Were children listed as ‘father unknown’ even if born after the parents’ marriage?

[Carlos Melo]

Hi all,

João Pavão (Candelária, Ponta Delgada, May 8, 1730) married Quitéria do Espírito Santo in Relva, Ponta Delgada, on  September 23, 1753:

http://culturacores.azores.gov.pt/biblioteca_digital/SMG-PD-RELVA-C-1750-1761/SMG-PD-RELVA-C-1750-1761_item1/index.html?page=28

The record states that João Pavão was baptised and lived in Candelaria and that his mother was Cecilia Pavão (already dead) but his father was unknown. 

I found only one death record in Candelaria between 1730 and 1753: 

Cecilia Pavão, wife of Francisco de Sousa, died in December 1746:

https://culturacores.azores.gov.pt/biblioteca_digital/SMG-PD-CANDELARIA-O-1699-1791/SMG-PD-CANDELARIA-O-1699-1791_item1/index.html?page=54

Note that Francisco de Sousa survived Cecilia Pavão. She is referred to as "mulher" (wife), not viuva (widow).

Cecilia Pavão (daughter of Antonio Pavão and Maria de Sousa) and Francisco de Sousa (widower) married on December 10, 1729, 6 months before João Pavão was born: 

https://culturacores.azores.gov.pt/biblioteca_digital/SMG-PD-CANDELARIA-C-1682-1773/SMG-PD-CANDELARIA-C-1682-1773_item1/index.html?page=51

https://culturacores.azores.gov.pt/biblioteca_digital/SMG-PD-CANDELARIA-C-1682-1773/SMG-PD-CANDELARIA-C-1682-1773_item1/index.html?page=52

Cecilia Pavão was from Mosteiros, as stated in João Pavão's birth record, which confirms his father was unknown:

http://culturacores.azores.gov.pt/biblioteca_digital/SMG-PD-CANDELARIA-B-1706-1732/SMG-PD-CANDELARIA-B-1706-1732_item1/index.html?page=116

In Mosteiros, I search for birth records of Cecilias between 1685 and 1615 and found 4:

1) Cecilia daughter of Antonio Pavão Gonçalves and Maria de Sousa:

https://culturacores.azores.gov.pt/biblioteca_digital/SMG-PD-MOSTEIROS-B-1699-1735/SMG-PD-MOSTEIROS-B-1699-1735_item1/index.html?page=16

2) Cecilia daughter of Joao de Sousa Alvares e Barbara de Paiva:

https://culturacores.azores.gov.pt/biblioteca_digital/SMG-PD-MOSTEIROS-B-1699-1735/SMG-PD-MOSTEIROS-B-1699-1735_item1/index.html?page=23

3) Cecilia daughter of Antonio de Aguiar (Ginetes) and Marta de Sousa:

https://culturacores.azores.gov.pt/biblioteca_digital/SMG-PD-MOSTEIROS-B-1699-1735/SMG-PD-MOSTEIROS-B-1699-1735_item1/index.html?page=32

4) Cecilia daughter of Miguel Pacheco and Maria de Sousa (NS Rosario, Lagoa):

https://culturacores.azores.gov.pt/biblioteca_digital/SMG-PD-MOSTEIROS-B-1699-1735/SMG-PD-MOSTEIROS-B-1699-1735_item1/index.html?page=46

 

I did not find any death record of a Cecilia  in Mosteiros during this period, so I assume that all 4 survived childhood. I excluded (2) and (3) because I found their marriage records in Mosteiros. Then, I excluded (4) because I wasn't able to find the surname Pavao in her ancestors.

I share these direct ancestors with Rodrigo Rodrigues:

https://gw.geneanet.org/tavaressilva?lang=pt&m=A&p=rodrigo&n=rodrigues&siblings=on&notes=on&t=T&v=6&image=on&marriage=on&full=on

However, he did not mention Cecilia Pavão's parents in his book, despite mentioning both mother and son, his 3rd great-grandfather (pp1889).

Can I really conclude that Cecilia (1) is João Pavão's mother and that his maternal grandparents were Antonio Pavão Gonçalves and Maria de Sousa?

I'd appreciate your take on this matter.

Thanks,

Carlos

[Boyd McKee Kitchen]

Carlos,

Your conclusion sounds reasonable to me at least until other records are available to prove differently. Did you find any evidence your conclusion might not be right? 

The timing of Cecilia Pavao and Francisco de Souza's marriage was likely after Joao's conception. Often the marriage before the birth would have legitimized his parents, even if his legal father wasn't his biological father. Maybe that's not how it worked in their day and place.

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[Carlos Melo]

Thanks, Boyd! 

I was second-guessing myself because Rodrigo Rodrigues did not mention Cecilia's parents (Antonio Pavão Gonçalves and Maria de Sousa) even though they're his direct ancestors.

I've been told not to waste my time trying to go beyond anyone mentioned by RR, but I never listen. 

In any event, I can't go beyond her parents because the marriage records end early in Mosteiros, so maybe that's why he didn't bother to mention them. 

Thanks!

Carlos