Hello Cece: I am starting a new thread because this was getting too long. It seems we have common Gaula ancestors. I have researched both couples Manuel Pires and Maria da Mata and eventually both of these couples go back to Afonso Pires and Isabel de Freitas. In one couple, the link is through Manuel Pires, in the other couple the link is through Maria da Mata. So we are definitely cousins through them, one way or another. :-) In one couple I come through Cristovao Pires and Bastiao Pires, sons of Bastiao Pires and Ana Martins. In the other couple I come through Isabel Fernandes, daughter of Bastiao Pires and Ana Martins and also through Simao Vieira and Catarina Jeronima. My Manuel Pires and Maria da Mata had a daughter whose children and grandchildren were baptized and raised in Machico. They eventually become the de Freitas in my line and, for those who are familiar with him, the ancestors of my great granduncle, Dr. Antonio Aurelio da Costa Ferreira. And his esteemed uncle, Joao Joaquim de Freitas. Mary