New Hampshire (NH) is not one of the places that are associated with Cape Verdean immigration.  However, it was a destination of some Cape Verdeans as early as the Civil War.  Half a century later, World War I draft registration cards and a passport application shows several Cape Verdeans living in New Hampshire during the war.  

Records indicate that one colored troop in the Civil War that came from New Hampshire was born in “Cape de Verde Islands.”   This was John Cruse of the 3rd Infantry.  He was born in 1839 in Cape Verde and enlisted as a Private on 6 October 1864.  He died on January 9, 1865 in Jacksonville, Florida.  The United States Navy included two men who were born in the Islands.  Thus, there were three Cape Verdeans from New Hampshire who participated in the Civil War. 

Three decades later, the number of Cape Verdeans in the World War I era increased.  Frank Gomes (b. 6 September 1875 in Brava, Cape Verde Islands, Portugal) was nineteen years old when he immigrated to the United States on 25 May 1894.   He became a naturalized citizen on 24 September 1906, when he was 31 years old.  Gomes was a “keeper of restaurant” or restaurant owner in Concord, Merrimack, NH, where he resided.  He was to sail from Providence, Rhode Island, on board the Roma, on 17 September 1919.  Gomes was heading to Brava to sell real estate, probably his home.  His passport was issued on 2 September 1919.  Gomes was a resident of Boston during some of his residence in the United States. 

Read more about this article in the news section: 
http://news.caboverdeonline.com/news-and-articles/140

Tags: NH New Hampshire USA Frank Gomes Maria Amory

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