What is Timothy's family background in The Cay?

When Phillip asks if he hails from Africa, Timothy admits
that he has no knowledge of any family roots in "Afre-ca," and that he never knew his
"fatha or my mut-ther." Timothy was an orphan who was brought up by one Hannah Gumbs,
and he lives in Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas, part of the U.S. Virgin Islands. This
made Timothy an American, Phillip told him, though Timothy "never gave it much thought."
Timothy was also not sure of when he was born, only that he was now "Lil' more dan
sixty." He had sailed "all d'islan's" of the Caribbean, and he had "no recollection o'
anythin' 'cept dese islan's."