Until the beginning of this year I didn’t know much about my
maternal great grandmother Thereza Lopes, not even a photograph. She was just a
name. I contacted some family members and little by little I started getting
more information on her three deceased daughters. I was sure that making that
decision would give me new clues. Having the information on their marriage
certificates, birth certificates and death certificates I was sure I would be
able to finally make a much more solid portrait about Thereza’s life.
This week I finally found the certificate of Theresa Lopes's Civil
Registration marriage to my great
grandfather Francisco Machado Drumond, who was born in São Sebastiao, Terceira
Island – Angra do Heroismo - in the Azores.
Having this in hand I was able to verify they were living in Morro
da Conceição, downtown Rio de Janeiro, a place where some of the Portuguese
immigrants settled in the XIX century. Until today the neighbor preserves some
atmosphere of the traditional Portuguese streets and the narrow streets.
The site below shows some photos from Morro da Conceição, downtown
Rio de Janeiro, by Rafael Soares.
Going back to our research, the link below is from the Arquivo
Nacional but different from the others that I mentioned before. You will find birth
records, marriage and death records, civil and commercial cases belonging to
the Civil Courts, Commercial Courts, Pretorias of Rio de Janeiro and Superior
Courts, as well as processes of ancient collections formed over the years in
the National Archives, as slaves, Lands Inventories and Holders.
I have a long way to go before I find everything I need from my
ancestors, but I know I’m on the right way to get there. When we do genealogy
we need to count on every detail and help we can find, from family and
genealogists in your circle of friends. Also participating in groups,
associations and societies will help a lot; they can provide support giving you
knowledge and tips in finding new sources and amazing discoveries in your
family.
I found the spelling of Thereza in your blog interesting. As I have always found it spelled that way in my Germanic family history - with the h and z.
ReplyDeleteGrowing up in So Calif. all the hispanic Teresa's do not have the h.
I wonder if your g-grandmother's family was from a Germanic region of Europe before going to Brazil?
Regards,
Theresa (Tangled Trees)
Hello Theresa,
DeleteThanks for visiting my blog! I grew up in Brazil and there we have the spelling of Thereza in both ways, with h and z and just Teresa.
I believe Thereza's family is from Portugal, like my g grandfather, her husband. I don't have yet enough information, still researching. I will let you know if I find anything.
Best wishes,
Isabella
Hi Isabella!
ReplyDeleteI was excited to see a Portuguese genealogy on the new blogs list on Geneabloggers. I have three different lines that come from Portugal: a great-grandmother Christina Rafael who was actually born in the Kingdom of Hawaii but both her parents (Alfredo Rafael and Julia Tavares) were born in Portugal; a 2nd great-grandfather Antone Silva born in the Azores; and a great-grandfather John Gonsalves who was also born in the Kingdom of Hawaii and whose parents (Antone Gonsalves and Eliza Fernandes) were both born in Portugal.
I look forward to following your research and to learning how to trace my own ancestors in Portugal.
Niecey ~ The Chosen Storyteller
www.chosen-storyteller.blogspot.com