Eric, Thanks for your insights.
Following your thinking, and since Minta doesn't appear to be an indigenous surname on Flores, then Minta could be derived from any evocative name. For example, if Manuel came around the Horn, as suggested by family memories, then upon arriving in San Francisco, he could have been asked where he was settling. Any answer would likely include the largest inland city, Sacramento, for orientation and direction since Antioch/Oakley is half way there from SF. Minta Family Tree<http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/45606850/person/6388123471> : This is my main family tree because Greg Small believes the preponderance of evidence supports the Thomas surname for Manuel's wife, Philomena. As you observed, that would make Joseph Thomas Ramos/Renos her brother-in-law via Mary Thomas. Greg originally found the linkage to Carneiro and Isabel. Minta-Joseph Scenario<http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/47034254/person/6677743422> : This is my alternative tree exploring the scenario that Joseph is Philomena's surname. As you said, the Josephs lived on the farm adjacent to the Mintas. And that is exactly what Minta family members recall, that Philomena's father lived nearby, and his last name is Joseph. Indeed, all my family records and stories, as well as The History of Contra Costa County, state Joseph as the surname. Steve On Friday, October 19, 2012 9:19:02 AM UTC-7, luiznoia wrote: > > Steve, > > I have also looked through the Familias da Ilha das Flores,Vila da Lajes, > and the History of Flores and Corvo books and not seen this name. All the > online records for Minta as a Portuguese surname all relate to this family > staring with Manuel Minta b 1828. > > I'm going to guess that name derives from how the original name sounded to > other passengers or settlers. It may be Mota, or possibly shortened from > Sarmento or Nascimento. > > If I look at the wife's family, It shows Philomena R Thomas, which on the > MInta family tree at Ancestry show her parents as Jose Thomas Carneiro and > Maria Isabel. It is also stated that she used the surname Joseph on several > documents. The 1880 census shows a Joseph family next door. Might be worth > pursueing some information on them. There is another tree that suggests > that Philomena was a sister or sister in law to Joao Thomas Renas also > from Flores that settled in Conta Costa . > > > Eric Edgar > > > On Thu, Oct 18, 2012 at 4:38 PM, John Vasconcelos > <[email protected]<javascript:> > > wrote: > >> *Steve, >> I have been manually searching for a Manuel Minta in the Flores Marriages >> book with no luck thus far. Do you have any documentation as to which >> Parish any of these events took place The book is tabulated by parishes of >> which there are 10 on the Island so each parish has to be searched >> individually so it's a long processes. >> >> Are you absolutely sure of the spelling? Could it be a nickname >> (alcunha)? Any other information which may shed light on this family would >> be helpful >> Regards, >> John Vasconcelos >> (Both parents from Flores)* >> >> >> On Thu, Oct 18, 2012 at 9:29 AM, badger <[email protected]<javascript:> >> > wrote: >> >>> Family lore and much research has led us to a dead end on the origin of >>> the Minta name from the Azores. >>> >>> We'd sure appreciate some pointers. >>> >>> Our oldest known relative with best information is: >>> >>> Manuel Minta >>> >>> Birth: 17 Jan 1828 in Flores Island, Azores >>> Immigration: abt 1852 to California >>> Marriage: bef 1872 to Philomena R Thomas (or Joseph), likely Flores >>> Island >>> Residence: 1880 to death in Oakley/Antoch area, Contra Costa County, CA >>> Death: Jun 1918 in Contra Costa County, California, USA >>> >>> Scarce Information on his brother and sister: >>> Mathew Minta, birth abt 1840, likely Azores; 1880 in Contra Costa County >>> Mary Minta, birth abt 1852, likely Azores; 1910 in Contra Costa county >>> >>> Details at Ancestry.com: Minta Family >>> Tree<http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/45606850/person/6388123471> >>> >>> Another source (different birth date): >>> Greg Small's Genealogy - Manuel >>> Minta<http://gsmall.us/Family/Gimbel/getperson.php?personID=I00222&tree=Gimbel> >>> >>> Thanks from his great grandson, >>> Steve >>> >>> -- >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>> [email protected] <javascript:>. Follow the confirmation >>> directions when they arrive. >>> For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail >>> (vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at >>> http://groups.google.com/group/Azores. Click in the blue area on the >>> right that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my >>> membership." >> >> >> -- >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> [email protected] <javascript:>. Follow the confirmation >> directions when they arrive. >> For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail >> (vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/Azores. Click in the blue area on the >> right that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my >> membership." >> > > -- To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. Follow the confirmation directions when they arrive. For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail (vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Azores. Click in the blue area on the right that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership."
