Who is Mary Isabella Booth and what is her connection to the UK's first Black policeman, John Kent?

This is the mystery author Ray Greenhow was trying to unravel when he spoke at The Beacon in Whitehaven last week to celebrate Black History Month.

John Kent's story began in Whitehaven when his father, Thomas, landed there as a slave in the ownership of the Senhouse family of Calder Abbey.

He was later freed on account of his good conduct.But that is not the end of the Whitehaven connection.

There was a young girl born around 1836 who was called Mary Isabella Booth, who gave her place of birth as Whitehaven.

John went on to become Britain's first black policeman, serving in Maryport.

Mary remained with the Kent's over the course of John's life. She is listed in the 1841 census as a Kent and later census' give her name as Booth.

Sometimes she is listed as John's cousin. Sometimes she said she was married and sometimes not although, other than that one census, her name was always Booth.

Mr Greenhow said he has been unable to unravel the mystery of who this woman really was.

"She had two daughters with no known father. One of those daughters registered John's death and stated she was his grand daughter, which was not so."

The talk did not bring up any answers but Mr Greenhow is eager to shed some on who this woman was and if there are any of her descendants left in Whitehaven.