This page is dedicated to the memory of Charles Swaby who lost his life at sea.

Please leave your remembrances and pictures of him in his honor.

RIP, Charles Swaby

My Uncle Charles Swaby died well before I was born but his story touched my soul. I love him in absentia.

From his sister Mazie's children.

His death is still shrouded in mystery. There is more than one explanation as to just how he came to die at sea.
Will the truth ever be known?
It would be good to know for sure.

Just how did he die?

Who is this Charles Swaby? In what country did live and where did he die?

Charles Swaby was the son of frederick Swaby of Billy's Bay. Residents of Treasure Beach would therefore know several of his siblings, including Roddy Swaby, Lawrence Swaby, Mazie Moxam (Sandy Bank), Rosetta (Miss Jo) Ebanks and Berita (Miss Berry) of Lewis Town.
Charles was married and living in Whitehouse, Westmoreland at the time of his passing. He reportedly fell overboard and perished at sea while fishing.

This Charles Swaby?

Does anyone know anything of Roderick Moxam? born circa 1920 in Sandy Bank, the son of Emily Swaby. Had siblings Arty, Carmen, Danny and Vernon Swaby plus sister, Lily Moxam. I am his son Paul, here in London. I am looking for details of his life in Jamcica before coming to London. Who was his father? When did he come to England?

Paul,

Emily Swaby was my grand-aunt but I never heard of her having a son named Roderick Moxam. I know only one Roderick Moxam, but he is much younger that the man you mention and his mother was not Emily (Moxam Swaby. I know she had a son named Claflin, perhaps his real name was Roderick. Perhaps Uncle Vernon can confirm.

Hi M. Moxam

Thanks for this. Claflin was what everyone here in England called my dad. I have just spoken to my sister Pam Ebanks, who confirms that dad real name was Fernando Ebanks (AKA Claflin) and he came to England on a Roderick Moxam passport. Long story!!Uncle Vernie confirmed this too as did my cousin Wilbur Wright (Carmen son). Dad is buried at Treasure Beach where he died in 1996.Any details you can shed on dad, Emily lives would be great

Hi Paul,

I get your point re. your dad and that passport. For some reason there was a lot of that going on in those days and it was in part because some were born outside of Jamaica in places such as Cuba where their parents may have migrated to as young adults. Getting their documents from those nations after moving to Jamaica with their parents, wasn't that easy so many would resort to other measures in order to fulfil their dream of going to England.

You say any light I can shed on your dad and grandmother would be helpful. I will ask my brother, Earl Moxam, to respond with more details as he's been researching the family history. I don't think I knew your dad, but I heard of him often as he and my dad, Carl Moxam, were first cousins and Daddy had been fond of him. Your grandmother, Emily was everyone's favorite aunt because she was the family comedian, so to speak. As children we always loved to see her coming because she made us laugh so much! And although her name was Emily, we didn't call her that. We instead called her, "Aunt Pindy." I don't know why, but we heard our parents call her that and we followed suit.

Regards to Pam and Wilbur. I remember them from primary school days and saw them again when my Uncle Osmand died in 2004 and I came to the funeral. It was Uncle Danny who picked us up at the airport.

-Marcia

Hi Marcia

Well, Pam & Wilbur have just left my house in west London after a night of reminiscing. We always knew nan as nanny Pindy but have no idea where that name came from either.Any info you have at all on Pindy or Mike Ebanks (Dads dad) or even Pindy's parents Richard 'Sonny' and Louisa Moxam would help us here get to know our roots.You can contact me directly by e-mail via paulmoxam@hotmail.com.

Regards

Paul

Happy 2014 to all family in Jamaica & beyond.