Barbados Free Press received the following letter from an American reader who is having a bad experience trying to research his family roots on the island. We don’t know the people involved and we hope everything works out and soon.
They say that wherever you travel, you’ll always find a Bajan or two and we’ve found that to be true. Many folks around the world and in the USA (especially in the east) trace their family back to Barbados so there is a thriving genealogy research industry on this rock. And just like any industry, there are good people to hire and others you don’t want to talk to.
What we find a little disturbing in this reader’s account is that the researcher was recommended by the archives staff. If the staff handed out a list of 20 researchers that would be fine with us, but we all know how things work ’bout hey. The customer was probably given only one name by the archive staff. There’s a reason for that and like we say… we all know what that reason is usually about…
Dear Barbados Free Press,
My name is (name removed by BFP) and I was trying to do genealogy research in Barbados. I started by contacted the Department of Archives who gave me some info but said if I wanted more I would have to try contacting one of the people on their list of genealogical researchers. I did just that. I contacted (name removed by BFP) from (company name and contact info removed by BFP)
They told me the rate was $30.00 per hour and to mail a international money order to her. I assume it was okay since the department of archives referred (the researcher) to me. (The researcher) tried to get me to send $300 but I sent $60 to start.
For some reason (the researcher) said they did not receive the funds and was emailing me on a regular to inquire about the funds. I reported the funds lost to the post office and later sent (the researcher) a $60 wire through western union on 5/25/2010. (The researcher) pickup the fund 5/2/2010 according to (the researcher) and western union. and that was the last I’ve heard. I’ve been emailing and calling with no response. I soon realize this must have been a scam and started to report to the FBI, Western Union and now Barbados Police.
I’m hoping someone can help me and prevent this from happening to others. It is unfortunate that I just learned that I descended from and started the process of learning and reaching out the my family in Barbados and this happened.
Again, can someone help in this matter?
(Name and contact info removed by editor)
Barbados Free Press 
Its time to have that person removed from the archives list unless they have a rock solid legitimate reason for this apparent theft.
Dear Sir/Mam: I had a similar experience in dealing with a geneology ‘ huckster’ in Barbados. Really you have to do your own work, in person, at the Barbados Archives which are quite accurate with a helpful staff
I enjoy doing my own work.
Longing for the day when the data can be searched online, but won’t hold my breath.
Off-thread a bit but there is some data online.
Scanned copies of the slave records for Barbados for 1834 by Parish are at:
http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=1129
Another I have found very, very helpful …
http://www.familysearch.org/eng/search/frameset_search.asp
Very nice link there.
I found Richard Goddard to be very helpful, gratis(!) when I was last doing research at the Barbados Museum. The archives I pretty much went through on my own, never had any need to hire anyone.
I saw this complaint yesterday and as a former researcher until 2007 I was nonplussed. A complaint should be made to the Head of the Archives Department.
Contrary to expressed opinions, in-depth research cannot be done online because the wills and deeds which pinpoint which branch of the family you are from can only be found in the Archives and a lot of the early books since 2005 are being taken out of the public domain due to lack of funding for digitalisation.
I agree with prior sentiments. Do your own research down at the National Archives. I too have had a good experience with the folks at the Archive. They are located at the bottom of University Hill in Black Rock , St. Michael….
Google Maps:
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=13.135894,-59.633789&spn=0.006217,0.011362&t=h&z=17
You just have to walk up the steep marl road from Highway 1 by the gas station. Once you come to the end, turn left, and you’ll see the entrance (through the gates ahead) on the left.
They open around 8am and close at 4pm.
I was not too long ago duped by a so-called-researcher who conned me out of 50.00 bucks. I sent a money order 7 months ago to a researcher recommended by the Archives hoping to get information on my great-grandfather. Fortunately for me, that was all I handed over. After a couple of attempts trying to contact the person, to no avail, I went to the RCMP and lodged a complaint. I think I might have PTSD. The whole ordeal certainly made me extra cautious.
PS. and if anyone knows information on Joseph Howell, wife Julia Justina Brodshaw (possibly spelled Bradshaw), sons John and Linton Howell, please feel free to contact me dothowell@hotmail.com.
Hey there is new research place in bim that could help you..contact them at rootsghservices@gmail.com
http://barbadosancestry.wordpress.com/