Known as 'Ms Fairy', her great grandparents came from France, most likely under the Cedula of Population. Thirteen children were born to Ms Fairy's mother. In her neighbourhood, "everyone was a midwife" and some would be paid 5c tobacco for their trouble.

Beryl was born in 1921 in San Souci to Alfred and Emma Patrick- both of whom were teachers. Her father was a Headmaster [principal]. With a promotion, he moved from Port of Spain to San Souci to take up a teaching position: "and in those days you couldn't refuse that."

Boochoon was a single child whose parents died when he was four years old. He then went to live with his uncle in a carat house. At age seven he stopped going to school and began to work on the sugar estates. At age eleven, Boochoon was paid 15c a day cutting 'para' grass from seven in the morning to four in the afternoon.

Their father worked in agriculture "trimming cocoa and making garden" on his estate while "mom was home." Their father was born in Trinidad (his parents having come from Caracas) and their mother was "African and mixed" heritage. As children they lived in a carat house made from the leaves of the carat palm. On evenings, children were not allowed to play outside but if they heard the familiar greeting "bonsoir" as a visitor came calling they would seize the opportunity to sneak outdoors. At the sound of "Ayo", however, they would be sure to get back inside as the visitor left. They spoke Spanish and Patois but were taught English in school. School was very close to the church (Maracas Valley Roman Catholic Church), which "was made from stone and sand from river" and still stands in Maracas Valley today.

Emma was the last of 10 children born to their mother, a housewife. Her father owned the cocoa estate where they lived. He, however, was an architect who built prominent public buildings. He himself built the many rooms and add-ons on the estate where they lived.

Arthur was born at Penal Rock Road. My father came from China, my mother [also of Chinese descent] came from Guyana. My father was a Buddhist but did not practise, my mother was Anglican and she didn't drink out of the same cup as others. They spoke Cantonese and ran a shop in Penal that sold everything including liquor…we had a rum shop attached.

Known locally as "Attiman" this iconic figure of Paramin lives modestly in a two room wooden hut sheltered by sheets of galvanize and lit by a single incandescent bulb. Part of his family lives in the more modern dwelling below. His great grandfather came from Africa "on de boat". Attiman fathered fifteen children, the first at age 15, which makes his eldest daughter 92.

"My father was in agriculture; he worked on the estates. My mother was a housewife; she had 10 children. My father got 40c a day and worked from nine to four." Funerals were a community affair. A heavy plate and pool grass was placed on the stomach to keep from swelling.

Ilva Marjorie John's parents had 10 children. Her father worked at the Bonanza store, time keeping and taking messages at Ross drugs. But his skill was as a blacksmith; he made coal pots, irons, baking stoves and grid irons. "I would carry food for him in the evening 'cause he worked through the night…people would rent coal pots from him."

I was born in Icacos [the south westernmost tip of Trinidad]. Well, we lived in a wooden house on stilts…no not too far from the ground but high enough as a child you can fit under it and play. We had two roads in the small village, the inner road [normal road] and the beach [which they used so much they considered that to be a normal road].We would walk the mile to school and pass on the beach at low tide.

Practicing Muslims, Jahoor's parents came from India. As a child he attended Presbyterian school as there was no school for Indian children. Many Indian children were not even sent to school but were set to work on the sugar estates.

Joseph was born in Brasso Seco, he had(sure?) two brothers and two sisters. His father was East Indian and "Bajan" [African heritage]. His mother was "trini Spanish". In the hills of Brasso Seco you still get a feel of what little Joseph had experienced as a young boy walking barefoot on the pebble strewn tracks through the fields of cocoa trees.

Lakiwantah had three boys and four girls. She practised Vedic Hinduism. Her parents came aboard the Fatel Razack. She lived with her parents on the sugar plantation barracks in one room with three beds. For 10c a day, Lakiwantah worked on the plantations carrying cane on her head to the truck to be transported to the factory.

Louise's family lived a subsistence lifestyle. She was one of seven children. "My father had a gun, double barrel, he used to hunt wild meat…We had plenty fruits." Her mother and siblings would make bread from the cassava they grew. Any extra bread they made they would walk eight miles to sell. Cassava bread was sold for 6c (large) and baked in a dirt oven, which she remembers sweeping out before baking could begin.

Little Louise was born on Lopez Street in Arima. She lives in the exact same estate house where her Grandparents and parents lived, and maintains their furniture today just as they did over 100 years ago. Her mother's maiden name was Santiago and her parents owned land in D'Abadie and Arima.

Ayers' father was a gardener on the Herrera Estate and a musician. His mother, a worker on the same estate, would meet his father and marry him at age 30. The marriage arrangements were made through the parents. Born in Rock River, Moruga, Prince attended Rock River RC School. After primary school he worked at a cocoa estate but then moved over to the oil fields.

William 'Will' Payne’s parents, Reverend Thomas Payne and Gladys Payne migrated to Trinidad from Barbados. His British father was a Minister of the Baptist Church, London Baptist Missionary Society who worked in Princes Town, Moruga and environs in Baptist Churches known as the Fourth Company, Fifth Company and the like.