Hello,
Did you ever get a reply to this query? If not, I believe I found some information on this couple and their family. (I am not related to them.)
In every reference, the father is referred to as José or Joseph, although he could have had a middle name of Manuel.
Anyway, on the 1920 census in New Bedford, MA, I found them living at 74 Acushnet Ave. Their surname was misspelled Serta.
Listed are: Joseph Serta (Certo), age 41, immigrated in 1917, born in Portugal. His wife Mary N., age 34, immigrated 1917, born in Portugal; son Manuel Serta (Certo) age 9, born in Portugal, immigrated 1917; and daughter Isabel, age 15 months, born in Massachusetts. Also living with them is Joseph Certo's brother-in-law, Lucio Vincent.(Lucio is listed as Luiz Vincent in the 1930 New Bedford City Directory).
By 1930, Joseph, Maria and family had moved to Newark, New Jersey. They are living on Van Buren Street.
I found the immigration record for this family.
Jose Certo, age 39, his wife Maria Nascimento, age 32, and their son Manuel, age 7, arrived at the Port of Providence, RI, on Dec 4, 1917, aboard the SS Roma. Last residence was Lisbon, Portugal. Their final destination is listed as New Bedford, MA. Their U.S. contact person is listed as José Certo's sister-in-law Maria Theresa Anjos, on Acushnet Street, New Bedford.
José Certo is listed as born in Marco de Caneveses, Portugal. His wife Maria Nascimento and son Manuel are listed as born in the city of Porto (or Oporto), in Leiria
district of Portugal.
I found several articles related to this family in a New Bedford, MA, Portuguese-language Newspaper called Diario de Noticias. I don't read Portuguese, but with the help of an on-line translator, the articles read, roughly, as follows:
November 22, 1923: "A large number of friends and relatives of the parents of Miss Isabel, daughter of José Certo and his wife Maria Certo, celebrated her birthday with a festive reception and many gifts".
December 24, 1923: "Tomorrow is the birthday of Mrs. Maria Certo, Resident of No 95 Acushnet Ave. Our best wishes."
Dec 24, 1924: "Tomorrow, Mrs. Maria Certo, wife of José Certo, will celebrate her birthday. They are residents of 95 Acushnet Ave."
March 20, 1928. "Mrs. Maria Certo of Rivet Street, New Bedford, is mourning the death of her father in Portugal. Our thoughts are with the bereaved family."
October 2, 1930. "News from Newark: Our friend Manuel Certo underwent two operations on his right hand because of an injury. He is staying with relatives at Rivet Street, New Bedford, MA."
July 7, 1932, from Newark, New Jersey. "Isabel Certo, daughter of our subscriber José Certo and his wife Maria N. Certo, received her diploma from Wilson Avenue School. Isabel, who came from New Bedford, where she still has relatives, also received a certificate for good penmanship."
It looks like Lucio Vincent (Maria's brother) stayed in New Bedford. On the 1930 New Bedford census, Lucio is married to Gertrude___, age 29, born in Portugal, and they have a daughter "Fernanda" age 4, born in Massachusetts.
If you would like copies of the above-listed documents, please send me a message via Ancestry (click "treefind4fun" above, and then click "Contact"), and I'll be happy to send them to the email address you specify.
Margaret