I'm told that while Leonard Barrett was at sea a black slave fell overboard, and that Leonard jumped into the sea and saved him, which didn't go down well with his superiors, he shouldn't have risked his life for a slave. A lot is made of the slave trade and slavery in general, of course it was never right, but we judge it now with modern eyes. Conditions of the poor here in Britain and Europe were probably no better, that's why so many headed for the US. One could argue conditions were worse. A black slave had value, if one died you might have buy another, while here in the free world you just dragged in somebody else. My great grandparents were both dead aged 39 and 42. Working in cotton mills, mines, kilns, and steel works, and living in terrible conditions you were lucky to reach 40 and still be fit to work. People forget that Unions were the only reason things changed, and that there are employers today who don't want anyone to have any rights, when jobs are scarce it's so easy to get a raw deal. If you don't mind me commenting, I think the US did what the once Great Britain did, and sat on your laurels on top of the pile thinking well we made it. The trouble is once you reach the top everyone wants to bring you down, when you reach the top the struggle still has to go on to stay there. Britain didn't take foreign competition seriously, maybe the US has done the same.
Where was I??? Oh yes trying to sort out all this wonderful info you guys have found, can you say thank you too often? Nice Obituary notice.
I imagine Angela will want to try and find some living relatives, well thanks to you that should be possible. Fred
