When We (They) Lived In New York One Hundred Years Ago
We will be celebrating our Arthur/ Brathwaite Family Reunion on Friday, July 19 to Monday, July 22, 2024. The question is, when we lived in New York One Hundred Years ago? Just imagine based on your bloodline and five generations ago, how, and where would you live.
1. Frances Ruby Brathwaite Wood: One Hundred Years ago, Frances would be her parents William Augustus Brathwaite (1892-1984) and Viola Babbs (1900-2004). William resided in New York for eight years after living and working in Panama and Cuba. Viola came to New York in 1921 as a twenty-years old. Both were born in British Barbados, West Indies.
2. Francine Faulkner Murray: One Hundred Years ago, Francine would be her grandfather, Joseph Arthur (1881-1927). Unfortunately, he had three years to live. He died in Pennsylvania Station. His sister Mary Elizabeth Arthur Brathwaite (lady in 1923 photograph above)came to the police station to identified her older brother. Joseph and his wife were probably the first family members to arrive to United States shores. They came from their birth home, Barbados and landed in America in 1910. They gave birth to three children: Joseph “Sonny” (1910-1980), St. Clair (1911-1977), and Adele Faulkner (1913-1991) who was Fran’s mother. In 1916 the Arthur received the first heartbreak experience. Their mother died, leaving the family motherless.
3. Joseph Brathwaite (1916-1982): One Hundred Years ago, was a seven-year school boy attending second grade in New York Public School system near where he lived on 75 Underhill Avenue, in Brooklyn. Born in Barbados, he viewed the Statute of Liberty for the first time in October 20, 1922 with his mother, Mary Elizabeth Arthur Brathwaite (1882-1969). His father, Ernest Charles Brathwaite (1887-1957) (man in 1923 photograph above)were already living in Brooklyn as a longshoreman and factory worker. (Joseph Brathwaite is the young man in 1923 photograph above)
4. Malcolm McDonald Lawrence: One Hundred Years ago, Malcolm, the oldest of six siblings would be his grandparents and his newborn mother, Hyrisence Elemina(who probably in her mother’s body in 1923 photograph above) , born August 19, 1923, on 75 Underhill Avenue to Ernest Charles Brathwaite (1887-1957) and Mary Elizabeth Arthur Brathwaite (1885-1969). H. Elmina Brathwaite was eight months old learning to walk and talk. Ten years later she will meet her life-long love, Rev. Dermott Kenneth Lawrence (1921-2008), living in Barbados.
5. Ernest Floyd Brathwaite: One Hundred Years ago, Ernest, the oldest of three siblings would be his grandparents, and his not yet born “in the oven” father, Albert. He was born on October 4, 1924, at 525 Washington Street, Brooklyn, New York to Aliens Ernest Charles Brathwaite (1886-1957) and Mary Elizabeth Arthur Brathwaite (1882-1969). Ethelred Albert Brathwaite will be the first child christened in the new religious institute, Beulah Church of the Nazarene. The church was located at 31 Utica Avenue, Brooklyn, New York
6. Judy Denise Steede Solomon: One Hundred Years ago, would be her grandmother, Millicent Harris, who saw the Statue of Liberty for the first time on May 16, 1924. She would also be her grandfather, Ethelbert Athelston Wallace, who came on the same boat, The Vandyke, with his future wife, Millicent. Both immigrant from Barbados, British West Indies seeking a better economic status. One year and five months later, these two young individuals united in matrimony on October, 22, 1925.
7. Cora Harris, the oldest of two children: One Hundred Years ago, she would be her grandparents Simeon (1899-1977), and Rosalie Alleyne Harris (1903-1958). Simeon came to the States by way of Cuba on August 15, 1922. In Cuba, he stayed with his cousin, Leslie Lovell. When he reached the States, he lived with Uncle Ernest Brathwaite’s apartment before his Aunt Elizabeth arrived two months