Hi Amy, This sounds like a tough one. The key to searching in the Acores and Portugal for that matter is to know what Freguesia (town) and Parish your ancestor came from in the case there is more than one parish in a town. What information do you have about the whaling ship Jeannette did you find him on a crew list. The Acores and the whaling industry are entwined in that Atlantic whalers would stop in the Acores for supplies and hire crew to work on the ship. Many of the crew men would then leave the ship when it reached port in New England. The term "Jumped Ship" means that the person left the ship without completing his contract or obligation. When he left the ship at the end of the voyage with his pay in hand is different than jumping ship. So it is possible that your ancestor did this and after spending some time and his money in New Bedford he went back to work on the Jeannette and disembarked in Australia. This is all speculation on my part and what is needed is a paper trail that would reveal a Freguesia in the Acores or on the mainland of Portugal.
Another possibility is to use DNA testing and look for a match with a proven line to the Acores or in Portugal. Rick Richard Francis Pimentel Spring, TX Formerly of Epping, New Hampshire Researching, Riberia Grande, Riberinha, Achada Grande, Bretanha, and Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel, Acores -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, January 08, 2013 2:43 AM To: Azores Genealogy Subject: [AZORES-Genealogy] Searching for information on Francisco De Simas / Jose Francisco De Simas / Jose Silva De Simas Hi All, I am searching for information and I am hoping someone here may be able to help me. My great great great grandfather came from Portugal. The region is unknown at present but could be somewhere around the Porto district or Azores region (this is second hand information from a relative). I think he was born approx 1814 - 1822 (Although family think it could be as late as 1836 but this doesn't match age on documents I have) and left Portugal on a whaling ship in which he jumped off in Australia. I think I have narrowed down the whaling ship to Jeannette which sailed from New Bedford in 1842 and he was listed as a boy (what does this mean?). He lived in Australia for a while then sailed on the Oliver Lang to New Zealand where I believed he changed his name from Jose Francisco de Simas to either Jose Leal de Simas or Jose Silva de Simas. I believe the Silva to be his mothers maiden name. I am seeking any information about his life but particularly information about his younger days. I dont have names for his parents or an exact location of his birth but would love to find this information out. Anyone out there that can help me : Thanks Amy -- 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." -- 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."
