I’ve said this before, and I’ll proably repeat it again in the future — my side of the family is hard to research! Since I was born in Brazil, to Brazilian parents and Brazillian grandparents all our records are there, and Brazil is not the easiest place to do genealogy work. Not only do I struggle with the language (I can speak and read it mostly) but there just isn’t as much available to me here at home (in Utah) as there would be for any other place in the US. I’m sure if I really took some time at the Family History Library I could do a lot, but I have two young boys and just don’t have that kind of time…I’ll just have to work slowly, but surely, I guess.
Anyway, all this is to say that I did find a record for my Maternal Grandparents’ marriage in Joao Pessoa, Paraiba, Brazil. So, I thought I’d use this document to show my process for adding documents and citations to my database (which happens to be RootsMagic5).
Source: Family Search, “Brazil, Catholic Church Records,” digital image, Family Search (familysearch.org : downloaded 14 March 2012), Joao de Sousa Lima and Lindalva Ferreira da Silva Marriage Record, 30 Sep 1950; Nossa Senhora do Rosario parish, page 35, entry 131.
Citation Whenever I post an image of a document to the blog I like to cite the source so y’all know where it came from and that it is legit. I just enter in the information I know about it. I try to do this right when I find the source if I’m at home, but if I’m at the Family History Center or Library I take extensive notes so I can add it when I get home. I normally use the “footnote” version of the citation on the blog because it includes a lot more information.
File Naming and Organization I’ve talked about the organization of my file structure before, so I won’t go into that here. But, I will mention that I recently decided to change how I named the files themselves. I followed Calvin Knight’s file naming conventions for the most part and am slowly renaming my files. So this particular file got the name: Lima_Joao_b1925_&Lindalva_19500930_MarriageRecord_01
Transcription / Translation I like to transcribe most documents using Microsoft Word. This way I can easily add the text to my database program and to my blog…making it easier for people to search for the names, dates, places etc found in the document image. If the document is in a foreign language then I make sure to transcribe and translate it into English. I also copy and paste the source citation onto that document as well. So, for the above Marriage Record here’s what I have:
131 – João de Sousa Lima e Lindalva Ferreira da Silva
Transcription:
Aos trinta dias do mês de Setembro de mil novecentos e cinqüenta, na Matriz do Rosario, perante as testemunhas justo Lacerda Ferreira e João Cabral Batista, o Revmo Frei Inocencio ofm. assistiu ao recebimento matrimonial de João de Sousa Lima e Lindalva Ferreira da Silva, o nubente con 25 anos de idade, filho legitimo de Manuel de Sousa Lima e Hosana Maria da Conceiçao, natural e batizado em Cajazeiras, a nubente con 17 anos de idade, filha legitima de Joaquim Pedro da Silva e Ernestina Ferreira da Silva, natural e batizada em João Pessoa, residentes nesta frequezia. E, para constar, mandei fazer este fermo que assino. (signed) Frei Jorge [Bolchaus.?] ofm. Vigário
Translation:
On the thirtieth day of the month of September of nineteen hundred and fifty, in the Mother of the Rosary, as witnessed by Lacerda Ferreira and João Cabral Batista, the Reverand Frei Inocencio [ofm.?] performed the marriage rite of João de Sousa Lima and Lindalva Ferreira da Silva, the groom with 25 years of age, legitimate son of Manuel de Sousa Lima and Hosana Maria da Conceiçao, born and baptized in Cajazeiras, the bride with 17 years of age, legitimate daughter of Joaquim Pedro da Silva e Ernestina Ferreira da Silva, born and baptized in João Pessoa, residents in this parish. And, for the record, I had this [fermo] sign. (signed) Frei Jorge [Bolchaus.?] ofm. Vigário
I make sure to copy the transcription/translation into my RootsMagic “Detail Text” tab for this source and to add the image of the original document under the “Media” tab. (Hint: do this for the first citation you make for this document – in my case, for the marriage of Joao and Lindalva. Once I have added all the relevant transcriptions and media I can choose “Memorize” and add this exact citation to any other fact. If I want to add any comments specific to the fact, I’ll go in and do that as well.)
Facts and More Facts When adding information to my database found in the document I like to have the transcription/translation open next to my database so I can read it as I go, like in the image above. You could also print it out if you’d like. So for this particular document I was able to add this source citation to the following facts:
Marriage – Joao de Souza Lima & Lindalva Ferreira Da Silva – date and location, as well as adding the names of the witnesses (they may come up later).
Birth – Joao de Souza Lima – made a note that the marriage record gave the groom’s age as 25 at the time of marriage which supports the birth date I have of 4 Jun 1925. It also lists the birth place.
Relationship to parents – Joao / Manuel and Hosana. I added a note to this citation that they are listed as Joao’s parent’s in his marriage record. Because this “relationship” source shows up for any of the children, I wanted to specify that it only proves they are Joao’s parents…not necessarily true for any of the other children. (this is an item I’ve requested RootsMagic look into as I’d like a better way to distinguish the relationships I’m citing)
Birth – Lindalva Ferreira da Silva – I added a new birth fact because her marriage record states that she was 17 years old but the birth date I have from family recollection would mean she’d be 15 years old at the time of marriage. Either I have the wrong birth date or she lied on her marriage record (was there a certain age she needed to be?). Either way, I now have both facts listed in my database with their corresponding notes so as my research continues I know where these “facts” came from. (See yesterday’s post about dealing with false information.)
Relationship to parents – Lindalva / Joaquim and Ernestina.
Depending on the document you may have more or fewer facts associated with it. By citing everything you can get out of a document you can decide how true a fact is.
My brother has been helping me with the Brazilian side of my family. He has some time where he can do the digging in the records online. So, I was taking a look at my Grandmother Deolinda’s family to see what records I need him to find for me. In the process, I found her parents’ marriage record online on Family Search. I had my dad help me with the translation and transcription.
Source: Corregedor Geral da Justicia, São Paulo, Brasil, “Brazil Civil Registrations, 1870-2009,” digital image, Family Search (familysearch.org : downloaded 14 March 2012), Jose Ferreira and Anna Thome, Marriage Record, 16 Dec 1911; Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 05ª Circunscrição, Matrimonios 1911 Set – 1912 June V. 15, image 49.
Transcription:
Aos desesseis de dezembro de mil novecentos e onze, nesta cidade de Rio de Janeiro, em a sala de audiencias da Sétima Pretoria, onde se achava o Meritissimo juiz em exercicio, Doutor Flaminio Barbosa de Resende, commigo escrivão ahi, ao meio dia, perante as testemunhas Manoel de Amorim Junior e Alfredo Martins Noronha, receberam-se em matrimonio, com as formalidades legaes e pelo regimen commum , Jose Ferreira e Anna Thomé, naturaes de Portugal e moradores a rua de Nossa Senhora de Copacabana numero trinta, elle, de vinte e seis annos de edade, viuvo, operario, filho natural de Barbara Pinto; ella, de vinte e quarto anos de idade, filha legitima de Francisco Thomé e de Maria de Jesus; os quaes neste acto declararam que não têm parentesco nem impedimento para se casarem com o outro pelo que o Juiz os delarou legitimamente casados e mandou lavrar este temro que, lido e achado conforme, assignaram, fazendo-o a rogo dos nubentes, por não saberem escrever, Conrado da Silva e —————— Augusto de Campos. Eu, —————- escrevente juramentado, no impedimento do —– Flaminio Barbosa de Rezende Conrado Da Silva —- Augusto de Campos Manoel de de Amorim Jr, 24 annos, commercio, Rua de Da. Clara 186. Alfredo Martins Noronha. 21 annos, guarda civil, Rua Alice 40.
Translation:
On the sixteenth of December of nineteen hundred and eleven, in this city of Rio de Janeiro, in the audience room of the 7th Civil Court, where was found the Honorary judge in office, Dr. Flaminio Barbosa de Resende, as well as myself as scribe, at noon, in front of the witnesses Manoel de Amorim Junior and Alfredo Martins Noronha, received each other in matrimony, with the legal formalities and by the regimen of community, José Ferreira and Anna Thomé, originally from Portugal and residing at Rua de Nossa Senhora de Copacabana number 30, he, twenty six years old, widower, workman, natural son of Barbara Pinto; she, twenty four years old, legitimate daughter of Francisco Thomé and Maria de Jesus; which in this act declare that are not related and have no hindrance to this marriage, after which the judge declared them legally wedded and asked to create this record which, being read and found correct, signed, at the request of the newlyweds, being both illiterate, Conrado da Silva and —— Augusto de Campos. I, sworn clerk, in the absence of ——————— Flaminio Barbosa de Rezende Conrado Da Silva —- Augusto de Campos Manoel de Amorim Jr, 24 years old, retailer, Rua de Da. Clara 186. Alfredo Martins Noronha. 21 annos, security, Rua Alice 40.
Interesting:
According to my dad, Jose should be listed as 36 years old and not 26. He remembers always being told that he was 12 years older than Anna. Here’s his explaination: It could be a misunderstanding due to their accent or they lied because they were also ashamed of the “scandalous difference”. It makes sense because he had children from the first marriage and at 26, it’s possible, but not normal for someone to father a few children and lose his wife and take some time for mourning before re-marrying.
Also, the name I have for Jose’s mother is Barbara Rita not Barbara Pinto. Maybe that’s why I’ve had such trouble moving back.
This record lists where they were living – Rua de Nossa Senhora de Copacabana number 30 (literally Our Lady of Copacabana Street). So, a quick search on GoogleMaps gave me a visual of the location…just two blocks from the beach.
After looking at Leonizia’s Death Certificate I decided to look for the church Marriage Record so that I could find out more information about her. Here’s the record of their marriage in the Parrish records (bottom right entry). I had my dad help me with translating and understanding some of the words.
Source: Family Search, “Brazil, Catholic Church Records,” digital image, Family Search (familysearch.org : downloaded 9 September 2011), Marriage of Antonio de Macedo and Leonisia Marinho, 7 Apr 1920, Sao Sebastiao, Picui, Paraiba, Brazil, Anno de 1920, entry 4; from dioceses and local parish archives throughout Brazil.
Transcription:
Aos sete de Abril de mil novecentos e vinte, nesta matriz de Picuhy, servatis servandis, perante as testemunhas Bel Jose Bezerra Dantas e Theophanos Alves da Silva, assisti ao recebimento matrimonial de Antonio Avelino de Macedo, viuvo de Maria Amelia da Conceicao, com Leonizia Marinho do Rego, elle filho legitimo de Antonio Avelino de Macedo e Petronilla Maria dos Prazeres, ella filha legitima de Luiz Jose Marinho e Avelina Rosa Marinho. Para constar fiz este assento. Pe. Antonio Augusto, Vigario.
Translation:
On the seventh of April of nineteen twenty, in this parish of Picuhy, servatis servandis (latin for: With what is to be preserved having been preserved) in the presence of witnesses, Bachelor/Graduate Jose Bezerra Dantas and Theophanos Alves da Silva, I witnessed the nuptials/matrimony of Antonio Avelino de Macedo, widower of Maria Amelia da Conceicao with Leonizia Marinho do Rego, him a legal son of Antonio Avelino de Macedo and Petronilla Maria dos Prazeres, her legal daughter of Luiz Jose Marinho and Avelina Rosa Marinho. To document it I made this record. Father Antonio Augusto, vicar.
Interesting Items:
The date we had in the database for the marriage was wrong! We had 6th of April instead of 7th of April.
One of the witnesses is listed as “Bel” which means Bachelor…but not unmarried man, rather a man with a bachelor degree.
Antonio was married before to Maria. When I asked my dad about this he said that Leonizia was Antonio’s 4th wife. His first 4 wives died in childbirth, the first three wives with their first child. Leonizia had two children, my Grandfather and Great Uncle. According to my father, Antonio was married one last time after Leonizia. I need to go back and find all these marriage/death/birth records.
Now I can add Antonio’s father and correct Leonizia’s parents’ names in our database.
Source: Danish State Archives, “Kirkebøger,” digital images, Statens Arkivers Arkivalieronline (www.sa.dk/ao/ : downloaded 5 June 2011), Didrich Jacobsen Funk and Karen Kristine Hansdatter, Marriage Record, 1843; Nylarskar Parish.
This is the marriage record for Mathias’ parents, Didrich and Karen. Karen had a child prior to marrying Didrich (the daughter was 3 years old at the time of this marriage), so I’ll have to search for another possible marriage record. She is listed as “maiden” in this one so that leads me to believe that either 1.) the priest didn’t know she had a child (which I doubt) or 2.) she was married and her husband died so she could legitimately be called maiden, or 3.) maiden in this case is just used to indicate that she is a woman.
I got some help with the transcription/translation of this one because I couldn’t tell what some of the words are and what they mean. JensenJN from the FamilySearch Denmark Forum really helped.
1843 ——
No. 3
Brudgommens Navn, Alder, Haandtering og Opholdssted The Groom’s Name, Age, Occupatioin and Place of Residence Ungkarl Didrich Jacobsen Funk 27 Aar fra Nÿlars Bachelor Didrich Jacobsen Funk 27 Years from Nylars
Brudens Navn, Alder, Haandtering og Opholdssted The Bride’s Name, Age, Occupatioin and Place of Residence Pige Karen Kristine Hansd 27 Aar af Arnager Maiden Karen Kristine Hansdatter 27 Years of Arnager
Hvem Forloverne ere Who the best men are Hans H. [Poder?] Hans H. Schou begge Gadehuusmd. Hans H. [Poder?] Hans H. Schou both ‘Streethousemen’
From JensenJN: I have never seen this title before, written all out it should be ‘gadehuusmænd’ and translated literaly it would be ‘Streethousemen’. A ‘huusmand’ or ‘husmand’ is normally translated as ‘small farmer’, but it really means a person owning or renting a house, which usually had a small amount of farmland around it, perhaps enough to keep a cow. A “husmand” did need to take outside work as well to survive. Is a ‘Gadehusmand’ merely a man who owns or rents a house in the town, with no garden nor farmland? I am only speculating. If true, it would make little sense to translate as ‘small farmer.’
Vielsesdagen The Wedding Date 13de Mai 1843 13th May 1843
Om Vielsen er forrettet i Kirken eller Hjemmet, og i sidste Tilfælde Bevillings Datum If the Wedding has been performed in the church or at home, and in the latter casethe date of authorization. i Kirken in the church
Hvor anført i det almindelige Jevnførelses Register Where posted in the general Index p: 106-6 p: 120-a page 106 nr. 6 page 120 nr. a
Anmærkninger Remarks begge vaccineret af K.Cardts
both vaccinated by K.Cardts
After getting help from JensenJN another poster, DavidsonnD gave me some additional information:
In regards to the comment on husmænd, maybe this will help explain a little more: “A husmand was a typical owner of a piece of land worth less than a tønder of hartkorn [a tønder of hartkorn was a form of measurment used to determine the worth of a farm up until 1903 in Denmark], which is to say that there can be a difference between the land worked, where the husmand lived, and the quality of the land. However, there were also husmænd that did not own land more than a little home garden. No matter how much the husmand owned, around that time [the 1800s], it was too little for a family to live off of the land or garden. Therefore the majority of husmænd had work in addition to their land, in one of the many forms of side jobs there were in the country, or as regular wage workers either at one of the nearby estates or in one of the few industries there were in the country. Husmandend was in other words also a farm hand.” (Irene Helvik, “Små Kår: Om Landarbejderne i Slutningen af 1800-tallet,” Journalen: Lokal- og Kulturhistorisk Tidskrift 3 (2010): 18-19.)
He also gave more information about “maiden”.
The word “pige” or “maiden” simply means “unmarried” in the Danish records. The priest would have known about the child as it was the priests duty to know about all children and their eternal salvation.
I think I will still try to find another marriage record, since the daughter was born in another parrish this priest may not have known the prior husband. Or, I may also find the daughter’s christening record which would name the father and perhaps give details on his relationship with Karen.
Why, its the study of the Lund's, of course! I am jumping in to researching our family history and seeing where it takes me. We are the Lund's. We come from Lund's, Ranson's, DeMacedo's, Lima's, Anderson's, Warner's, Ferreira's, Da Silva's and beyond! Since my own side of the family is from Brazil, it is quite difficult to track things down. Troy's side, on the other hand, has proven to be much easier. So, I'll be jumping back and forth and all around to learn about where we come from.
Are you related to us? I'd love to learn more about you and share what I know about our common ancestors!
