early life

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This appears to be Adena Minott's birth certificate from 1879, though there is no name for the female child who was registered. Civil registration of births only began in Jamaica in 1878, so she was the first of J T Minott's family to be officially recorded. She was born in Allman Town, and her father is described as a carpenter.

So far there is no information on her childhood in Jamaica, or on the date when she first went up to New York, though the following extract may refer to the period before going to the U.S.A. -

The Colored American Magazine, October 1908

from article by J Samuel Watson. 

In the interview in the Jamaica Times in 1901, Adena Minott said - 'I left here in May 1894' - but I have found no Ellis Island record of her arriving in New YorK from Jamaica in that year.

[Note: 'Adinah C Minott' travelled from Pt Morant to Boston with her family in November 1893.]

The following extracts give some account of her life in New York after 1894.

           page 523

"While yet a girl in her teens, Miss Minott showed exceptional ability. She graduated first in her class from Grammar School No. 80, New York City, and won the prize for general excellence from her teacher, Miss Mary E. Eaton. Miss Minott then entered the Girls' Technical High School of that city and, after receiving necessary academic counts, entered the MacDonnall College of Phrenology and Psychology, Washington, D. C."

Colored girls and boys inspiring United States history . . . , William Henry Harrison, jr, 1921.