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Archiver > AZORES > 1999-09 > 0936273025


From: "Richard Matera" <>
Subject: Re: [AZORES-L] Re: The first Pereira to the Azores
Date: Thu, 02 Sep 1999 04:50:25 PDT


It was interesting that you, Doug, mention how Jews "assumed" names during
the Inquisition/Expulsion period. I found similar situations researching my
Italian ancestors. The Italian Jews in the southern Kingdom of Naples were
connected to the Jews of Aragon. When they were forced to covert or be
exiled in Italy, many converted for "appearances" and changed their names
(in Italy, many Jews took town names). It was not uncommon for Jewish
families to hide their Jewish faith by changing their names; and why not a
noble name!
Another interesting experience I had was in 1972 when I visited Portugal. My
uncle and I went to Tomar to see the Convento there sponsored by Prince
Henriques (Prince Henry the Navigator). Our guide mentioned that many of the
prince's financial backers were Jewish and that, even though the Jews were
officially expelled, there was a large Jewish community in Tomar. Later, we
visited the site reported to be a secret synagogue in Tomar.
I have possible Jewish ancestors on my Matera line in Italy but it is
extremely difficult to prove it. That is the problem when tracing Jewish
roots -- they may be extremely difficult to find. My Matera ancestors are
listed as a "Jewish family in Montemurro" in one archive, but there are no
other records proving it except for this "mention." When I was in college
(back in the dark ages), I met a retired Christian Brother who had worked in
the Vatican Archives as a genealogist. He was interested that my surname was
the name of a town and suggested back then that I research the possibility
of Jewish roots. He told me that the Vatican has many records on Jewish
families but refuses to open them up to the public. (I guess they do not
want to be blamed for the forced conversion of the Jews.)

Richard


>From: Doug da Rocha Holmes <>
>To:
>Subject: [AZORES-L] Re: The first Pereira to the Azores
>Date: Wed, 01 Sep 1999 14:17:17 -0700
>
>At 02:19 PM 9/1/99 -0400, JD Perry wrote:
> >Everyone must read THE CROSS AND THE PEAR TREE by Victor Pereira
> >
> >Most or many Pereiras have Jews as ancestors.
>
>
>
>I suppose this myth will never die...
>
>I don't have the energy now to rehash all we talked about on this exact
>subject before on the Portugal list. But if you go back over the old posts
>from the archives on Rootsweb, you will see.
>
>In a brief summary, Pereira is one of the most noble families of Portugal.
>They are not Jews.
>
>It is a sure thing (only because of the millions of ancestors we all have
>who were living 1000 years ago) that yes, we all have at least some Jewish
>ancestors. But one shouldn't associate the name Pereira with being Jewish.
>It just so happens that Jews ASSUMED that name - and why not, it was one
>the most prestigious names of them all. Just look at the history books for
>Nuno Alvares Pereira, the "Condestavel" born in 1360, if I recall.
>
>Doug da Rocha Holmes
>Azores Genealogy Specialist www.dholmes.com
>Sacramento, California
>

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