The Four Pillars

Th e Four Pillars: A Genealogical Journey traces the genealogical progression of four families-JOYCE,SANCHO, ROBERTSON and SAMUELS. It is a revelation and chronicle of their lives-Out of Africa into slavery, emancipation and colonialism. It is a story of survival, and endurance. Neither of the four families produced a “Chicken George”. Still, our larger-than-life ancestral characters performed with courage, dignity, grace and fortitude. Bob, Fothergill, Frederick and William stood up in the company of Damon in August, 1834, under one flag in Trinity Church yard.

They won that round, won that battle’, but fi nally lost the war! Th e planters, led by Charles Bean, were held at bay for the crucial hours pending the arrival of the colonial governor and his militia. Damon would be hanged while his four deputies were sentenced to transportation to Australia’s penal colonies. With the extreme shortage of labor, pardons were engineered on their behalf. Almost a year would have elapsed when the return trip from the Hulks on the Th ames ended in Demerara on October 13, 1835. Fothergill, Frederick and William were to become Bentinck Sancho, Tuckness Sancho and John Sancho. Bob had died and was buried in England.

The Sanchos were to play signifi cant roles in the Village Movement, especially as to Golden Grove and Nabaclis. Equally, Billy Robertson and Present Robertson led the movement in Ithaca, Berbice. Scipio Samuels and Primus Samuels were involved in the purchase and development of the Village of Victoria. The Joyce Family were inhabitants of plantations Belfield, Cove & John and Victoria over the years.