A Bermudian researcher said she was stunned to discover one of her own ancestors as she worked on the history of slavery on the island.

LeYoni Junos, the author of ground-breaking research on the ex-slave and abolitionist author Mary Prince, said she had also uncovered the enslaved ancestors of other people, such as the Bermudian actor Earl Cameron.

However, she warned amateur researchers: “If you go searching, there is a good chance you might not find them.

“None of the records are extensive; there’s a lot of forensic-type work.”

Ms Junos added: “It helps if the person has an unusual name. For men, for instance, the most common names are Joe, Tom and Will.”

Her latest research focused on the discovery of new details on Ms Prince’s life.

Ms Junos said her family knew of a slave ancestor called Amelia, who was known to her grandmother.

She added: “When I was transcribing an index, I located her, a child, Amelia, whose parents were Thomas and Elizabeth or Betty Bassett.”

Thomas Bassett was listed in 1828 records as a free man, but his wife was listed as a slave — and Amelia appeared in records in the 1830s.

Ms Junos said: “That day sitting in the archives at the microfilm, when I found Betty and Amelia, I just squealed. I was so delighted.”

She added: “At the same time, it’s a mixed feeling. You are looking at a slave register, but finding people connected to you.

“I have extensively researched Bermuda’s slave registers, that were legislated to be done in the 14 years before emancipation.

“For instance, I indexed the register to locate slaves by their names, the register was indexed by owners only.”