I would agree with Doug that a family finder test would prove helpful. I would further suggest that Family Tree DNA is the best testing company for the Family Finder as it has the largest data base. I do not know the count but most of us that have tested have found matches on the island they are from. This would help narrow the search to an island and perhaps even a village.
Also I have a Simas ancestor from Achada Grande in Sao Miguel Rick Family Tree DNA Co-Administrator Azores DNA Project Azores DNA Project Co-Administrators All unpaid volenteers Cherri Mello - <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected] Rick Pimentel - <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected] Nancy Jean Baptista - <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected] From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected] Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2013 6:43 PM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: [AZORES-Genealogy] Re: Searching for information on Francisco De Simas / Jose Francisco De Simas / Jose Silva De Simas Funny thing is that my own ancestor was named Antonio Leal de Simas, born in Sao Roque do Pico. But I checked my Simas database and still couldn't find any logical connection to the one Amy is looking for. My ancestor has no lost sibling like that, nor did his parents. But JR is right. The best chance (in the Azores) is Pico. Simas is also found on Faial, rarely on Flores, here and there on Terceira and Sao Jorge, lots on Sao Miguel (where all Azorean Simas are ultimately from), several on Graciosa, there are many possibilities. Even our esteemed leader, Cheri Mello has Simas ancestry! :-) All these possibilities added to the fact naming traditions can have a grandchild carry on a different name than the parents, there is no telling. And don't forget there are lots of Simas foundlings with little chance of finding their origins. Like someone, Cheri?, said, getting a Family Finder DNA test, plus as much digging in records from Australia to find the village and names of parents is really the best way to tackle this difficult problem. Remember, I don't think there is a single larger database on Simas than mine, and if I can't find it, you're in trouble. So keep digging. Doug da Rocha Holmes Sacramento, California Pico Genealogist 916-550-1618 www.dholmes.com -------- Original Message -------- Subject: [AZORES-Genealogy] Re: Searching for information on Francisco De Simas / Jose Francisco De Simas / Jose Silva De Simas From: JR <[email protected]> Date: Thu, January 10, 2013 4:23 pm To: [email protected] If I was you, I would start looking in Pico and Sao Jorge, at and before 1842 for anyone named Simas with Silva or Leal. These records are on-line, so you might find something. JR On Tuesday, January 8, 2013 3:43:25 AM UTC-5, [email protected] wrote: 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." -- 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."
