Our great-grandparents originated from United Provinces in India, now called Uttar Pradesh. They came to Guyana - then British Guiana - as indentured laborers on or about 1870, when thousands of men and women were recruited across India to work the sugar plantations. They served out a five year indenture ship in Bath Sugar Estate and settled in Bush Lot Village, West Coast Berbice.
Our great-grandfather had the name of Prasad because he belonged to the Brahmin caste. In the early days only Brahmins were allowed to read from the holy books and only they could become pandits.
Our grandfather Nakshed Rajpal was born on or about 1887. He was the second of three sons. The eldest O.B. Sharma became a Pandit and the youngest was Rajwah. Around 1905 Nakshed Rajpal was converted to christianity by Rev. John Cropper, liaison officer for the settlement of Indians who had served out their five year contracts. Anglicizing Hindu names became the norm and Nakshed Rajpal became Walter Rachpaul.
The Lachmansingh and Rachpaul families became united when Walter married Ruth Phukuar daughter of Lachmansingh. Lakshman Singh was the first christian in Bush Lot Village and after his baptism used the name Lachmansingh. Walter bacame an elder of the church. Walter owned a ranch up the Abary River where he built a house.Walter and Ruth gave birth to twelve children. The twelve are: Edward • Elizabeth • Sookdeo • Mary • Soogrim • Aron • William • Alfred • Frederick • Harold • Verna • Ada. With the help of his sons Walter cultivated rice and reared cattle.