I am working in records in different village records on Sao Miguel Island, Azores. This means I must read the Portuguese language records. Did I tell you that I don’t know any Portuguese beyond swear words? Well, I have learned some since starting my family tree. I can translate a baptismal record like nobody’s business. …
Tag: Azores
This may be why I can’t find the marriage
This weekend I decided to redo the work another researcher did for me on Francisco de Medeiros and Josefa de Mello. The town of Maia isn’t on the Azores Archives website yet, so I thought Povoacao was as good as any place to research. I found their son, Joao de Mello’s, baptismal record first. Then,…
Reassessing the Surname Algravia
I’ve written before about how my great grandfather, Theodoro, changed his surname from Pacheco to Smith. We were all told for generations that he thought there were too many Pacheco’s in Oakland, CA so he changed his surname to Smith. Ha Ha silly immigrant! The truth was far more complicated. My great grandfather contracted leprosy…
Azorean Historical Timeline: 1432-1684
1432 Goncalo Velho discovers the island of Santa Maria 1439 First known letter to document the existence of the Azores Islands (mentioning only seven islands not nine) 1439 First settlers come from the Algarve and other regions of Portugal 1443-44 The Portuguese discover the Island of Sao Miguel. Portuguese colonists inhabit the island. 1444 Volcanic…
Maria (Sousa Sampaio) Barbosa da Silva’s Individual Summary
Maria is my 10th great grandmother. I don’t have any dates for her. She was probably born around 1550 on Sao Miguel Island, Azores. Name: Maria SOUSA DE SAMPAIO-2625 Sex: Female Father: Jorge CORREIA-2651 ( – ) Mother: Isabel Pacheco da SILVEIRA-2633 ( – ) Individual Facts Marriages/Children 1. Heitor BARBOSA DA SILVA-2623 ( -1629)…