Help finding birth record

[Lynda Medcalf]

Hello all, 

I’ve recently received my Great Grandmother’s death certificate, which not only confirmed her date of death, but also stated how old she was when she died, therefore narrowing down the dates to search for her birth record. 

I have exhaustedly searched through all the Azores online records and can’t seem to see it. Was wondering if anyone would have some time to double check for me? 

I don’t know what island she was from, although Sao Miguel or Graciosa have been mentioned by family. 

Her particulars : Anna DeSilva (possible middle name Maria)

Born December 1872. So I’ve searched 1872 and the first month of 1873

Her fathers name on the death certificate is Joe Correia DeSilva and no mothers name. 

I’m sure this is a shot in the dark, but if anyone could help, it’s you. 

Thanks and let me know if you have any questions.

Lynda 

[Cheri Mello]

Hi Lynda,

To search records in the Azores (or anywhere for that matter), you need a name, date (or approximate), and a place. Europe is organized on the town level, so knowing the island is not enough. It's like saying your ancestor was born in the United States and maybe it was California (most populous) or Wyoming (least populous). There's no way to find a record without knowing for sure.

You need to find every record in America that your ancestor was on. Here's a 30+ page "how to" full of suggestions for you to search.

Her name was probably Anna Maria. Her father was probably Jose Correia da Silva. The death certificate asked for the mother's maiden name. Women in the Azores didn't have surnames from about 1860-1911, so the answer to the question was that the informant didn't know. The informant knew the mother, they just didn't know the answer to the question. Hopefully, you'll turn up the mom in that 30+ pages of "how to."

DNA might point you to a correct island since Sao Miguel and Graciosa are far part.

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

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[Richard Francis Pimentel]

Lynda,  Not knowing the village your grandmother came from is a great impediment All records were recorded at the local level. The time frame you are looking at, Baptismal (birth) were recorded by the church each parish kept their own records. The government required the churches to turn their vital records to them around 1910 and they are now kept at the archives for each region/island.  These records are the records available on line.  In order to search effectively you should have the name of the town/parish where they are from. You should use every available resource here to try and determine the town.  Some suggestions on doing that.

If you know about when your immigrant ancestor came to the us. Then search the passport records from the Acores.  Start with Ponta Delgada, then go to Angra do Heroismo then Horta: search several months before they departed. These records will identify the village they came from. Some of the US census records have the year they immigrated. The Ellis island website can help identify the date of their arrival which narrows down the passport search. I have found the Ellis Island website klunky to use getting the right name to come up requires the name to match their data base name.  

the names on the Baptismal/birth records you are looking for a Anna then you must look for the parents name in your case Jose da Silva or Jose Correia da Silva and the mothers name. I find it unlikely she used Maria as a middle name.

You did not state if she immigrated with her family, came single, came with her husband. All this helps in your search.

DNA test.  Autosomal DNA test the oldest relative to your great grandmother.  This way you may be able to see the Island/area where the matches are from. This will help narrow your search.

I hope this helps

Rick

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