After watching a documentary on Ellis Island, I am curious about how the typical Portuguese would have arrived and settled in the Boston area prior to 1880. Does anyone know if they usually arrived by passenger ship directly in Boston? If so, do you know the name of ships used at that time? This would help greatly in my research.

I understand that people like my gr grandfather came over on a whaling ship. Don't know how true this is though.

Thanks for your reply. Do you know what year your grandfather came over? And then, did he become a citizen immediately? Thanks for the info.

My grandfather was born in New Bedford, MA in 1899, so the family was here then. I am the last family member on the west coast or the Roderick Clan. My grandfather was one of like 7, 9 or 10 kids. I don't remember the stories anymore. His family disowned him when he married my grandmother in California outside the Catholic church as one of his sisters was a sister of the Catholic church. I have never met any of the Roderick clan in MA nor do I know any of their names. On his Social Security application it shows his dad's name as Anthony Roderick and his mother as Rose Lombard. That's all I have. So I don't know if it was my great grandfather that came over or my great-great grandfather.

My gg grandfather came from the Azores to Provincetown as a cabin boy in a whaling ship in 1855-1862. My gg grandmother came over also but not with him. Can't find out too much info. Good-luck

I'm going to chip in my little tidbit even though my family line is Brown (Brun). My grandfather was 4 when he came over. He was born in Azores & the family settled in New Bedford as well!

Re your research on how Portuguese families emigrated to this country:

Re your query, my parents and their families came in to Providence, R.I. on October 25,1912. There is a name listed under the date, "Roma"......could that possibly be the name of the ship???? They came from Terceira, Azores. I would be interested in knowing also.

If you are looking for ship names as well as families on those ships check out www.dholmes.com/ships

This is a great site for Portugese information

My great grandfather, and his father also immigrated here from the Azores also. Horta, Fayal to be exact. We also do not know why they came over, but it has been suggested that they were brought over to help pick cranberries as that is a big business up in that area. My progenitors settled in boston then moved to Woburn, which is now incorporated into Boston. Thier name was Gonsalvo/gonsalvez. Lynn