His daughter says that he did not come to the U.S.A. until he was about 12-14 as a cabin boy on a ship). This is confirmed by his ship information. He came to New York on 4-14-1910 on a ship called the Credic when he was 16 years old. He was listed as single coming from St. Michael's island in the Azores. occupation: fisherman on a fishing vessel as of 1920. He was 25 years old when he got married. His sister Theresa Simons and her husband Manual Simons and their son Mario are buried all in the same lot in Cambridge city cemetery (7316 chapel section). Theresa died at 81 years old. Her husband Manuel died on 3-13-63 at 67 years old. Their son Mario died on 6-24-83 at 65 years old. Manuel Simons was the owner of their lot.

Both his parents were from San Miguel Island in the Azores. He apparently had several siblings that stayed back in the Azores most of whom died young. He met his wife Esther in Provincetown.