The Research Journal
Helen Correia's Story
[Research Journal #4, Entry #2]
Helen Correia's name was mentioned many times in interviews. She fit in with the Pacheco's somewhere but her story was clouded as she was given away for adoption. Not official adoption, but a family adoption.
It was possible that she was the daughter of Joana (Gonsalves Cardozo) and Joao Pacheco. They had been known to give children away. The reason was that Joao contracted tuberculosis. He died of the disease in October 1906. He left Joana 8 months pregnant, with 6 children aged 1 to 10 to raise. It was hard enough to raise a family on a sugar plantation with two parents. Doing it with one was near impossible. Joana had to make some choices to save herself and her children.
Oldest son, Francisco went to live with Joana's sister. Daughter, Maria, went to Joana's parents. Daughter Isabella went to Jose and Maria (Jacinto da Camara) de Braga. Three sons, John, Theodore, and Antone stayed home with their mother. Joana gave birth in November 1906, just a couple weeks after her husbands death.
It was said that the baby was named Helen. She was given away to someone named Jesuina. Did Helen (Pacheco) Correia really fit in with this family? And, who the mysterious Jesuina? Was she family or friend? How can one trace a woman when only her first name is known?
Helen Correia's name was mentioned many times in interviews. She fit in with the Pacheco's somewhere but her story was clouded as she was given away for adoption. Not official adoption, but a family adoption.
It was possible that she was the daughter of Joana (Gonsalves Cardozo) and Joao Pacheco. They had been known to give children away. The reason was that Joao contracted tuberculosis. He died of the disease in October 1906. He left Joana 8 months pregnant, with 6 children aged 1 to 10 to raise. It was hard enough to raise a family on a sugar plantation with two parents. Doing it with one was near impossible. Joana had to make some choices to save herself and her children.
Oldest son, Francisco went to live with Joana's sister. Daughter, Maria, went to Joana's parents. Daughter Isabella went to Jose and Maria (Jacinto da Camara) de Braga. Three sons, John, Theodore, and Antone stayed home with their mother. Joana gave birth in November 1906, just a couple weeks after her husbands death.
It was said that the baby was named Helen. She was given away to someone named Jesuina. Did Helen (Pacheco) Correia really fit in with this family? And, who the mysterious Jesuina? Was she family or friend? How can one trace a woman when only her first name is known?
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