Myth, Truth, and Treasure of Family History

https://dqsantos.com/2023/03/07/myth-truth-and-treasure-of-family-history/

David Q Santos and N.J. Santos

The study of Family history can be a difficult but interesting and rewarding study. DNA analysis and access to digital records across the globe have added new layers to the average amateur historian and family genealogist. Anyone that has endeavored to unravel the mystery of their own family knows the challenges. For many, family oral history often sounds like ancient mythology and simple truths can be a mix of complexity and confusion. And then, there are those moments where a real family history is found.

I want to use my own family’s study into our ancestors as an example. In the mythology of my Dad’s parents there were several stories that deserved to be revealed. But the beginning of this adventure in history was the DNA; I should have been about 25% Portuguese and 25% Irish as my Dad’s dad was from Portugal, and my Dad’s mom was from Ireland. The surprise was that I only showed being 3-6% Portuguese and was way more Scottish than Irish. In total, I am really strongly western European, mostly Scottish, English, Irish, and German. So I set aside my linguiça and went shopping for some blood sausage and Sauerkraut while trying on plaid skirts, uh, I mean kilts. I have nice legs so I can pull it off with gusto, though it is a little breezy.

So first, the myth and the truth. There had been a family story for many years that upon arrival from Portugal my grandpa took his wife’s maiden name. Since there is no evidence of anyone from my family exchanging names, this is a myth that was not true. Also, my grandpa was born in Petaluma CA, it was Francisco Francis Santos, my grandpa’s grandpa, that immigrated to CA in 1868 and then married a Portuguese woman named Mary Perry. They were married at the Saint Vincent De Paul church in Petaluma CA on Oct. 27, 1873. Francisco and Mary lived in Petaluma with Mary’s parents for a time. Francisco and Mary had five children, one of whom died young. Annie Leal was their adopted daughter who immigrated herself from the Azores Portugal. Annie was 7 when she came from Portugal. Together the family was involved in the poultry business. Francisco and Mary moved from the farm to a house in town late in life when Francisco was 68, the year before he died, and Mary was 67. William P Santos lived with them at the time. Frank Francis Santos, the second child of Francisco and Mary had taken over the poultry farm. Many of the graves for this family can be seen at the Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Petaluma CA.