AZORES-L Archives
Archiver > AZORES > 2001-08 > 0997074672
From: Paula <>
Subject: Re: [AZORES-L] Extracting data-Reading Handwriting
Date: Sun, 05 Aug 2001 22:28:12 -0700
References: <NFBBLCGCOLOCKBDOFHFLKEKLCCAA.sammyk@rcsis.com>
Sam,
I am going to try to teach my father to use his computer online. He doesn't
read and write in English. Do you read in Portuguese? I will ask him to tell
me the stories again and tape record him so that I can transcribe it to
English for everyone. He is an old school scholar. He is 67 years old so he
learned all of this stuff over 50 years ago. He had quite a colorful life.
He was raised on Pico, joined the army, married my mom against her parents
wishes, went to Africa, Sao Miguel, The mainland etc... My brother was born
in Porto, My sister in Guinea Bissau Africa, and I was born on Sao Miguel.
My father went through the war in Africa and has told me stories of seeing a
man gutted by a lion or tiger, He had a pet monkey in Africa. I still have
pictures of him and his monkey along with many others from his time in
Africa. If anyone needs help finding someone who was in the military and the
war in Africa my father may know them. He was a Master Sergeant.
The funny thing about my father is that although he was born and raised on a
tiny little island he has impeccable manners. He wont even eat fried chicken
with his hands. He is very proper in everything he does and he speaks very
proper Portuguese (hard to explain) .
Another thing about my father's paternal side is that they were all VERY
tall. My grandfather was called Jose Grande and his father was also very
tall. Somewhere there must be some German or English blood on that side. My
father is normal height because his mother is tiny. She is maybe 5 feet at
the most.
Paula
----- Original Message -----
From: "Sam" <>
To: "Paula" <>
Sent: Sunday, August 05, 2001 8:41 PM
Subject: RE: [AZORES-L] Extracting data-Reading Handwriting
> Paula, Now you have hit on something I and perhaps many others who have
not
> had the time nor before this the interest to learn the history of
Portugal.
> I would love to hear more about that marriage that created Portugal and
> about the Moors and when and where they conquered. If you dad is online,
I
> would LOVE to correspond with him.
>
> Thanks so much, Sam
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Paula [mailto:]
> Sent: Thursday, August 02, 2001 5:59 PM
> To:
> Subject: Re: [AZORES-L] Extracting data-Reading Handwriting
>
>
> Unfortunately I do not read or write in Portuguese but I do speak it
> fluently and am able to get an idea of what is written down. My sister and
> Brother both read and write in Portuguese which is a blessing. When we
came
> to America my brother was 11 yrs old and had already attended school on
the
> Islands. My sister was 7 and she also attended school on the Islands for a
> short period of time. I was 4 years old. My parents also both read and
write
> in Portuguese. My father is actually very educated in Portuguese history
but
> it's hard to stay with him on a subject because he goes really deep into
it
> and loses us along the way :o)
> He has told me stories about kings, explorers, princess's who married to
> keep peace etc. He also often talks about the original inhabitants of
> Portugal The Moors and all the war etc... and about how a marriage between
> Spain and France is how Portugal came about. (something like that) Now I
> wish I had listened more closely when he told me these tales. I'm sure he
> wont mind telling them over again.
> Someone mentioned Priests in the family. We have a priest who is either a
> cousin or distant relation to my mother. She also has a cousin who is a
nun.
> My mother wanted to be a nun but met my father and the rest is history.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <>
> To: <>
> Sent: Thursday, August 02, 2001 5:09 PM
> Subject: Re: [AZORES-L] Extracting data-Reading Handwriting
>
>
> > Listers: I know several people who have done and are doing their own
> > research. These people know absolutely no Portguese, nor did they ever
> study
> > any foreign language. With a genealogical word list and a dictionary and
> > copies of translations they have learned to read the records. And in
time
> > going back they have learned the abbreviations.
> >
> > I know one person (we began researching about the same time) who has
> done
> > tremendous research. Her name is Dorothy Potts. She has helped so
many.
> > Possibly some on this list. She has also helped a professional
> genealogist
> > in the Azores. Does she know Portuguese? No, not a word. Well,
possibly
> a
> > word or two, like linguica and soupas. I had a much easier time. I had
> > studied Spanish and French. I do tell people if possible to take a
> Spanish
> > class at night school; this can help you tremenously. Very few places
> offer
> > Portuguese. So if you are really serious about researching your
> Portuguese
> > roots, you can do it.
> >
> > Good luck,
> > Eloise
> >
> > So don't give up. Get a copy of a good record from the late 1800s. No
> > abbreviations and the writing is pretty good. Get a good dictionary and
> the
> > Genealogical Word List. Try your best and then ask the List for help.
> Also
> > some on this list have done translations of records, line by line in
> English
> > and in Portuguese. Ask and for the cost of postage listers will share.
> > And, too, not all records were poorly written. Some priest had
beautiful
> > handwriting.
> >
> > Eloise
> >
> >
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> >
>
>
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