D'souza surname

Joaquim Gomes de Souza was the son of Inácio José Gomes de Souza and Antonia Carneiro de Brito e Sousa. He was the grandson of José Antônio Gomes de Souza. The Gomes de Souza were of Portuguese origin and by the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th century they played an important role in the politics and the economy of the Brazilian State of Maranhao. José Antônio Gomes de Souza, Joaquim's grandfather, was a wealthy man involved in the export trade. He had a military career becoming a lieutenant colonel and was also an alderman of the Chamber of São Luís. He was the official responsible for gauging weights and measures, taxation and distribution of foodstuffs. Joaquim's father, Inácio José Gomes de Souza, was a major in the army, owned land, made investments and held a high social position which made him financially well off and able to give his children a high quality education. Joaquim was born in Itapecuru-Mirim into a large family, the seventh of nine children. Itapecuru-Mirim is in the northeast of Brazil about 110 km south of San Luís. He was g

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