Most family histories affected by slavery break down in the records.
Names change. Identities shift. Records exist—but they do not align.
Paul Crooks is a genealogist and author of A Tree Without Roots, widely used as a reference work for reconstructing African-Caribbean ancestry from fragmented historical records. His research is grounded in archival sources and has been referenced within institutional contexts, including, The National Archives and academic-led initiatives. His work focuses on how identity can be traced and interpreted across records shaped by enslavement, migration, and historical disruption.
His work represents one of the earliest documented applications of archival records to trace Caribbean ancestry toward specific West African origins.
Paul Crooks, Genealogist specialising in Caribbean ancestry
Where does your research begin to break down?
When records stop connecting
Family lines reach a point where the trail disappears despite available records and clear evidence.
→ View talks on record breakdown
When names and identities don’t align
The same individual appears differently across records, making lineage difficult to follow over time.
→ View talks on names and identity
When records appear misleading
Details are recorded, but not always in ways that reflect identity or show clear family relationships.
→ View talks on interpreting records
When tracing back to Africa
Research often stops before this point, even when records exist that can help extend the search further.
→ View talks on African origins
Choose your starting point
Ancestry Talks
Structured sessions addressing where and why family histories break down in the records.
→ Explore the Talks
Jamaican Genealogy Help: When Your Research Stops
For research problems where records stop connecting.
→ Discuss a Research Problem
How this work is structured
An evidence-led interpretive framework for reconstructing identity where historical records are incomplete, inconsistent, or do not align in a continuous line.
→ Evidence-Led Genealogical Reconstruction
Institutional Use & Recognition
Work referenced and used by archives, libraries, and academic-led initiatives.
→ View Institutional Use & Citations
Books & Publications
Published work examining how African-Caribbean ancestry can be reconstructed through historical records.
→ Browse Books
Publications
A Tree Without Roots: The Guide to Tracing African, Asian and British Caribbean Ancestry
Ancestors (novel)
Widely used in African-Caribbean family history research
Research Focus
Post-emancipation identity reconstruction
Caribbean–UK archival linkage
Interpretation of enslavement-era records