Trying to find more info on Vieira Family - Boston, MA area

Question

Here is what I know....Frank or (Francis)  Louis Vieira - born 1868 in the Azores, Portugal.  Came to Boston, MA in 1888 and married Erminia (Hermina) (Mena)  Caeser (correct spelling).  She was also born in the Azores, Portugal.   Her name has so many variations.  I did find Erminia's Naturalization records, which was great.  Frank died in 1908 in Cambridge area. Death record shows Joseph Vieira and Leopoldina Mell(?) as the parents of Frank.  Both born in Portugal.  Does anyone know of a good site that deals in Portuguese records?  Where should I begin?  It's turning out to be daunting for me.....any suggestions or help is very much welcomed.

Comments

Dear Katie,

    Here is a census listing that includes a number of Vieira family members.  If this is a match for your family, you may be able to use the other family names from Portugal to narrow the area to search in that country.

"United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9TQ-GP7 : accessed 22 April 2017), Frank Vieira in household of John Perry, Lowell city Ward 4, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 791, sheet 2A, family 24, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,660. 

   It is possible that this group of people came to the USA together.  Finding an  immigration record might be a good next step for you.  Hope this helps! -NGP

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Nanette, thanks so much, I didn't think about maybe branching out from what I do know.  You may be correct in this, maybe the records I do have on him are not the Frank I'm actually looking for.  Thanks for reminding me that it's not a bad thing to look beyond what little I do know.  It is why I think I'm having a hard time with locating them and being able to follow the trail.  Thank you for your reply!!.  It is truly appreciated.  -Katie

Answer 1

Katie, I have some Vieiras in my tree. Almost all church records from Portugal are online and organized on the website: www.tombo.pt. If you need help, please write me.

Comments

Hi Jose,  

Thanks sooooo much for your reply!  I appreciate it so much.  My mother's father was Portuguese and his father, mother and grandfather, and grandmother immigrated from the Azores.  Graciosa and Terceira Islands?  Mainly those two.  It's so hard to locate Portuguese records.  The last names are very confusing.  I will definitely keep your contact and email you if I need some help.  I'm sure I will.  Again, I appreciate you replying on here.  You have helped point me in the right direction.  Thanks!!

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Most people from Açores islands have ancestors in continental Portugal, since they were populated only after 1430, mostly with people from Algarve, Alentejo and Minho regions of Portugal. Nevertheless, I think they had also a major settlement of Dutch in Faial island and also think there was also a Danish. But the Atlantic community of countries joined a lot in Azores as a middle point from Europe and America (South, Central and North). So, people from Azores migrated to many, many American countries, from Hawaii major migration in 1890-1900, to Brazilian or to Canada/USA settlements.

There are several (very active) facebook groups dedicated to azorean genealogy and genetic genealogy, since this movement was so frequent, there are many many participants from USA: https://www.facebook.com/groups/azoresgenealogy/

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Oh my gosh!  You are an angel!  Thank you so much for providing this info. Seriously, it has really helped bust through my brick walls for this family. I appreciate your help and replying to my post.  I wish you nothing but good luck in your search for your ancestors!  :)

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Dear Katie, have you found the info you having been looking for? If you need more help, please tell me.