The native islander Keila Rochelle Thompson Gough embarked on a journey through time and the result is a book about her family history, from Europe to The Caribbean. Join us as we dive into how and why a young woman managed to capture it and how it became popular book!
TO THE NEWER WORLD
The colonization and settlement of what became known as the New World had lasted for 502 years after Columbus explored the Americas, when a young woman in her twenties picked up a pen and paper, inspired by glimpses of her descendants. She embarked on a nine-year journey to trace her ancestry. Some of her ancestors fought in the War of 1812 between the USA and Great Britain before arriving in the British West Indies, Jamaica and Belize, and eventually the Bay Islands in the early 1800s, with origins traced back to England.
Her journey culminated in uncovering multiple family lines, ultimately establishing her as the eighth generation. She dedicated countless hours to researching and writing from dawn to dusk, resulting in her 530-page book titled “Piece of the Puzzle: The History Of My Ancestors On The Bay Islands.” She discovered her forefathers, who first set foot on the eastern shores of Roatan and established the village of Oak Ridge, named after the woods surrounding the bay. Her search led her through weathered gravestones visiting cemeteries, and restoring some to breathe new life into the memories of her ancestors—those who had become etched in history.
They were an intrinsic part of the history of the Bay Islands, with some of their ancestors signing a petition —a plea to Queen Victoria in 1859 —for the islands to remain a British colony under British rule and protection, following a treaty that forced the UK to transfer the islands to Honduras.
ON SACRED GROUND
On a Thursday at noon in mid-October 2025, under clouds heavy with rain awaiting the perfect moment to pour down, Bay Island Magazine meets the author Keila Thompson Rochelle Gough outside the “Salty Dawg” restaurant in southern Oak Ridge. She guides us along narrow, one-lane roads, over a bridge, and out to the peninsula “Oak Ridge Point” and the property once owned by the matriarch of the family, her great-grandmother Cora Abbott-Wood. Today, it’s a blue house owned by her grand “Ol’ aunt” Gwelda Wood, nestled adjacent to Oak Ridge Baptist Church, where Keila attends services every Sunday. Miss Wood welcomes us warmly as we settle for an interview on the veranda.
-Are we on sacred ground, being in this place?
“Yes, we are,” she replies with a gentle smile, nodding to her grand aunt.
“This house sits on land that has been registered to the Cooper family in property documents since 1859 and passed down from one generation to the next”.
“This house sits on land that has been registered to the Cooper family in property documents since 1859 and passed down from one generation to the next”.
AN AMAZED FAMILY
Keila’s brown eyes reveal an inner strength and genuine curiosity about her family history and the archipelago. Her unwavering commitment to her goals is evident in the thorough work she’s done on her book. She can refer to every chapter with ease when responding to questions, embodying the spirit of perseverance and reverence for her heritage. What should be a document to help their family to know more about their ancestors, became a book.
It was not my plan to write a book for release, just to make history more concrete for my family. But here I am, with the book about us.
-What are your family members saying about the book?
Everybody is just amazed about it, because so many people only had like five pages of typewritten or handwritten notes about the family history.
Keila wants to show the world that, behind all those white beaches and resorts, Bay Islands are a unique society that carries a remarkable culture and history.
Many days and nights after her burial, Lem would visit the grave, open the tomb at the foot, and pull out her coffin to look at her for hours, as she was very well preserved, and he missed her dearly not knowing how he would carry on with life.
THE POWER OF LOVE
Love has, as many might have experienced, a formidable strength:
“Jane Margaret died on July 28, 1923, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Lemuel (Lem) Cooper had her body embalmed and sailed it to Ruatan to be buried in his family cemetery at Oak Ridge.
Lemuel was very much in love with Jane Margaret, and her death devastated him. Her casket had a glass so she could be seen when it was closed. He had a tomb built above the ground, with a crescent-shaped top and an opening by the foot of the tomb. Many days and nights after her burial, Lem would visit the grave, open the tomb at the foot, and pull out her coffin to look at her for hours, as she was very well preserved, and he missed her dearly not knowing how he would carry on with life.”
(From “The Piece of the Puzzle”)
So, what happened to Lemuel and his enduring meetings with his departed love? They definitely couldn’t go on forever?
And what about the guy who managed to steal his true love at the second attempt from her father on a sailboat at Cayos Cuchinos? Buy the book, dive into the incredible stories along family lines, and find out!
A BOOK FOR EVERYONE
“Piece of the Puzzle” is a book that elucidates the history and cultural evolution of societies, detailing their formation and transformation over time. This provides readers with a richer understanding of the present-day world, in a journey from Europe to the Caribbean.
The book is well-written and includes a comprehensive reference section titled “endnotes.” Its positive reviews across various websites and magazines, such as Women’s Magazine, AP, Wral News, Barchart and affiliates of ABC and NBC. This indicates that it effectively fills a gap in the narratives about the Bay Islands.
We are definitely recommending it for not only history buffs, but everyone who wants to find out who they are or why their surroundings are like it is!
The book is available for purchase at Apple Books, Amazon.com and BN.com (Barnes & Noble) in eBook and paperback.
Amazon.com Kindle eBook link
: https://a.co/d/i8LcOrC
Amazon.com Paperback Link
: https://a.co/d/cBttoVW
Barnes & Noble eBook and Paperback link
: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/…/piece-of…/1147792527…