THE STORY OF THE VASCONCELLOS...Part 2

Fernandez Vasconcellos in New Orleans 



Although, Funchal and New Orleans were both Port cities there were many unexpected conditions that Fernandez (Vasconcellos) and his sister faced as soon as they stepped off the ship.  Beyond the excitement of reaching land, and the excitement that comes from a new adventure so far home, comes the realization that you are the foreigner that must find lodging, work, and food, and not necessarily in that order.  But the mud, and silt and water were everywhere.  It was a grand mess which accompanied them with real inconvenience and miseries.

 



They settled on the outside of the city of New Orleans on the right bank of the Mississippi River below Mandeville Street.  This Eastern district was know as the "Upper Suburbs of New Orleans."  As of 1830, Fernandez (Vasconcellos) was not naturalized and he did not own any slaves.  The total population of the area was 9,438.  At that time 394 others in the area were aliens.

During this time Fernandez (Vasconcellos) had three others living with him, one was listed as a male under 5 years of age.  I believe this to be our ancestor Ferdinand Vasconcellos, the year he was born.  On 4 April, 1834, Fernandez married Henriett Robson, she was born in New Jersey in 1810.  (More research is needed to determine how and why the Robson's came to New Orleans.  But most likely because the work was better in New Orleans at this point in time.  Although, change was lurking around the corner.  But for then, Orleans reflected the gaiety that life had to offer.  There was cotton, of course, and tobacco from Kentucky, flour from Ohio and lots of other products domestic and foreign.

In 1850 Fernandez and Henriet are still residing in New Orleans.  It should be noted that Henriet now started to be called Harriet and she had six children all at home with them all having been born in Louisiana.  John is the second son and he worked as a clerk.  He was born in 1831.  The next child was a daughter named Mary, having been born in 1834.  Then there were twins, Isodore, a daughter and Edward, a son, born in 1842.  In a few years later their last child was born, a little girl named Louisa in 1848.

In the same neighborhood, five houses from the Vasconcellos's is a carpenter from New York, Stephen Lyons and his wife and family.  Stephen (Lyons) was born in 1808 in New York.  Maria, his wife was born in New York in 1812.  Stephen and Maria also had six children.  Their oldest child was a daughter born in New York in 1833, her name was Sarah.  The Lyons have a son John, born in Louisiana in 1837, so we know they left New York around 1834-1837. Then they have another boy named after his father, Stephen born in Louisiana in 1837.  Following Stephen was two more sons and a daughter also born in Louisiana.  Harmon born 1842.  Daniel born in 1844, and Celia born in 1849.

This was a lot of family that all came to New Orleans about the same time, living close by to each other and helping each other out.  This was usually how people met each and fell in love and ended up married.  They lived in close proximity to each other. This family story still has lots to be told.  (Story to continue)