Almeida Family Journal
was born in Agua Pau, Sao Miquel, Azores.
At 3 A.M. Oct. 22,1886 to a peasent father
and mother.
He never learned to read or write,
like his ancestors before him.
He would sign his name with an x.
He would learn how to
speak three languages fluently .
Potugese, English and Italian.
He played the mandolin
and loved to sing when he played.
A musical talent
each of his children would inherit.
He was 18 years old when
he came to America on
January 10, 1904.
A Merchant Seaman as a boy.
A mason by trade
as a adult.He would raise
22 children. On the night
Antonio died all his children
were by his side.
They came from all
over America. Antonio died
Febuary 12, 1973 in Fall River, Mass.
giving birth to her 8th child.
Her children ages
were 18 months to 12 years when she passed away.
She would work all day
in the mill and come home and take
care of her 7 children.
How life must of been for this beautiful red haired
,blue eyed Portugese girl.
She had one best friend
here in America, Mary Maderio the young girl
that lived next door.
Mary was a lot younger than
Rosa in fact Mary was
closer in age to Rosa's oldest daughters.
She would play dolls with them
When Mary
was old enough
to work in the mill
she worked
on the same machine
with Rosa. They walked to
and from work together,
ate lunch together.
A friendship so deep ,
that Mary,
would talk about it ,
the rest of her life.
Rosa would tell Mary do not
marry to young and do not
have a lot of children.
The day Rosa gave birth
to my mother,
Mary at the age of 15
would help the mid wife deliver her.
Mary said my Grandmother Rosa
delivered my mother,
wrapped her in blanket
put her in the cradle
behind the coal stove
to keep her warm
Made a pot of coffee
and Antonio's dinner
than started scrubbing the kitchen floor
The next day she
was back in the mill working
This would all
take a toll on Rosa
By the time she delivered
her eighth child
Her young body could not take it
Her exact age not really known
Her marriage records say
she was 19 when
she married. She would of been 32
when she died
However, death certificate
says she was 25 when she died
If that is true,
she started having
children at 13 years of age.
Rosa and her infant daughter
she was carrying died
on the 12th birthday
of Rosa's twin daughters.
Oct. 11, 1919
Four months after
her passing Antonio
married Mary Maderio.
She kept her best friend
Rosa's children from
being orphaned.
Back then the law
was ,both parents had to be living
or the state took the children.
Knowing this had to be
done for Rosa she eloped,
against her parents wishes.
Her parents would disown her.
Not speaking to her for years.
And 18 year old girl
became the mother of 7 children.
She would be the
one Rosa's babies would
call Mama. She would see
to it Rosa's children
stayed toghether. She too would
work in the mill
and she to would learn
to love Antonio
as Rosa had. Mary than blessed
him with 15 more children.
Antonio and Mary where
married 53 years. The night Antonio
was waked I was with Mary,
she was to ill herself
attend.
That night,
my self, carrying a child,
I sat on Mary and Antonio's
bed,talking drinking tea
and she told me
all about
The Grandmother I never knew.
The mother, my mother ,barely remembered
That night 54 years after Rosa died,
she became alive to me.
Thanks to a women that loved her, enough
to keep her memory alive,
Thank-you to the only
Grandmother I ever knew
Mary Maderio
for sharing and caring enough
A Thank-you that is long over due.
Mary died on December 8, 1973.
Nine months after Antonio.
Rosa Brauca
b. Oct.1, 1888 Riberia Grande, Sao Miquel
d. Oct.11, 1919 Prov. RI
Maria Maderio
b.Jan. 16, 1902 Ponta Delgada , Sao Miquel
d. Dec 8, 1973 Bristol, RI
Upon Antonio's passing he
had 19 living children
and over 100 grandchildren.
Today the number is 11
living children
and close to 300 Grand,
Great and Great Great Grandchildren.
for the sound of the Mandolin.
Meet Antonio's