Ancestors
Notables of AL Thawawdah
This site documents the descendants of Abdullah and Rashid, sons of Isa bin Khalifa bin Hilal bin Hasan Al Thawadi — of the Al-‘Ama’ir, Bani Khalid.
-
1
Al-Hidd — Nawkhidha & sheikhly leadership
Nawkhidha / Sheikh Abdullah bin Isa Al Thawadi
Sheikh and community leader of AL Thawawdah — among the best-known pearling captains of Al-Hidd
One of the foremost men of AL Thawawdah in Bahrain, combining tribal sheikhly leadership in Al-Hidd with command of pearling vessels (nawkhidha). He appears in the Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf among the leading tribes of Al-Hidd, in Bahrain nawakhida lists (1920–1960), in the pearling captains’ petition of 1344 AH / 1925 CE — where he was the first signatory — and in Muharraq Municipality correspondence (1936–1938) on diver (jazwa) rolls and pearling fees. He is a pillar of the documented lineage.
- Title
- Nawkhidha — master and owner of a pearling vessel
- Place
- Al-Hidd — Fareej AL Thawawdah, near the midaf and jalafa
- Ships
- Bashara, Musa‘id, Nayef, Umm Kulthum
- Documentation
- Petition 1925; Muharraq Municipality 1936–1938; Gulf Gazetteer
Nawkhidha and sheikhly office
In the Gulf, the nawkhidha is the ship’s master and owner — responsible for pearling voyages, the crew (jazwa), and disposing of the pearl catch. At the same time, Abdullah bin Isa was sheikh and community head of AL Thawawdah in Al-Hidd — keeper of an open majlis and a voice among the country’s notables. He was known for financing himself without borrowing, and held a close friendship with the Al Khalifa — including Sheikh Hamad bin Isa, Ruler of Bahrain, and Sheikh Abdullah bin Isa Al Khalifa, Minister of Education.
Among his well-known sailors: Dhahir Al-‘Umairi and Husain Al-Kuwaiti — the diver who found Dana Abdullah. Among his charitable works: digging a shared water spring for the people of Al-Hidd (known as “‘Ayn Al Thawadi”), which the neighbourhood used freely.
His ships and fleet
- Bashara — the vessel on which Dana Abdullah Al Thawadi was found
- Musa‘id — among his owned ships
- Nayef — among his owned ships
- Umm Kulthum — among his owned ships
Source: family biography preserved through oral history — to verify ship names and dates, contact us.
Pearling captains’ petition — 1344 AH / October 1925
When the government proposed new pearling regulations, Abdullah bin Isa Al Thawadi — first among the signatories — submitted a petition to Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa with other nawakhida and pearl traders, objecting to clauses that limited the nawkhidha’s authority over selling the catch and managing the jazwa. The petition reached the British Political Resident, Colonel Prideaux, and amendments followed.
«…نرفع لسعادتكم شكوانا من خسارة المال واشتغال البال والسبب في ذلك النظامات الجارية في خصوص الغوص قد أضرت بنا… الذي نرجو من فضلكم في هذه المسألة أن يكون البيع بنظر النواخذة فهم أعلم بصنوف القماش وأحرص من الجزوى على حصول المصلحة…» Pearling captains’ petition — Rabi‘ II 1344 AH — Abdullah bin Isa Al Thawadi (first signatory)
Other signatories included Hamad bin Saqr Al-Buflasa, Muhanna bin Fadl Al-Nuaimi, Isa bin Hamad Al-Khatm, and others. Full text & references.
Dana Abdullah — among Bahrain’s most famous pearls
It ranks among Bahrain’s most celebrated pearls after Dana bin Tarif. In a pearling season — likely 1938 CE — the ship Bashara, whose nawkhidha was Ahmad bin Abdullah (his son), sailed to Hair Bu‘Amama. While opening oysters, Husain Al-Kuwaiti found an immense pearl and told Nawkhidha Ahmad, who informed his father Abdullah bin Isa — who rejoiced and thanked God.
- Weight
- 204 jaw (traditional pearl weight)
- Sale
- 34,000 rupees — to Hajj Abdulrahman Al-Qusaibi
- Diver’s reward
- 300 rupees to Husain Al-Kuwaiti
- Eyewitness
- Muhammad bin Abdullah bin Isa Al Thawadi
Jaridat Al-Bahrain (Abdullah Al-Za’id) reported it on 6 Rajab 1358 AH / 17 August 1939 under the title “A rare pearl from the fisheries of Bahrain” — noting Al-Qusaibi bought an 18-carat pearl that stirred the jewellery world in Europe and India. On 10 Sha‘ban 1359 AH / 12 September 1940 the paper said Al-Qusaibi sold it to Indian royalty for a large sum. Diver Husain Al-Kuwaiti described its size as “like a marble.”
It appeared after Japanese cultured pearls and the market collapse — underscoring Abdullah bin Isa’s achievement in disposing of it. Press sources.
Material heritage in Al-Hidd
Local memory preserves the “House of Nawkhidha Abdullah bin Isa Al Thawadi” in old Fareej Al-Hidd — a large house near the midaf (boat landing) and jalafa (wooden shipbuilding), in a quarter tied to the sea. Nearby is ‘Ayn Al Thawadi — the shared spring he dug for the people.
Descendants (from available sources)
Ahmad bin Abdullah bin Isa — nawkhidha of Bashara (season of Dana Abdullah).
Muhammad bin Abdullah bin Isa — eyewitness to the pearl story; chosen dean of AL Thawawdah in Bahrain in 2014. Sons of Muhammad include Abdullah, Isa, Ahmad, and Ali. -
2
Al-Hidd — Nawkhidha & clan sheikh
Sheikh Rashid bin Isa Al Thawadi
Nawkhidha Rashid bin Isa bin Khalifa Al Thawadi — sheikh of AL Thawawdah in Al-Hidd
A documented notable of AL Thawawdah in the majlis archive and Bahraini historical sources. Known for piety and wide knowledge of navigation, his voyages reached East African ports such as Zanzibar — a source of mangrove timber and more — as his sons relate. He kept close ties with the Al-‘Ama’ir of Bani Khalid, and a historical letter names him sheikh of the AL Thawawdah clan in Bahrain.
Fleet and pearling
He owned several pearling vessels, including Armitha, Malfaja, Jalboot Al-‘Arida, and Jalboot Umm Du‘aij. One ship was sold to the merchant Muhammad Tayyib (may God have mercy on him), who converted it to a motor launch and hired it out in Al-Hidd before it sailed again.
Descendants (from available sources)
Khalifa bin Rashid bin Isa Al Thawadi — nawkhidha.
Ahmad bin Rashid bin Isa Al Thawadi — nawkhidha.
Hasan bin Rashid bin Isa Al Thawadi — nawkhidha.
Hilal bin Rashid bin Isa Al Thawadi — nawkhidha (his majlis in Al-Hidd beside Shanuf Mosque).
Jassim bin Rashid bin Isa Al Thawadi — nawkhidha.
And three daughters, may God have mercy on them. From the line of Abdullah bin Isa — who followed in sheikhly office and pearling — Nawkhidha Abdullah bin Isa Al Thawadi.Death
He died after performing the Hajj and visiting Madinah, and was buried there — may God have mercy on him.
Archive & publication sources — @althawadi_majlis posts and British Residency documents.