Nomination for Mrs Beryl Virginia Walton: Women at Sea

Born 18 January 1907 – Died 8 November 1995

My mother Beryl Virginia Walton was born in Cayman Brac on 18 January 1907 and passed peacefully to

heavenly reward on 8 November 1995.

There was 6 children of us and my father Lorenzo “Laurie” Walton also went to sea on the turtle

schooners.

My mother joined a small group of women and children to accompany the men to the quays to pick bird

eggs while the men fished for turtle: this was a custom practiced frequently in the 1920s which ended in

near tragedy because the schooner on which my mother was aboard was captured by the Columbian

Military and accused of fishing in Columbian territorial waters. All the crew including the women and

children were imprisoned on San Andres and was believed to be facing the death penalty. Through the

relentless efforts of a courageous and determined fellow Bracker Capt Edwin Walton they were

eventually freed after being imprisoned for over a year: my mother recalls that some of the children

were allowed to attend school during this time of imprisonment and that they also learned to speak and

understand the Spanish language.

This was a time of despair and uncertainty for the entire district of Spot Bay and I grieved for my mother

thinking I would never see her again: it was very difficult to understand and there was no line of

communication with her. I vividly recall the day I was reunited with my Mother: she was wearing a

white shirt and blue-drill trousers. To this day I still have my mother’s shirt in my possession as I kept it

washed and in safe-keeping however because of the many years that have passed it has started to rot

and while I am no longer able to wash it, I still have it.

Mama never talked much about her harrowing experience but always prayed and thanked God for her

safe release from a horrible Spanish jail.

***I have attached a photograph showing my Mother (to the far left) and the group after their release.

Nomination for Mrs Beryl Virginia Walton: Women at Sea

Born 18 January 1907 – Died 8 November 1995

My mother Beryl Virginia Walton was born in Cayman Brac on 18 January 1907 and passed peacefully to

heavenly reward on 8 November 1995.

There was 6 children of us and my father Lorenzo “Laurie” Walton also went to sea on the turtle

schooners.

My mother joined a small group of women and children to accompany the men to the quays to pick bird

eggs while the men fished for turtle: this was a custom practiced frequently in the 1920s which ended in

near tragedy because the schooner on which my mother was aboard was captured by the Columbian

Military and accused of fishing in Columbian territorial waters. All the crew including the women and

children were imprisoned on San Andres and was believed to be facing the death penalty. Through the

relentless efforts of a courageous and determined fellow Bracker Capt Edwin Walton they were

eventually freed after being imprisoned for over a year: my mother recalls that some of the children

were allowed to attend school during this time of imprisonment and that they also learned to speak and

understand the Spanish language.

This was a time of despair and uncertainty for the entire district of Spot Bay and I grieved for my mother

thinking I would never see her again: it was very difficult to understand and there was no line of

communication with her. I vividly recall the day I was reunited with my Mother: she was wearing a

white shirt and blue-drill trousers. To this day I still have my mother’s shirt in my possession as I kept it

washed and in safe-keeping however because of the many years that have passed it has started to rot

and while I am no longer able to wash it, I still have it.

Mama never talked much about her harrowing experience but always prayed and thanked God for her

safe release from a horrible Spanish jail.

***I have attached a photograph showing my Mother (to the far left) and the group after their release.