Descendants of an enslaved man who was granted freedom for his outstanding skills as a pilot honoured their late forefather during a ceremony in the East End.

The family of James “Jemmy” Darrell was joined at St Peter’s Church in St George’s by Quinell Francis, the Mayor of St George’s, as well as MPs Lovitta Foggo and Renée Ming.

The annual service, hosted by The Friends of St Peter’s Church, was officiated by Reverend Thomas Nisbett, Pastor of the Anglican Parish of St George, and Reverend Lorne Bean, the Lead Pastor of Richard Allen AME Church.

April Simmons, the deputy chairwoman of The Friends of St Peter’s Church, offered a tribute to Mr Darrell.

Pilot warden Wendell Burchall and The Friends of St Peter’s Church chairwoman Gillian Outerbridge later laid a wreath on his headstone in the nearby Black graveyard.

James Darrell was born in 1749 and made a name for himself though his expert skills as a pilot, and for being one of Bermuda’s first King’s pilots.

He was one of three people charged with assisting British surveyor Lieutenant Thomas Hurd in mapping out Ireland Island in the West End for the construction of the Royal Naval Dockyard.

Mr Darrell manoeuvred Rear Admiral George Murray’s 74-gun ship HMS Resolution into a deep anchorage on North Shore near Tobacco Bay, St George’s. The site later became known as Murray’s Anchorage.

His expert manoeuvring eventually earned him his freedom at the recommendation of Admiral Murray at the age of 47.

As a free man of colour, Mr Darrell challenged racist laws that imposed restrictions on free and enslaved Black Bermudians.

He also fought against proposals that would have lowered the income for King’s pilots.

Mr Darrell became the first Black Bermudian to purchase a house, which sat in St George’s and became the seat of his retirement until his death in 1815 at age 66.