All I had was my father's birth certificate. What should I do next? How does one continue on this Journey of Discovery of one's family history research?
I decided a trip to the local public library was in order. I checked out all the books available on the subject of genealogy. After spending two days with my "nose in a book" my questions had been answered.
One starts with the known and moves back into the unknown.
I photocopied the following forms from one of the books: a pedigree chart; family group sheet; and a research log. These forms are easy to fill out, and may also be purchased at a local bookstore, or from a Family History Center (FHC) of the Mormon Church (also known as LDS). Check your local phone directory for a FHC nearest you.
Now that I had the necessary forms, and a good working knowledge of how to proceed, I began by filling in all known information on the pedigree chart, starting with myself, and doing the same for my parents and grandparents. The information contained in my father's birth certificate, supplied the names of my paternal grand and great-grandparents; the name of the freguesia (town/parish) and that of their dwelling place, (village) as well as their occupations. With this one document, I was able to extend my paternal ancestry three generations.
Secondly I prepared a family group sheet for each couple on my pedigree chart, on this form I recorded the names of their children, and any additional family information that I had found...
The reseach log I used to record each source that I had searched and the information obtained from that source. It is important to record source information for future reference.
I quickly discovered I knew very little about my maternal ancestors. I had met my maternal grandfather only once, and he now was gone. My maternal Grandmother Julia died in 1914, long before I was born. Both of my parents were also dead. If only I had listened more carefully or asked more questions while my parents were still alive, maybe my "Journey of Discovery, would now be a smoother voyage.
For days all I thought about was re-living the past. Trying to remember the stories my mom told of the "good old days." As bits of information surfaced I logged it. I looked at old family pictures; studied my parents' marriage certificate; their citizenship papers; and my father's passport. I wrote letters of inquiry to family members, questioned everyone I came in contact with, and read anything and everything I could get my hands on, always searching for more clues. I found that I no longer was a "couch potato" for indeed I had become a "Genealogia Sherlock Holmes."
It was through Genealogia that the desire manifested to visit the land of origin of my parents and ancestors. So with my pedigree charts in hand, my husband and I set off to visit the Island of Madeira, Portugal. As I stepped from the plane onto the soil of this "Floating Garden" called Madeira, an overwhelming feeling of belonging came over me, a feeling that I found difficult to put into words.
This lush, semi-tropical garden island was so beautiful, why would anyone want to leave this paradise? I was confident that my continual research would help to answer this question.
A visit to the Archives in Funchal was a must. I had previously corresponded with the Director, Senhor Luis Mello, and was allowed to continue my research at their facility. Everyone from Senhor Mello to his staff, were so helpful. One must realize that I do not speak, read nor write Portuguese, but if spoken slowly I do understand. But somehow, reading the very old documents came naturally to me. The archive staff commented that some people come and spend weeks looking, never to find a single thing, Thank God, that was not true in my case. To this day I teasingly tell people that comment on my reading ability, that my Mother is sitting on my shoulder, guiding my way...To some this brings a smile, to others I sense their concern for my mental well being...
In closing, I would like to share with you, what I think is a cute story...
One day, as my husband and I stood outside the Funchal Archives, deciding where to eat lunch, a gentleman that I recognized from the archives, approached me, wanting to know if I knew of the television star "Angela Lansbury," I was taken by surprise by his question, for earlier in the day I had asked this very gentleman if he would help me with the meaning of a Portuguese word, at which time he indicated he did not speak English.
Now he was asking me a question, in perfect English no less! " Why," I asked, he smiled and said, " because I have been observing you, and you remind me of her, with such concentration and determination in finding your ancestors."
I could think of no other reason for his comment other than I must have shown him I was a serious researcher, and not just one wasting their time, for I was far too young to have looked like Angela. (Smile/Wink).
On my return trips to the archives, he would always be there, with a warm, friendly "bom dia, como vai a senhora? He became very helpful. I later was told that he resided in Funchal and was a daily visitor to the archives, involved in gathering research material for a book he was writing.
I often think of our trip to Madeira. I wish I could be transported back in time, so that my parents could have shared in this wonderful "Journey of Discovery."
The void that once was a part of my life, was beginning to be filled with awareness and the overwhelming desire surround myself with my Portuguese heritage.