Moving to southern Brazil: Mobility and migratory flows through João da Silva Tavares’ trajectory (c.1800-c.1860)

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to analyze some of the migratory movements that were part of the occupation of the southern half of the current State of Rio Grande do Sul throughout the 19th century. This will be done based on the migrations made by João da Silva Tavares and his relatives along his trajectory, used as a guide to ascertain the different conjunctures in which such migratory movements were inserted. For this purpose, several sources will be used, especially baptism registrations, which provide the main information about the origin of the population groups analyzed here. This information is obtained through the application of a methodology of a serial nature to such sources. Based on our analyses, we will not only illustrate some of the characteristics of those migratory movements, but also demonstrate the importance of the “internal” migrations in such movements.

Keywords: migrations, Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul, trajectory, João da Silva Tavares.