Looking for information on my gggrandfather (Joseph Silvey), aka Joseph Silvia-Simmons or Portugese Joe#1. He came to Victoria and worked for the Hudson Bay Co., then moved to BC, Canada where he lived in Gastown (presently part of the city of Vancouver) and also at Brockton Point in Stanley Park. This would have been around 1870-72. He married a native indian woman and had two children with her. His oldest daughter, Elizabeth was the first child to be born in Vancouver with European heritage.

He was I believe, born on Pico Island in the Azores, Portugal. His father's name was John Silvia-Simmons and his mother's name was Francesca Hyacintha (don't believe that Hyacintha was her surname). Apparently Joseph (my gggrandfather) came from Portugal with his father John and also a brother named John. Their father apparently died of a heart attack on the ship enroute to Canada. I have no idea what happened to the brother John, or even if there was a brother John.

I would really like to find out more about my gggrandfather hand his family back in Portugal.

I would greatly appreciate any information that may help me in my search.

Thanks in advance,

Brenda