My wife's paternal grandfather identified as being from the Azores/Portugal. In the 1870 US census for New London, CT his paternal grandparents were James Jordan, 38, Western Islands and his wife Louisa Constance Clementine, 31, Western Islands and his maternal grandparents Antoine Foster, 26, Western Islands, his wife Mariana Enos, 30, Western Islands. Family lore is the the surname Jordan was 'taken' by James to be more american. That his oldest son Joseph Ventura Jordan, carried the family surname Ventura.
Was the 1870 census unique in using the 'Western Islands' as a birthplace? Did it refer to the Azores in general or a more specific group of island like today. The 1880 census uses Portugal. There appears to be a close knit community in New London, Ct in the late 1800's.
Would like to help with the New London, CT area families.