Am seeking information on the parents of my great-grandfather John DeSilva Beer - later Beere; he was born in New York City in 1847; his father was John?? Beer or Beers - a family legend says the name was originally Beresford but when the family came to America it was shortened to sound less aristocratic. His mother was Amelia (DaSilva / DeSilva ?) born in Spain, Portugal, Brazil, the Maderias, the Canaries, or the Azores. In addition to my great-grandfather John, they had an older son Joseph, a younger son Charles, and two daughters; John Sr. died between 1870-1880. Does anyone know more about this family?