Actually Herb, these names are well documented, particulary in Nordeste. It is a bit of work to find out which line is actually yours, but nevertheless, much of it is already documented. I would say the hardest period is between 1720 and 1700, because some families appear to have gone missing, particularly if they lived in Nordestinho, Algarvia, Achada Feteira, around the 1750-1700 period. Then things can be very difficult. Or their names have been altered to the point where it is very difficult to determine which family line is really yours. Then you have to slog through the baptisms and sometimes piece together whole families.
But it is a journey worth taking. John Roias On Dec 28, 10:34 am, Herb <herbandj...@verizon.net> wrote: > Iris. I have soem time on my hands as I am on Christmas break > > I have been reading with great interest the posts on De Melo family > from Nordeste. I was born in Nordeste in 1958 and lived there there > until age 9. My teacher ( we only had one) was a Melo. I am not sure > of her first name, it may be Conceicao Alexandre Melo. She still > lives in Nordeste, I saw her in 1995 when I last visited Fazenda. I > am a descendant of Antonio Cabral de Mello and Barbara Correia. Their > grandson Jose Cabral de Melo married Dona Vitoria de Mendonca of > Fazenda Nordeste. Cheri Melo and Denise D'Antona and I are cousins > and we have exchanged posts about this several times over the years. > The Melos are a well known and prominent family in Nordeste. The man > who owned the local grocery store or "loje" in the town of Fazenda was > named Melo. I stopped at his store with my father when we visited > Fazenda in 1995. He remebered me. If I am not mistaken his name is > Aldino or Evelino de Melo, perhaps related to Aldino de Melo of this > group. It is difficult to break down the various Melos, Brandaos, > Arrudas and Cabrals of Nordeste. It was not uncommon in Sao Miguel > in those days to have 2nd and 3rd cousins marry each other, and on > occasion even 1st cousins. In fact this practice was encouraged > throughout Europe as late as the late 19th century, as this was seen > as a way to preserve family ties and land possesions, continuation of > family names etc. Approximately 40% of marriages throughout Europe > in the 18th and 19th centuries were between cousins. So you see, it > becomes very challenging to sort of break down and analyse these many > family ties. I will have to ask my mother what else she can tell me > about these families. I also have 2 cousins living in Fazenda and one > in Ribeira Grande ( she used to live in Achada) and they may have some > helpful information as well. > > Herb -- To unsubscribe from this group, send email to azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. Follow the confirmation directions when they arrive. For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail (vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Azores. Click in the blue area on the right that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership."
