The preist in Calheta just listed the names of those who died in the earthquake. With no identifying information. Here is the page that the list starts on: http://culturacores.azores.gov.pt/biblioteca_digital/SJR-CH-CALHETA-O-1750-1780/SJR-CH-CALHETA-O-1750-1780_item1/P54.html
The following excerpt is from the Azores Genweb Earthquake page: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~azrwgw/general-info/earthquakes-in-the-azores.html "Following this note are the records of the people who died on the night of the 9th and early morning of the 10th day of July of this year 1757, that razed and demolished the stone walls of the fields, the cliffs, the fountains, and not a single house remained that had not rotated on its foundation, and a large part of its residents dead underneath these same ruins; and for them who lived through the Divine Kindness and Compassion will remain with a life so crushed and torn to pieces even though it can be said that by a miracle they escaped; nor would there be a place where the dead could be buried: - because the mother church of this town and the three chapels suffragans to the mother church are all turned around from top to bottom, nothing remaining in their church yards where they can be buried. "God by his infinite compassion left me life, removing me from under the many large stones of my house that fell on top of me, he permits that these days that he conserved my life only to be fruitful in his saintly service, Blessed and Praised always Divine Compassion." -- Neatly written, page after page, the dead are listed by household, the number of dead of each household written in the margin. How well Father Machado knew his parishioners. He gives their names and ages; single, married or widowed; where they came from if not natives of Calheta; and in many cases their occupations. What is so amazing is the amount of detail in these records at such a time of upheaval. The churches in Calheta, Ribeira Seca, and Topo were destroyed and 1,034 people in the district were killed, and many others crippled or maimed. My ancestors in all three places survived the earthquake. One can imagine the terrible hardships of the people of this district." I have another book about Sao Jorge which provides the following information about casualties resulting from the earthquake: "July 9, 1757 (Saturday) Around 23 h and 45 'there was a strong earthquake with a duration of approximately 2' July 10, 1757 (Sunday) In the morning the damage is visible: from the tip of the Top to Calheta there is no house standing; Great landslides led to the emergence of 18 islets. Around 10 am new earthquake. Around 16 hours new earthquake. 125 deaths. A corpse was buried in the church, 84 in two open ditches in the churchyard and 40 were buried in the ruins. House sends boat to Angra to participate in the event. House sends a boat with the county attorney and clerk of the House, to take possession of the new fajãs formed by the defeats. In Fajã de São João: Great defeats; After three days there were still shouts of buried victims. In Ribeira Seca: Great destruction, and 452 deaths. In Fajã dos Vimes: Church and all dwellings demolished In Calheta: 135 deaths; All buildings razed In Norte Pequeno: Appearance of the " Arregoas "; Several derelict buildings In the County of Velas: Some ruined temples, Several houses destroyed, just 2 deaths in Norte Grande There were a total of 1034 deaths! The village of Calheta being devastated without being left alone in a house or where the Blessed Sacrament rose because it is in the country under some trees; And in the town of Topo it was the same and only a hermitage of the Virgin Our Lady of Help was ruined, and there was no house, and making prudent judgment and ascertainment of the dead that suffered under the ruins say that throughout the Island died Nine hundred people, let the Divine Mercy of God be all in his holy sight; And so that there may be remembrance of the punishment and amendment in the vices for the time ahead and in the present I decided to express it in this Book for being the most public (...). Of which I made this memory that I assign myself to the 19 of July of 1757 - I Gaspar Gonçalves Boto, clerk of the Camera I wrote it. GGBoto. I declare that, having made an inquiry again, it is known that a thousand and thirty-four persons have died, and I have written to the scribe." Additionally, once you get the legend added to the Ribeira Seca deceased list, I would encourage you to send it to Kathy Cardoza. It would be a marvelous edition on the earthquake page of Azores Genweb. Thanks! Jeremy -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Azores Genealogy" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/azores.
