Looking for my people in Kensington (Simons)

"I'm looking for my grandmother or grandfather. Their last name is Simons. My father is from Kensington, Jamaica. I have never met them but would love to know them. I also had an aunt who I'm told is deceased due to domestic violence. I'm not sure if she had any children."

Answer by Wellesley:

Thanks for reaching out, and I must say, it takes courage to begin this kind of search—especially when you're dealing with missing pieces of your family history and painful stories from the past.

Since your father is from Kensington, Jamaica (likely the district in St. James), that gives you a starting point. Your first move should be to connect with the Registrar General’s Department (RGD) in Jamaica. They handle birth, marriage, and death records, and with just a name and location, you may be able to get copies of your father’s birth certificate. That document might list the names of his parents—your grandparents—and help confirm details like their full names and where they lived.

If the RGD doesn’t turn up much, you could try reaching out to the local church or pastor in the Kensington area. Sometimes churches hold older burial records or may even recall the Simons family, especially if the community is small and tight-knit. Elders in the district may also remember your family, so don’t overlook the value of simply visiting and asking around respectfully. Word-of-mouth goes a far way in rural Jamaica.

As for your aunt, if you have her first name or even a nickname, that could help trace her through local community memory or even through older newspaper articles—especially if the domestic violence incident was reported. You may also check with the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) records office if it involved any legal case. If she had children, they may still be in the area or may even appear on electoral or school records.

It’s not always a straight road, but with patience, the right questions, and a few key documents, you just might reconnect some of the missing pieces of your family story. I wish you all the best on this very meaningful journey.

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📅 Last updated: May 30, 2025

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