I am new to the list. I am researching my family tree and I am extremely frustrated. My great grandparents were all born in Guyana, South America. I know that they all had Portuguese parents. But I have several problems.

1) I don't know where to start - I think that they were from Madeira, but I am not sure. My great grandmother went to school in Madeira for years on an extended visit with an aunt. Who they were visiting I could not tell you. My grandmother and her brother and sister keep telling me that the families came from Madeira - apparently this is what they were all told. That is all that they know.

2) the names that I am researching are far too common. They are: DeAbreu, Ferreira, Gonsalves, Castanheiro, Fernandes. On the Portugal list I was told that finding these names are like trying to find a needle in a haystack! I am beginning to believe that.

3) I am told that there was a fire in Guyana and that most of the records perished in the fire. So I don't know where to even start.

I was wondering if some kind person on this list could inform me as to how this list works. I am on mailing lists for specific cities and counties and surnames, but how are things done on the Madeira Exiles list?

Thank you,
Jennifer Rawlins