Thomas (Thomaz)

[Smitty]

Hi;
I am new to this group, I have been trying to find information about
my mother's parents. I did write this note earlier but I seem to have
lost it, so if you get it twice that is why.
The information I have I got from his Naturalization papers and an
application for a passport. We found a copy of his Naturalization
paper in the family papers.
His name was Jose (Joseph) Thomas. He was born in San Jorge on Oct.
28, 1865. He came to the US on May 9, 1885 aboard the Bk Victoria
from San Jorge to Providence, RI. He was Naturalized on May 5, 1896.
He left the US on Aug. 15, 1896 and arrived in Fayal on Aug 25, 1896.
He would return to the US within 20 days. He was requesting a
Passport for himself, his wife and 2 minor children (girls one born in
Providence and one in Piso).
He married my grandmother about 1899, I found them in the 1900 US
census. Her name was Augusta (Martin) Almeida. She was married to
"Almeida" before my grandfather and had 7 or 8 children. They were
raised by my granfather and some used Thomas as their name.
Now I am confused because the dates are so close between the time he
came back from the Azores with his "wife and children" and the time he
married my grandmother. Was it a practice for a person that was
naturalized to bring someone elses family over? All the dates of
birth and naturalization match but I can find no Julia Thomas in any
US census.
As you can tell I am trying to make things match.
Smitty

[Cheri Mello]

Hi Smitty,

I'm a little confused by your email.  You say you are researching your mother's parents (your grandparents) and I can figure out from your post that you are researching Jose Tomas and Augusta Martin Almeida.  (Her name may be Maria Augusta over there).  In the last sentence, you mention Julia Tomas, but don't say who she is.  We need approximate birth dates and places on her.

Some naturalized citizens brought others over.  Heck, some unnaturalized citizens accompanied people over.  I don't know how common or prevalent the practice was however.

--
Cheri Mello
Listowner, Azores-Gen
Researching: Vila Franca, Ponta Garca, Ribeira Quente, R. das Tainhas, Achada

[Alice Smith]

Hi Cheri;

 

I guess I put the cart before the horse.

My Grandfather came over from the Azores, when my cousin gave me the Naturalization papers we picked up a bit.  It was on the Passport application to come back from the Azores, dated Aug. 1896, that  a wife, named Julia Thomas was listed.  I had never heard anything about him having a wife before he married my grandmother.  And two children were also listed on the application, one age 6 years (Marnie) Born in Providence and the other only 4 months old (Phiolmenia) born in Piso.  I know nothing else about any of these people.

 

I know he lived in Providence RI at least between 1885 and 1897.

He married my grandmother about 1899, her maiden name  was Augusta Martin, that is the way it was listed in her death notice.  She was married before, her married name was Almeida.  She was born about 1865.  She had 7 children by her first husband and 3 by my grandfather.  I haven't been able to find out anything about where she came from other then the Azores, about 1882.

My grandparents were living in Cambridge, MA in 1900 and then moved to Somerville MA and lived there until the time of their deaths.

I did hear my grandmother came over to help her sister, but I don't have any names.

I know we had relatives in New Bedford but have no contacts there.

 

Is Providence, RI a city that a lot of people come?  I noticed even one side of my father's family that are English came in there too.

Smitty

[susan lucas]

Hi Smitty,
 
I'm not sure if I can help you further your search, but we may have some related searches. My Great Great Grandfather was also named Joseph Thomas. He was apparently taken in by a family as a teen and took the last name Gracia at that time. He was born about 1850 in the Azores (I don't know which island) and immigrated to America about 1870, settling in Providence, RI. Eventually he moved to California and spent the rest of his life in Santa Cruz with his wife Mary (Silva) and their children.
 
I can't wait to see if there is a connection.
 
Susan

---

> Date: Wed, 23 Jul 2008 05:37:24 -0700
> Subject: [AZORES-Genealogy] Thomas (Thomaz)
> From: prin...@verizon.net
> To: Azo...@googlegroups.com

[Alice Smith]

Hi Susan;

 

I don't think it is the same Thomas but since I know nothing about him other then he came into the country in 1885.  But I wonder who was here that he came to, he must have had someone he knew.  Everything I have says he was born in San Jorge in 1865.  I wonder about any other relatives in Providence. 

I have some pictures taken in Providence of families, I have no idea who they are, I do have one that I know is my grandfather as a young man with another  young man.  I would love to find someone that had famliy in that area that might know who these people are.

Do you have anyone in the New England area?

 

Smitty

 

----- Original Message -----

From: susan lucas

To: azo...@googlegroups.com

Sent: Thursday, July 24, 2008 8:30 AM

Subject: [AZORES-Genealogy] Re: Thomas (Thomaz)

[susan lucas]

Hi Smitty,
 
I'm sure they are not the same, but I'm hoping they are related. I have hit so many roadblocks trying to find out about him. There have been a few name changes along the way. I don't know if there are any relatives in that area, but I do know that at least to of the children were born in Providence. According to birth records of the children he was already in California by the time your Joseph came across. I do have some pictures though if you want to see if there is a family resemblance.

Susan

---

Date: Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:18:46 -0400
From: prin...@verizon.net

Subject: [AZORES-Genealogy] Re: Thomas (Thomaz)

To: Azo...@googlegroups.com

> </HTML<BR

[Cheri Mello]

Smitty,

You're going to have to do some digging and letter writing.

Find little Marnie's birth or baptism, although RI births may not exist for that time.  If you can figure out the church in RI (was it Holy Rosary in the Fox Point area of Providence?), then ask for a transcription (even if it's Latin) of the baptism.  It may say in there where the parents are from.

On your grandparents who married in 1899, you're going to have to try to find their marriage.  It might be good to check both the civil and the Catholic one, although I think the church record may list the village where they are from.  Again, ask for a full transcription of the record (not the certificate that says bride married groom, by me the priest, and the witnesses were...).  It's also a very good idea to enclose a donation to the church when you send requests.

If that doesn't work, try for their kids' baptisms in Providence.

If you have an address for Providence, that would help narrow down the church.

Yes, many Portuguese came to Providence.  Even today, there's still a large Portuguese community there.  There was an immigration port there, so that is why you even find your English ancestors there as well.

[Alice Smith]

Hi Susan;

Maybe if we compare where the pictures were taken it may give us a direction.  I wonder if I can contact the Historical society in the area.

My sister has the pictures that were taken in Providence, I will see her tomorrow and will get the pictures.