Question about pai incognito in marriage record

[Donna Couto]

I've traced my paternal grandmother's ancestors in Horta, Faial, back to her great-great-great grandfather (Thomas Felix de Evora), who was married in 1820 in Candelaria, Pico but returned with his wife to Horta. His marriage record only gives his mother's first names (Thomazia Narciza) and says that he is the son of a 'pai incognito'. I understand that this means that the father's name has been withheld (to avoid the taint of illegitimacy and/or protect the father's identity, etc.). I also checked the baptism records of Thomas's children which say that their paternal grandfather is 'incognito'.

However,  I was puzzled/intrigued when I was searching for Thomas's death record and came across the death record of a Carmelite priest ('Reverendo Thomas Felix de Evora, Presbitero') with the same full name as my great-great-great grandfather. This seems very unusual to me since it is an uncommon name. Unfortunately, so far I've been unable to find my ancestor's birth record, which would list the names of his maternal grandparents, so that I can determine if his mother is related to the priest. 

Can anyone shed some light on why my ancestor and the priest would share the same full name unless they were somehow related? 

Thank you,

Donna

[Nancy Couto]

Donna, according to Google Translate the word "presbítero" means "elder." I don't know if this suggests what it seems to be suggesting. 

Nancy 

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[Cheri Mello]

Hi Donna,

Quite often the priest questioned the mother for the name of the father and many of these young mothers would not give up the name and simply stated that they did not know who the father was. The standard procedure was for the priest to record "pai incognito" when the woman would not state who the father was.

It's not uncommon for a woman to be listed only with her given names, such as "Thomasia Narcisa."

Your first paragraph talks about Pico and Faial. Then your second paragraph jumps and gives no location. Since I have no context of where you are seeing these death records, I have no idea what to say about that.

Cheri Mello
Listowner, Azores-Gen
Researching: São Miguel island: Vila Franca, Ponta Garca, Ribeira Quente, Ribeira das Tainhas, Achada

[Donna Couto]

Hi Cheri,

I know it was standard procedure for the priest to record 'pai incognito' and that women are often only listed with their given names (except on their death records, and sometimes on their marriage records, where come across their full names). My question was more about how my ancestor shares the same full name with the priest, and the likelihood that this indicates that they are somehow related given their shared uncommon name.

Sorry if my paragraphs weren't clear. This branch of my paternal family tree is complicated and it's been a challenge.Thomas Felix de Evora was born in Horta (Conceicao parish) to 'pai incognito' and 'Thomazia Narciza' according to his marriage record (which is in the Candelaria, Pico parish records). He was married 14 May 1820 in Candelaria, Pico (to Maria Felicianna who was born in Candelaria in 1800) and then they returned to live in Horta, where their daughter Genoveva Thomazia was born in 1825 (Conceicao parish). Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find birth or death records for Thomas, or for his mother Thomazia Narcisa, to shed some light on her family surnames to see if there is a connection to the Evora family in Horta. 

My next step is to search for marriage records for Thomazia Narciza in case she later married.

Donna

[Donna Couto]

Hi Nancy,

You're right to wonder if elder suggests priest, as there were many lay members as well as clergy within this branch of the Carmelite order. Yes, presbítero means an elder, and in the Catholic Church an elder is an ordained person who serves the church. In his death record (1847, Horta-Matriz parish) his name is prefixed by 'Reverendo' and it also states that he is buried in the Carmelite cemetery. I think I would have to try contacting a Portuguese priest or historian to determine if he was a priest or a lay person.

Donna