One of the oldest black families to continuously reside on Turkey Hill, St. George's, are the Brangmans at number 9.

According to the National Trust's 'Bermuda's Architectural Heritage, St. George's', James Stowe, a black butcher, owned a lot and house at number 11 during 1815 and 1819.

It was somewhat unusual for blacks to own land prior to the emancipation of slavery declared in 1834. However, there were several free blacks in Bermuda prior to 1834 and many were successful and owned properties.

James Stowe, a free black man, was the great-grandfather of Atticus Brangman who resided at 9 Turkey Hill, 'Homestead' pre-1854.

Atticus Brangman fathered a son, Ambrose, with his wife, Maria Wickers.

Ambrose Brangman married Catherine DeShield and they resided at 9, Turkey Hill, "Homestead" prior to his death in 1982. His wife, Catherine, children and grandchildren survive him.

Catherine Brangman describes her father-in-law as an old-fashioned sea pilot.

"Atticus, my father-in-law, was an old-fashioned sea pilot with his own boat and crew. They would be out as soon as it was daylight looking for ships on the horizon. Back then the first pilot boat to get to the incoming ship got the job of guiding the ship through the channel.

"James Stowe Brangman, brother of Atticus, was a modern government pilot and he carried on the family tradition," Mrs. Brangman said.

In fact, George Brangman, the eldest brother of Mrs. Brangman's husband, was lost at sea many years ago when he and several other men went to pilot out a ship off of St. George's.

"The weather turned bad, and their little boat never made it back to land. A monument to these brave men can be seen in St. Peter's cemetery in St. George's," Mrs. Brangman said.

Turkey Hill's name originates back to the 1700s when there was lively commerce between Bermuda and the American colonies. Turkeys, Meleagris gallopavo, are indigenous birds of North America and according to G. Daniel Blagg, author of 'Bermuda Atlas and Gazetteer', 30,000 turkeys, along with ducks were exported in 1762, netting a handsome profit for the farmers.

Even today many wild and colourful chickens wander about freely at the edge of Turkey Hill, the section closest to the St. George's Golf Club, where you see them quite happily walking around. You can hear their crows most any time of the day.

Turkey Hill is rich with history and is well worth a stroll if ever you have any leisure time for a walk about in St. George's. Who knows, you may run into one of the friendly members of the Brangman family. Beware of Pepper, Mrs. Brangman's feisty little guard dog, as he is always on duty.