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The earliest record of the "Ledgister" name in Jamaica is of a "John Ledgister" and "W. Ledgister" who were both born in St. Elizabeth in 1692. This predates the information we have on "Sarah Ledgister" by over a century! To date we are unable to find a connection between Sarah and the elder Ledgister's although we can confirm that they both had sons.

We have found records of a "Mary Legister" being christened on the 2nd August 1719. The fact that "John  and W. Ledgister" pre date Mary is interesting. Perhaps there is a connection?

Our research has  discovered a reference to "Robert Legister" of Gelston, in an Index to the 1332 Lay Subsidy Rolls for Lincolnshire, England. I wonder if this is why I have a taste for Lincolnshire sausages? interestingly, we have also found a reference to a Robert Legister in some ancient deeds of the corporation of Bath, Somerset , England dating back to the 13th century (1233-1234). Is there a connection between the two Robert's?

We can find no further evidence of either spelling of our name until the beginning of the 20th Century: The British National Archive is an excellent source of research: It shows the arrival in England during the 1950's of several of  Ledgister's and Legister's  on the Ascania, Begonia, Irpinia and  Jamaica Producer. Also we have found medal cards for John, Joseph, Charles Ledgister, Privates 15518, 12289, 36367 and Charles Ledgister, Private (76519) who all served in the British West Indian Regiment between 1914 and 1920 (WWI).

An etymologist and onomastics specialist has suggested that an  alternative source of our name  as "Lister" which has also been recorded as "Ledster", "Lidster", "Lydster", "Litster" and others.

Interestingly, without exception all the "Ledgister's", "Legister's" and even "Ledgester's" who have contacted this site trace  our roots to the one particular area in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica. This does not necessarily means that we are all related, but that we all share a very "close" history. The obvious question that arises from this; what happened to the original "Ledgister's" who we assume came from England?

Many of us have excelled in the fields of sport, education, military, law, administration.

The "Quest" continues..........

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