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Research in Guyana, South America
Research in Guyana, South America
Hi, has anyone had any success in researching in Guyana. I have tried several times to email the General Registry and very churches also the British consulate for Guyana. Nobody replies, it’s as if all emails to this country disappear down a black hole. I am trying to obtain a birth certificate for Thomas McKenzie born August 1866 in Demerara, Father Christmas McKenzie. Was trying to query if the birth registration records started before that date. Any help or advice would be appreciated.
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Re: Research in Guyana, South America
You could try FamilySearch. They may have films/transcriptions. Search their Catalogue for Demerara or guyana, you never know your luck
Re: Research in Guyana, South America
Thanks for suggestion, however I have tried that site and there is very limited information
Re: Research in Guyana, South America
According to FS, Government registration of [Guyana] vital events began as early as 1869. Records are available from the years listed below. So you may struggle to locate an 1866 birth record for your chap.
Births: 1869
Marriages: 1903
Deaths: 1869
This link may provide helpful information to continue your search: https://sites.rootsweb.com/~nyggbs/Sources.htm
Also, FMP have a handful of Passenger records for people named McKenzie traveling to Demerara, Guyana during the 1890s. Check FMP's Passenger Lists Leaving UK 1890-1960 set for the records. Could they have been connected to Guyana's sugar plantations?
Re: Research in Guyana, South America
Thanks will check this out
Re: Research in Guyana, South America
I see Thomas (retired ships cook) in the 1939 Register, living in Liverpool.
Just in case you don't already have it, he's also in the 1901 census:
Name: Thomas McKenzie
Age: 33
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1868
Relation to Head: Cook
Birth Place: West Indies, Demerara
Civil Parish: Vessels
Town: Tyne Dock South Shields St Mary
County/Island: Durham
Registration District: South Shields
ED, institution, or vessel: [Barque] Dunearn
Piece: 4737
Folio: 187
Household Schedule Number: 1
Just in case you don't already have it, he's also in the 1901 census:
Name: Thomas McKenzie
Age: 33
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1868
Relation to Head: Cook
Birth Place: West Indies, Demerara
Civil Parish: Vessels
Town: Tyne Dock South Shields St Mary
County/Island: Durham
Registration District: South Shields
ED, institution, or vessel: [Barque] Dunearn
Piece: 4737
Folio: 187
Household Schedule Number: 1
Re: Research in Guyana, South America
Thank you, I had found this info earlier, it confirmed where I believed he was born.
Re: Research in Guyana, South America
A former co-worker of mine was from Demerara. For his annual holidays, he'd travel round the world meeting his half-siblings. I asked him why he had so many half-siblings. He replied: "My father was in the Merchant Navy". Sadly, my co-worker passed away about 15 years ago. Which is a shame, partly because he would've been a great resource for Guyana family research. In fact, academic research was his occupation.
Last edited by VALLMO9 on 25 Jul 2021, 20:09, edited 2 times in total.
Re: Research in Guyana, South America
Funnily enough finding someone from Guyana with family still there was one of the thoughts I had about getting some research done. Shame your friend is no longer around.
Re: Research in Guyana, South America
Interestingly, his father (also from Demerara) visited Liverpool several times during the 1920s and 1930s. There are various Passenger and Crew records for him on Ancestry. Let's put it this way: I can now understand how my co-worker had quite a few half-siblings round the globe.