Farnum of Barbados - Mammy's of Barbados
An elderly distance relative in Barbados may be mistaken in giving me family folklore about his grandfather, John Harold Farum, DOB: 10 Sep 1887, Martin’s Bay, St. John, (he died in Canada 1926).
John was common law married abt. 1910 Barbados to a Daisy Gwendoline McClean. She died and is buried in St. Margaret’s Cemetery, Barbados 1982. They had 2 children: Iris Jeanette Farnum, (1912 - 2002 NY, USA) and Graham Farnum (1914 - 2010, Barbados).
John Harold Farnum was alledgedly raised by a Mrs. Mamie Barker (or Baker), supposedly a daughter of Briggs-Stalk. I have endlessly searched for information to no avail. Then it dawned on me that this “Mamie” possibly may very well have been a Mammy for a Barker/Baker or even a Briggs, possibly a plantation owner or overseer back in the mid to late 1800’s. The Briggs-Stalk may be interpreted as Briggs, who took “stock” in indentured servants. Yet slavery ended abt. 1834, so the 1880’s timeframe doesn’tfit.
I have searched to no avail to find any information relating to any mammies in Barbados of any wealthy white person during that time.No luck on any Barker or Briggs mammy listings either.
Is someone able to locate a birth record on John Harold Farnum for me? Possibly if found it will list the parents’ names. My grandmother, Daisy Roberta Farnum (DOB: 12 Mar 1891, St. John’s, Barbados) was John’s sister and I am at a brick road. Barbados told me they found no records on her. She immigrated in 1913 to NY, USA with a missionary group of“The Church of God.”
It was suggested the mother was black and father white. I have a picture from my grandmother, Daisy, showing only a part of a well dressed black woman standing next to a full, well dressed white male. He does appear to be English. There is no date or names on this picture. Daisy had cut off the woman from the picture, making me believe she was embarrassed/ashamed at her mother being black. Daisy never divulged any info about herself or her family.
John Farnum was dark skinned and Daisy was light skinned, suggesting they may have been half siblings. Further information suggests that John and Daisy’s mother was a (Theresa) Jane Farnum, who was baptized on 7 Mar 1865 at St. Saviour’s Angelican Church, Barbados. “Jane’s” mother was supposedly a Frances Farnum of Richmond, St. Joseph’s, Barbados.
Hopefully given all this information someone is able to assist me in my Barbados records search. I sure would gratefully appreciate it!