The Ceasar clan was recognised this past Sunday at Allen Temple AME Church, Somerset.

Family members were given responsibilities over and above their ordinary leadership roles in the morning service: worship leader was Sister Sylvia Wilson, the morning prayer was invoked by Sister Sheryl Martins and Sister Grenell Stocks cited the family history.

Following are some extracts:

John Caesar and fiance Jemima emigrated to Bermuda from St Kitts, West Indies in the early 1900s. They were married at St James Church in Somerset on September 12, 1907. They fostered nine children — Beryl, Irene, Christiana, Joseph, John Jr, Isaac, Martha, Alfred and William.

Seven of the children, beginning with Christiana, were christened at Allen Temple. When the Allen Temple congregation moved from its original Ely’s Harbour site to its present location, Jemima was among the parade. She was also a member of the choir.

John Caesar was an entrepreneur — a farmer, butcher and carriage operator — and was reputed as having the first complete grocery store and meat market in Somerset. Not to be outdone, Jemima was also a business woman. Aside from bearing 18 children, she sold West Indian vegetables and fruits, coconut cakes and candy to the Dockyard maties. Her little concession stand was located at the exit of the current Caesar’s Pharmacy property. She died on May 12, 1931. Grandpa Caesar married Theresa Dempster. She was a wonderful seamstress and a wonderful stepmother to the children. Papa Caesar retired in 1947 and returned to St Kitts to live, where he died on April 1, 1953.

Our grandmother, Maude Cooper-Riley, was also a member of Allen Temple. In one of the conference books, her name was recorded as having paid her conference claim — four shillings and tuppence, which is now equivalent to 50 cents. She died in October 1937.

Belle Riley-Smith, our great aunt, was also a member of Allen Temple. In 1948, together with Irene Caesar Barstow, Christiana Riley, Martha Carter and Bob Foley, she was instrumental in a fundraising project called the Wishing Candle. This fundraiser raised sufficient funds to repay the long outstanding mortgage held by Allen Temple. Whenever Allen Temple needed anything, these three sisters worked. Aunt Irene was the first bride in the new vestry; Christiana was behind a fundraiser to lay the first carpeting in Allen Temple; Martha was behind a fundraiser to purchase the first car at Allen Temple. Martha, Irene and Christie worked in the kitchen whenever there was a function. Our father, Maxwell Riley Sr, always prided himself as being one of the Sons of Allen.

Today, there are still descendants of the Caesar-Riley clan at Allen Temple. Grandmother Caesar and Grandmother Riley, we are told, had melodious voices. That accounts for where Sylvia, Grenell, Maxwell Jr, Teresa and Gracelyn get their inspirational voices.

Our Papa left an awesome legacy. God has blessed his offspring with many businesses Islandwide. One of the more highly profiled members of the Caesar clan is pharmacist Sheryl Martins, the owner and operator of Caesar’s Pharmacy.

• ADHT UNVEILING

Maxine Esdaille, chairperson of the African Diaspora Heritage Trail Foundation, had double duty on Sunday last, which she seemed to thoroughly enjoy.

Firstly, she was involved in the dedication and unveiling of a plaque on the Manchester Unity Hall at the corner of Victoria and Dundonald Streets.

Later, she was guest speaker at the celebration of the 96th anniversary of the Loyal Mayflower Lodge 9387.

In this, the first of a two-part series, we focus of the unveiling. The speech on ‘Women of Substance’, which was the theme of Mayflower’s celebration, will be subsequent.

Ms Esdaille noted that the plaque indicates the Manchester Unity Hall building is one of the sites of memory on the ADHT. The trail is officially designated as a part of the UNESCO Slave Route Project and as May was designated Heritage Month in Bermuda, it is important to be reminded of the heritage sites here.

Manchester Unity Hall is on the Bermuda Trail as it highlights an important part of the heritage of persons of African descent in Bermuda, notably the Friendly Societies who provided “support for hundreds of artisans, tradesmen and worker families, particularly during the early post-Emancipation era”.

So the plaque is “to remind us of the importance of this building and institution in the growth and history of Bermuda. There are many similar sites all around Bermuda that the ADHT has designated as sites of memory”.

Ms Esdaille said the question is asked how the ADHT reminds us of our history. The answer to that question is a quote from Marcus Cicero, a Roman statesman who lived more than 2000 years ago: “To be ignorant of what occurred before you were born is to remain always a child. For what is the worth of human life unless it is woven into the life of our ancestors by the records of our history.”

The older generations will remember that the western side of the lodge was the site of the Colonial Opera House, which the Friendly Society owned, and for decades was the country’s foremost playhouse, movie theatre and later, church. It was destroyed in a spectacular fire years ago.

• ST DAVID’S ISLAND BRILLIANTLY HIGHLIGHTED

A new perspective on Bermuda’s ancient and modern history is contained in the book Recollection and Reflection, by Dr Rosalyn Howard. The book is subtitled Voices of the St David’s Islanders of Bermuda and their Native American Relatives.

Dr Howard states her objective was to create a foundation of first-hand information that would enlighten Bermudians at home and abroad, about the rich cultural heritage of the St David’s Islanders and their quest for self-definition.

This book is profound, easy to read and attractively illustrated by the personalities interviewed together with other events. It will be launched at the big biannual Bermuda Pow on Friday and Saturday of next week.

The author explains how an unanticipated conversation with former Minister of Tourism Wayne Perinchief at an African Diaspora Heritage Trail conference in Nassau in 2007 paved the way for her research. Her interest in Native American-African interrelationships led her to consider studying a population in Bermuda when she heard a distinctive group of mixed ancestry existed.

The former Minister cautioned her the Islanders were very insular and, due to past negative experiences did not always welcome outsiders, especially those asking a lot of questions. He believed that the most influential person who could assist her in gaining entry to the St David’s Island community was St Clair Brinkworth “Brinky” Tucker. Dr Howard declares in the book, he was certainly correct in that assessment. His impeccable reputation for integrity was proved after Mr Tucker agreed to serve as her primary consultant for her research.

Brinky Tucker is widely known, with a career of stellar achievements. Now retired, this former police sergeant and inspector was the first person of colour to be in charge of prosecutions and to serve in the role as Black Rod.

Dr Howard said that typically a cultural anthropologist expects to spend a great deal of time, possibly a year or more, gaining rapport and trust with members of a new community she is studying, but in this case she was extremely fortunate.

From that point readers will get to know fascinating stories about the Mohawks and who the real St David’s Islanders are. We will read about the Foxs, Lambs, Foggos, Dolly Pitcher, Terlyna Murphy, Edward “Boxhead” Foggo, Ronnie Chameau, Carlton Smith and Dora Hollis. And we will learn something about the Gombeys, Deep Bottom, Red Hole and the Dockyard that is mentioned in passing.