Hi, Morwen. It's a good question you ask. Why would Lord Invader make up something like that? On the other hand there was no emphasis on telling the truth in a calypso war. Exaggeration and bombast were the order of the day.

In 1947 Lord invader testified in court that he was born on September 13, 1914 and raised in San Fernando. He attended a "Roman Catholic" school. I have not seen anything else about his family life in Trinidad.

When Invader died, on October 15, 1961, in New York the obituaries mentioned that he left behind a wife, Elaine (Lewis), a stepson, Melvin Lewis and as stepdaughter, Dorothy Derbin. I have not been able to track any of them down. My guess is that his marriage was a common law marriage.

I am planning to visit his grave soon which is in Brooklyn.

Morwen - please contact me directly - kburke9@mac.com