Cardiff, including books, maps, periodicals, newspapers, street directories, census returns etc. It also contains the Library's family history research material.

Contact the Library by e-mail: enquiry@libraries.cardiff.gov.uk; by phone 029 2038 2116; or write to Cardiff Libraries & Information Service, Cardiff Central Library, St. David's Link, Frederick Street, Cardiff CF10 2DU

Printed sources in CASBAH's subject areas include the following:

List of selected Publications (A-E, F-N, PZ)

A-E
Bloom, Leonard. The Psychology of Race Relations, (London: Allen & Unwin, 1971). (Includes some discussion of Butetown)Collins, Sydney F. 'A Negro Community in Wales' in Coloured Minorities in Britain, (AUTHOR)(London: Butterworth Press, 1957)
Cordell, Alexander. Tales from Tiger Bay (Abergavenny, Gwent: Blorgenge Books, 1986) (short stories)
Daunton, Maurice J. Coal Metropolis: Cardiff, 1870 - 1914' in Welsh History Review, (vol.9, no.2, 1980.)
Evans, Catherine et al. Below the Bridge: A Photographic Historical Survey of Cardiff's Docklands to 1983, (Cardiff: National Museum of Wales, 1984).
Evans, Neil, 'The South Wales Race Riots of 1919' in Llafur: Journal of the Society for the Study of Welsh labour History (vol.3, no.1, 1980) pp.5 - 29.
Evans, Neil'The South Wales Race Riots of 1919': A Documentary Postscript' in Llafur: Journal of the Society for the Study of Welsh labour History (vol.3, no.4, 1983), pp. 76 - 87.

F-N
Regulating the reserve army: Arabs, black and the local state in Cardiff, 1919 - 1945', Immigrants and Minorities (vol.4 No.2, 1985), pp.68 - 115
Fletcher, Muriel E. Report on an Investigation into the Colour Problem in Liverpool and Other Ports, (Liverpool: Association for the Welfare of Half Caste Children, 1930).
Jordan, Glenn H. 'Images of Tiger Bay: Did Howard Spring tell the Truth?' in Llafur: Journal of the Society for the Study of Welsh labour History (vol.5, no.1, 1988), pp. 53 - 59.
Jordan, Glenn H.& Weedon, Chris, 'Whose History is it anyway' in Cultural Politics: class, gender, race and the post-modern world (Oxford: Blackwell, 1988). pp.112 - 175.
Lee, Brian and BHAC. Images of Wales: Butetown and Cardiff Docks (Gloucester: Tempus Publishing, 1999).
Little, Kenneth, 'Loudoun Square: A Community Survey I in Sociological Review (vol.34, Jan 1942), pp.12 - 33.
Little, Kenneth,'Loudoun Square: A Community Survey II in Sociological Review (vol.34, July 1942), pp.119 - 146.
Little, Kenneth,'The Psychological Background of White-Coloured Contacts in Britain' in Sociological Review (vol.35, Jan 1943), pp 12 - 28.
Little, Kenneth,Negroes in Britain: a study of racial relations in English society (London:Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1948 & 1972).

P-Z
Sherwood, Marika, 'Racism and Resistance: Cardiff in the 1930s and 1940s' in Llafur (vol.5, No.4), pp. 51 - 71.
Wilson, Harriet. A Housing Survey of the Dock Area of Cardiff' in Sociological Review, (vol,42, no.2, 1950), pp.201 - 213

Newsletters, Newspapers article & clippings

Basini Mario, 'Good relations bridge the generation gap' Western Mail, (10/10/85)

'Being Black (a two-day series looking at the problems facing the increasing number of Black people in Wales) Western Mail (28 & 29/7/83)

Little, K.L, 'The Coloured Folk of Cardiff - A challenge to Reconstruction', in The New Statesmen (19.12.42) p.406

Basini Mario, 'Good relations bridge the generation gap' Western Mail, (10/10/85)

Saunders, Roy, 'Islam's faithful at prayer in a Cardiff mosque. The foreign seamen in the city's dockland', in Western Mail (3/20/34), p.7

Tweedale, Ian,' From Tiger Bay to the Inner city: a century of black settlement in Butetown', in Radical Wales (No.14, spring, 1987)

Wilson, Harrier, Letter to the Editor. New Statesmen, May , 1948).

 

List of selected Theses

Gehrke, Karen, 'Struggling for Cultural Democracy: A Cast Study of Butetown History and Arts Centre. Unpublished BA dissertation, Communication Studies, University of Glamorgan, 1996.

Jones, R.G. Butetown, Caridff: Change in a Dockland Community from the Early Nineteenth Century to the Present ' Unpublished masters thesis, University of Keele, 1980. (Copy at the Cardiff Central Library ref: LC84:301.18)

O'connor, P.J. Butetown: A case study in Social, Economic and Physical Malaise' unpublished diploma dissertation, Department of Town Planning, Univeristy of Wales Institute of Science and Technology, 1973.

Glamorgan Record Office

Type of Repository Local Authority Record Office
Address The Glamorgan Building King Edward VII Avenue Cathays Park Cardiff CF10 3NE
Telephone 029 2078 0282
Website http://www.glamro.gov.uk
Email GlamRO@cardiff.gov.uk
CASBAH's contact Susan Edwards

 

 

 

 

 

Overview

Established in 1939, the Glamorgan Record Office collects, preserves, and makes available to the public, documents relating to the historic county of Glamorgan and the ecclesiastical records of parishes in the Diocese of Llandaff. It has over five miles of records in its strongrooms, dating from the twelfth century to the present day.


Administrative History

Authorities Served:
Glamorgan County Council 1939-1974
Mid Glamorgan County Council 1974-1996
South Glamorgan County Council 1974-1996
West Glamorgan County Council 1974-1992


From 1996, Glamorgan Record Office provides a joint service for the following local authorities:

Cardiff County Council
Bridgend County Borough Council
Caerphilly County Borough Council
Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council
Rhondda-Cynon-Taff County Borough Council
Vale of Glamorgan County Borough Council

List of Archive Collection Descriptions

Descriptions for the following collections (in some cases, lower level record series) have uploaded to the CASBAH database:

  1. D/D ETR 1-172 - Records of Evan Thomas Radcliffe and Company, Dock Chambers, Bute Street, Cardiff Shipowners.
  2. D/D Xqq/1/112 - Independent Order of Oddfellows, Cardiff Lodge, Glamorgan
  3. D/D Wes/CW23 - Loudoun Square English Wesleyan Methodist Church, Cardiff
  4. D/D Xgc 29 - Photographs of Butetown, Cardiff Dock Residents
  5. D/D X 819/1-43 - Angelina Street Mission/Welcome Mission, Cardiff, South Glamorgan , 1907-1994 : papers, photographs and press-cuttings
  6. Records of the Cardiff Borough Police Force (Reference D/D Con/C 1-10)
  7. Family and Estate Papers of the Matthew Family of St. Kew, Cornwall and of the Caribbean Islands
  8. South Wales Society of Friends
  9. Plan of the plantation of Abednego Mathew in St. George Basseterre, St. Christopher, 1757, with additions, 1800.

Archive Collection Description - Extract

Angelina Street Mission (Welcome Mission) Butetown, Cardiff (1907- 1994) ref: D/DX819/1-43

Angelina Street Mission was founded in 1906 by Mr James Phillips and became affiliated with the Christian Community, London, in 1909. It was an inter-denominational society preaching in hospitals, open-air, mission halls and social welfare centres. In 1950 the mission split from the Christian Community and became the Welcome Mission led by the three daughters of the founder: Ethel, Constance and Helen Phillips. Services were held in private houses in the Cardiff docks area and at a seamen's lodging house until a new hall was found in Loudoun Place over a garage (c.1953) which became known by mission workers as the 'upper room'. By this time the residents in and around Loudoun Square were predominantly Black. Fire damage in 1959 led to the Mission relocating in vacant shop premises in Bute Street. In 1972 the Welcome Mission rejoined the Christian Community and moved to a new building in Angelina Street. This was sold in 1985 to the New Testament Church and the Angelina Street Mission (now called the Welcome Mission) amalgamated with the Hannah Street Mission and moved to Pomeroy Street, Cardiff. The amalgamated mission dissolved in 1994.

This collection comprises 43 files of papers, booklets and photographs relating to the Angelina Street Mission (later the Welcome Mission) that was founded in 1906 and located in various premises near the dockland area of Cardiff until it was dissolved in 1994. The collection is divided into 3 sections: (1) Miscellaneous records (Reference: D/D X 819/1-9); (2) Photographs (Reference: D/D X 819/11-34); (3) Newscuttings (Reference: D/D X 819/35-43).

The miscellaneous records include hand-written letters of correspondence between the founders of the Angelina Street Mission based in both Cardiff and London during 1907, and subsequent typed notes documenting the history of the Mission initially written by its first Superintendent (c.1906-1932) and later completed by a mission worker during the period c.1950-1994. Important information about the numbers of Black people who were members of the Angelina Street/Welcome Mission throughout its history is documented in the collection of photographs. The earliest item is a group photograph of children dressed up for a fancy dress pageant that was held at the Angelina Street Mission Hall during the early 1920s. Of the 22 children in the picture, 7 are of African descent.

Other photographs show key festivals and events organised by members of the Mission, such as annual harvest festivals throughout the 1950s and 1960s and photographs taken during the services held to mark the opening of new Mission premises in 1970, 1972 and 1980.

Butetown History and Arts Centre

Type of Repository Specialist repostitory
Address 5 Dock Chambers, Bute Street, Cardiff, CF10 5AG, Wales
Telephone Number 029 20256757
Website address http://www.bhac.org/intro.html
CASBAH's contacts Molly Maher & Glenn Jordan

 

 

 

 

Overview - History, Goals, & range of services

The following description of the establishment of the organisation now known as the Butetown History and Arts Centre is in part taken from Karen Gehrke's dissertation entitled 'Struggling for Cultural Democracy: A Cast Study of Butetwon History & Arts Centre, supervisored by BHAC Director Glenn Jordan (1996).

In 1986/87, a community education course on the 'History of Butetown' took place in the Butetown Community Centre. It was run by Ian Tweendale, a postgraduate student studying in Cardiff. By the end of 1987, the 'Butetown Community History Project' was formed with local residents.During these early years, courses covering the history of the men and women of Butetown were held, and community meetings were organised to discuss the best ways of ensuring that the history of the area and its residents was to be preserved. During these weekly meetings, the group developed the goals and objectives of the project which have remained largely unchanged. (see below - goals). The name changed to 'Butetwon History and Arts Project' and finally into 'Butetwon History and Arts Centre'.

BHAC is a grass roots organisation, established for and with the active engagement of local and former residents of Butetown. The idea behind BHAC has from the beginning been the active promotion of cultural democracy, as C. Weedon explains, '... the whole project, even when it was in its early phases of a community history project, was an exercise in cultural democracy... The idea was that people should collect their own hisotry, should interview each other, collect their photographs, achive them...And that every decision that was made and all the objectives, should be discussed by the group and should be a collective thing that went forward, which everyone was involved in, irrespective of their background, education, whatever.(Karen Gehrke, p.24) .

Thus, the Butetown Peoples' history, together with cultural democracy, are the backbone of the BHAC's work. BHAC collects, preserves, copies and utilises oral histories, old photographs and other documents; organises community education courses and works with schools and community groups.

The goals of the BHAC are listed on their website and include the following:

  • to ensure that the social and cultural history of Cardiff Docklands, one of Britain's most famous communities, is carefully collected and preserved for posterity
  • to collect and preserve this history with the active involvement of local residents
  • to creatively use visual arts and media arts to produce educational materials, exhibitions and programmes based on our archive that are interesting and accessible to a broad audience
  • to contribute to multi-cultural and multi-racial awareness
  • to help people from inner-city Cardiff acquire education and training that will allow them to participate meaningfully in the new Cardiff docklands
  • to facilitate positive interaction, based on understanding and respect, between the old and new communities of Cardiff Bay-through courses, exhibitions, publications and other activities
  • to create a Bay People's Museum & Arts Centre as a substantial contribution to the regeneration of Cardiff docklands.

Butetown History & Arts Centre offers a range of services:

  1. Tours and Site Visits around Cardiff Bay: BHAC's 'Walk & Talk' programme offers schools conducted tours with activities around Cardiff Bay waterfront and the Victorian commercial centre.
  2. Slideshows: BHAC can provide slideshow introductions prior to school visits.
  3. Digitalised photographs: Discs and CDs can be custom-made with screen resolution photographs of contemporary and historic Cardiff Bay.
  4. Education Resource Packs: Worksheets and activities linked with site visits that can be used on site or back in the classroom.
  5. For students and lecturers in higher education BHAC has a small research library including a full set of the community newspaper 'Making Waves'.
  6. By arrangement, BHAC can offer a variety of work experience and placements for students at schools and colleges.

Further information about the BHAC can be obtained c/o: Butetown History and Arts Centre, 5 Dock Chambers, Bute Street, Cardiff CF10 5AG. Tel: 029 2025 6757. Fax: 029 2025 5887. E-mail: info@bhac.org. Web site: http://www.bhac.org/intro.html

 

BHAC Collections

The BHAC collections have grown from community interest and activity over more than a decade. Informal family snaps, proud photos of home and jobs, formal studio portraits and images of celebrated personalities have all been donated to the Centre. From this foundation, the collection has expanded with material from local industries, shipping firms and companies that made their fortunes in Butetown and the Docks. The documentary archive comprise of c5000 photographs of Butetown and its residents from the late 19th century to the present day.

There is a small library of books, reports, theses, BHAC exhibition guides and local history educational materials (see publications). The sound archive contains c1000 hours of audio-taped oral collections from Butetown residents.

Survey Data

The following collections will be uploaded to the CASBAH database:

  1. Vera Johnson Collection
  2. Catherine Campbell Collection
  3. Butetown Oral History Archive
  4. Butetown Photographic Archive

Click Here to view CASBAH database entries

Archive Collection Extract

Butetown History and Arts Centre: Sound Archive

The sound archive at the Butetown History and Arts Centre contains audiotaped life-history interviews and oral recollections from Butetown's older residents and former residents, primarily recorded during the decade 1979-1989. 150 tapes contain life history interviews from both male and female residents in their 70s and 80s discussing life in Butetown during the early 20th century.

In addition, the collection includes a further 115 audio tapes covering information on the following themes:

  • Taped lectures on the history of Butetown, given by Glenn Jordan (academic and director of Butetown History and Arts Centre) and Neil Evans (local historian and author of the book "The Tiger Bay Story", published by Butetown History & Arts Project, 1993)
  • 45 tapes specifically focussing on women's lives in Butetown
  • Tapes of Butetown Residents' Association Meetings recorded during the 1980s
  • Tapes of Butetown housing seminars recorded in 1984 and 1988
  • A recording of the opening of a photographic exhibition showing images of "Old Butetown" in 1989
  • Taped interviews with Rastafarian residents; recordings of press conferences held by the Butetown History and Arts Project (1989)
  • 7 recordings of BBC Wales radio broadcasts featuring information about Butetown 's history and biographies of famous residents.

The main strength of the collection is the series of life-history interviews, entitled "Life Histories from Tiger Bay", of which 61 have been summarised and 23 have been transcribed. A printed catalogue for the life-history interviews provides date of birth details for each interviewee, dates of interviews, number of tapes held and summary/transcription details for each recording.

Appendix - Additional records from Glamorgan Record Office and Aberystwyth National Library of Wales

TABLE ONE

The following table contains the details of records from a pre-survey questionnaire sent to Glamorgan Record Office and a visit by Samantha Collenette in 2000.

Title

Description

Date

Parish Registers: Cardiff St John

Baptism of Joseph Potiphar (a black servant)

30 May 1687

Parish Registers: Swansea St Mary

Baptism of Angelica daughter of a black. Abode not known

7 May 1814

Parish Registers: Swansea St Mary

John Jones - a black Baptism

12 July 1745

Parish Registers: Swansea St Mary

Cato - a black Burial

11 Oct 1774

Parish Registers: Swansea St Mary

A black. Benjamin Argo Baptism aged 12 years

14 June 1783

Parish Registers: Swansea St Mary

Martha Isabella a poor black aged 22 Baptism

13 August 1784

Parish Registers: Swansea St Mary

Baptism Denis Moore a black aged 28 years

1 Feb 1786

Parish Registers: Swansea St Mary

Burial Liz Saunders a black

19 July 1790

 

TABLE TWO

The following table contains the details of records from a pre-survey questionnaire sent to Aberystwyth National Library of Wales Office and a visit by Samantha Collenette in 2000.

Reference Code

Title

Description

Keywords (found under in subject index card catalogue - index to schedules)

Keywords

Date

BRA 1934 March p 1

 

Disposal of Goods from Plantations

West Indies

Plantations, Trade

 

Tred 1 p42

Tredegar Park Muniments

Copy Letter from Sir Henry Morgan

West Indies

 

1675

Tred 1 p50

Tredegar Park Muniments

State of stock of a joint stock company with interests in Africa and West Indies

West Indies

Investment,

1692

Tred 1 p42

Tredegar Park Muniments

Papers re Tredegar of Newport including account of goods abroad from Barbados and goods delivered in Bristol.

West Indies

Barbados, Trade

 

Tred IV p1155

Tredegar Park Muniments

Petition of Monmouthshire inhabitants in favour of abolition

Soc: Slavery

 

1792

Tred V p 1748

Tredegar Park Muniments

Evidence of Lord McCartney etc on Slave Trade before House of Lords

Soc: Slavery

 

1792

Tred V p1663

Tredegar Park Muniments

References to properties in St Croix

Foreign

 

1788

Llan b p591

 

References to lands and plantations in the Indies

West Indies

Plantations

1677

Llwyngw p59

 

Bond for safe return of ship Mary from Barbados and Nevis

West Indies

Barbados, Nevis

1679

Llywyngw p 59

 

Party to document

West Indies

 

1684

Lees p 51

 

Laws of Jamaica Printed London

West Indies

Law, Jamaica

1684

Slebech p171, 179, 189, 191, 193, 196, 201-3, 207 dep 1948 by

Baron de Rutzen Slebech Collection

Slavery in Jamaica 18th century

West Indies; Soc:Slavery

Slavery, Jamaica

1700-1800

Slebech p141, 154, 164-210, 218, 221, 224, 235, 238, 241, 244, 245, 270, 295, 307, 317-9

Baron de Rutzen Slebech Collection

Papers re plantation and planters in Jamaica 18th - 20th century. Title deeds and of estates in Jamaica of the Phillips family of Slebech.

West Indies

Plantations, Planters, Jamaica

1700-1918

Slebech p183

Baron de Rutzen Slebech Collection

Papers re general state of Tobago

Foreign

 

1774-1775

Slebech p 235

Baron de Rutzen Slebech Collection

Account book relating to Jamaican property tax

Foreign

 

1807-1813

Slebech p 219

Baron de Rutzen Slebech Collection

French Forces in the West Indies

Foreign

 

1795

Slebech MSS 541-6

Baron de Rutzen Slebech Collection

Valuations of Phillips estates in Jamaica

West Indies

 

C 1790

Slebech MSS 11515

Baron de Rutzen Slebech Collection

Details of Swarton and Phillips family in Jamaica.

West Indies

 

1738

Slebech MSS 9463

Baron de Rutzen Slebech Collection

Act of partnership between N Phillips and James Mailhet, Jamaica

West Indies

 

1759

Slebech MSS 11485

Baron de Rutzen Slebech Collection

Letterbook of N Phillips, Jamaica

West Indies

 

1759-1778

Slebech MSS 3326

Baron de Rutzen Slebech Collection

Probate and will of James Mailhet, Kingston

West Indies

 

1760

Slebech MSS 8998-9026

Baron de Rutzen Slebech Collection

Letters to N Phillips from family and friends

West Indies

 

1760-1770

Slebech MSS 8902-41

Baron de Rutzen Slebech Collection

Documents relating to appointments in Jamaican army

West Indies

 

1760-1782

Slebech MSS 9022-9046

Baron de Rutzen Slebech Collection

Letters from Hilton and Biscoe, London merchants relating to sugar trade and accounts.

West Indies

 

1760-1767

Slebech MSS 9399

Baron de Rutzen Slebech Collection

Account book of Mailhet and Phillips partnership in Jamaica and England

West Indies

 

1760-1792

Slebech MSS 3327-3333

Baron de Rutzen Slebech Collection

Will and Inventory of Richard Swarton of St Thomas in the East, Jamaica

West Indies

 

1761-1765

Slebech MSS 3334-3336

Baron de Rutzen Slebech Collection

Wills of Nathaniel Phillips

West Indies

 

1763-4

Slebech MSS 3338

Baron de Rutzen Slebech Collection

Proposals by Nathaniel Phillips for disposal of estate

West Indies

 

C 1764

Slebech MSS 9293-9

Baron de Rutzen Slebech Collection

Hilton and Brown, merchants correspondence with Phillips family

West Indies

 

1765-1769

Slebech MSS 3325

Baron de Rutzen Slebech Collection

Probate and will of Nathaniel Phillips

West Indies

 

1763

Slebech MSS 8882-8901

Baron de Rutzen Slebech Collection

Vincent Biscoe, merchant letters relating to cargoes from Jamaica

West Indies

 

1768-1771

Slebech MSS 8829

Baron de Rutzen Slebech Collection

Marriage settlement of Lucius Tucker and Fanny Jenkins relating to a plantation in Jamaica

West Indies

 

1770

Slebech MSS 11685-11791

Baron de Rutzen Slebech Collection

Acts between Nathaniel Phillips and Hibbert, Purner and Horton for accounts of sugar

West Indies

 

1770-1783

Slebech MSS 8942-8950

Baron de Rutzen Slebech Collection

Letters to Nathaniel Phillips from John Gray about his trip to England

West Indies

 

1770-1778

Slebech MSS 9402-9419

Baron de Rutzen Slebech Collection

Diaries of Nathaniel Phillips on his voyage to England and life in Jamaica

West Indies

 

1775-1789

Slebech MSS 8830-8848

Baron de Rutzen Slebech Collection

Valuation of Suffolk Park and Phillipsfield estates in Jamaica

West Indies

 

1782-3

Slebech MSS 9382-4

Baron de Rutzen Slebech Collection

Documents listing Black people by parish in Jamaica and detailing the purchase of estates in Grenada

West Indies

 

1783

Slebech MSS 11524

Baron de Rutzen Slebech Collection

Inventory and Valuation of Nathaniel Phillips estates in Jamaica

West Indies

 

1784

Slebech MSS 9421-62

Baron de Rutzen Slebech Collection

Papers relating to a duel between Nathaniel Phillips and J Cameron, Jamaica

West Indies

 

1787-1788

Probyn p7

 

Articles of agreement re sale of a plantation in Barbados

West Indies

Plantations, Barbados

1725

BODR C

Bodryhddan Collection Vol 1

Correspondence with numerous parties including the Dean of St Asaphs, Denbighshire, Lady Stapleton, Ellis Yonge, Denbighshire relating to the management of sugar plantations in St Kitts and Nevis. 149 letters.

West Indies

Sugar, Plantations, St Kitts and Nevis

1755-1802

NLW MS14984A

Thomas Clarkson's Diary

Entries cover his travels through the UK to gain support for the Anti-Slavery Society including visits to London, Glasgow, Manchester, Bath and Wales

West Indies

 

1823-1824

NLW MS92B Phillipps MSS 20138

Account of the Family of Mawr Rhys (Morris) of Piercefield, Monmouthshire

Various branches of the family and their connections from Tintern Abbey, Monmouthshire to Barbados, Antigua, Guadeloupe, Leeward Islands, St Vincent, Grenada, St Kitts, Jamaica. Includes details of battles, marriages and the family's involvement in politics and government.

West Indies

C Taylor, 'A Chapter in Early Welsh Migration' - PhD thesis published?

1651-1779

21834 B

A smuggler's autobiography

William Owen (1717-47), Cardigan details his smuggling exploits in the West Indies

West Indies

NLW Journal 24 (1985-6) 84-92, Glyn Parry

 

NLW MS 21816 E ff 76-83

Miscellaneous Letters 1801-1849

8 letters from W White and E Warren, Jamaica to T Warren, Camarthen setting up a Methodist Chapel in Kingston and Spanish Town. Also talks generally of Jamaica, Methodist Missions and the Slave Trade

West Indies

 

1814-1819

MSS 12740C

DE Jenkins Collection

Joseph Harris (1704-1764) mission to West Indies mentioned in correspondence

West Indies

 

1704-1764

Wigfair MSS, 12422

Letters to John Lloyd, Wigfair

Letter remarking the stagnated market for West Indian produce

West Indies

 

1810

MS 1367

Picton Collection(?)

'Inhuman Torture! Fairburn's edition of the trial of Sir T Picton, Late Governor of Trinidad (Sir Thomas Picton, Pembrokeshire - active service at St Lucia 1796,

West Indies

See HB Robinson 'Memoirs of Lt Gen Sir Thomas Picton', West Wales Historical Records xii, p133-162; xiii p1-32)

 

MS 1410

Picton Collection

Letter from Sir Thomas Picton to the Duke of Portland

West Indies

 

1799

MS 5417

Picton Collection

Annotations by EA Draper

West Indies

 

 

1452

MP Watkins Collection

Papers relating to a plantation called Diamond in Grenaga owned by the Griffin sisters, Newton House Monmouthshire

 

 

1820

1868 MS 3737 D

Letterbook of a Trinidadian sugar exporter

Letters principally to Messrs Burnett Edwards and Co, London, and to individuals in Greenock and Glasgow, Scotland. Part of an antiquarian's collection (Floyd) used to make notes on genealogy of early Welsh families

West Indies

 

1858-1860

MS3773

Deeds

Conveyance of property in Jamaica, 1703 and a Nevis debenture 1722

West Indies

 

 

 

Moccas Court Collection

UNLISTED Acts, correspondence, estimates of expenditure relating to Grenada

West Indies

 

1780-1900

Picton 19 (Picton Family p7)

Picton Collection

Conveyance in Port of Spain Trinidad and agreement for conveyance of slaves

West Indies

 

1810

Llewellyn-Taylor Collection

 

Papers relating to British Guiana, St Vincent, Demerara (Guyana), St Domingo

West Indies

 

 

Nassau-Senior Papers E1-194

Family Documents and Deeds

Contains some mostly eighteenth century letters relating to management of estates in Barbados and Dominica

West Indies

 

1764-1865

Nassau Senior Papers

Family Documents and Deeds

Account of John Mair's travels in the West Indies including his purchase of a plantation in ?

West Indies

ICS lib cat for details of publication

1767-1785

Nassau Senior Papers E711-817

Family Documents and Deeds

Contains deeds and estimates relating to Tobago, Dominica and Barbados

West Indies

 

 

Jones DTM III p10-11

DTM Jones Collection Vol 3

Letter from Jamaica

Foreign

 

 

Jones DTM p705

DTM Jones Collection

References to investments in Jamaica

Foreign

 

 

Jones DTM III p345, 356

DTM Jones Collection vol 3

Deeds relating to Middlesex and Maggotty estates in the West Indies

Foreign

 

1840-1855

Ast p790

Aston Hall Deeds

Printed chart of West Indies

Foreign

 

1774

Ast p 1058

Aston Hall Deeds and Documents

Papers relating to visit to Bermuda

Foreign

 

1841-1842

EEW p426

Eaton, Evans and Williams

References to affairs in Antigua

Foreign

 

1778

IOM p248, 253-8, 304, 311-314

Iolo Morganwg Letters

Letters from Jamaica

Foreign

 

1779-1804

IOM p385

Iolo Morganwg Letters

References to letting of a coffee plantation, Jamaica

Foreign

 

 

IOM p446

Iolo Morganwg Letters

Notes relating to the slave trade

Soc: Slavery

 

C 1760- 1800

IOM p55

Iolo Morganwg Letters

References to the 'disposal of negroes' in Jamaica

Foreign

 

1814

Small p 9, 12-13

Smallwood Deeds and Papers

Deeds relating to property including sugar plantations in Jamaica

Foreign

 

1780-1790

ESG p 83

Esgair and Pontperthog MSS and Documents

Account of a voyage to Jamaica

Foreign

 

1781

Welsh Sch p95-6

School of Ancient Britons, Welsh School MSS

Articles of agreement for employment of three minors as bookkeepers in Jamaica

Foreign

 

1781

Morg Rich p493

Morgan Richardson Deeds and Documents Vols 1-11

Will of Daniel Crokkatt of Jamaica, now Fishguard

Foreign

 

1811

Glans III p114-5

Glansevern Collection Vol I-IV

Letters relating to the political situation in Jamaica

Foreign

 

1790-1799

Mayb III p 143

Mayberry Collection Vol III

Letter with a statement of the profits made by the brig Pomona on a voyage to the West Indies

Foreign

 

1799

Dav LT p522

Sir Leonard Twiston Davies Collection Vol I-IV

Petition claiming Crescent Estate tracing history from 17th century

Foreign

 

1802

Dol Corr p 295

Dolaucothi Correspondence

Notes on a shooting expedition

Foreign

 

 

M1989 p99

Minor Lists and Summaries 1989

Reference to William Williams, Trinidad

Foreign

 

 

M1989 p51

Minor Lists and Summaries 1989

Act of a journey to Jamaica

Foreign

 

1892

Griff J p45

James Griffiths Papers

Letters from NW manley, Chief Minister Jamaica and Michael Manley, Prime Minister of Jamaica

Foreign

 

1956, 1972

NLW ex 1409 and NLW facs 780

Facsimiles

Press cuttings article 1991 and other papers relating to Reverend Lewis Ton Evans(1861-1933) Ystrad Rhondda Baptist Missionary to Haiti

Foreign

 

 

Harp 1 p75

Harpton Court Collection 1

Comments on the effect of abolition of slavery on Liverpool:

Soc: Slavery

 

1792

Harp 1 p 185

Harpton Court Collection 1

Notes on slavery by Sir G Cornewall Lewis

 

 

1845

Cym p1

Cymreigyddion y Fenni

Englynian about abolition of Slavery

Soc: Slavery

 

1834

 

Acknowledgments

It was based on the replies and willingness to contribute to the project that survey sites in selected regions were selected.

Carol Dixon and Roiyah Saltus - Blackwood would like to thank and acknowledge the support given by Susan Edwards, who contributed to the BASA questionnaire, the CASBAH pre-survey questionnaire, and hosted a pre-survey visit to the Record Office by Samantha Collenette. We would like to Glen Jordan and Molly Maher for their help and support. The time spent at the BHAC added greatly to the success of the visit. We would also like to thank Charlotte Hodgson and all the staff at both Glamorgan Record Office and the Butetown History and Arts Centre who helped and took the time to speak with us.

Special thanks to Shelagh Maher for taking the time to meet with CASBAH staff about the work of the project and to discuss with us the work being done at Race Equality First in regards to the Black and Asian groups in Cardiff. Special thanks to staff at Cardiff Central Library
 

Created: December 2001 by Dr.Roiyah Saltus - Blackwood, CASBAH Researcher

Updated: January 2002