Fall River, Ma And Tiverton, RI Links Sought

I'm doing research regarding covers from these two cities, which, it is my understanding, were once one. I am hoping some of you might have a link I am not seeing, to give me more information, both on the history of these areas, and the census data. If you do, could you please share them?

One cover, in particular, I am looking at, is from Portugal to a member of the Braga family in Fall River, MA, dated 1944. I do not know if it is a relative of Charles M. Braga (Memorial Bridge), or not.

I've been unsuccessful in finding any family information, regarding the recipient. It would help, if I can find some more information, that might shed light on how it came into my Gramp's possession. There is a family connection to Tiverton, as well as to the Portuguese, in Fall River. I'm just not finding it, based on the links I have looked at. Those are the MA Register of Deeds, Bristol County Deeds, (which only go back to 1975), The Herald and other newspaper obituaries, MA Census records (which I am only finding to 1940 and then some time after that, but not 1944) and Wikipedia posts about the cities themselves, and that of the Charles M. Braga Memorial Bridge.

I'd really like to have links, or even book references, that don't require me to give out my email address at every turn, just to see 'free' info. I only have a handful of covers, and I know most of the addressees and the history behind the covers. It's just one or two that I've run into a roadblock, and I really don't want to have to spend a hundred dollars with ancestry, (I used up my free trial on another project), and rootsweb, geni, familytree and a couple of other sites do turn up some hits, but they want info from me, before they share. It's understandable, but for one or two covers, I don't see a logical reason for me to have to take that measure, if I can find it elsewhere, that might also give me more than just names.

Thank you, in advance, for any help you can give.

gg, if you'd like, e-mail me the detail you are looking for and I can dig around a bit. I speak Portuguese, so that might help.

You might also try your local library and see if they have a library subscription to the Ancestry site. As far as I know, this won't cost you a penny!

Good luck to you. (Boa sorte!)

Early (early!) history: http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?...ew=1up;seq=5

Can you scan for us the cover or covers for which you have interest in historical information? I'm a resident of RI and employed in MA, so I may have online access to things that may not be available to those residing elsewhere.

Furthermore, I have access to some Massachusetts digital archives which contains a wealth of historical newspaper articles from the 1800s to the present day, all of which may provide information not readily available to out-of-state visitors seeking "free" online access.

I've encountered similar situations before when I tried to access data from other States, as there are resources out there which are often limited to resident-only access.

KGB, thank you for your assistance, and the great link. I can tell I'm going to enjoy reading it, by the brief look I just took. Thank you for that! I did send you some information.

wt1, thank you, also, for your generous offer of aide. I could also send you some names, if I've your permission to email you, and some of the history behind them, that is why I am researching. Before I post the scans of the front of the cover, I'd like to get all the facts, and the information I have gathered, together, first. I don't know if the addressee is still living, or living at the address. I don't think he is, but I'd like to make sure, before I go posting his name and address,and having an open discussion about his mail, on the internet.

I do not have the contents of the cover, but I can post the back of the cover, which is interesting, in, and of, itself, given the time period it was sent, and the various and multiple cancels on it. I found alot out, about history, and the role Portugal played in the war, from doing some initial research.

What I do not know is why so many cancels, and why it appears, to me, it took a month to get from New York to Fall River. While I research the front, perhaps the community can teach me about the back.