Noted Caribbean historian Marriane Ramesar died this Friday

Optimus has been sad stricken by the passing of the mother of one of our own.  May she rest in peace.  Great lady in the history of the Caribbean West Indies.

The Jamaican-born historian was best known for her seminal book on “Indentureship in Trinidad, Survivors of Another Crossing: A history of East Indians in Trinidad 1880-1946″. She also published a book on the history of Aramalaya Presbyterian Church titled “Celebration: A Centenary History of Aramalaya Presbyterian Church, Tunapuna, Trinidad 1881-1981″.

Her works also appear in 17 publications and 134 library holdings.

She had been engaged in research over two decades on her African ancestry in the Caribbean, tracing her first slave ancestor, Addo, to Ghana where she would later give birth to two of her three children.