Grandpa Perry aka Victorino Pereira de Bertao

Victorino Pereira de Berao
1911

Victorino Pereira de Bertao was born on May 12, 1876, in São Mateus, Terceira, Azores, Portugal, the filho (son) of Ernesto Pereira de Bertao and Maria Carlotta.

Victorino was a member of the Portuguese Military from 1896 to 1907. During his time of service he married Amelia da Conceicao who was also from São Mateus. Victorino and Amelia married on November 19, 1904. Below is a copy of their marriage license. It is in Portuguese, someone in my family has attempted to translate it, that is why there is so much writing all over it.

In 1905 Victorino and Amelia welcomed a little filho, Manuel Lemos Pereira de Bertao, unfortunately he lived only a few months. August of 1906 brought happy news for Victorino and Amelia as they welcomed another filho, Joao Lemos Pereira de Bertao, he was a feisty one with shocking black hair and dark eyes. While Victorino was busy with the military, he knew there was a better life for his family in the United States. He had heard from his cousins in Massachusetts that he could come there, but he really wanted to go to California. He had seen pictures of the beautiful valley and tall mountains there.

On August 4, 1907, Victorino boarded the S.S. Peninsular from the island of Terceira heading for New Bedford, Massachusetts with his cousin, Joao Mello. Like I said, Massachusetts was not to be their final destination, they were headed for California. They had secured employment before they left Terceira in the coal mines of Amador County, California. Below is a copy of the ships manifest, Victorino and Joao are listed on the bottom of the manifest.

By 1909 Victorino had saved enough money he could send for Amelia and little Joao. So on September 21, 1909, Amelia and Joao boarded the S.S. Canopic from St. Michaels, Terceria bound for New Bedford, Massachusetts. She and little Joao would take a train from there to Ione, California with a note pinned to her dress stating her destination because she spoke no English. Here is a copy of the 1910 Census showing Victorino, whose name was Americanized when he landed in New Bedford to Victor Perry, with his family.

After Amelia’s arrival Victor continued to work in the mine driving the train. They also expanded their family. Adding Charles Lemos Perry in 1910, Frank Lemos Perry in 1911, Mary Irene Perry in 1912, and George William Perry in 1917. Here is a picture of the family before Mary and George joined them!

Victorino and Amelia
Charles, Joao, Frank
1911

Amelia, Mary and Frank
Ione (Carbondale), California 1915

Victor knew that the coal mine was going to be closing soon, so he started to look for work elsewhere. He had heard of a clay pottery further north in the valley that was hiring. He applied for a job and was hired.

Victor moved his expanding family to Lincoln, California in 1919 and began working for the Gladding, McBeam & Co Pottery. He would drive the train from the clay pits to the pottery so they could refine the clay and make it into pipes, plates, etc. Below is the 1920 Census showing where Victor and family first lived.

Initially Victor rented the house they lived in, but he found a nice house to purchase that had a basement for his winery and a large yard. He was also an avid gardener, so he needed lots of room to grow his vegetables. Below is the 1930 Census which shows the family in the new house.

Victor continued to work for the pottery and raise his family. All of his children went to school in the Lincoln schools. Mary was unable to attend high school because Victor was from the “old world” where women stayed home and took care of the house. Victor had a very dry sense of humor. You had to look him in the eye to really see if he meant what he was saying, but there was a twinkle in his eye that made him delightful. Here is a picture of the house on I Street in Lincoln, Victor is standing with his granddaughter, Joyce Webber. Notice the large garden to the right full of garlic and onions.

Joyce Webber and Victor Perry
ca 1950

Victor was able to build a large shed in his backyard that had a grinder so he could make his sausages. He was very good at making head cheese and a wonderful Portuguese sausage called Linguica, which is a family favorite in my house! He would use spices that he had grown in his garden in his sausages, like garlic, thyme, rosemary, and onion. Below is the 1940 Census, George is still living with Victor and Amelia but is married to a young lady named Mary. So the Mary listed is not George's sister, it is his wife!

Victor was the example for the family with his work values. He wasn’t the best at attending Mass and grumbled at Amelia for attending every day, but deep down he admired her commitment. When he made a promise, he kept it. When his son-in-law had to take a trip to the east coast for medical reasons in June 1951, Victor told him he would not be there on his return. The night before Victor died, he asked his granddaughter when her father was to return, she told him “Tomorrow.” He kept his promise, Victorino Pereira de Bertao died in his sleep on July 15, 1951. Below is a copy of his death certificate, it's a rough copy.

I cannot take credit for all of this information, my mom gave me a great deal of this information. Plus I have a paper from a family reunion in 1976 with some information. I pieced the rest together via the documents I have placed here.

Fulfilling the Abrahamic Covenant

I, Nephi (an individual member of the house of Israel), having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father; and having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God (the blessings I received to prepare and empower me to bless mankind), therefore I make a record of my proceedings in my days (the specific service I feel inspired to perform to fulfill my duty as an Israelite). (1 Nephi 1:1)

Write the beginning of the record of your life mission:

I, _Jennifer Lea Dodson, having been taught the blessings of the Lord do promise to uphold my baptismal covenants and the covenants I have made in the temple.

Record the blessings you have been given and the ways you have been prepared so that you can bless Heavenly Father’s children:

I have been blessed with the patience to love and care for my special needs children and husband. Somehow Heavenly Father has seen fit for me to have the strength to be able to handle the stress that comes with their every day needs. Even though on some days I feel as if I am going to break.

Record the promises of God that cause you to want to be involved in the Abrahamic Covenant:

The promises of an eternal family, with perfection and perfect love in eternity.

State the specific things you feel you should do with your blessings and preparation so that you can receive the promises of God:

Keep praying, keep learning and growing both of the spiritual nature and of the world, keep learning patience and growing in Heavenly Father’s glory. Continue attending my Church meetings and strive to attend the temple according to my covenants.

Review the following explanation of the areas of focus for the Church:

“In fulfilling its purpose to help individuals and families qualify for exaltation, the Church focuses on divinely appointed responsibilities. These include helping members live the gospel of Jesus Christ, gathering Israel through missionary work, caring for the poor and needy, and enabling the salvation of the dead by building temples and performing vicarious ordinances.”     (Handbook 2: “Administering the Church” 2.2)

What specific things do you feel you should do in your personal life, or as you inspire others in their service, that relates to the core focus of the Church?

I believe that I should be available to help those who are in need of service, to continue to work as a missionary for the Church and that I should continue to do my family history diligently. I should also encourage my children to help those in need and to attend the temple when they have the opportunity.

My testimony...

When I joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints I was looking for acceptance. I knew it was true, I felt it in my heart, but I was looking for acceptance. I had found it in the Church, the people were so warm and friendly. It also helped that a former neighbor and close family friend lived in the same area that I now lived in. I was so lonely, being newly married and in a new town without my family. It took me a while to gain my own testimony. I quickly gained a testimony of tithing. When I thought that we just couldn’t get by financially, I would always make sure tithing was paid, and sure enough our finances made it through the month. I can tell you, for a young wife it was a test of faith. Over the years I have also gained a testimony of family history research. I enjoy history and especially enjoy researching my ancestors. Finding out about where they lived, how they lived, and what they did for a living is amazing. I have even found newspaper articles. I am thankful to be a part of this Church, to be sealed to my husband for all time and eternity, to have my children born under the covenant. One of the most spectacular blessings was when John adopted my Stephanie and we were able to have her sealed to us in the Orlando Temple. I love to read the Book of Mormon, I love to read the Bible. I encourage everyone to read their scriptures, read them like you would read a book, they have a wonderful story to tell. I am thankful for this Church, I know it is true, I know that Joseph Smith is a true prophet of God, I know the Book of Mormon is true. I am truly blessed.

My personal history, birth to meeting John...

This blog is not only a new thing for me, it's also part of an assignment for my FDREL261 class at BYU-Idaho. I was assigned to write a personal life history, I chose to write from birth to the time I met John. This way I can continue with the story of our lives after we met. So here goes... my personal history:

This is me, Jennifer Lea Langston, born July 19, 1967 to Dale and Joyce Langston at Roseville Community Hospital in Roseville, California. My middle name is a carry on of the family name “Lee” but my dad decided to feminize the name, at least that’s the story. There were no ultrasounds to tell my parents whether I was going to be a girl or a boy, but I am sure they figured I would be a girl. Considering they already had four girls - Jacquie, Denise, Mary and Cynthia - waiting for my arrival! In fact, when they brought me home, Denise, who is eight years older than me said “that’s not my baby, she’s ugly!” Why did she say this? Because I was born with strawberry blonde hair and Denise was not expecting to see the reddish color. She overcame that thought and was soon spoiling me rotten.

Speaking of being spoiled rotten, because my dad was attending university at the time of my birth, he was took care of me. My mom worked the 3-11 shift at the hospital, when she came home after her shift she would find dad with me asleep on his lap along with a book. He would fall asleep studying while holding me. He would dress me in those little dress like jammies that tie at the end, so when I crawled around my feet would not come out. He said I looked like the baby from the Popeye cartoon, so he called me “Sweetpea.”

We lived in a little house in Citrus Heights, it was on the end of a road by a spacious field, there was a white picket fence in front. In the backyard there was a massive graceful willow tree with sweeping branches that reached for the ground like great hands. I remember running in and out of those great hands, playing hide and seek with my sisters or just setting up house under the tree by the great trunk. We had a great big playful black Labrador retriever named Happy, with beautiful brown eyes who loved me unconditionaly. He was my carriage horse, my protection, and my best friend.

When I was about five years old, my parents decided we needed to move into a bigger house. My older sisters were teenagers and didn’t need to be sharing with us little ones all the time. So they purchased a house in Orangevale, California, which isn’t too far to the east of Citrus Heights. The house was on Norway Drive, it sat on the bottom of a hill and I loved it. The front and back yards did not have any grass, so dad put us girls to work “picking rocks.” He put those rocks to good use though, in the backyard there was a hill that went up to the fence and he terraced that hill with rocks, stairways, and waterfalls. It was absolutely gorgeous in the backyard, an oasis for us to entertain our friends.

I remember pretending that I was a princess walking up the stairs with my trusted steed, Happy, by my side! Yes, I had quite the imagination. At the top of the hill dad had made a nice grassy area where we could have a picnic, it was so high that we could see over the tops of the houses in the neighborhood. Sometimes we would take our sleeping bags up there and sleep out under the stars. I started kindergarten the year we moved into the house on Norway Drive. I went to Pershing Elementary, I remember walking to school and making new friends. One of my fondest memories of kindergarten is of the pumpkin push, we had small pumpkins and were to nudge them with our noses across the grass to the finish line. It was a lot of good natured fun.

One day Mary, Cynthia and I were messing around in the Backyard; Mary was lying on her back with her knees bent and I was sitting on her feet, she would push me up, launching me into the air. I would laugh, with the wind in my hair, landing in the grass. Mom yelled out the door on her way to work for us to stop because someone was going to get hurt. As usual, mom was right, about an hour after she left I was launched off of Mary’s feet only to land onto a concrete block. My left arm was twisted underneath me and took the brunt of the fall. I know I screamed, because my dad came running out the sliding glass door. He called my mom and told her “I think Jenni’s arm is broken!” She said “What do you mean you think it’s broken, it either is or it isn’t!” Dad explained to her what it looked like and she drove home to get me. Yup, my arm was broken, it was a greenstick fracture and I had a nasty cast on my arm for what seemed like forever!

Each year we went to my mom's hometown of Lincoln, California to attend the Holy Ghost Celebration. This is a Portuguese tradition that has been brought over from the Azores Islands, the celebration commemorates the patron saint of Portugal, St. Isabel. My mom’s grandparents immigrated from the Azores Islands in 1907 and 1909, so we have a lot of family in Lincoln. Whenever we went to the celebration it was like a mini family reunion. In 1976 we had a real family reunion, celebrating our Portuguese heritage. Just after the family reunion, our little family sold almost all of our possessions, what didn’t sell we put into storage, packed up our truck and trailer, and headed east. Dad decided we were going to move to Arkansas, specifically Mountain Home, Arkansas, this is where he grew up.

We took our time, driving across Interstate 80, seeing all the historic sites that we could see. We drove up to the Grand Tetons and through Yellowstone National Park. We saw Castle Rock, Fort Laramie, and conestoga wagons. We washed our clothes in streams when we had to, which was not so bad, until we had to wash my dads handkerchiefs! When we arrived in Arkansas, I couldn’t believe the different hues of green found in the trees. We lived in our little trailer and a tent on Lake Norfork, a gorgeous man-made lake with sandy beaches and high cliffs, marinas and boathouses. Unfortunately going back “home” wasn’t what my dad expected and just a short time after we arrived, he decided we should move back to California. It took us three weeks to drive from California to Arkansas, the return trip took us only three days!

We ended up settling in Lincoln, dad and mom figuring this would be the best place to settle because of it being small and having family within walking distance. This is where I was introduced to religion, I began going to catechism with my cousins and mass with my moms sitter, Annie Airo. After a few years I began to question the Catholic point of view, so some of my friends asked me to attend church with them. I went from church to church through out my teen years, searching for acceptance both from the people and from my Heavenly Father.

In the middle of my senior year of high school my parents decided to move to the mountains. I know this was a dream of theirs, as we spent just about every weekend in the summer camping in the Sierra Nevada. I didn’t mind the move, I was looking for myself and for a new start, my teen years were a mess. I liked my new school, but I missed my old friends, so I spent quite a bit of time on the weekends in Lincoln. When I started college at Sierra College in Rocklin, California, I was still looking for acceptance. I married near the end of my freshman year, much to my dad's chagrin. Dad did not like Robert one bit, and told me that I was not marrying him. I think, deep down, that’s one of the reasons why Robert and I eloped to Reno, Nevada.

Robert and I rented a small shack from a large family near Grass Valley, California. I didn’t know what religion the family was, but figured they were either Catholic or Mormon, having nine children and the tenth on the way! I was correct, they were Mormon, and pretty soon the LDS Missionaries were knocking on my door. Robert and I were baptized within a month, I had found the acceptance I was looking for from people and from my Heavenly Father. Three years later we were blessed with a baby girl that we named Tiffany, she had curly brown hair and blue eyes. Then eighteen months later another little blessing arrived, Stephanie, with straight blonde hair and green eyes. Even with two beautiful girls, our marriage wasn’t working, and we separated.

The girls and I moved to Silverdale, Washington, to live with my oldest sister, Jacquie and her family. I was able to secure employment and find childcare for the girls. I soon moved out to an apartment with the girls and filed for divorce from Robert. This is about the time I met John. Which is where this blog began, and where I will pick up again with the next post.

Jacquie, Mary, Denise (back row)
Jenni, Cynthia (front row)
about 1969

How we met...

John and I met in 1991 over a BBS (Bulletin Board System). For those who don't know what that is, a BBS is a computer system running software that allows users to connect and log into the system using a terminal program. Once logged in, a user can perform functions such as uploading and downloading software and data, reading news and bulletins, and exchanging messages with other users, either through email, public message boards, and sometimes via direct chatting. These were accessed via a modem over a telephone line. Anyhow, that's how we met... we left messages to each other over a period of time, then finally decided to talk "voice."
Little did I know that I wasn't actually talking to him, but to his best friend's little brother, Michael Smith. See, John was too shy to talk on the phone, even though he was 21 at the time! I had just turned 25, was in the middle of a divorce and had my two oldest daughters, Tiffany and Stephanie. That didn't deter him one bit though. He decided he wanted to meet me in person, so one day he, Cornelius (his best friend), and Michael came over to play Robotech. Robotech is a role-playing game that I had never played before, I had only played Dungeons and Dragons, but was willing to give it a try. That was a very interesting meeting, John was so quiet when he spoke that I had to ask Michael and Cornelius what he was saying. I know it embarrassed John because his face would turn red. I will always remember that day, it was August 18, 1991.
John and I became really good friends, although I knew at the time that Cornelius didn't like me. I don't think anyone was good enough for his best friend. John was active duty Army, but because he was stationed close to home, he lived at home and spent his down time with the Smith family. He has been best friends with Cornelius since the fourth grade, I say has because they are still best friends to this day.
John fell in love with the girls before he fell in love with me. Whenever he would go off to train or be gone for any length of time, the girls would miss him immensely. I remember one time when he came by for a visit and I opened the door, Stephanie ran up and hugged him around the legs calling him "Daddy!" He said "No, just John!" So for the longest time we called him "Just John" as a joke. He took it good naturedly, as was par for the course with John.
I should have known something was up though, because he started bringing me flowers at work. He would just randomly show up with flowers, candy, a stuffed animal, or all three! My boss loved it, she was a hopeless romantic. She told me I would be stupid to let this guy go. I, of course, knew that already but my divorce wasn't final and wasn't sure what I was going to do. John was sure what he wanted, at least at the moment he was sure.
John decided it was time for me to meet his family. But he didn't bring me home to meet his parents, he brought me to meet the Smith's. In his mind if Smitty and Rosie, Cornelius' parents, approved of me than I was the girl for him. Well, they approved. Rosie and I hit it off right away. The Smiths were foster and adoptive parents of many children, in fact Michael and Cornelius were their only biological children. This is where John had his exposure to young children and why he didn't mind changing diapers when it came to changing Stephanie. I knew I had an exceptional man when he offered to change her the first time, not to mention he would wash dishes for me.
The first time I spoke to his mom, Mary, on the phone I thought she was his sister. In fact, I thought "John didn't tell me he had a younger sister!" He had asked me to call her and let her know he was ok and all was fine while he was out on an extended training in southern California. I guess he wanted me to call because it was really close to his birthday, which is in November. Whatever the reason, it was weird, but I made it through! Mary seemed very nice, but I was more comfortable with Rosie, probably because I had met her in person and spent so much time with her.
Here are some pictures from that time period....

Tiffany age 3, Stephanie age 20 months
taken in 1991

John and I
Stryker Brigade Valentine's Day Ball
1992