John Isaiah Quarless

The 1st of January 2025 marked the 150th birthday of my great-grandfather, John Isaiah Quarless, the forebear of the Liverpool branch of the Quarless family. John’s story has been central to my journey in genealogy, as he has posed the most significant challenges in researching my eight great-grandparents. In genealogy, such challenges are often referred to as "brick walls." Over the years, I have encountered many of these while researching John, creating a paradox of sorts. Overcoming a brick wall might imply progress to the next ancestor, but in John’s case, solving one question often reveals new complexities, transforming the wall into another obstacle. This can be incredibly frustrating, yet equally enlightening and fascinating.

Understanding John Isaiah Quarless's life is crucial not only for uncovering his personal story but also for shedding light on the intricate relationships that defined his origins. It also offers insights into the historical context of the Caribbean in the 19th century, demonstrating the power of genealogy to connect us with our ancestors and their narratives. By exploring John’s life, we highlight the challenges of historical research in colonial regions compared to mainland Britain.

This ongoing research aims to uncover the full story of John and the Quarless family, emphasising how combining DNA analysis with historical records can provide a more detailed and nuanced understanding of the past. This story resonates broadly, addressing themes of movement and identity that continue to connect with people today.

What we know about John

John Isaiah Quarless was born in 1875 and died in 1976. He travelled to Liverpool, England, in the 1890s from Barbados. Research suggests he was likely born in either Barbados or Guyana, as he listed both locations on records during his career as a merchant seaman. John worked as a steward and cook on various ships and spoke of Barbados as his origin. His complexion suggested he could have been of mixed ethnic heritage. However, no baptismal records bearing his name have been found in Barbados, and birth or baptismal records from late 19th-century Guyana are not yet available online.

John’s marriage record indicates his father was a man named Henry Quarless. However, several individuals named Henry Quarless lived in Barbados and Guyana during the 19th century, making it difficult to pinpoint his exact identity.

DNA Evidence

DNA testing by some of John’s grandchildren has revealed a mixed picture showing John’s origins are rooted in West Africa and Northwestern Europe. The results also show strong connections to families with roots in both Barbados and Guyana. However, at this stage, no documentary evidence has been found to confirm how the DNA connections are related

The Quarless Name in Barbados

Identifying Henry Quarless has been particularly challenging. According to records from the time of John’s birth in 1875, several men named Henry Quarless lived in Barbados. Some of their occupations are listed as carpenters, labourers, and planters.

The Quarless name was far spread across the island of Barbados, though the DNA links point to the parish of St Thomas. It’s here that many of the Quarless names found in the records originate from the free people of colour in Barbados, however we have not yet found strong documentary evidence to link us to this specific area of focus.

What’s Next?

The next key milestone involves further analysing the DNA evidence. As more individuals undergo DNA testing, the available data for research will grow richer. Advances in DNA technology, including the use of artificial intelligence in genealogical research, also provide hope for new breakthroughs.

Further investigation into Henry Quarless’s life may help resolve conflicting information. Although Barbados records are relatively well-preserved, inaccuracies in indexing can still pose challenges.

The eventual digitisation of Guyanese birth records from the 19th century could prove invaluable. If John was born in Guyana, such records may help confirm his birthplace and other details about his parents.

It’s important to note that any theories we currently have, remain uncorroborated by documentary evidence.  The search for answers will continues whilst we search for such documents. However, the journey this research leads us builds a rich picture of the complex history of the Caribbean in the 19th century.

A couple of months ago, we delved into the gripping narrative of my great-great-grandmother, Alice Lawrence, as she bravely thwarted an attempted murder at 64 Gilbert Street in 1883. Today, our research takes an even more intriguing turn as we unearth a shocking incident that unfolded in the life of this resilient matriarch.

If you recall our previous exploration of Alice, she displayed unwavering courage in the face of danger, intervening to help a lodger, Alfred Richard Haines, from the clutches of a revolver-wielding seaman named Frederick Scott. Little did we know, this was not the only chapter in Alice's life that held a tale of peril.

Through our research, an extraordinary incident came to light through the pages of the Liverpool Weekly Courier on the 4th of June, 1887. The headline blared, "EXTRAORDINARY STABBING IN LIVERPOOL - SUPPOSED RELIGIOUS MANIA." The subject this time was not a jealous seaman, but a man named Charles Wallace, a former slave hailing from the State of Georgia.

 Wallace, described as a religious maniac, launched a shocking assault in the kitchen of Abraham Lawrence's boarding house on Kent Street. Armed with two knives, he declared, "The Lord has bid me work in the vineyard, and I must cut you down as stubble." The ensuing chaos resulted in the severe injury of Alice Lawrence and another lodger, Charles Smith.

 Detective Grubb, presenting the case, described Wallace's erratic behaviour, stating that he seemed convinced of a divine calling. Mrs. Johnson, another witness, tried to intervene but fled in fear. The subsequent court proceedings hinted at Wallace's mental instability, with Mr. Raffles (the magistrate) and Mr. Grubb expressing doubts about his mental state.

As the narrative unfolded further on the 6th of August, 1887, the Liverpool Weekly Courier provided additional details about Charles Wallace. A former slave, he found himself in Liverpool after a brief stint in Canada, seeking refuge from the challenges of farming in America. Wallace, who attended church regularly and sang hymns, claimed a loss of "presence of mind" during the assault.

 The court, acknowledging Wallace's mental state, acquitted him of the charge of attempted murder but convicted him of unlawfully wounding. The magistrates sentenced him to 18 months' imprisonment.

 Digging deeper into supporting records, we discover Charles Wallace's residence at 27 Kent Street, shedding light on a previously unknown address of the Lawrence family's boarding house network. Local workhouse records depict Charles as a Wesleyan with no known friends, and the Calendar of Prisoners confirms his imprisonment for unlawfully wounding.

 Our journey through Charles Wallace's life continues as we find him residing at 114 St James Street in 1889, only a street away from Kent Street. However, by the 1891 census, he seems to have vanished, leaving a gap in his history. Despite exhaustive searches, no death record for Charles Wallace in Liverpool has surfaced. A shipping record hints at a possible departure to New York, but it’s hard to be certain it references the same Charles.

The new address that cropped up, 27 Kent Street, prompted a search into the Liverpool, Electoral Registers which show us year on year where the family resided, providing that extra level of information between census records. The Lawrence family moved to 27 Kent Street around 1886 and lived here up until the year of the incident. The next year's electoral register, 1888-1889, shows the family have moved to 14 Kent Street, an address of which we had former knowledge. This prompts the question, did the traumatic event cause the family to move to a new location?

 As we look at Alice Lawrence's life once again, we learn that her resilient spirit endured. Despite surviving the religious mania of Charles Wallace, tragedy struck later in life. On February 11, 1896, Alice Lawrence passed away in Liverpool at the age of 43, succumbing to "Congestio Pulmonium" or heart failure due to fluid accumulation in the lungs. We hope you found this layer to the Lawrence family's journey as interesting as we have, with yet another twist in our Liverpool history book.

In the pursuit of uncovering the threads of our family's history, I stumbled upon a captivating story about my Great Great Aunt, Mary Lawrence. Born on the 14th of September 1879 in Liverpool, Lancashire, Mary's life took unexpected turns, and her journey became even more intriguing when a document from the West Yorkshire Prison Records, surfaced.

Mary, the fourth daughter of Alice Jones and Abraham Lawrence, experienced a significant upheaval in 1896 with the untimely death of her mother. At the tender age of 17, Mary found herself grappling with the challenges of life without maternal guidance. Just a few months after her mother's passing, a prison document dated 18th June 1896 revealed a surprising chapter in Mary's life.

The document, sourced from ancestry.com, details Mary Jane Lawrence's arrest for theft. The records listed her birthplace as Liverpool and the offence as stealing. The event occurred in Goole, West Yorkshire, England, and Mary was sentenced to 14 days of hard labor at HMP Wakefield. This revelation obviously raised questions. What brought her to Goole at such a young age, especially considering her recent loss?

Further delving into the story, I accessed the newspaper archives on Findmypast.com, shedding more light on the incident. The article, dated around the same time as the prison document, narrated the tale of Mary Jane Lawrence, a 17-year-old, charged with stealing two pounds and ten shillings in gold from a keelman named Albert Parish (keelman were people who worked on keels, large boats that carried the coal from the banks to collier ships). The article does say that Mary is from Bradford, however our prison document shows that she is from Liverpool.

According to the article, Parish had encountered Mary in Leeds and offered her a ride to Goole, intending to take her to Bradford. However, upon waking in the night, Parish discovered the theft. The police arrested Mary, who readily admitted her guilt. The court sentenced her to fourteen days.

Interestingly, the magistrates expressed their disapproval of the way Parish "took up the woman.” This remark piqued my curiosity, suggesting a nuanced situation. Did Albert Parish take advantage of Mary's vulnerable state, given her age and her lonely situation? The newspaper article hinted at a complex dynamic that transcended a simple theft case.

There is of course the chance that this isn't our Mary Lawrence, however the age and city of origin match and we know 1896 would have been a tough year for Mary. 

Following this event, Mary's life continued seemingly for the better back in Liverpool. In 1897, she married Charles Ramos, a labourer from the Azores, Portugal, and together they navigated life, raising six children. Tragically, Mary's journey eventually concluded in October 1911 when she succumbed to tuberculosis at the young age of 32.

These narratives add another vibrant layer to our family history, prompting us to appreciate the resilience and complexity of our past. As I look back at Mary Jane Lawrence's life, I am reminded that once again our ancestors carried stories filled with challenges, just as we do today, but I also look at the optimistic fact that Mary left a wide reaching legacy through her descendants, that now live around world. 

Recently, on my family history journey, using Find My Past's newspaper search function, I stumbled upon a tale that unfolded in the pages of the Liverpool Mercury on the 12th April, 1883. The protagonist of this historical drama was none other than my great-great-grandmother, Alice Lawrence (nee Jones).

The attention grabbing headline read, "ATTEMPTED MURDER IN LIVERPOOL." The story unfolded at 64, Gilbert Street, a boarding house run by my x2 great grandparents, Abraham and Alice Lawrence. The central characters were two West Indian seamen, Frederick Scott and Alfred Richard Haines, who were embroiled in a quarrel fuelled by jealousy.

Alice Jones, my great-great-grandmother, played a pivotal role in the narrative as the landlady, referred to as Mrs. Lawrence in the article. Abraham Lawrence, her husband, the landlord of the establishment and not present at the time of the escapade. The incident occurred when Scott, having pawned his watch and armed with a revolver, confronted Haines, shooting him in the right shoulder. Alice courageously intervened, and Scott, issuing threats, attempted to fire at her before fleeing the scene. The court hearing heard from Abraham Lawrence and he “threatened what he would have done for [Scott] had he been in the house when he shot [Haines]”.

The developments were no less dramatic. In a later article on the 20th April , 1883, the Liverpool Mercury provided further insights into the case. Frederick Scott, the alleged assailant, stood charged with the attempted murder of Mr Haines. Alfred Haines, a cook on the steamship Angola and a lodger at 64, Gilbert Street, testified to the events that unfolded on that fateful day.

According to Haines, the quarrel between him and Scott stemmed from a dispute about a girl in New York. Scott, armed with a revolver, confronted Haines, shooting him in the shoulder. The severity of the wound, as described by Dr. Sellars of the Southern Hospital, highlighted the gravity of the situation. The bullet, if positioned slightly differently, could have resulted in a fatal outcome.

Scott, in his defence, claimed he acted in self-defence, recounting a previous fight over a girl he called young Kate. The case was subsequently committed to the assizes for trial. 

A Liverpool Echo article from the 2nd May 1883, details the sentencing whereby an exchange between the defendant and the judge took place. The judge remarked “if this man had died nothing would have saved you from the gallows.” Scott responded with an accusation that Haines also had a pistol in his pocket. The judge then sentenced Scott to fifteen years’ penal servitude. This was followed by a “deadly encounter” in the docks before the “prisoner disappeared feet uppermost down the steps”.

We can see from the prison records that Frederick Scott died on 13th March 1891 in Pentonville Prison aged 42, though the cause of death is not listed.

As I look into the intricacies of this saga, I find myself thinking about the resilience of my great-great-grandparents in the face of distress. The courage exhibited by Alice Jones and Abraham Lawrence during this incident paints a vivid picture of the challenges they faced in 19th-century Liverpool, a vibrant time and place - a bustling port city full of complex relationships and conflicts.

The discovery of this newspaper article has added a new layer to our family history, bringing to life a chapter that was obscured by the passing years. It serves as a testament to the richness of our ancestry, reminding us that within the pages of old newspapers are untold stories.

Read more:

• Alice Jones

• The Lawrence Family

It’s been in the pipeline for some time, finally, it’s arrived! 

The Deep Roots website. Unfolding the origins, family lineage and ancestry of ‘the Quarless family,’ in the Uk.

We always start from the premise of the young Barbadian, John Isaiah Quarless’s birthplace being the point of direction, of “where it all began”. You couldn’t be further from the truth! For starters, it’s not even Barbados.

If you were to travel west of Barbados, across the Caribbean Sea, you will arrive at the idyllic island of Jamaica. It’s here, in 1847, Abraham Lawrence was born. By 1868, he had arrived, at the height of colonialism, in the second city of the British Empire, Liverpool. A city, whose role in the Transatlantic trade of enslaved Africans, has its roots firmly entrenched, in who our family are, and where we derive from. 

We can’t be sure, nonetheless, we estimate, as a discharged Merchant Seaman, Abraham would have sought board and lodgings within the vicinity of Liverpool 1, “Sailortown”, approximately, a half mile, or less, from the Liverpool waterfront. He would have felt comfortable and at ease with his surroundings, after all, he was now located, in the epicentre of cosmopolitan Liverpool…Pitt Street! 

Within two years, Abraham had met and married, 21 year old, Alice Jones. A spirited young white woman, who originates from the Horsley Fields area of Wolverhampton. 

They married at St Mathews Church, in the Parish of Liverpool, in 1870. In the 1871 census, Alice's occupation is listed as "Mariner's Wife. At Sea," Abraham is not present on this census record.

By the 1881 census, at 64 Gilbert Street, Abraham is still listed as a sailor but we see the family have boarders at their residence, and even a servant. We now know, subsequently, Alice was running, managing and maintaining, not one or two, but four boarding houses, two in Pitt Street, and one each in Gilbert Street and Kent Street. 

In the midst of Alice “running a business” and Abraham enduring life as a Merchant Seaman, they were both party to the creation of a family dynasty. During the period, between 1871 and 1892, they had become the proud parents of thirteen children. With great sadness, the first five siblings didn’t survive beyond their first three years. Infant mortality rates were seriously high during this period of the 19th century, with the infectious proliferation of ailments, such as tuberculosis, typhus and cholerae.

With great care and attention and self-determination, they were able to raise their additional eight children to lead healthy, wholesome and successful lives, into adulthood. In turn, they nurtured their own kin into a new century of trials, tribulations and achievements. 

Examining the role Alice played in her short but, I’m sure, varied life, is truly important. She must have been a woman of great vigour, substance and resilience. A tour de force. Taking responsibility for supplementing the family budget through the resources of the board and lodging houses, in parallel with giving birth to thirteen children. 

As with almost all dockland communities, women were the driving force. Alice was no exception. From the day she married Abraham in 1870, and up until her passing in 1896, she was the self-anointed matriarch of the Lawrence family. 

To lose her at such a young age must have been a huge blow to Abraham and the eight surviving children. None more so than their eldest daughter, Elizabeth (my grandmother), who, by all accounts, had a very close relationship with her mum. She now inherits the “crown” of the female sovereign! 

It's a loss of this magnitude, which might have tested and strengthened the will of the rest of the family, to comfort and support each other in their quest for a better life. 

This would be the case for Elizabeth. Within two years of Alice’s death, around 1896, she met a young Barbadian merchant seaman, by the name of John Isaiah Quarless, who had just recently arrived in the bustling port city of Liverpool. In tow with his dear friend, fellow national and seafarer, Fitzherbert Archer. They sought lodgings at 18 Pitt Street, Liverpool 1, and they are duly obliged. 

It is here where a blossoming relationship extends itself to the union of marriage. On 11th August 1898, Elizabeth Lawrence and John Isaiah Quarless were married at St Michaels Church, Pitt Street. They would go on to enjoy the love and happiness of introducing twelve children to planet earth, with the eldest child, Alice, born in May 1899 and named after her grandmother, and the youngest, my dad, George, born in 1921. 

After being widowed, Abraham Lawrence would marry once more to Margaret Carr in 1901. They would go on to raise two children, Isabella and Leticia. In 1914, Abraham, sadly passed away.

The rest of the Lawrence siblings would go onto marry, as follows:

• Mary Lawrence married Charles Ramos – 1st February 1899 at St Michaels Church Pitt Street Liverpool

• Dwaney Lawrence married Nellie Sharkey – 20th October 1902 at St Nicholas Church in the Parish of Liverpool

• Emma Lawrence married Tommy Edwards – 26th September 1904 at St Michaels Church Pitt Street Liverpool

• Alice Lawrence married Charles De Witte Hills – October 1904 at St Michaels Church Pitt Street Liverpool

• Sarah Anne Lawrence married George Wayland – 1911 at St Nicholas Church in the Parish of Liverpool

• Eliza Lawrence married Ernest Martin at St Nicholas Church – 30th December 1912 (Ernest was killed in WWI). Eliza remarried Hubert Theophilus Lewis on 4 Aug 1919 at St Nicholas Church in the Parish of Liverpool

• Harriet Lawrence married Frederick Ellis – 15th June 1913 at the Parish Church of St Peter Liverpool (Frederick was killed in WWI on 21st October 1918). Harriet remarried in 1923 to Isidore Santos

As our bloodline is intrinsically linked through the conduit of Abraham and Alice. it’s important to recognise the significance of their place within the family tree. From my own personal perspective, you don’t have Quarless without Lawrence. My grandmother is one member of eight Lawrence siblings!

To understand our extended connections to the Lawrence and Jones families, on behalf of Alice, we are able to trace our lineage back to Wolverhampton, eleven generations. 

In the context of Abraham, it’s potentially eight generations. Abrahams father, Duaney Lawrence, was baptised on 7th February 1819, in the parish of St Thomas in the East of Jamaica. Notwithstanding, on the same record, we also discovered James William Lawrence and Dorothy Lawrence. Unfortunately, it’s not clear if these are siblings or Duaney’s parents. The record states the three belong to the plantation of Old Pera where they were more than likely to have been born into slavery. The slave trade wasn’t abolished until 1807, throughout the British Empire. In the colonies, territories, dominions and protectorates, the enslaved were not officially freed from their serfdom until 1838. But then again, were they?! 

There was a US civil war in 1861 – 1866, over the issue of, yes, you guessed it, slavery and the abolitionists. In Jamaica, the collapse of the plantation system, together with factors including unemployment and droughts produced a crisis in 1865, leading to a shift in social dynamics erupting in the Morant Bay Rebellion. It was around this time that Abraham Lawrence left those very shores on the South East coast of Jamaica. It’s very clear that our family lineage has direct links to the African cargo of human suffrage. 

Yet, it’s rather ironic, if you think about it. The slave ships departed from Liverpool, bound for the West Coast of Africa, picked up human cargo, then transported across the Atlantic Ocean, destined for the America’s and or the Caribbean. The same vessels then returned to Liverpool with its cargo of cotton, sugar, tobacco etc. Yet, in our case, most probably arriving on a steamship from Jamaica, it was Abraham Lawrence!

So, there you have it. It may be long winded, and a bit bureaucratic in its presentation. Nonetheless, in the strands of the Lawrence dynasty, both Abraham and Alice sowed the seeds for each and every one of us. We are their flag bearers. Let’s continue to champion and celebrate their legacy, as we mean to go on.

Family history can often unearth surprises and mysteries waiting to be found. In our mission to learn more about our ancestors, we sometimes stumble upon fascinating stories and unexpected connections. Such is the case with a recent discovery about my beloved grandmother, Anne Jane Clarke’s half-brother.

It all began with a routine search of the British Newspaper Archives, where we stumbled upon a peculiar news article dated August 5, 1922. The article chronicled the tragic and unusual story of a young boy, Martin Morales Tighe, from Dickenson Street, Liverpool.

Martin, only fifteen years old, had met a tragic end. He was a lively lad who, along with a friend, indulged in a peculiar activity at his workplace on Moore Street. They attempted to lift weights using their teeth. Astonishingly, Martin allegedly lifted a 56lb weight before daring to take on two 56lb weights. Unfortunately, this act of bravado had stark consequences.

Shortly after his weightlifting escapade, Martin began experiencing excruciating pain in his jaw, which deteriorated rapidly. He could hardly speak. On Tuesday, he was admitted to Brownlow-hill Hospital, where he passed away the following morning.

At the inquest the doctor revealed a strange twist. While the weightlifting incident was indeed bizarre, it had nothing to do with Martin's untimely demise. The cause of death was tetanus, triggered not by his jaw injury but by an innocuous scratch while removing a wart from his leg.

We realised that fifteen-year-old, Martin Morales Tighe bore the Tighe surname, (my great grandmother, Mary Catherine Tighe's maiden name) and lived at Dickenson Street. This revelation raised many questions as, to the best of our knowledge, Mary Catherine Tighe had only sisters and no brothers to continue the Tighe name. 

The absence of a father's name in Martin's baptismal record pointed to the fact that he was born out of wedlock, furthering the mystery surrounding his heritage. The name "Morales" piqued interest. Considering that Martin lived near the bustling Liverpool docks, it wasn't far-fetched to speculate that his father might have been a Hispanic seaman. This clue, combined with his mother's maiden name, has opened a whole new avenue of research into Martin's origins.

In our search for answers, we went to the Liverpool census records. The closest lead we uncovered was a family residing not far from the Tighes on Park Lane with the surname "Mirales." Although not an exact match, the proximity of this name to Martin's family's residence on Dickenson Street raises intriguing possibilities.

Could "Mirales" be a variation of "Morales," possibly altered due to transcription errors in the records? This discovery opens a new chapter in our research, prompting us to keep open eyes for connections between the Tighe family, the "Morales" lineage, and the neighbouring "Mirales." 

This page first appeared when I believed that Ernest Quarless may have joined The British West Indies Regiment in 1917 aged just 11. A medal card from 1917 showed an Ernest Quarless signed up with The British West Indies Regiment, record searching revealed only one Ernest Quarless in Britain at that time, 11 year old Ernest from Liverpool, in fact so rare is the Quarless surname that Ernest and his family in Liverpool were the only Quarless named people living in Britain during WW1. 

It seemed improbable that 11 year old Ernest had managed to enlist in the army, yet while no other records could be found we had to consider it was possible. For over 2 years myself and others searched for anything that would confirm or deny the story, in the end it was Karen O'Rourke, Curator of social history at Liverpool museums, who found a document that solved this story.

A shipping record for the ' Magdalena ' shows that she docked in Brest, France on the 27th December 1917 after a voyage from Barbados. On board and disembarking in France were a contingent of the 3rd British West Indies Regiment, among them a Private Ernest Quarless. This record proves that 11 year old Ernest from Liverpool was not the soldier who signed up.

As we will see Ernest served during WW2 and was involved in one of the biggest events of the war. He has become popular among Liverpool historians and forums, and although now proven he did not serve as a boy during WW1, his story and that of his family, remains a remarkable read that should be preserved for our future generations.

Ernest Arthur Quarless was born in Liverpool on 9 October 1905 to John Isiah Quarless & Elizabeth (Lawrence). John was a seaman who was born in Barbados, Elizabeth was the daughter of a Jamaican sailor, her mother Alice, who was originally from Bilston, near Wolverhampton, kept a boarding house in Liverpool.

In 1899 John and Elizabeth were living with their newborn daughter Alice at 18 Upper Pitt Street, Liverpool, then in the 1901 census, they are living with young Alice at 2 Newton Street (off Windsor Street) in Liverpool. John is listed as a Cook and Steward on the seas. In the 1911 census the family have moved to 13 Kent Street (off Duke Street) in Liverpool, which John had purchased for his growing family. He is away at sea, Elizabeth is listed along with the following children, Alice 11, Eleanor 7, Ernest 5, John 3, Harry 1. Sadly, another child Walter Barnes died in infancy in 1902, and their daughter Eleanor passed away in 1917 aged 14.

This family photograph shows Ernest with his siblings. The baby in the front is Frank, then from left to right Alice, Ernest, Eleanor, John and Harry. The photo was taken around 1913, probably at Jerome's on London Road.

Kent street Liverpool. This is how it would have looked to John and Elizabeth Quarless and their children.

Ernest and Evelyn.

Here's a chapter in our story that shines with particular fondness - the tale of my grandfather, George Quarless, born on the 21st of August, 1921. Among the most treasured narratives of his life was his participation in a memorable football match in 1939, chronicled in articles from the Liverpool Echo and Bootle Evening News. 

The scene was set on an April evening in 1939 at the Bootle Stadium (from what I can tell, situated on Aintree Road in Bootle - an area now occupied by the Liverpool Trojans Baseball Club). It marked the annual football match between the Liverpool and Manchester battalions of the Boys' Brigade (BB). The anticipation for the local lads was probably palpable.

The Liverpool Echo article from the 18th of April, 1939, outlined the event and listed the players representing the Liverpool Battalion. Among them was our beloved George Quarless. The Liverpool BB team was gearing up to face their formidable rivals from Manchester, all abuzz with excitement.

The clash kicked off with Manchester taking an early lead, scoring in the very first minute. It was tense, but the Liverpool BB team were resolute in their determination to make their mark. Quarless, our grandfather, emerged as a standout players on the field.

Their moment of glory arrived when the Liverpool BB forward, Fayle, netted a crucial equaliser, sparking hope with the supporters. With the wind in their sails, the Liverpool lads seized control, securing an half time lead with further goals from Quarless and Hadden.

The second half saw the team continue to shine, with Quarless and Fayle finding the net once more each. Manchester managed to respond with two goals, but the Liverpool BB team stood firm. The final scorecard favoured the Liverpool Battalion, marking a well-earned and decisive victory.

The Bootle Evening News, in their article dated the 29th of April, 1939, showered praise upon the Liverpool Battalion Football Team for their impressive performance. Not only had they avenged their previous year's defeat, but they had also bested a Manchester BB team renowned for their dominance. George Quarless, with his skill and determination, played a pivotal role in the triumph. 

It is moments like these that breathe some life into his legacy. His keenness for football and his commitment to the Boys' Brigade. 

We discovered this story after my grandfather had passed, and so the victory against the Manchester Battalion in 1939 has reignited as a cherished memory, a testament to his spirit. 

Welcome to Deep Roots, a digital gateway of our family's rich history waiting to be explored. As we stand on the precipice of the past, we invite you to join us on an awe-inspiring journey through time, as we uncover our family narrative.

In the heart of this quest lies the enigmatic figure of my great grandfather, John Isaiah Quarless. Born in 1875, his life story has captivated generations, weaving a tapestry of intrigue that spans continents and generations. Our mission is to illuminate the shadows of history that have veiled his origins, and to piece together the fragments of his life that have been handed down to us through time.

As we embark on this voyage, we find ourselves facing a puzzle that transcends borders. John Isaiah Quarless's birthplace is a riddle that has confounded us. While some historical records point to the sun-soaked shores of Barbados, whispers of his origins in Guyana linger as well. The annals of 1800s Guyana, unfortunately, have remained elusive in the realm of digitisation, adding layers of complexity to our pursuit.

The marriage certificate of John Isaiah Quarless offers a glimpse into his father's identity – Henry Quarless, a planter in Barbados. Yet, the echoes of time have brought forth multiple individuals bearing that name and role, leaving us to grapple with questions that echo across decades.

Embedded within family lore lies a captivating chapter. Passed down by my late great uncle, the story unfolds of young John Isaiah Quarless and his sister's journey from Demerara, Guyana, at the tender age of eight. Their paths ultimately led to new beginnings, with his sister's marriage uniting her with a man from the very soil where their father's roots were believed to be entwined.

With a fervent desire to delve even deeper, my father, George Quarless, embarked on an Ancestry DNA test last year. The results opened a new realm of exploration – analyzing DNA matches and employing innovative methods to illuminate the intricate connections between individuals tied to John Isaiah Quarless and to one another. Through centimorgan (cM) data, a tantalising theory has begun to take shape, hinting at stories waiting to be unearthed.

As we traverse the corridors of time, an overwhelming sense of connection with our ancestors envelops us. The stories we unearth are more than tales of the past – they are the threads that have woven the fabric of our existence. Each trial, each triumph, resonates through generations, guiding us to the roots from which we have blossomed. This journey isn't just a quest for knowledge; it's a tribute to the resilient souls who have shaped us.

So, dear friends, as we stand at the crossroads of history and modernity, we extend our hand to you. Together, let's peel back the layers of time, sharing in the excitement of discovery, the frustration of unsolved mysteries, and the joy of connecting with a legacy that belongs to us all.

As we navigate this intricate tapestry of family history, we invite you to like, share, and join us in the riveting process of unearthing the profound stories of Black British history. Let us revel in the richness of our shared heritage and honor the indelible mark left by those who came before us.

With bated breath and hearts full of anticipation, let us step forward, hand in hand, into the uncharted territories of our past. Until we reunite to journey deeper into the folds of time...