Portuguese Genealogist Master List BEM VINDO (Welcome) ISLAND of CORVO Digite os termos da sua pesquisa Enviar formulário de pesquisa   Web www.dholmes.com Enter your search terms Submit search form   Web www.dholmes.com Last update: 29 Apr 2013
	Island of Corvo, Azores which has only one concelho. Because it is small, all entries for Corvo are on this page.

If you're coming to this page from some other link than the MASTER LIST HOME PAGE , please be sure to scroll to the bottom to find all the other areas of Portugal and her former colonies.

Genealogists who know only that their ancestor came from somewhere on the island of Corvo: (No location is known)
It would be best to include comments about these ancestors so that others might be able to help determine the original parish.)

Village of Vila Nova

Genealogists researching in the parish of Nossa Senhora dos Milagres:

Gerald S. Lopes, 7900 Via Roma Dr., Fair Oaks, CA 95628
Tel.: (916)967-1461
Email: Gerald_Lopes@bbs.macnexus.org
Date submitted: before 1998
Surnames: Coelho, Lopes
Comments: My Grandfather, Manuel Pedro Coelho was born on Corvo in 1852. He became a government administrator for the islands of Corvo and Flores in the latter part of the 19th century. I need to find out about his government service. He changed his surname to Lopes.

Amerilyn C. Rivett, 24100 S.W. Middleton Rd., Sherwood, Oregon, 97140
Email: none
Surnames: Coelha, Fraga, Jorge, Valadão, Volta.
Comments:

Doug da Rocha Holmes, Surprise, AZ 85388, USA
Tel.: 623-398-0452
Email:
Website: https://dholmes.com/
Date submitted: 1996 (updated 21 Feb 2009)
Surname: Armas in the mid 1600s.
Comments: These are my late cousin's ancestors (José Leal Armas, resident of Angra, Terceira) which I have researched.

Elayne Azevedo-Marrone, 2212 Gateway Oaks Dr., # 397, Sacramento, CA 95833
Email: souldance@comcast.net
Date updated: Sat, 17 Jun 2006
Surnames: Freitas, Colastre
Comments: Manuel Joaquim Freitas born in 1888.Please contact me if you have any connections.

Beverly Rocha, 2470 Paradise Ln., Los Osos, CA 93402
Email: up4glass@fia.net
Date submitted: before 1998
Surnames: Armas, Furtado, Craveiro.
Comments:

Marie Anderson, (no address submitted), Stockton, California
Email: marie2575@yahoo.com
Date updated: Sun, 20 Feb 2005
Surname: Brista.
Comments: Brista (may have been changed from Brigida or Brigada when settling in the U.S.)

Maggie Riceman, Atlanta, GA
Tel.: 770-517-8591
Email: mriceman@bellsouth.net (invalid email)
Date submitted: Wed, 03 Jun 1998
Surnames: Reis, Cordeiro, Amaral
Comments: I am looking for John Reis CORDEIRO, (or John Cordeiro REIS), his name is given both ways in different documents, from the island of FLORES or FAIAL, b:1862 Azores, d: 1916 Oakland CA. There may be a connection to the island of CORVO. There is alot of conflicting data. He m: in or around Oakland, CA., Coleta do AMARAL, b: 1872 Azores, d: 1943 Oakland, CA. (she also gave her maiden name as JOSEPH). She was the daughter of a Senhor JOSEPH and his mistress, either Maria AMARAL or Maria BRAIA. John had 2 brothers, Joseph and Fernando/Fred. Joseph supposedly immigrated to Boston, Fred was also in CA. Coleta had 2 sisters, Mary and Louisa, both younger than she. John and Coleta had 5 children, Lenora, John, aka JACK, Marie, Carl and Cecelia. All born in CA. The family used and still uses the surname REIS in the U.S. As far as we know, there was no prior connection between these families before immigrating to CA.

Rebecca Rowe, (no address submitted)
Email: 110326.3514@compuserve.com or rrowe856@juno.com (invalid emails, both)
Date submitted: Wed, 17 Mar 1999
Surname: JOHN DABNER (JOAO PIMENTEL 'AVILA)
Comments: Joao was born in Piedade do Pico in 1830. His family had baking ovens in Piedade and when Joao was old enough he shipped out as a cook/baker on a whaling ship out of Horta, Faial. His name was changed by the ships captain to John Dabner. After several years at sea he joined the gold rush to California. Not finding much gold he ended up working on the old Peralta rancho in San Leandro. He married Maria de Jesus Machado from Corvo and bought a ranch of his own in the "Chicken Lane" area of San Leandro. He eventually settled in Petaluma and lived on his son's (William Dabner) ranch. Maria Machado, born 1828, went to New Bedford in 1840's. Married John Dabner (Joao d'Avila) and settled in San Leandro, Ca. In 1860's. Changed name to Mary Dabner.

Rose Braz, 556 -61St Street #A, Oakland, CA 94609
Tel.: 510-595-3638
Email: rosebraz@aol.com
Date submitted: Wed, 3 May 2000
Surnames: Avelar (Corvo), Braz (Corvo)
Comments: My great great Grandparents were MARIA ENES MARRIED CARMILLO YGNACIO DE AVLAR from Corvo. My GreatGrandparents ELENA AVELAR AND MANUEL JUAQUIN DE AVELAR also from Corvo. They had children: JOEL, ERNEST, MARIA, ANTHONY (has children in New Bedford and Florida), AURORA, CARMELLA, CAROLINE, PALMEIDA, ALZENA and ZOMEDA. My grandfather JOSEPH BRAZ came from Corvo in early 1920's. Born 1892 and died 1949. Married Caroline de Avelar, Divorced 1933. Joseph's sister was JOSEPHINE BRAZ and brothers, JOHN BRAZ and MANUEL BRAZ all from Corvo.

Christine Neighbour, Australia
Email: propertycom@bigpond.com
Date submitted: Fri, 10 Nov 2000
Comments: I am looking for relatives of my GGGgrandfather Emmanuel da Silveria who came from the Western Isles of Azores(possibly Flores). Born approx 1810 left for America 1849 arrived Mass. left for Australia Victoria arrived approx 1850. Jumped ship "White Swallow" at place Blairgowrie in Victoria near Melbourne. Married Irish woman Katherin Brogan had approx 12 children. Changed name to Silva but this could have been his name as I believe names were altered for one reason or another ie-religion Went to goldfields in Victoria and planted vineyard in Moonlight Flat Vic.Australia. Please contact me if you have any comments or information which would be greatly appreciated.

Ida (Aida) Freitas, Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
Email: martinsfam@golden.net
Date submitted: Fri, 14 Jun 2002
Island: Corvo
Surnames: Da Fonte, Freitas, Pimentel, Valadao.
Comments: Freitas from Corvo are different branch from the other Islands. Would particularly love to hear from others researching Corvo.

Juanita (cookie) Braz McBride, Apple Valley, CA.
Email: amma42@gte.net
Date submitted: Wed, 4 Sep 2002
Surnames: Braz, Freitas, Fraga, Valedon, or Swazey (Swasie)
Comments: I was told my family came from the Island of Corvo and Flores, Azores. My great-great-grandfather on great-great grandmother's side was born in Flores, his name was Francis Freitas, born 1840 and died in 1934. He married Mary Swazey or (Swasie) born 1860 died 1911. Anything anyone may be able to help us with will be greatly apperciated. Thank You. Cookie

Vicki Broughton, 2191 Rockhoff Rd., Escondido CA 92026
Email: vmbfrench@aol.com
Date updated: Wed, 4 Apr 2007
Surnames: Fraga, Jorge, Saramago, Andre
Comments: I have done extensive research now on my grandparents and ancestors almost all from Corvo. SURNAMES: JORGE, ANDRE, LORENCO, de MENDONCA, de FRAGA, NUNES, RODRIGUES. MARCELINO and many, many more. I have discovered a new book published in Aug 2006 that transcribes all marriage on Corvo and Flores from the LDS films or from the original books. The book is CASAIS DAS FLORES E DO CORVO by Francisco Antonio Nunes Pimentel Gomes. I ordered it online through paypal and it was an easy transaction aand very speedy. It has marriages from 1675-1911. It is most helpful- especially with multiple marriage and I have 3/4 of the Corvo records in my Family Tree maker file. So if I can be of assistance to anyone don't hesitate to contact me. His website for the book is http://casaisdasflores.no.comunidades.net

Grace Huelsmann, Antioch, CA
Tel: 925 978-1756
Email: g.huelsman@sbcglobal.net
Date submitted: November 26, 2005
Surnames: Estacio, Fraga, Frazier, Fraser
Comments: Joseph Fraga Estacio was born 25 Aug 1857 on Corvo. Came first to USA in 1873 and was naturalized in 1882. In 1910 he brought his children - Maria Fraga (Santa?) Estacio, born 24 Jun 1985 - Anna Ignez (Santa?) Estacio, born about 1897, Alfred Fraga Estacio, born about 1898 and Antonio Fraga Estacio born about 1904 to USA. The ship's manifest shows him to be a widower. In 1912 Maria married Joseph Avila (of Topo, Sao Jorge) in San Mateo. They had 3 children, Alice, Rose and Joseph and resided in San Francisco. Alfred and Antonio (married Kathryn/Kate) were later known by the last name Frazier, (not sure when that changed) and Anna married Joseph Sousa (DeSousa). Hope to hear from someone.

Mackinley Crownover, Modesto, California
Email: woohoohoody@aol.com
Date Submitted: April 26, 2011
Location: Corvo
Surnames: Laurence, Vierra, Consalves (Goncalves)
Comments: I am looking for any information on ANTONIO FRANSISCO LAURENCE (or Lawrence) from Corvo Island B. 18 Oct 1889. Married an Anna Verria b.1888 of the Azores. Both immigrated to the US lived and died in Turlock California. Anna had several siblings including Antonio, Frank, and John Gonsalves and Emily and Mary Vierra all of whom settled in the Northern California area. I am hoping to find some information on what village they lived in on Corvo and what church they might have attended in that village so I can hopefully track down some documents on them or their parents. Of course a full family tree history would be okay too. :0)

For comments, questions, or to submit your own surnames and locations, send an email to: Make the subject "Masterlist" and include the same kind of information you see in the above entries: Your name & address, telephone no., email address, surnames in one village (in alphabetical order), comments you wish to add. If you have more than one place, submit the same things for each and every place. If you have surnames from various lugares within the same parish, send one submission and group the names into the various lugares.

Religious "surnames" (like "de Jesus, da Conceição, do Espirito Santo, etc.") of women are usually not accepted since they're of no genealogical value, except in cases where these names are used by males. Refer to my series of articles on "Portuguese Naming Traditions" on this website.