As a descendant of a man born in the Bahamas, on an island 400 miles out in the Atlantic Ocean, it’s been difficult to identify many of my relatives. At 75 and 1/2, I met two women at the Atlanta Urban Tasting on June 21, 2023. That was the first day of summer and it’s been heating up ever since.
Uriah Theophilus Cartwright (May 7, 1919 – June 29, 2018) was born on Long Island, Bahamas, to Christopher Cartwright and Mary Deal Cartwright. The history of this island entails the mixing of Taino, African, and European people. The family names include Cartwright, Deal, Fox, Knowles, Sims, Turnquest, Glinton, Major, and several other nomenclature from the United Kingdom. The European men took their turn at producing children with native and imported women. My great grandfather, Richard Cartwright was the governor of the island for some time. He was known for drinking up the wealth of the family up, while fathering 36 children. That would equate to over 500 cousins as my mother would pronounce, regularly. [Photos: Carlton G. Cartwright].
The product of my grandfather’s shenanigans was a horde of beautiful people. Some look like they are Indian, some look Italian, some look Asian, everything is in there. So, it’s time for a family reunion.
Every photo of every person has a story. So, I’m starting here, and hope to finish with a beautiful Family Reunion on Long Island, Bahamas, at my cousins motel, Sam’s Place, in Sims.
On Long Island, Bahamas, Mary Jane Deal married Christopher Cartwright, the son of Governor Richard Cartwright, son of William England Cartwright, Sr. Chris was one of 36 children fathered by Richard. He was one of the four eldest brothers, according to my father Uriah. Mary and Chris had five sons, Garfield, Carl, Uriah (or Nat), Forrest, and Nathaniel. The two younger brothers died before the age of 10. Gary, Carl, and Nat moved to New York City, when Nat was only 16.
Nat met Charlotte Shirley Galloway in the Army, in Arizona. They were deployed to Europe. Nat went to Italy and Charlotte went to Belgium. Nat was injured by shrapnel, just before shipping back to the states. He won a Purple Heart for his injury and a Crown Medal for saving someone’s life. They came back to the states and lived in Philadelphia with Charlotte’s mother Harriet Maude Logan Galloway, until they moved to The Bronx, New York. When their first child, Joan Renee Cartwright was three, in 1951, they moved to a house in South Ozone Park, Jamaica, Queens, on Long Island, New York. Coincidence? I don’t think so.
On August 9, 1964, Joan married Peter Joseph Serrano from Puerto Rico, who lived in the Bronx. They had two children, Michael Joseph Serrano (b. 1/22/1964), and Michelle (Mimi) Johnson (b. 12/23/1965). Joan’s offspring produced five grandchildren and six great grandchildren (plus three beautiful girls from my grandson Robert’s wife Tyfanni, whom she adores!)
Dr. Diva JC - Scholar . Teacher . Author 