Re: manuel bettencourt, california
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In reply to:
manuel bettencourt, california
elaine santos 8/27/02
This may be irrelevant to you, Elaine Santos, but some may be interested in this posting.
Manuel Miguel de Bettencourt, 1847-1922, born in Barcelona, was taken to the Azores in infancy.His family were Hemp Farmers.
Manuel came as a lad of 13, and presumably with kin, from the Azores to the USA.His brother Hyacinth de Bettencourt stayed on at hemp farming on the island of S. Jorge.
At the port of entry the immigration clerk arrogantly dropped the surname [de Bettencourt], saying to the lad that Manuel Miguel was a fine name for the USA.Manuel accepted his new surname.
Manuel immigrated to New Bedford MA at age 13, probably in about 1860.Later, still young...about 20... Manuel came to CA, about 1867, perhaps when the transcontinental RR was completed.
Manuel worked a nasty, dangerous job as a hydraulic miner in the "Northern Mines" of Plumas and/or Sierra Counties CA.His mine was at the town of Saint Louis, on Portwine Ridge, above La Porte CA.More specifically St. Louis wasbetween Little Grass Flat and Howland Flat (AKA Table Rock).
Manuel was somewhat disabled by a mining accident, [losing an arm or an eye?].Manuel thereafter operated a saloon and dance hall in LaPorte, Plumas County, CA.
Manuel married Mary Mooney, an Irish woman of St. Louis, and procreated; Their children were Mary Miguel, Buena Ventura Miguel and Joseph Francis Miguel b. 1888.Mary Mooney Miguel died.
Manuel then married Mary Ellen Costello 1867-1959, aslo the daughter of Irish immigrant miners.Their children were William Herbert Miguel b 1902, Lawrence Miguel b 1904, George Miguel b 1909 and Alfred Miguel b 1912.
William Herbert Miguel 1902-1998 visited the Consulate of Portugal [perhaps in the 1960s or 70s] and learned that on S. Jorge his Uncle Hyacinth de Bettencourt's two children had pre-deceased him, and later Hyacinth left his property to friends, who were not blood kin, of the name of Silva or da Silva?.
I am related by marriage to the Miguels [or de Bettencourts], and my progeny are blood kin.My wife and I gave refuge to W. H. Miguel in our home for the last year of his life.W. H. Miguel had a sharp memory and as araconteur, told fascinating tales of times past.I often took notes.
I would enjoy learning, or sharing, more about this family.If you know of any relationships, please post replies.
More Replies:
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Re: manuel bettencourt, california
annamaria lee 11/13/02
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Re: manuel bettencourt, california
William W. Forester 11/15/02
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Re: manuel bettencourt, california
annamaria lee 11/16/02
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Re: manuel bettencourt, california
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Re: manuel bettencourt, california