About this Event
Was it WILBERFORCE or WILL-BY-FORCE? That is the question!
Trailblazing genealogist and family historian and author Paul Crooks captivates his audience with his account of how he traced two of his African forebears. They were captured of the West Coast of Africa and enslaved on a sugar plantation in Jamaica, 200 years ago.
When researching his ancestry, Paul Crooks discovered his Great Great Great Grandfather walked free from a sugar plantation in Jamaica in 1838. Paul wanted to know what lay behind the decision to free the enslaved people of the Caribbean.
In this talk, Paul will implicate his ancestors in Jamaica’s Baptist War – which ultimately brought the British system of slavery to its knees. Paul will reveal what he researched about the forgotten history of ‘The Jamaican slaves who abolished slavery’.
Click for the about Ancestry Talks with Paul Crooks
The event was interesting and enjoyable’
‘A very informative and inspiring talk. Thank you!’
‘Very knowledgable.’
‘He presented this deep topic in a positive way. Brilliant!!’
‘Was informative, interesting, stimulating & thought provoking’
About Paul Crooks
Paul Crooks is unique as a published author and trailblazing genealogist with a specialist interest in Black ancestry. Paul pioneered research into African Caribbean genealogy during the 1990s when he became the first to trace his family history from London, back 6 generations, to ancestors captured off the West African coast 200 years ago. Paul discovered that his ancestors were enslaved on a sugar plantation in Jamaica.
Paul gained national recognition for his work when his acclaimed historical novel Ancestors (based on the true story of the author’s African ancestors) was published by Arcadia Books in 2002. He appeared on Who Do You Think You Are? (Moira Stuart) as the expert in African Caribbean genealogy. His second book A Tree Without Roots is the authoritative guide to tracing African, British and Asian Caribbean ancestry.
Paul has been recognised for inspiring an upsurge in interest in Black and British ancestry. He is also credited with having spawned an industry in African Caribbean genealogy.