Unveiling Beryl Finegan: A Matriarch's Enduring Legacy

Nettie Macejkovic 10 Jun 2025

**The tapestry of history is often woven from the individual threads of countless lives, each contributing to the rich narrative of a family, a community, and even a nation. Among these pivotal figures, Beryl Finegan stands out as a woman whose life, though not widely publicized in her time, holds significant genealogical and historical weight, particularly through her connection to prominent public figures.** Her story offers a fascinating glimpse into Jamaican heritage, the complexities of family lineage, and the profound impact one individual can have across generations. This article delves into the life of Beryl Finegan, piecing together details from various records and accounts to paint a comprehensive picture of her journey and her enduring legacy. Understanding Beryl Finegan's life requires a journey into the heart of Jamaica, a nation rich in culture and history. Her story is not just a collection of dates and names; it is a testament to the resilience, the familial bonds, and the vibrant heritage that shaped her and, by extension, those who came after her. Through meticulous genealogical exploration, we can uncover the layers of her past, appreciating the context in which she lived and the influences that molded her existence. **Table of Contents** 1. [The Roots of a Legacy: Beryl Finegan's Early Life](#the-roots-of-a-legacy-beryl-finegans-early-life) * [A Glimpse into Jamaican Heritage](#a-glimpse-into-jamaican-heritage) 2. [Navigating Life's Journey: Beryl Finegan's Personal Milestones](#navigating-lifes-journey-beryl-finegans-personal-milestones) 3. [The Finegan Family Tree: Connections and Descendants](#the-finegan-family-tree-connections-and-descendants) * [Unraveling Genealogical Puzzles](#unraveling-genealogical-puzzles) 4. [The Enduring Impact: Beryl Finegan and Kamala Harris](#the-enduring-impact-beryl-finegan-and-kamala-harris) 5. [The Significance of Genealogical Research](#the-significance-of-genealogical-research) * [The Role of Records in Tracing Ancestry](#the-role-of-records-in-tracing-ancestry) 6. [Beyond the Individual: A Legacy of Resilience](#beyond-the-individual-a-legacy-of-resilience) * [Preserving Family Stories for Future Generations](#preserving-family-stories-for-future-generations) 7. [Conclusion: Beryl Finegan's Place in History](#conclusion-beryl-finegans-place-in-history) --- ### The Roots of a Legacy: Beryl Finegan's Early Life Beryl Magdeline Finegan was born on September 9, 1917, in Inverness, Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica. Her birth marked the beginning of a life that would eventually become a subject of keen interest to genealogists and historians alike. She was the daughter of Iris Allen and Patrick A. Finegan, a union that laid the foundation for a significant branch of a prominent family tree. Her father, Patrick Finegan, also known as Patrick Fenegon, hailed from Thatchfield, St. Ann Parish. The records suggest a possible Irish heritage on his side, hinting at the diverse cultural tapestry that defines Jamaica. This potential Irish lineage adds another layer to the rich background of the Finegan family, reflecting the historical migrations and intermingling of cultures that shaped the Caribbean. Patrick Finegan’s roots in St. Ann underscore the deep connection the family had to this specific region of Jamaica, a connection that would persist through generations. Beryl's mother, Iris Allen, was born in 1889 in the Aboukir Road area of the Cave Valley District, also within Saint Ann Parish. She lived a long life, passing away in 1981 in the same parish where she was born and raised. The marriage of Iris Allen and Patrick A. Finegan took place on January 1, 1908, a date revealed through their marriage records, which are crucial pieces of the genealogical puzzle. These early details about Beryl Finegan's parents and their origins provide essential context for understanding her upbringing and the environment in which she was nurtured. #### A Glimpse into Jamaican Heritage Saint Ann Parish, often referred to as "the Garden Parish" due to its lush landscapes and natural beauty, played a significant role in shaping the lives of Beryl Finegan and her family. This region, like much of Jamaica, was undergoing profound changes during the early to mid-20th century. The cultural and historical environment of Jamaica, particularly its journey towards independence and its economic challenges, undoubtedly influenced the lives of its inhabitants, including Beryl and her contemporaries. Families like the Finegans were part of the fabric of a society navigating these shifts, contributing to the island's evolving identity. Understanding this backdrop helps us appreciate the resilience and adaptability that characterized many Jamaicans of that era. The deep-seated community ties and the vibrant cultural traditions of St. Ann would have been integral to Beryl's formative years, instilling in her a strong sense of identity and belonging. ### Navigating Life's Journey: Beryl Finegan's Personal Milestones As Beryl Magdeline Finegan matured, she embarked on her own personal journey, marked by significant life events that are meticulously recorded in various historical documents. One such pivotal event was her marriage to Lawford Newland in 1944. Marriage records, much like birth and death certificates, serve as invaluable primary sources for genealogists, offering concrete evidence of familial connections and timelines. This union would have been a significant chapter in Beryl's life, contributing to the expansion of her family and the weaving of new threads into the Finegan lineage. The act of marrying and establishing a household was a common and central aspect of life in Jamaica during the mid-20th century. These milestones, though seemingly ordinary, form the bedrock of family histories. For researchers tracing the lineage of Beryl Finegan, her marriage to Lawford Newland provides a critical link, helping to connect different branches of the family tree and verify relationships. The ability to cross-reference such details across various records – from local parish registers to national archives – is what allows for the reconstruction of a person's life story with a high degree of accuracy. ### The Finegan Family Tree: Connections and Descendants The name Beryl Finegan resonates particularly strongly within the context of American politics due to her familial connection to Vice President Kamala Harris. Records indicate that Beryl Magdeline Finegan is the paternal grandmother of Kamala Harris. This connection makes Beryl's life story not just a personal narrative but also a piece of a larger historical and political mosaic. Tracing this lineage involves navigating a complex web of relationships and names, a common challenge in extensive genealogical research. Within the broader Finegan family tree, other notable individuals emerge. For instance, Donald Harris, Kamala Harris's father, was born on August 23, 1938, in Brown's Town, St. Ann. His parents were Oscar Joseph Harris and Beryl Christie Harris (née Finegan). This introduces another Beryl Finegan into the narrative, Beryl Christie Finegan, who is Donald Harris's mother. The presence of multiple individuals with similar names, especially within a close family, can sometimes lead to confusion in genealogical studies. However, careful examination of birth dates, parentage, and marriage records helps to distinguish these individuals and clarify their respective places within the family structure. The data suggests that Donald's mother, Beryl Christie Finegan, was also born to a Patrick A. Finegan, which, if accurate, would imply a close relation, possibly a sister or cousin, to Beryl Magdeline Finegan (born 1917), or perhaps a complex naming convention within the family. This highlights the intricate nature of family history research and the need for meticulous cross-referencing. #### Unraveling Genealogical Puzzles The process of constructing a family tree, especially for individuals like Beryl Finegan, often involves piecing together fragments of information from various sources. In a series of YouTube videos, a researcher named Owens located a document that likely records the 1917 birth of Kamala Harris's grandmother, recorded as "Beril Magdaline Allen." This detail is crucial, as it confirms her birth name and provides a direct link to her mother, Iris Allen. Such discoveries are central to validating genealogical claims and building robust family histories. The ability to cross-reference information from birth, marriage, and death records, along with census data and other historical documents, allows researchers to "shed light on the life of people named Beryl Finegan." Online platforms like MyHeritage, with their vast databases of records, and free family tree communities, are invaluable tools for exploring and discovering family histories, making the intricate process of genealogy more accessible to the public. **Personal Data: Beryl Magdeline Finegan** | Detail | Information