Tangled Web We Weave
Research Journal #2, Entry 1
One of the most frustratting aspects of genealogy is learning that someone may be related to you but no one remembers how! Take the Cosma’s and the Camara’s. They appear to be two different, distinct families. No one remembered a close connection between them. They may have been related through a series of marriages. Yet, the kept appearing together in family stories. Things like “I don’t think we were related, but every summer they went on vacation to Centerville with everyone else” made the mystery more intriguing.
Those who knew them couldn’t decide where they belonged. Comments like “Oh, I think they were my Grandma’s cousins” later changed to “Oh, I think they were my Grandfather’s friends.”
You can add to the pot a healthy dose of confusing characters. They went by the surnames of Remoaldo, Santos (but they were really de Jesus!), Ornellas, Spirou, Pavao (later changed to Pavon), Furtado, Raposo, Gabriel or Medeiros (or were they Gabriel Medeiros?) This was a start of the unsolvable mystery. Too many crossed lines and marriages to get a clear picture.
One thing was clear. All of these families were related in some way. The questions was, of course, how–or better yet–how many times? There didn’t seem to be family members from the pre-1920 crowd who new the real story. Sorting out all the stories and conflicts would take an act of congress. The only chance was to find the clues within documentation. Would the early 1900 Hawaiian records reveal the families secrets?
Relationship between the Cosma’s and the Camara’s
With the start of a new month, we have a new research journal. In Research Journal #2, we’ll try to figure out how two families, the Cosma’s and the Camara’s, are related. This is a tricky research problem because no one still living seems to know how far the relationships go. They only know that there were a few marriages and that the families were constantly around each other.
Seraphim’s Descendants…Where Are You?
Research Journal #1, Entry #4
As proof of Seraphim de Braga’s existence unfolded, there was still so much I didn’t know about him. And, it really bugged me! The only way to find out more would be to track down his descendants. I had already collected some information from the census. But, what I had only came forward another generation. There was a huge gap from 1920 to the present.
The first step was to find obituaries for Seraphim and his wife, Olympia. This provided me with a little more information about his children and who they married. I then searched for obituaries, death certificates, and cemetery records for the descendants. Once I had these records, I was able to bring the line forward a couple of generations. Although all of Seraphim’s children were deceased, he still had living grandchildren.
I sent off a couple of letters to people who might be related to Seraphim. In a few weeks, I received a letter from an individual who was Seraphim’s grandson. He didn’t know alot about the family, but forwarded my letter to his cousin. I waited a few more weeks before a letter arrived from the cousin. This cousin had moved to Monterey County circa 1930 and was aware of the other de Braga’s and Bonita’s. This letter confirmed Seraphim’s relationship to the de Braga’s and also provided more details of his life. By finding the descendants, I was able to learn about Seraphim and also about Jozimas and Maria. The research trail had come full circle.
Seraphim de Braga’s Obituary
(Source: Honolulu Star Bulletin, 25 Nov 1955, page 6)
Serafim Braga
A Requiem High Mass will be held at 9am Monday at Our Lady of Peace Cathedral for Serafim Braga, 76, who died Tuesday at his home.
Friends may call at Ordenstein’s Mortuary Sunday from 6 to 9pm and after 7am Monday; Rosary, 7:30pm Sunday, burial, Diamond Head Cemetery.
Born in San Michael [sic], Portugal. Mr. Braga was a member of the Living Rosary, Punchbowl Holy Ghost Society and San Antonio Society.
He is survived by his wife, Olympia: two sons, Joseph and William, both of California; three sisters [sic], Mrs. Gloria B. Thom, Mrs. Margaret Paul, and Mrs. Olympia Mendes; sister Mrs. Grace Bonita; five grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
[Note: The three "sisters" are really Seraphim's daughters Gloria, Margaret, and Olympia]