by Karen Yvonne Hamilton, 2024
Maria Carmen Amparo RODRIGUEZ was born on November 30, 1885 in Santa Clara, Cuba to Antonio Rodriquez GODOY y Martin (1848-1892) and her mother, Mathilde B. “Tilly” THOMAS y Thatu (1859-1892).
She went by the name ‘Carmen’ throughout her life.
Carmen’s grandfather, Edward THOMAS, was a police officer in New Orleans. Her grandmother, Justine Tulles THATU was a dressmaker. Maria’s mother, Mathilde “Tilly” was born in New Orleans. At some point, the Thomas and Rodriguez de Godoy family moved back to Havana, Ciego de Avila, Cuba. It was there that Maria Carmen was born.
Carmen married Jose Garcia BELLO on June 28, 1901, in La Habana, Cuba.
They had five children: Blanca Rosa, Candido ‘Beby’, Carmen, Jose Evelio, and Elio.
Maria Carmen arrived in Key West aboard the S.S. Olivette in 1903. She was described as 5 feet tall and having brown hair and brown eyes.
In 1909, Carmen traveled with her husband and daughter, Blanca from Cuba to Key West aboard the S.S. Mascotte.
In 1911, Carmen traveled from Cuba to Key West with her children, Blanca and Candido.
In 1914, Carmen and Jose lived at 809 Catherine St in Key West.
In 1920, Carmen lived with her husband and three children at 615 Simonton St in Key West. Jose worked in a cigar factory.
There is an Amparo Garcia listed on the July 17 1927 New York Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists, but it is not clear how she is related to Maria Carmen, but her name was handed down to Maria Carmen’s. Amparo Garcia was a teacher from Santa Clara, Cuba and could read and write Spanish and English.
In 1930, Carmen and Jose lived at 511 United St in Key West with their children, Beby, Jose Evelio, and Elio.
In 1935, the family rented a house at 1017 Simonton. Nearby neighbors included their sons, Beby and Elio. Henry CAREY, Bert ALBURY, Richard PINDER, and Catherine NUNEZ.
In 1938, Carmen worked for the WPA in the sewing room as a seamstress and as a laborer for a horticultural project in Bayview Park.
In 1940, Carmen and Jose, and their son, Elio still lived at 1017 Simonton St in Key West. Jose still worked in the cigar factory and Elio worked for the WPA doing under water digging.
In 1950, Carmen and Jose lived with their daughter, Blanca at 5D Porter Place in Key West. Jose was no longer working and Blanca worked for Community Laundry as a laundry worker.
At the time of her death on November 10, 1959, Maria Carmen lived at 1009 Packer St in Key West, Florida. She was 73 years old.
SOURCES
Ancestry.com, 1920 United States Federal Census; 1930 United States Federal Census; 1935 United States Federal Census for Carmen G Bello; 1940 United States Federal Census; 1950 United States Federal Census; Key West City Directory 1914, July 17 1927 New York Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists, Declaration of Intention for American Citizenship 1928, WPA Records
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