Alternate names:
Pedro Antonio De Moura
Pedro Antonio Demora
Peter Antonio
Puru Pita-Damora
Father: Joseph King Demoura
Mother: Maryann Cecilia Demoura (nee. Gazillia)
Siblings: Unknown
Spouse: Ruiha Te Kauwhata
Children: Hohepa Pita, Ruiha Pita Matenga (nee. Damora), Mereana “John Paul” Pita Damora, Anipau “Ani” Pita Damora, Puru Pita Damora, Hoani Tautahi Pita Damora, Kataraina Damora Whareumu (nee. Pita)
Born: 1827
Died: 2 February 1910
Pedro was born in 1827 in Cape Verde. 1
His father Joseph was born around 1800 in Portugal, and his mother Mary is believed to have been born the same year. They were married in 1823 in Portugal. His paternal grandfather John VI Damoura was born around 1749 in Portugal (unconfirmed)
Children
Hohepa was born on October 16, 1852, in Whangaruru. He died on July 1, 1940, in Whangaruru.
Ruiha was born on May 29, 1854, in Matakana. See here for more information.
John Paul was born on January 19, 1858, in Whangaruru. His children were Matenga George Hira Matiu, Mere Hira Matiu, Iritana Hira Matiu, Ani Hira, Tamati Hira Matiu, Hoori Hira Matiu, Iwingaro, Hira Matiu, Hone “Johnny” Hira Matiu, Rawinia Hira Matiu, and Reihana Hira Matiu. He was buried in Whangarei.
Ani was born on February 7, 1858, in Kaipara. She died in 1874 in Oturei at around age 16.
Puru was born around 1858 in Whangaruru. His children were Tamati Huingariri Pita, Rea Pita, Puru Pita, Ana Maraea Poutu (nee. Pita), Hare Puru Pita, Eruera Hare Pita, Hirini Ngahoari Pita, Pereri Eruera Pita, and Mei Pita.
Hoani was born on September 25, 1860, in Wairoa. He married Marara Henare Kaupeka Piripi on December 9, 1889, in Whangaruru. Their children were Peneha Hone Kingi Pita, Wairukuruku Riria Hone Pita, Erana Rora Pita, Taupiri Te Paea Karena (nee. Pita), Wiremu Moromona Pita, (Te) Keeti Wharemate (nee. Pita), Hoani Tautahi Pita, Waipu Hone Tautahi Pita, Matiu Wharerau Pita, Te Waitai Pita, Heeni Paraire Pita, Oliver Humphrey Pita, Hami Hanaporoti Pita, and Royal Prince Alfred Mita Pita. He died on May 18, 1918, in Whangaruru and was buried there three days later.
Kerehi was born on November 20, 1877, in Opuawhango. She died on June 26, 1945.
Kataraina was born on August 20, 1878, in Punaruku. She married Tangihaere Pirinihia Whareumu in 1898 in Whangaruru. They had Rewatu Whareumu on January 20, 1899, in Whangaruru, Haora Areka Hema, and Dick Areka. She died in Whangarei and was buried there.
Figure 1. Undated photo of Pedro and Ruiha’s son Hoani Tautahi Pita. FamilySearch Database. Contributed by SmithRewanui, posted February 14, 2019.
Pedro’s naturalisation records show that by 1900 he had been living New Zealand for 60 years (Figure 4). This suggests he immigrated around 1840 when he would have been about 13 years old.
He was naturalised on November 21, 1900. At this time he resided in Whakapara, New Zealand. He worked as a gum digger and was a cook for James Irwin Wison on a survey party. James was a character witness for Pedro’s application for naturalisation, saying that he had known him for 43 years (Figure 4).
He died on February 2, 1910 in Whangaruru. He was buried here 2 days later.
Records
Figure 2. Oath of Allegiance from Peter Antonio’s New Zealand naturalisation records, 29 October 1900. FamilySearch Database. Contributed by Jeremy Phillips, posted August 11, 2019. Accessed June 2, 2025.
Figure 3. Naturalization court record for Peter Antonio Damora, 29 October 1900. Electronic document, Archive reference IA 1,1900/3128, Archives New Zealand, Whakapara, Auckland, North Island, New Zealand.
Page number: Archive reference IA 1,1900/3128.
Figure 4. Memorial of Naturalisation and Oath of Allegiance for Peter Antonio Damora, 29 August 1900. Archive reference IA 1,1900/3128, Archives New Zealand, Whangarei, Auckland, North Island, New Zealand.
Page number: IA 1,1900/3128.
Includes certificate signed by James Irwin Wilson testifying to Antonio’s character and long acquaintance (43 years), noting Antonio worked as a cook on a survey party.
Figure 5. Undated article mentioning Pedro Antonio Candera Demora. Ancestry.com Database. Contributed by @rgibson50, posted September 9, 2021. Accessed June 2, 2025.
Figure 6. Photo of Pedro’s family bible. FamilySearch Database. Contributed by Rawiri Hangu Piripi, posted December 27, 2020.
Figure 7. Pedro’s handwritten inscriptions on the verso of the front free endpaper (across from title page) of the family bible. FamilySearch Database. Contributed by Rawiri Hangu Piripi, posted December 27, 2020.
Figure 8. Pedro’s handwritten inscriptions on the verso of the front free endpaper (across from title page) of the family bible. FamilySearch Database. Contributed by Rawiri Hangu Piripi, posted December 27, 2020.
Figure 9. Title page of Pedro’s family bible, printed in Portuguese. FamilySearch Database. Contributed by Rawiri Hangu Piripi, posted December 27, 2020.
Figure 10. Inscriptions in Pedro’s bible. FamilySearch Database. Contributed by Rawiri Hangu Piripi, posted December 27, 2020.
Figure 11. Inscriptions on the back pastedown page of Pedro’s bible. FamilySearch Database. Contributed by Rawiri Hangu Piripi, posted December 27, 2020.
Research notes from FamilySearch user Eliza Jane McGregor:
Peter Antonio
March 4, 2024
There is one important source of information for this man, given name Peter Antonio, IE his naturalization papers. Peter Antonio Damora was born in (approximately)1825-1827 in Cape Verde,parentage unproven. He married Ruiha (Louisa) Te Kauwhata in Whangarei, Northland. They had nine children in 31 years. He died on 2 February 1910 in Whangarei, Northland, having lived a long life of 83 years. He died a much beloved Father and Grandfather. On his Naturalisation papers in 1900, he is 73 years old and gives his occupation as "Gum Digger". He claims to have lived in New Zealand for 60 years. This makes his arrival in the year approx. 1840 at about 15 years old (Depending on year of birth there are different years!). He stays and works for the American whalers at that time in Whangamumu. James Irwin Wilson, Cheif Surveyor of the Auckland district, has at times, employed him as a Cook in a Surveying party over a period of 43 years. Considering James Wilson moved to Whangarei in 1855, he could have started emplyoment sometime about here. There is no actual proof of his parentage. The familial legend of Damora being "Portugese royalty" is demonstrably wrong. In fact- given that he gives his parents names as Joseph and Mary Ann, he is definitively not even an illegitimate offspring of the Brazilian royal family as frequently claimed. I have seen his given birth place as being either Portugal or Mexico however, on his papers Peter himself gives his birth place as Cape Verde, which lies off the coast of Africa, an enclave of the then Portugese Empire, a port used as a staging post in the trans atlantic slave trade.
Figures List
Figure 1. Undated photo of Pedro and Ruiha’s son Hoani Tautahi Pita. FamilySearch Database. Contributed by SmithRewanui, posted February 14, 2019.
Figure 2. Oath of Allegiance from Peter Antonio’s New Zealand naturalisation records, 29 October 1900. FamilySearch Database. Contributed by Jeremy Phillips, posted August 11, 2019. Accessed June 2, 2025.
Figure 3. Naturalization court record for Peter Antonio Damora, 29 October 1900. Electronic document, Archive reference IA 1,1900/3128, Archives New Zealand, Whakapara, Auckland, North Island, New Zealand.
Page number: Archive reference IA 1,1900/3128.
Figure 4. Memorial of Naturalisation and Oath of Allegiance for Peter Antonio Damora, 29 August 1900. Archive reference IA 1,1900/3128, Archives New Zealand, Whangarei, Auckland, North Island, New Zealand.
Page number: IA 1,1900/3128.
Includes certificate signed by James Irwin Wilson testifying to Antonio’s character and long acquaintance (43 years), noting Antonio worked as a cook on a survey party.
Figure 5. Undated article mentioning Pedro Antonio Candera Demora. Ancestry.com Database. Contributed by @rgibson50, posted September 9, 2021. Accessed June 2, 2025.
[Possibly extract from: Ngātiwai Education, eds. Ngā Kōrero Whakahoki Mahara. By Paulette Wellington (b. 1956), Vicki Hall (b. 1964), Taipari Munro (b. 1955), Gayle Dowsett (b. 1954), and Erica Wellington (b. 1951). Whangarei, New Zealand: Ngātiwai Education, 2015. PDF eBook, 60 pages. ISBN 9780473349974.
Archived by the National Library of New Zealand. Accessed June 2, 2025. https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE25706889.]
Figure 6. Photo of Pedro’s family bible. FamilySearch Database. Contributed by Rawiri Hangu Piripi, posted December 27, 2020.
Figure 7. Pedro’s handwritten inscriptions on the verso of the front free endpaper (across from title page) of the family bible. FamilySearch Database. Contributed by Rawiri Hangu Piripi, posted December 27, 2020.
Figure 8. Pedro’s handwritten inscriptions on the verso of the front free endpaper (across from title page) of the family bible. FamilySearch Database. Contributed by Rawiri Hangu Piripi, posted December 27, 2020.
Figure 9. Title page of Pedro’s family bible, printed in Portuguese. FamilySearch Database. Contributed by Rawiri Hangu Piripi, posted December 27, 2020.
Figure 10. Inscriptions in Pedro’s bible. FamilySearch Database. Contributed by Rawiri Hangu Piripi, posted December 27, 2020.
Figure 11. Inscriptions on the back pastedown page of Pedro’s bible. FamilySearch Database. Contributed by Rawiri Hangu Piripi, posted December 27, 2020.
References
“Pedro Antonio Candido Damora” Family Tree Profile (ID: L23L-V2Y). FamilySearch Database. Accessed June 2, 2025.
“Pedro Antonio Damora.” Family Tree Profile. MyHeritage Database.
“Hone Tautahi Pita” Family Tree Profile (ID: K2HW-RD2). FamilySearch Database. Accessed June 2, 2025.
McGregor, Eliza Jane. Research notes on Peter Antonio. FamilySearch Database. Posted March 24, 2024. Accessed June 2, 2025.
7th Generation (Direct)