PREGUNTAS Y RESPUESTAS
​Nos. #760 through #585  (Years 2014 through 2010)

(Some years are still undergoing final proofreading and will be published as soon as they are ready.)
​
This page is for the exchange of genealogical/historical information relevant to early (pre-1848) Hispanic Californians (also called Californianos or Californios) and their descendants.
We will include both question (Pregunta) and answers (Respuestas) for the benefit of all the cousins of the questioner. Questions and responses may be submitted by using the following link:  Queries & Responses.

Los Californianos​ does not guarantee the accuracy of any of the information appearing on this page. It was collected and submitted by a family history enthusiast just like you, and has not been verified. When you use this information, please realize that it is meant to be a research tool, not a source of completely error-free material. The genealogical information provided here should be a starting point from which you continue your research. Please take the necessary steps to verify all information before permanently adding it to your own collection of family information. La Tejedora
 ​
Pregunta 760 - 5 September 2014
    I have traced ancestry to Lucia ALIPAS, who is listed as native American, but which tribe? She married Francisco Lugardo SALGADO, a Spanish soldier, whose brother was a Jesuit missionary stationed at Loreto. I'm guessing they may have lived in the same area. Lucia and Francisco had a daughter, Maria Lugarda SALGADO, who wed Juan Maria ROMERO. Does anyone have information as to tribal connections? [Mary Ryan (member), San Francisco, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 760 - 14 October 2014
    I have been doing research about Loreto for a book I am writing and came across information about your ancestor Francisco SALGADO. He is mentioned in the book Antigua California by Harry W. Crosby in Appendix D - Founders of Peninsular California Families 1697 - 1767 (page 420). His name is listed as Francisco Gabriel SALGADO born 1730, died pre-1787. His wife is listed as Maria Lucia ALIPAZ. Their marriage was #279 at El Rosario. That appears to be a mission that was located in Baja California. Here is a link to information about that mission: 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misión_Nuestra_Señora_del_Sant%C3%ADsimo_Rosario_de_Viñacado. The Indians in that area were the Cochimis. Although Francisco was enlisted in the Presidio at Loreto in 1765, he served at northern missions the remainder of his career. If he and Maria were married at the mission at El Rosario there is a good chance that she was from a tribe in that area. I hope this helps you. [Darlene Craviotto (member), Goleta, Calif.]

Pregunta 759 - 10 August 2014
    I am looking for Jose Pablo BRIONE'S children. I need the information for daughter Teresa who was born in 1867. I do not have a date of death. Can someone help me? Thank you. [Sally Staley (non-member), Chico, Calif.]

Pregunta 758- 26 May 2014
    I am looking for information for Candelario MIRAMONTES, who died in 1846. I wish to know where he was buried. I assumed it was in Half Moon Bay (at the time he was there it was called Spanish Town). After e-mails to the genealogy and historical society I learned he was not buried in Spanish Town/Half Moon Bay, but it was suggested he died and was buried in San Francisco. So I wanted to find out where he was buried. I assumed at Mission Dolores, but they have not found any records of him there at the time of his death. After doing more research I looked in a book I own, Seventy Five Years in San Francisco by William Heath Davis. He places Candelario MIRAMONTES as living in San Francisco at the time of his death. I cannot find any documents to support that but believe it to be true. Still it does not say where he is buried. I checked with the Presidio in San Francisco because MIRAMONTES family had property there and lived near or by El Polin Springs. They had no record of this family. It's a mystery to me where he is buried. I'm not sure where else to look or just accept that at least I know now he died in San Francisco. What a mystery this is for me. I don't know if anyone else has any information on this family but I keep hope in learning where he was buried. I believe his wife returned to Half Moon Bay and was buried there. [Laura Andrews (nonmember), San Francisco]

Pregunta 757 - 19 May 2014
    I am searching for information on Rafaela LOPEZ NORIEGA and her family. Her parents were Jose Maria LOPEZ and Dolores NORIEGA (as reported in the 1900 Mexican census in Aqua Caliente, near Tijuana in Baja California). Her children were: Virginia, born 1861; Elena, born 1866 in Los Angeles; Fulgencio, born 1869 in Los Angeles; Epifanio, born 1870 in Los Angeles; and Rodolfo, born 1874. Rafaela may have died in the 1874 to 1880 range in California. Two of her children, Epifanio and Fulgencio, were counted in the 1880 census for the Pajaro Valley Male Orphanage Asylum in Watsonville, Santa Cruz County, California, which listed their mother as dead. Members of the family later lived in Yuma, Arizona, and in Mexicali and Tecate, Baja California, Mexico. [Mary Kennedy Lorona (nonmember), El Cajon, Calif.]

Pregunta 756 - 19 May 2014
    I am seeking information about Jesus de ARCE, born 1860 (?). He is the son of Buenaventura ARCE (1790-1870). [David Dennis Arce Jr. (nonmember), Welches, Oregon]

Pregunta 755 - 13 January 2014
    My wife, Mary Marvin Knox NORRIS, member #1811, was descended from the ONTIVEROS family. The first ancestor was Teodoro ONTIVEROS born in 1720 in what is now Sinoloa, Mexico. There were two other generations born in 1744 and 1772 in Sinaloa, Mexico. Do these three generations count toward the generation count? The first generation, born in what is now Alta California, was born in 1795 in Los Angeles, so she is either ninth generation or sixth generation. How is this treated? [John Norris (spouse of member)]
Respuesta a Pregunta 755 - May 2017
    ​Wow, what a loaded question! This one has caused many heated debates! Personally, I've always counted just my "born IN California" ancestors but most other people count those who came TO Alta California. Counting myself, I have seven generations back, all being born IN Alta California, but then I have two more generations on at least three of my lines who all came TO Alta California - for a total of nine generations.My grandsons then have either nine generations born in Alta California or eleven generations who came to Alta California. Very touchy topic for many of our members! [Sheila Ruiz Harrell (member)]

Pregunta 754 - 13 January 2014 
    I am looking for information regarding Jose Antonio Dolores VASQUEZ, born 1819 in Monterey, Calif. [Richard Sanchez Vasquez (non-member), Surprise, Ariz.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 754 - 13 January 2014 (more).
    Sorry, I just posted a reply to Pregunta 754 but forgot to mention the following facts. This should be enough to push Richard a little farther down the trail. From San Luis Obispo historical newspapers: Josefa Amesquita de BASQUEZ, wife of Don Jose Antonio BASQUEZ, died January 5, 1870. She was the mother of 21 children, 12 of whom were alive at the time of her death, 6 boys and 6 girls.The article didn't specify where she died, but the US Census report of 1870, which was enumerated in July of 1870, shows Jose BASQUEZ as a farmer living widowed with 8 kids in Morro Township, Cambria Post Office, in San Luis Obispo County. Also per historic San Luis Obispo newspapers: Jose Antonio VASQUEZ died in Arroyo Grande, May 8, 1890, at a respectable age, for the time, of 67 years old. No luck at all yet in tracking down his grave. oldandindaway@gmail.com [R. Sablehus (nonmember), Tucson, Arizona]
Respuesta a Pregunta 754 - 2 February 2014
    There is a good deal of information about this individual, his parents, and his own family available at the Early California Population Project
website, http://www.huntington.org/Information/ECPPmain.htm. Refer to baptismal records SCL-03123 (Jose Antonio) and SCL-00216X (his father Felipe); also marriage records SC-01086 (Jose Antonio to Josefa AMESQUITA) and SFR-00468 (Jose Antonio's parents). Jose Antonio had several siblings, and he and his wife had at least three children baptized in California. Note for your searches that surname spelling may vary, e.g. "B" or "V", "S" or "Z", etc. Also be aware that this individual had a younger brother named Jose Antonio Dionisio. Happy hunting! [John Ortega (member), La Crescenta, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 754 - 19 May 2014
    Jose Antonia Dolores VASQUEZ is one of my great-great-great-grandfathers. I'm his descendent by way of his daughter Guadalupe Tanquerina LEITNER-VASQUES. I've spent a lot of time poring over census records, voter registrations, Great Book entries, and family trees publicly shared by some of Jose Antonio's descendents, and I'm willing to share links to the information I've found in publicly available online records. Folks back then played fast and loose with name spellings in records, even the mission Padres were guilty, but even with the spelling inconsistencies there are usually other circumstances like locations, ages, and dates that corroborate and support the data. Likewise, but certainly not necessary, if you'd like to share info about the VASQUEZ heritage I will be grateful. Regardless, you're welcome to e-mail me your contact info and I'll give you links to what I've tracked down so far.

Pregunta 753 - 13 January 2014 
    Santa Barbara-DOVER-GUEVARA-COTA-VERDUGO -- Any info on William DOVER, English sailor who married into the Jose Canuto GUEVARA family (going back to Roque COTA)? He was born in 1820 in England, ended up with buddy PRATT (shipwreck?!), and citizenship papers were handwritten signed by Pablo de LA GUERRA. Adobes of Santa Barbara book gave me this info. Wife Inez GUEVARA, daughter Josie DOVER had a few marriages. Would love pictures of Josie (died 1958ish), married a LOPEZ, a NEWTON (mine), and a BAINBRIDGE. Thanks! [Marian B. (nonmember), Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 753 - 2 February 2014
    Oral family history identifies William DOVER and William Charles PRATT as cousins who ran away from a boarding school in England. No further info. There is a book at the Santa Barbara Historical Library which has a brief discussion of them being on a ship that went aground in Santa Barbara. It also mentioned that they lived in the ruins of the pilot house. The name of the ship is not mentioned. This same book, which I believe is entitled History of Santa Barbara, further discusses William DOVER. William PRATT also married one of the GUEVARA sisters and they settled in Ventura, Calif. [Bill Nuget (member), Ojai, Calif.]
 
Pregunta 752 - 13 January 2014 
    With the use of DNA, I am trying to prove that Maria de los Remedios Josepha Antonia EAYRS, the daughter of Maria Antonia de la Ascension (STEWART?) was of Polynesian origin and the granddaughter of George STEWART, a midshipman of the HMS Bounty. To do this, I need to locate a female direct descendant of the above two women. So far, I have determined that the following women who were born in Alta California prior to the end of the Mexican War meet that requirement: Manuela BURKE, Remona BURKE, Maria Thomasa Flora SPARKS, Manuela Flora SPARKS, Maria Luisa de Jesus OLIVERA, Maria Josefa OLIVERA, Maria Francisca OLIVERA, and Maria de los Angeles Francisca OLIVERA. Other descendants born after the end of that war may also exist and meet the direct female requirement. I will be glad to pay costs for any direct female descendant of the above to obtain their DNA. The story of the EAYRS daughter was recently presented in a copy of the Noticias under my name. She is, in my opinion, the first American child born in California. [George Gray (member), San Diego, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 752 - 25 May 2014
Dear Mr. Gray,
    First of all, I am not related to any of the people in your query, but I am also trying to unravel the relationships of this family. I am a writer working a history of the Mesa area of Santa Barbara where Albert J. PACKARD owned some property. According to information that I have found, Manuela Burke AYRES married PACKARD in 1847. According to a family tree on ancestry 
http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1852californiastatecensus&h=198193&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt&ssrc=pt_t3819270_p-1559820491_kpidz0q3d-1559820491z0q26pgz0q3d32768z0q26pgplz0q3dpid Manuela is the daughter of James W. BURKE and Maria de los Remedios Josefa EAYRS . Other information that I have found indicates that Maria de los Remedios Josefa EAYRS was married to Isaac J. SPARKS, another Santa Barbara gentleman. Something doesn't add up. Any ideas? Regards, [Betsy J. Green (nonmember), Santa Barbara Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 752- 26 May 2014 (more)
    Mrs. Green,
    Actually as far as I have found, "Peggy" EAYRS was actually never married although she had children by both BURKE and SPARKS. She lived with SPARKS for many years but he evidently had left a wife in Missouri as he came west and, as a good Catholic, he couldn't marry Peggy. I have been in contact with her and SPARKS' descendants. But not any of the descendants with BURKE. As you know, my quest is to find a direct female descendant of her or her mother to obtain a mtDNA sample from them to match with Tahiti mtDNA to determine if the female origin of the two is from Tahiti. The female mtDNA is passed from mother to daughter and no males can be in the line. So far all my contacts have involved "contamination" by having a male in the descendants line. If you find such a direct female descendant woman, please contact me. I have submitted EAYRS family info to Ancestry.com and so has Bob Elroy SMITH who is a descendant of "Peggy" STEWART. [George Gray (member), San Diego, Calif.]
 
Pregunta 751 - 13 January 2014 
    I hope that someone can help me find my great-grandmother's birth mother. She was adopted by the VASQUEZ family in San Benito, Calif. Leonarda CONTRERAS was born in Monterey County, Calif., 1869-1872. Her father married a Margarita VALENCIA in San Juan, Calif., at the mission in 1870. I'm not sure Leonarda was born with that name because I can't find anything until 1880 census, when she married at the San Miguel Mission; her marriage register said her father was Miguel CONTRERAS and her mother was Margarita Valeireia FIRADA?? (last name unreadable). I just did my DNA, and I have Native American ancestry which comes from her. I want to know why she was adopted and what happened to her parents? Thank you. [Kelly Brown (nonmember), Ventura, Calif.]

Pregunta 750 - 1 December 2013 
    Does anyone have information about Maria Concepcion AMESQUITA, who was married to Rafael VALENCIA y LARIOS? Where was she buried and how did she die? Maria was born circa 1846, and was married 15 May 1865 at the Mission San Luis Obispo. Any information would be appreciated. [Herb Burquez (member), St. Helena, Calif.]

Pregunta 749 - 1 December 2013 
    Jose Ygnacio Mariano BERREYESSA - records list his death year as 1841, yet he received a Mexican land grant for Rancho Chimiles in 1846. How is this possible? Most historic records show this discrepancy without explanation. [John McCullough (non-member), Mill Valley, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 749 - 21 December 2013
    The most likely explanation, of course, is that Jose Ygnacio BERREYESSA was alive in 1846. Check out Find A Grave Memorial #120566925 on that website. Add to that baptismal record SFD 03413 on the Early California Population Project website and you may have an answer to your query. That is, Jose Ygnacio BERREYESSA was born 26 July 1807 in San Francisco, died 14 September 1857 and was buried in the Santa Clara Mission cemetery. [John Ortega (member), La Crescenta, Calif.]
 
Pregunta 748 - 22 November 2013
 - updated 1 December 2013 
    I am confused regarding an article I recently read in the archives of the Carmel River Watershed Council. There my great-great-great-great-grandfather, Ignacio Vicente VALLEJO (who married a LUGO), is described in a journal of Father Serra as the "famous steward of San Luis Obispo." I would like to know more about his activities in SLO that earned him such a reputation. [Nattalia K. Merzoyan (former member), Morro Bay, Calif.]

Pregunta 747 - 20 September 2013 
    I do my son-in-law Wilton Martin WOOD'S genealogy. He is an 8th generation Santa Barbara, Californian, from Francisco ORTEGA whose granddaughter, Maria de Jesus SILVESTRA was the 2nd wife of Fernando Jose Maria Ignacio Martin TICO, founder of Ojai, Ventura Co., Calif. The line goes straight down to Will's mother Margaret (TICO) WOOD.
    Fernando TICO'S son, Jose de Jesus Maria TICO, married Maria Jesus PERALTA on 21 August 1865 in Mission San Buenaventura, Calif. In the census it states that Maria PERALTA is the wife of Jose TICO, she was born October 1849 in Mexico. Another census states Jose TICO'S wife Maria was born in 1849 in Calif. Jose TICO and Maria lived on land owned by his father Fernando TICO at the end of the block where Mission San Buenaventura is located. A Santa Barbara land document filed on 27 August 1855 signed by Pablo PERALTA and George FISHER, County Recorder, shows that Pablo PERALTA paid $220.00 to Fernando TICO (Jose's father) for land in Ventura. I think Maria Jesus PERALTA, wife of Jose TICO, is the daughter of Juan Pablo PERALTA who is mentioned in this article, Respuesta a Pregunta 621-18 July, 2010. The Pablo PERALTA property is adjoining the Fernando TICO and Jose TICO property just 1 block from the Mission San Buenaventura. If anyone has further information about the children of Juan Pablo PERALTA, son of Juan Pablo PERALTA and Ana Gertrudis ARCE, I would love to hear from them or information about Juan Pablo PERALTA Jr.'s children. [Beverly Nickerson (nonmember), Oceanside, Calif.]

Pregunta 746 - 18 September 2013 
    A friend of mine visited the Mission San Luis Rey de Francia in Oceanside and saw the grave of a lady with the last name Macias de BRIONES who is buried at the entrance of the cemetery. Would there be a relation with Sra. Juana BRIONES? Would appreciate and info regarding this inquiry. Thank you. [Lorraine Ruiz Frain (member), Mountain View, Calif.]
 
Pregunta 745 - 18 September 2013 
    My great-grandparents were Luciano CASTRO and Maria Refugio BORONDA. Would any cousin know if the Valentina (CASTRO) CANET in Pregunta #381 of 7 September 2006 is the same person as Valeriano CASTRO in Respuesta a Pregunta #381 of 11 June 2013? [Herb Burquez (member), St. Helena, Calif.]

Pregunta 744 - 30 August 2013 
    Can anyone tell me where Fernando Javier RIVERA y MONCADA is buried? I know he was killed on the Colorado River, but were his bones taken back to Mexico or a Mission in Alta California? Fernando Javier RIVERA y MONCADA was born in 1725 near Compostela, Mexico. He was one of the major explorers and was the first to bring settlers to Los Angeles.There is a tremendous number of papers written about my tartarabuelo, mostly from his letters to the viceroy in Mexico City and to Serra. Fernando escorted Father Serra many times.He was third governor of Alta California from 1774-1777. He was bringing another group of settlers and cattle by way of the Colorado River trail on July 17, 1781, when he and his men were attacked by some Yuma Indians and massacred on the Colorado River across from the mission at Concepcion. A month later other soldiers came to find the bodies. They identified Fernando by a break in a shin bone, as bones were all that was left. One manuscript I have read said that the bones of the soldiers were burned, put in a sack, and taken away. The priests that were killed were taken to another mission for burial. I do not, and cannot, find whatever happened with the ashes of the soldiers. While there are many letters written about Fernando and many letters written by him, there is very little personal information. If anyone has anything that would help me, I would greatly appreciate it. My father’s mother was a RIVERA and was 5 generations from the captain. Thank you very much. [Cheri Peón del Valle (nonmember), Sacramento, Calif.]
Repuesta a Pregunta 744 - 31 August 2013 
    Dear Cheri,
    My name is Phil VALDEZ, Jr. I descend from a soldier (Juan Bautista VALDEZ) on the Portolá Expedition of 1769 and the courier of the Anza expedition of 1774. For more information on how Captain/Governor RIVERA y MONCADA died and where he was buried by Lt. Col. Fages, go to my e-book at www.anzasociety.org and click on the Anza Letters. It speaks to the feud this two giants of California had and where the remains rest behind the big stone wall behind what is now the park that used to the the territorial prison in Yuma, Arizona. Fages clearly says that his body was discovered on Oct. 18, 1781, and buried on the 19th. This is a primary sources translated by Herbert Priestly from the Diary of Pedro Fages. Hope I have helped. [Phil Valdez, Jr.(member), Ukiah,Calif., deanza8g@aol.com]

Pregunta 743 - 30 August 2013 
    Does anyone have information on Santiago FRAIJO born in Azusa, Calif., about 1840? I think he was married to Juanita RIVERA and has a son Alberto R. FRAIJO. Any information would help. [Christina Fraijo (nonmember), Tucson, Arizona]
 
Pregunta 742 - 19 August 2013 
    I believe my family may be directly descended from Juan Maria LUGO (1796) and Maria Francisco DUARTE (1808), who married at the San Gabriel Mission on February 8, 1825, based on an 1860 census that shows a Manuel LUGO who could be my great-great-grandpa Vincent's father. Other than the census, I have been unable to find who the children of Juan Maria LUGO and Maria Francisco DUARTE are. Would anyone happen to know the names and possibly the dates of birth of their children? Please feel free to e-mail me at addmusic7@yahoo.com any information you may have regarding their children. Thank you! [Steven De Boer (nonmember), Lakewood, Calif.]

Pregunta 741 - 11 August 2013
    Does any descendent of the SOTO families of Sinaloa, San Gabriel, and Santa Clara know whether these families were related, and how they were related? Has anyone traced these families back to the early colonial period in Mexico and/or Spain? [Diana Neal (member), Exmouth, UK, 
diananeal@mac.com]

Pregunta 740 - 6 August 2013
    I am the great-grandson of Jose Pablo BRIONES, from Bolinas, California, son of Gregorio BRIONES. Can you give me the breakdown going back to 7th and hopefully even 10th generation? I know I may have a 6th generation great-grandfather by the name of Ygnacio Vicente BRIONES, who I think was a soldado de cuera under King Carlos from Spain? My great-grandfather Jose Pablo BRIONES' birthdate and place is January 16, 1823, Mission Dolores, California. The date of his passing is December 8, 1897, in Bolinas, Calif. This past summer I visited his grave, almost exactly a year ago to the date, it was August 5, 2012, when I visited the Bolinas Cemetery. My visit was very emotional experience! My great-great-grandfather Gregorio BRIONES was born around 1798 in Monterrey, California. His passing was in 1860 in Bolinas, California.
    Before my mom passed in January of 2009, I found an old notebook where I had a visit with my maternal grandmother at her ranch. She gave me much information about my paternal great-grandparents that my father completely denied as being false. Later I found out my dad was saying this because my grandfather Pablo used to say he was an orphan. My grandfather Pablo was born in 1861. A month before my mom's passing, my mother confessed to me that everything her mom had told me about my dad's extended family was correct. Recently, I discovered that all the information my maternal grandmother had given me in 1970 was completely true because it lined up with info from Jeanne McDonnell's book, Juana Briones of 19th Century California, and the info posted on Ancestry.com. I hope you can help me with all of this because two weeks before my dad's passing, he asked me to use my research skills to find out about his extended family. I am getting very close because everything is lining up and more than that, facial features are confirming with the new-found pictures of Juana BRIONES de MIRANDA. As a biologist, I know that third generation traits repeat themselves and your can see those facial features repeating themselves in my dad and his siblings. Visit my personal teaching website page link to learn more: 
www.tiptopwebsite.com/websites/index2.php?username=pbrio99765&page=4 Hopefully, this will help! Thank you for trying to help me and my branch of the BRIONES family!!! [Paul O. Briones (nonmember)]
Respuesta a Pregunta 740 - 18 May 2014
    Juana BRIONES is my 4th-great-aunt through my grandmother's family line. If you are still researching this line, I can be contacted at itsfuntwo@att.net. [Laura (nonmember), San Francisco, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 740 - 10 August 2014
    Here is the baptismal listing for your Gregorio BRIONES at Mission San Carlos in Carmel/Monterey.
    2302)  Mar  13, 1800 - Gregorio BRIONES, r.n. of Marcos y  Ma. Isidora TAPIA, natls. de Sn. Luis Potosi y de Culiacan; Franco. CAYUELAS y su muger Ma. Dolores, pads.  (Priest:) Pujol
    And working backwards in time, the marriage of his parents in Monterey:
    263)  Sept  27,  1784- Con la venia y beneplacito  delos  RR.PP. Ministros, de esta Misn. y despues de haber obtenido licencia in scriptu del Sr. Governador Don Pedro Fages, Case  Marcos  BRIONES,  27,  soldado de cuera,  h.l. de Vicente BRIONES y de Maria Antonia de PADRON, ya difunta, originarios de San Luis Potosi, with Maria IsidoraTAPIA, h.l. de Phelipe Santiago TAPIA y Ma. Philomena HERNANDEZ, ya  dfta. originarios de Culiacan, su padre vecino del Pueblo de  San Jose.  TTs. Juan Franco. REYES y Jose Anto. BUELNA,      s.c.  Fr. Antonio Paterna
    Wife Maria Isidora TAPIA was confirmed at Mission Santa Clara by Father Serra in 1777. Her father, soldado Phelipe Santiago TAPIA, was already a widower by then. He remarried to Juana Maria CARDENAS. If you wish to start looking in the Mexican church records, details of where they came from in Culiacan were given in a siblings entry that might be helpful - Pueblo de Sn. Jph. jurisdicion dela Villa de Culiacan. From the marriage entry we get Marco's father - Vicente BRIONES, who was a widower, but remarried to a native lady, Mariana, at Monterey. His burial entry is below:
    2054)  May 4, 1813 - Ygla. Misn. - Vicente BRIONES, Cabo retirado y Mayordomo qe. havia sido como 30 anos de esta Misn. uno delos primeros conquistadores de esta Tierra desde al Ano de 1770, viudo deMariana.  Murio en dia 3 como las 7  dela tarde.            Sarria
    Good luck with your research. [Valerie Hall (member), Fair Oaks, Calif.]

Pregunta 739 - 25 July 2013 
    I am looking for assistance as I have been trying to trace my LUGO ancestry, through my grandma Barbara LUGO. I have been able to get as far as my great-great-great-grandfather Manuel LUGO through my great-grandpa Raymond LUGO (b.1909) and his father Vincent Juan LUGO (b. 1885) who was married to Claudina SANCHEZ (b.1890). From Vincent's death certificate, it shows his parents names as Manuel LUGO and Apolonia PENA (b. 1869). I am not sure what Manuel LUGO's birth date is, though I found an 1860 census that shows a Manuel LUGO in Los Angeles, born approximately in 1855, whose mother is listed as Marcelina ELISALDE. The 1860 census shows a 5-year-old Manuel living with a Francisco & Jose LUGO who could be his father, as well as Juan LUGO and Francisca D, who could be Juan Maria LUGO (b.1796) and Maria Francisca DUARTE (b.1808) and Manuel's grandparents. However, I also found an 1850 census that shows a Francisco and Jose Luis living with Jose Maria LUGO (b.1802) and Maria Antonia RENDON AVILA (b. 1811), which could also be his grandparents. I do believe this Manuel LUGO is my great-great-grandpa Vincent LUGO'S dad, though can't confirm it. If anybody can provide assistance that would be great! Thank you! My e-mail address: addmusic7@yahoo.com. [Steven De Boer (nonmember), Lakewood, Calif.]

Pregunta 738 - 15 July 2013
    Can anyone tell me who owned Rancho Natividad in 1863? My great-grandmother and her twin sister were born, according to family lore, at the stagecoach rest stop called Natividad, is this the same place? Her mother's maiden name was HIGUERA. [Mary Ryan (member), San Francisco, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 738 - 17 July 2013
    Go to Google and type in Rancho Natividad 1863, you will read some interesting information that you might like. [Eddie Grijalva (nonmember), Vallejo, Calif.]

Pregunta 737 - 7 July 2013
    I am researching the life of Maria Josefa GRIJALVA de YORBA. I would appreciate help in finding records of her challenge to the will of her husband Jose Antonio YORBA (died 1825). It has been reported in Saddleback Ancestors that she "appealed to the courts to break the will and succeeded in having the inheritance equally divided" with daughters as well as sons. I have contacted the Orange County California Genealogical Society who published the work and they could not help me. I am also trying to find a copy of the will of her father Juan Pablo GRIJALVA circa 1806. Thank you. [Anna Yorba (member), Aiea, Hawaii]

Pregunta 736 - 21 June 2013
    ​Looking for a good source to reproduce clothing of period for display at the Alviso Adobe in Pleasanton. [Patricia Krohn-Pope, (nonmember), Livermore, Calif.]

Pregunta 735 - 10 June 2013
    I understand that a (Los Californianos) member is a descendent of Lazaro PINA of Agua Caliente, Sonoma County. I am researching his wife, Maria Ignacia PACHECO, and wondering if he/she has any information about her. Maria married the widower Lazaro PINA around 1844-1848. Her birth year may have been around 1824. [Carol Eber (provisional member), Petaluma, Calif]

Pregunta 734 - 10 June 2013
    I am looking for a connection or information on the name CANO. My great-grandfather was Frank Telesforo CANO. His father was named Gil R. CANO per death certificates. I saw in Northrop's book the name Jose De Jesus Ramon N. CANO. The dates would match but the names are different. I know often that names were Americanized. I wonder if this would could be the same. In talking to another person researching CANO name they say it's the same person. Any ideas or directions where to look, any help is appreciated. Some background information:
    Joseph CANO born: 1839 abt. Mission San Carlos de Monterey, California
    Died: Nov. 5, 1907, Holy Cross Cemetery, Menlo Park, Calif.
    Buried: Nov. 6, 1907
    Wife: unknown
    Child: Frank Telesforo CANO
    Born: 1880, St. Helena, California
    Died: Redwood City, California; he was living with his wife or ex-wife at the time
    Buried: Dec. 19, 1932, Santa Clara County, California
    Married to Ida Geronima SIBRIAN in Contra Costa County, California; lived in Redwood City
    Born: 13 April 1881
    I find Frank T. CANO in one census working as a chain man near St Helena, California. I have no idea who his mother was, a mystery I'd like to find out if possible. I have Joseph's death certificate and no wife listed on that. Any help would be appreciated. Joseph CANO info I believe matches the information in the Northrop book however I am not positive that this is him, looking for documentation that would match the two names up. I know often Spanish names were Americanized and wonder if this is the case. Thank you [Laura, San Francisco, Calif]
Respuesta a Pregunta 734 - 18 September 2013
    Follow up on my original post - In regards to Frank T. Cano, his father was Joseph J. Cano, not Gil CANO. It was suggested that there was a relation to Gil CANO but research has proven this is not so. More research has proven that my Joseph J. CANO is NOT Jose de Jesus Ramon N. CANO.
    Still looking for the wife of Joseph J. CANO and mother of Frank T. CANO. [Laura, San Francisco, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 734 - 16 July 2013
    Octaviano CANO was my paternal step-grandfather. He married my grandmother, Francisca Cumplido LUCERA, in Mesilla, New Mexico, about 1927. [Lydia Cano (nonmember), Vallejo, Calif., lydiacano@comcast.net]

Pregunta 733 - 9 June 2013
    I am a direct descendant of my great-grandmother, Sovieda de LOS RIOS and her parents, Joaquin de LOS RIOS (b. 1843) and Donaciana GUERRERO de LOS RIOS (b. 1849). They lived in Pomona and are buried in the cemetery at the San Gabriel Mission. Before her death in 1967, my great-grandmother told me that she was a direct descendent of the RIOS (de LOS RIOS) family at the Mission San Juan Capistrano. I am searching for the link between Joaquin de LOS RIOS and his wife Donaciana GUERRERO de LOS RIOS and the San Juan Capistrano Mission. [Robert Miller (nonmember), Irvine, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 733 - 29 May 2013
    I could not find a link between your RIOS family and the Capistrano RIOS families, but did find some information that might be of interest. Solvieda comes from of string of Joaquin de LOS RIOS', the name being carried down through at least 3 generations. Her father Joaquin, whom you mentioned, was baptized at the Los Angeles Plaza Church:
    1191) Mar 21, 1843- Joaquin del Refugio (RIOS y) RUIZ, de 5 dias, of Joaquin RIOS y Narcisa ALVARADO.
    His wife Donaciana GUERRERO was the daughter of Blas GUERRERO (born 1820 Mexico, died 1881 San Luis Obispo) and his wife Manuela FELIZ (born 1825 Mexico). This Joaquin (born 1843) was a blacksmith, living with his family in Los Angeles till about 1860, after which they they appear on the Wilmington censuses.
    Joaquin's parents were married at the Los Angeles Plaza Church:
    #23. October 15, 1841 - Joaquin de LOS RIOS y RUIZ, 36, natural de Mexico, de Joaquin RIOS, natural de Madrid, y Juana de Dios RUIZ GARCIA, natural de Mexico; con Narcisa ALVARADO, 15, de Juan NEPOMUCENO y Barbara PALOMARES.
    This entry also mentions the 3rd Joaquin, and that he was from Madrid, and gives the name of his mother. Narcisa ALVARADO was from two very prominent families, the ALVARADOS and the PALOMARES. Lots more on them in Marie Northrop's books Spanish and Mexican Families of Early California, available through most libraries.
    As for the RIOS families in San Juan Capistrano, Northrop lists the father of them as Juan Feliciano RIOS, born 1768 in Tepic, Mexico, and his wife Maria Catalina Romero GARCIA, born 1779 in San Diego. They had 9 children, and lived mainly in San Diego. At least 3 of the children moved to Capistrano, but there are no Joaquins that I've found in any of the families, in San Diego, Capistrano, or Los Angeles. However, they may connect farther down the tree in Mexico. I hope this was helpful. Good luck with your research. [Valerie Hall (member), Fair Oaks, Calif.]

Pregunta 732 - 5 May 2013
    William G. DRYDEN, born Kentucky 1807, died in 1869 in California, married Maria Dolores NIETO and Ana Josefa Juliana "Anita" DOMINGUEZ. Is he mentioned in Northrop's books? [Robyn Lechler (non-member), Kiawah Island, South Carolina]
Respuesta a Pregunta 732 - 16 May 2013
    ​Yes, William DRYDEN'S marriages and children are listed in Books I and III. [Patricia Grisotti (member), Sedro Woolley, Wash.]

Pregunta 731 - 24 March 2013
    My mother is related to almost all of the original settlers of Alta California beginning with the establishment of Mission San Diego. I now remember at about the age of 5 going to Leo CARRILLO'S ranch for a B-B-Que around 1950. My question is, does anyone have an e-mail address for the CARRILLO family in Oceanside,Calif.? I believe Raiumundo CARRILLO was my mother's grandfather. Thanks for any help. [Edward Romero (nonmember), itsmeed20@yahoo.com, Stanton, Calif]

Pregunta 730 - 18 March 2013
    Searching for info on the parents of my 2nd-great-grandmother, Luisa DEL REAL. I have a copy of her marriage license and marriage certificate. She was married to my 2nd-great-grandfather, Nestor LAMAS, in Santa Clara County on 2 September 1867. Rite was performed by Antonio GOETZ. Certificate states that her mother gave permission for Luisa to marry as she was a minor, but doesn't give any info about her parents. Luisa shows up with Nestor in the 1870 census in Burnett Twp. Nestor was from Mexico, probably Tepic. Luisa, however, is the only person on the page who does NOT have foreign-born parents. We know she was Indian and mtDNA confirmed this, although gave us no more than Haplotype A. It is a mystery whether she was Mexican Indian or mission Indian. I wrote to Mission San Jose but got no response. Also contacted Mission Santa Clara and they were unable to find any baptisms for the surname del REAL throughout the 1850s. The only child of Nestor and Luisa was Serafina. She married Carlos MONTOYA whose mother, Maria Guadalupe Antonio PADILLA, was born 12 December 1841 in San Jose. In addition to being a PADILLA, she was also descended from HEREDIA, NARVAEZ, HIGUERA, and LUGO families all in the San Francisco or Monterey Bay areas in the 1700s. Since the 1870 census indicates that Luisa del REAL'S parents were not foreign born, it seems likely that they were in California before 1848. So, I'm hoping to establish whether the del REAL family was mission Indian or Californio. Thank you in advance for any suggestions on further avenues to research. [Andrew Wilson (nonmember), Westminster, Colorado]

Pregunta 729 - 27 February 2013
    My father-in-law, Dolphin Rockway PAINE (deceased), gave me a genealogy chart years ago and I've been searching YEARS for Maria de los Angeles BERRYESSA (b. circa 1835, m. 5-21-1852) to Luis Antonio Gonzaga Tranquillo ARGUELLO (b. 7-6-1830, d. 1898). I can't find her parents. Dad PAINE has Nicolas BERRYESSA m. Maria Gertrudis PERALTA as parents but there's a generation missing there. I find pictures of Maria but no record of her parents. Dad PAINE has us listed as members in the Pioneer Society of San Francisco and also in Los Californianos. Would like to find this before my demise and close this chapter. THANK YOU. [Shirley Paine (nonmember), grammapain@att.net, Ada, Oklahoma]
Respuesta a Pregunta 729 - 22 March 2013
    According to Dorothy Mutnick's Some Alta California Pioneers, Volume 1, Maria de los Angeles Marcelina BERRYESSA (born 27 Apr 1835) was the daughter of Jose Ygnacio Mariano BERREYESA y BERNAL and Barbara MESA y SOTO. Jose Ygnacio Mariano BERREYESA y BERNAL was the son of Jose de los Reyes BERREYESA y PERALTA and Maria Zacarias BERNAL y SANCHEZ. Jose de los Reyes BERREYESA y PERALTA was the son of Nicolas Antonio BERREYESA y LEYBA and Maria Gertrudis PERALTA y VALENZUELA. [Patricia Grisotti (member), Sedro Woolley, Wash.]

Pregunta 728 - 25 February 2013
    I am a descendent of Juan Jose ROBBINS (b. 1844), son of Thomas/Tomas ROBBINS and Encarnacion CARRILLO of Santa Barbara. After his father died, his mother and some siblings are living with the BLAKES in Santa Ines in the 1860 US Census, in which Juan is listed as Juan G. and thereafter he uses often uses the G. His baptism record (someone else sent me a transcription) says he was baptized "Juan Jose" the day after his birth. Any suggestions for solving the mystery of the "G"? At the baptism of two of Juan's children (in Idaho) he gave his name as Juan Gardiner ROBBINS. Did he just make this up in 1860 or was a different custom in play OR? Thanks for any help with this. [Gary L. Parks (member), Highland, Calif.]

Pregunta 727 - 25 February 2013
    I am looking for information on the ARCE family from Loreto, Baja Sur. Records of my great-grandfather Don Jesus de ARCE come from the Loreto area. Earthquake at Loreto may have destroyed records of his father. Grandfather Jose C. ARCE (born 1904), my father Joseph V. ARCE (born 1928) in San Diego says there is a relationship to Jose Gabriel de ARCE, we have letters dating back to 1800s, willing to share. Thank you. [Carlos Arce (nonmember), Escondido, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 727 - 22 March 2013
    Two sources of information on Jose Gabriel de ARCE and his younger brother Sebastian Constantino are books by Harry W. Crosby. Appendix D in his Antigua California contains biographical and genealogical sketches of these men, with citations. Both were members of the 1769 Portolá expedition and there is additional information in Gateway to Alta California. Suggest you check the Worldcat website http://www.worldcat.org/ to see if they are in a library near you. Good hunting! [John Ortega (member), La Crescenta, Calif.]

Pregunta 726 - 30 January 2013
    LINK 1:  http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/8764085/person/-897432835
    LINK 2:  http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=tcbjammon&id=P12005
    Question:  
    Were there any more children born to Josef Claudio LOPEZ and Juana Maria Simona RODRIGUEZ de LOPEZ? All I can locate using Huntington.org are the 2 male boys born. I cannot locate Maria Francisca LOPEZ, supposedly born about 1783 at Mission San Diego, Alta California, sister to the 2 boys. I would like to verify how many children born to Josef Maria Claudio LOPEZ & Juana Maria Simon RODRIGUEZ de LOPEZ. Thanks if anyone can verify how many children they had. [Terry Chaffee (member), Carlsbad, Calif. tcbjammon@yahoo.com]
Respuesta a Pregunta 726 - 22 March 2013
    According to Marie E. Northrop's Spanish-Mexican Families of Early California: 1769-1850, Volume 1, Joseph Maria LOPEZ (born about 1759) married 12 Feb 1782 Juana Maria Simona RODRIGUEZ (born about 1764). "Juana Maria Simona RODRIGUEZ came in the 1781 Expedition to Alta California with a brother, Vicente, and a sister, Maria Lucinda RODRIGUEZ; Juana Maria brought her hija natural of Toribio GARCIA with her, Maria Francisca, who was confirmed at Mission San Gabriel on 19 October 1783".
    There are three children also listed:
    Jose Antonio Gil LOPEZ (born 5 September 1785)
    Joseph Maria LOPEZ (born about 1788)
    Josefa Hilaria Maria de la Luz LOPEZ (born 9 April 1789)
    [Patricia Grisotti (member), Sedro Woolley, Wash.]

Pregunta 725 - 24 January 2013
    I am seeking the names of the children of Francisco GONZALES and Soledad CASTRO LARIOS who were married in San Jose/Santa Clara in 1853. They had one daughter Josefa (born 1856/57) who married Francisco FIGUEROA in 1880. I believe they had another daughter who married an ORTEGA, and that couple had a daughter Lena who married Leonard JACOBSON. Thank you. [Calvin Spafford (nonmemer), Santa Cruz, Calif.]

Pregunta 724 - 22 January 2013
    My husband is related to Jose Manuel HIGUERA (b. 1744 in Sinaloa Mexico) to Maria Ignacio REDONDO (b. 1752-53 in Sinaloa). They were the original settlers of San Jose in 1777. We are trying to get information on Jose's and Maria's parents. Is anything available? [Linda Hoskins (nonmember), Payson, Utah]
Respuesta a Pregunta 724 - 18 May 2014
Parents are: Ygnacio HIGUERA and Maria Ygnacia BUELNA. [no name or city provided]

Pregunta 723 - 18 January 2013
    Dear Researchers: 
    If you are a descendant of Jose Pablo BELARDE/VELARDE (b. 1829) and his wife Maria de la Luz JARAMILLO (b. 1837) (formerly of Abiquiu, NM), please contact me immediately. An event is planned and I want to send you the details. Their children were:
    Ramon (b. 1853)
    Florencia (b. 1863/64, d.1898) m. Valetin V. SERRANO
    Fabricio (b. 1865/66)
    Eduviges (b. 1865) m. Alejo SANCHEZ
    Carolina (b. 1874, d. 1895) m. Francisco Juan ATENCIO
    These individuals are all connected with the history of Agua Mansa (Colton), San Bernardino County, California. [Donie Nelson, 310-204-6808, Outreach Coordinator, Publicity Chair, Publications Chair, Genealogical Society of Hispanic America-Southern California, PO Box 2472, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670]

Pregunta 722 - 29 December 2012
    I am looking for information on Antonio CASTRO and Maria del Carmen BASQUEZ (VASQUEZ) of the Presidio del Altar, Sonora. Their daughter Julianna was baptized at the Mission San Gabriel in May, 1853. It is not known when they came to Alta California, it is possible before 1848; they may have remained until Juliana's marriage in Los Angeles in 1870. [Gregory Pisano (nonmember), Arroyo Grande, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 722 - 14 January 2013
    Both the CASTRO and VASQUEZ families traveled with Anza from Tubac, Arizona, to Northern California in 1775. This may explain their return as they had family up there as well as the rest of the state for that matter. [Dan Bailey (nonmember), Destin Florida 32541]

Pregunta 721 - 29 December 2012
    I cannot locate a marriage date, if there was one, for Jose PEREZ and Maria de la Mercedes de LUGO, marriage about 1833. My notes can be seen at http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/8764085/person/6876295235 , and http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=tcbjammon&id=P15888 . Thank you very much [Terry Chaffee (member 1940)]
Respuesta a Pregunta 721 - 21 June 2013
    Maria de la Merced LUGO
    Baptized 24 September 1818 at Mission San Gabriel.
    Married (1) 19 September 1833 (Informaciones) at Mission San Gabriel to Jose PEREZ.
    (2) 5 August 1848 at Mission San Gabriel to Steven Clark FOSTER (Perfecto of Los Angeles Police in 1850).
    Northrop's Vol. #1, pg. #208.
    [Lisa Marie Cross (nonmember), Palm Springs, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 721 - 21 December 2013
    California mission records report baptismal date of 24 September 1815. Refer to Early California Population Project, Huntington Library. Maria LUGO'S record is indexed here. [Howard L. Smith (member), Trinity, Florida]

Pregunta 720 - 27 November 2012
    Where exactly in San Jose were the gallows placed where Tiburcio VASQUEZ was hung? [Francisco Javier Estrada (nonmember), Salinas, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 720 - 22 February 2018
    The jail in San José where Tiburcio VASQUEZ was held was built in 1871, directly behind the courthouse that was completed in 1868. The gallows was placed in one corner of the jail yard, next to the jail door. The jail no longer stands, but the Old Courthouse still stands at 161 N. 1st St., San José, facing St. James Park. See Bandido: The Life and Times of Tiburcio Vasquez by John Boessenecker, pages 332-333, 356, and a picture of the gallows on 362. [Don Gibson (member), Roseville, Calif.]

Pregunta 719 - 25 November 2012
    I am looking for information regarding Jose (Guiseppe) LOBERO, my great-grandfather, born about 1830, perhaps in Italy? Please send any information to morenomary775@yahoo.com. [Mary Lobero Moreno (nonmember), Santa Barbara, Calif.]

Pregunta 718 - 8 November 2012
   My great-grandfather Jose LOBERO founded Lobero Theater in Santa Barbara in the late 1800s. He had a son born out of wedlock named Jose in 1864 in Santa Barbara, all I know is his mother was Jesus CRUZ. I would [like] all information on the above or where I might find it. (Author's ancestors include ORTEGA and CARILLO.) [Mary Lobero Moreno (nonmember), Santa Barbara, Calif.]

Pregunta 717 - 4 November 2012
    Does anyone have any information on Juan GALLARDO'S marriage to Ma. Encarnacion de SEPULVEDA, about 1846, he being alcalde of Los Angeles the same year? Was his next wife Juana CARILLO, what was his background, i.e., family, occupations, doings in Southern California? This is all in connection with the 2,000 varas square San Pascualito rancho adjoining the Rincon de San Pascual rancho of Manuel GARFIAS. [Gary Cowles (nonmember), Pasadena Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 717 - 31 December 2012
    I found the marriage entry for Juan GALLARDO and Maria CARRILLO at Mission San Gabriel, Los Angeles, which lists his parents:
"#  82.  Jan.  12, 1864 - JUAN CRISOSTOMO GALLARDO, 69,  natl.  de Tucson, Son., viudo de Encarnacion SEPULVEDA, y  residente mas  de  30 anos aqui, de Luis e Ygnacia MESA;  con  JUANA CARRILLO, 48, viuda de Gregorio SERRANO, natl. de Son., de Antonio y Francisca OCHOA.  Juan Jose Tadeo SANSE y  Catalina MORALES, wits.  Rubio. " I couldn't find the entry for his marriage to Encarnacion SEPULVEDA, but a few pages are missing. Hope this is helpful. [Valerie Hall (member #1732), Fair Oaks, Calif.]

Pregunta 716 - 4 November 2012
    I am looking for the parents of my great-great-grandmother Brigida DUARTE born sometime around 1845 (estimated). I believe she was the daughter born of Santiago DUARTE but I can't be sure. Does anyone know what Santiago's daughter's name was? Could this be her? [Denelle Keeler (nonmember), Corona Calif.]

Pregunta 715 - 4 November 2012
    Dear Sir: 
    My husband's name is Robert A. OSORIO. We have traced his ancestry back to the time of Father Serra's arrival in California. In 1993, I received from F.J. De Larios, Judge, Retired, a copy of a marriage license or what served as a license to marry, between an OSORIO and an Indian maiden, it was signed by Father Crespi, an associate of Father Serra. Sorry to say I have misplaced it. I would greatly appreciate it, if would be possible to get another. My husband is 86 and I am 85 and I would certainly like to leave it to my grandchildren so they can add it to their searches about his family. By the way, his mother was a SEPULVEDA which is also an old California family. Both of us were born here, he in Redwood City and I in Oakland, California. We live very close to Juana Briones School and when it was called Loma Vista both of my sons went there. Please let me know if this request is possible and how to go about getting it. Thank you so much [Mrs. Robert Osorio (nonmember)]

Pregunta 714 - 27 September 2012
    My ancestry is from the Francisco Xavier SEPULVEDA line (1742-1788) with his son Juan Jose SEPULVEDA (1764-1808) on my mother's side, Ann Helen SEPULVEDA. Though I am registered with ancestry.com, I am unable to trace the ancestry of Francisco Xavier SEPULVEDA'S parents Juan Jose SEPULVEDA (1720-?) and Ana Maria Josefa GARCIA (1720-?). Can someone provide this information? [Diane Robinson (nonmember), Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.]

Pregunta 713 - 27 September 2012
    ​I am searching for information on Antonio de LA TORRE, father to Jose Joaquin de LA TORRE. I wanted to know where Antonio came from in Spain. I have a family tree of descendants that moved from Monterey to Los Angeles. (If you check maps in central Los Angeles, there is a street with the name "de la Torre Way" that was property of one of the descendants.) My grandfather was Alfonse de LA TORRE. All other history I have is related to family stories and a few photos. Thanks for any information you can provide.(La Tejedora asked for some clarification on the timeframe that these de LA TORRES lived): I read on your site that Antonio was the father of Jose Joaquin de LA TORRE (the first), but the information I have is that Melchor was his father’s name, and he lived in Spain. I do not have Melchor de LA TORRE'S birth date, but he was married to Maria de ENTERRIA and they stayed in Spain. 
    Jose Joaquin’s father-in-law was Don Pablo Antonio COTA, and Jose Joaquin #1 (born 1778 or 1784, the year is unclear) married Maria de los Angeles COTA (Don Pablo’s daughter) in 1803. Jose Joaquin #1 was the secretary to Governor Pablo de SOLA. I do not know the date he arrived, and I would like to find out what the date of arrival in the California territory was. The father-in-law, Don Pablo Antonio COTA, was born in 1744 in Fuerte, Sinaloa, and arrived in Santa Barbara on 4/15/1782. Don Pablo came to California with Governor Felipe de Neve, Fr. Serra and Commandant Lt. Jose Francisco de Ortega. I guess he was a later addition, it was 13 years after the arrival in 1769.
    (Jose) Joaquin II was the one my grandfather talked about as “de Alcalde de Monterey!” He was proud to be related to Joaquin. This Jose Joaquin was born around 1812, they only found baptism records in California. He was also a soldier, and became a corporal in 1836. He was married to M. Bibiana SOTA. He started the first Federal Court in Monterey. On my family tree, it is listed that he had 10 brothers & sisters. One of them is named Estevan Antonio de LA TORRE (baptized June 1818), and he was involved with government in the town of Rancho Balsa de las Escarpines, and married to Ascension (Asumpcion) ESPINOSA. I wanted to find out more about the father & grandfather de LA TORRE, since there was so much focus on Joaquin II in our stories.
    I referred to “the de LA TORRES” as a plural, since there were several people in the family, but the actual name is “de LA TORRE”. All of this information on our tree was researched by Joseph Raymond de LA TORRE, a school administrator in Santa Barbara, born 8/31/28, and he states on the big piece of paper we have that it may not all be accurate. I would like to fill in the gaps, thanks for your assistance. [Ruth de la Torre (nonmember), West Hills, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 713 - 8 November 2012
    The online database of the Early California Population Project (ECPP) shows that on 3 August 1803 Joaquin de LA TORRE, a native of the Pueblo of Ruenes in the mountains of Santander, Spain, married Maria de los Angeles COTA, from Santa Barbara, at Mission San Carlos (Carmel). The marriage record also shows that Joaquin was a soldado distinguido assigned to the Presidio of Monterey. His parents are listed as Melchor de LA TORRE and Maria de ENTERRIA. This suggests he is your "Joaquin I." The bride's parents are listed as Pablo COTA and Maria Rosa de LUGO. This and more information is contained in marriage record SC-00654.
    Baptismal records in the ECPP database show that Joaquin and Maria were the parents of (at least) 11 children, including Joaquin Antonio de los Angeles de LA TORRE, baptized 21 Aug 1820 in the chapel of the Presidio of Monterey. This and more information is contained in baptismal record SC-03182. He may be your "Joaquin II." In the ECPP database I found baptismal records for 10 of Joaquin's siblings, including Estevan, and they would be worth investigating if you want to learn more about them.
    The ECPP database also records the baptism of Jose Joaquin Antonio de LA TORRE on 23 January 1849 at Santa Barbara. He was the son of Antonio de LA TORRE (a brother of Joaquin Antonio de los Angeles) and Maria Josefa OLIVERA. This information is contained in baptismal record BP- 01918Y.
    The ECPP database contains baptismal, marriage, and burial records from all of the Alta California missions from 1769 to 1850. It was a tremendous help to me in researching my family history. It is fully searchable and free to all users. Check it out at http://www.huntington.org/Information/ECPPmain.htm. [John Ortega (member), La Crescenta, Calif.]

Pregunta 712 - 3 September 2012
    I have been searching for the names of my 3rd great-grandmother's (Dolores CARRILLO) parents. Dolores CARRILLO was married to Joseph Mathew BROWN (who changed his name to Jose Matias MORENO in order to be allowed to marry Dolores) about 1810. Their son, my great-great-grandfather was Jose Matias MORENO II who was secretary to Pio Pico. Jose Matias MORENO II was married to Prudenciana Lopez VALLEJO (General Mariano VALLEJO'S illegitimate daughter) of Old Town San Diego. As far as I understand after Joseph M. BROWN died, Dolores CARRILLO remarried in 1822 to Thomas ALTAMIRANO at San Antonio, Baja California. I appreciate any information. Thank you. [Patricia Grooms (nonmember), Paso Robles, Calif.]
​
Pregunta 711 - 3 September 2012
    Does anyone know of the following, are they related to my mother's long lost family? Domingo Ortega SOTO, born 1899, died in 1945 Lake Elsinore, Riverside County, Calif. Alejandro SOTO, born 1877, died 1932 in Lake Elsinore, Calif. Michael, Mica, or Miguel SOTO, born Lake Elsinore, Calif. I have no dates. My mother, according to FamilyTree DNA, is related to almost all of the original settlers of California, Rosa Maria Monreal LOPEZ, Efigeno RUIZ, Antonio YORBA, Rolque de COTA, Maria Pascuala de LUGO, and many more. I'm looking for living relatives of the SOTO and ORTEGA families. Thanks. [Ed Romero (nonmember), Stanton, Calif.]

Pregunta 710 - 28 August 2012
    ​I am researching information regarding Tomas del los Inocentes ALVITRE or Felipe Sebastain ALVITRE who lived in San Gabriel around 1876. Tomas ALVITRE was my mother's great-grandfather, born December 25th, 1829; married to Magdelena LINARES May 21st, 1849, at San Gabriel. I would like to know if my ancestors are linked to the San Gabriel Mission Indians, Gabrielinos. Sincerely, [Kathie Obryan (nonmember), Visalia Calif.]

Pregunta 709 - 15 August 2012
    I am looking for information on Joseph CANO, birth 1839, possibly Monterey; death 1907 in California. He had one son that I know of, Frank T. CANO, born 1880-81 in California. His birth certificate says he was born in St. Helena, California. I know that in Northrop's book, she lists a son of Gil CANO, Jose de Jesus Ramon Nicanor CANO, who would be the same birth year as my Joseph CANO. I wonder if this is the same person. Family members have told me that our Joseph was from Monterey, same as Jose de Jesus Ramon Nicanor CANO. Any info or leads to how I can verify this would be helpful. Thank you for your time. [Laura (nonmember), Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 709 - 8 November 2012
    The online database of the Early California Population Project (ECPP) contains a record for Jose de Jesus Ramon CANO born 22 April 1839 and baptized 26 April 1839 in the chapel of the Presidio of Monterey (baptismal record SC-04173). He was the son of Maria Josefa SOTO and Gil CANO. There is also a burial record (SC-03293Y) showing that Jose Ramon died of fever and was buried 15 February 1844 at Mission San Carlos (Carmel). This suggests Jose Ramon is not the “Joseph CANO” you seek. Maria SOTO and Gil CANO were the parents of several other children baptized at Monterey between 1829 and 1839. None of them were christened Jose or Joseph according to the records I located.
    The ECPP database contains baptismal, marriage, and burial records from all of the Alta California missions from 1769 to 1850. It was a tremendous help to me in researching my family history. It is fully searchable and free to all users. Check it out at http://www.huntington.org/Information/ECPPmain.htm. [John Ortega (member), La Crescenta, Calif.]

Pregunta 708 - 26 July 2012
   My great-grandmother was Caroline de LA GUERRA. Her mother was Juanita GARCIA. We do not know who her father is. Every reference to him calls him Frederick/Fred/Federico de LA GUERRA, with one saying Jose Federico. We have not been able to match Fred with Juanita except for a sentence in the news that said they lost a child in 1875. We found something else that mentioned a Fred de LA GUERRA dying in 1893 of smallpox, but can't find anything further. It didn't even mention family. The 1890 census was destroyed, and we can't find Juanita and Fred in the 1880 census. We know that she was widowed before the 1900 census. We don't even know the correct spelling of her name. She was buried as Carrie, but we have seen Carolina, Caroline, and Carolyn. I believe that she was born in 1878, but there are other records where she lists it as 1880 and 1882 (we think she was trying to stay in the workforce longer). If you have any information on this branch of family, please let me know - itsgillian00@yahoo.com. Caroline only had one child, so resources are limited, but she did have a sister, Clara, and a brother, Jose Antonio de LA GUERRA/Joe de LA GUERRA/Earl James MURRAY. I haven't been able to connect with any of those branches. My ancestors arrived in Alta California prior to 1848, I just don't know which one of them I am related to. We are descended from Don Jose de LA GUERRA, but we never got specifics of exactly how from my great-great-grandma. That is the information I am trying to find. [Gillian Pearson (nonmember), Boise, Idaho]

Pregunta 707 - 21 July 2012
    I am writing you to see if somebody might be able to point me in the right direction, as my family and I are trying to complete our family tree. My grandma, Barbara LUGO, is a descendent of the LUGO'S who were so influential in the birth of Los Angeles. Working through Ancestry.com, we have been able to get as far as some of the grandchildren of Don Antonio Maria LUGO, and working from the bottom up, we get as far as my grandma's grandpa, Vincent LUGO, who we believe was born in 1887. It seems as we are missing a generation or two at the most in connecting my great-great-grandpa Vincent LUGO to one of Don Antonio Maria LUGO'S children. If anybody knows the descendents of Don Antonio Maria LUGO, that would be a great help! My e-mail address is addmusic@yahoo.com. Thank you. [Steven De Boer (nonmember), Lakewood, Calif.]

Pregunta 706 - 18 July 2012
    My grandmother's name was Marguerita Baptista CUELLO/GRIFFITH. My mother told me she was a descendant of General Jose CASTRO. Mom was never interested in researching genealogy, but I am. She said my grandmother's mother or grandmother was one of the so-called "Redheaded twins of Monterey". Not much to go on. Does anyone have information that would attach to this? [Patty Christopher (nonmember), Santa Rosa, Calif.]

Pregunta 705 - 29 June 2012
    I am looking for any information on Jose Venancio RODRIQUEZ, sometimes called Ben. He was born in Santa Clara, Calif., around 1835; married Dolores del Carmen CASTRO. I think she comes from Francisco CASYTO and Garriela BERRYESSA. I can find very little on the RODRIQUEZ family. [Betty Vyeda (nonmember), Watsonville, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 705 - 3 September 2012
    I found a few vital records for your RODRIGUEZ family. From them, the 4 generations I see for Venancio on back are his father Antonio born in California, then his grandfather Antonio born in Mexico, and finally his great-grandfather Miguel.
    From Temple’s transcription of the early Mission Records, Venancio was baptized in Santa Clara in 1832:
    #8500) May 11 1832 - Jose Miguel Venancio RODRIGUEZ, 2 ds. of Antonio  y  Ma.  Dolores GALINDO; Nicolas Dodero, Ytaliano y  su  muger Josefa HIGUERA, pads.
    I did not find Venancio's father Antonio’s baptism entry, but did find his marriage in Santa Clara in 1823:
    2105)  Item:  Antonio RODRIGUEZ (de LEON), dela Villa de Branciforte, with Maria Dolores GALINDO, del Pueblo de San Jose.
    Venancio’s mother was born in San Francisco:
    Baptism  #3395) Apr 20 1807- Maria de los Dolores Ines GALINDO, b. 19th  of  Venancio  y  Romana  SANCHEZ: Aniceto ZAVALETA y Odorica MIRANDA, padrinos.
    Verified the GALINDO family in Marie Northrop’s book Spanish & Mexican Families of Early California, Vol. I, pg 154 (available at most libraries).
    And her parent's church marriage entry:
    513)  On  Aug. 29 1795 - Venancio GALINDO, of Nicolas y  Teresa PINTO,  with Maria Ramona* Lorenza SANCHEZ, of Jose  Anto. y. Ma. Dolores MORALES, dfta.
    *I believe her name was Maria Romana, rather than Ramona, as her burial entry in LA and places where she lived for many years say Romana.
    Branciforte was a temporary name for Santa Cruz. Antonio was probably his parent’s last child, born late in their life, around 1800 in Santa Clara or Monterey, but I’ve checked every mission and can’t find the entry.
    Venancio’s father’s parents are in Northrop’s Vol. II, pg 233. Jose Agustan Antonio RODRIGUEZ was born in Compestela, Mexico in 1754, and his wife Maria Trinidad Vicenta de LEON born in 1762 in Real de Cozala, Mexico. Antonio (senior) was a soldier at Monterey and Corporal at SF. From the baptisms of his children, we see the family also at San Luis Obispo 1785-91, San Antonio 1793, Santa Clara 1798, and Santa Cruz about 1800, then back to Monterey. Vicenta’s first husband died in 1782, so Antonio RODRIGUEZ was her second. This marriage entry gives Venancio’s grandfather Antonio’s parents too.
    San Gabriel Marriage Entry:
    #147 10  August  1782  - "en 18 de Julio 1782  presentacion de Jose Antonio RODRIGUEZ, 28, soldado de cuera, soltero, de Miguel RODRIGUEZ y Petrona Patron, naturales de la Ciudad de Compostela; con Trinidad Vicenta de LEON, 20, natural  del Real de Cozala, viuda (widow) de Francisco JUAREZ, soldado  recluta que era de la Compania de Santa Barbara. Testigos:  Juan Francisco LOPEZ, soldado de cuera y Maria Encarnacion LOPEZ.
    Although Northrop doesn’t list Antonio Jr. in the family, the 1823 marriage entry above shows it.
    Bolsa Pajaro Rancho was granted to Venancio’s oldest brother, Sebastian, in 1837. The details are on Wikipedia, and you may find more about this family on the internet, or by contacting the Santa Clara Historical Society. The San Francisco Genealogy Society also has many early California records on line at http://www.sfgenealogy.com/ [Valerie Hall (member), Fair Oaks, Calif.]

Pregunta 704 - 29 June 2012
    My family and I have been searching for our maternal great-great-grandmother's parents, her birthplace, date of birth, and ethnicity. She used a variety of names: Celedonia and Soledad. Surnames used were GARCIA, ESPINOS(Z)A, TAPIA, CORONO, MURILLO, and BALDONADO. She was born about 1862. My great-grandmother's first husband was Juan Antonio TAPIA born June 20, 1844 at Mission San Juan de Bautista, Calif; his father was Gregorio TAPIA, son of Maria de Jesus de NUTKA whose father was Chief Maquinna from British Columbia. Thanks for any help. [Isabel Ayala (nonmember), Shafter, Calif.]

Pregunta 703 - 29 June 2012
    Santa Barbara: Roque COTA'S daughter Maria Loreta COTA married Jose Ladron GUEVARA. Their daughter Inez GUEVARA (aka Maria Ynez 1794-1862) married English seaman William DOVER. Daughter Josie, aka Josefa, married a Salomon LOPEZ, a Benjamin Franklin NEWTON, and possibly an A or Al BAINBRIDGE.  
    Josie's son Francis LOPEZ was aka Francis NEWTON for stepfather's name in a census, and as an older man in 1960s may have used the name Francisco LOPEZ, born 1904-1960s. His three children from marriage to Ernesteen JONES were Francis NEWTON (Jr?) (b. 1926); Ellen Lorraine NEWTON (b. 1928); and Marian NEWTON (b. and died in 1930). Any info on Josie DOVER LOPEZ NEWTON BAINBRIDGE or her son Francis LOPEZ NEWTON would be welcome. Thank you. [Marian B. (nonmember), Calif.]

Pregunta 702 - 26 May 2012
    I have been advised that I have a DNA match with Andres COTA date: 1717, Rosa Maria Monreal LOPEZ and Efigenio RUIZ, and Maria Josefa de LUGO date: 1770's, all from El Fuerte, Sinola or Alamos, Sonora, Mex. Andres COTA and Rosa Maria Monreal LOPEZ were early settlers of Alta California. If anyone knows how to make contact with the descendents in Sinaloa, Mex, please advise, my information is partial at best.
    My great-grandmother: Dolores VALENZUELA, born 1831 El Fuerte, Sin.
    My grandmother: Juana Florentina SOTO VALENZUELA, born 1868, El Fuerte, Sin.
    My mother: Alberta SOTO, born March 16th,1904, Los Mochis, Sin., aka Maria ALVARADO, aka Maria GALVAN, aka Eriberta ALVARADO ROMERO
    My aunt: Manuela SOTO de SOLIS, born 1909, immigrated to USA with my mother and her husband: Leopoldo SOLIS, both Manuela and Leopoldo died in Texas in 1978.
    Thanks for any help. [Ed Romero (nonmember), Stanton, Calif.]

Pregunta 701 - 8 May 2012
   Does anyone have a copy of Sgt. José ORTEGA'S diary or log of the Portolá Expedition that they could make a copy of for me, which I will be happy to pay for? I understand there is such a document. I do not know what part of the expedition from Loreto to San Diego to San Francisco Bay and return to San Diego that it covers. [Benita Gray (member), San Diego, Calif.]

Pregunta 700 - 8 May 2012
    Does anyone have details of Margarita de Cortona DOMINGUEZ'S birth parents? She was the Ohlone Native American convert who married Manuel BUTRÓN in Monterey on 9 May 1773. [Benita Gray (member), San Diego, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 700 - 1 November 2012
    For Benita interested in Manuel BUTRON, please contact me at mayanmx@gmail.com. I can put you in touch with Ohlone descendants of BUTRON. Thank you. [Catherine (nonmember), San Francisco, Calif.]

Pregunta 699 - 24 April 2012
    Is anybody looking for information regarding Guillermo GRIJALVA, born 2/5/1864, married to Veronica GRIJALVA? Names of children are Louis GRIJALVA (Louis' mother is Angelita ROMERO, Guillermo's first wife); daughter Elizabeth, son Guillermo, and daughter Dora, their mother is Veronica GRIJALVA. stefanie.rodriguez66@yahoo.com [Stefanie Rodriguez (nonmember), Riverside, Calif.]

Pregunta 698 - 17 April 2012
    I am the great-grandson of J. M. VALENCIA who resided in Ojai, California in the mid-1800s. I do not know much about him but his sons' names were Manual, William, and my grandfather Joe VALENCIA, all resided in Ventura County. If you could share any information about J. M. VALENCIA it would be appreciated. Thank you. [Jimmy Aguilar (nonmember), Ojai, Calif.]

Pregunta 697 - 25 March 2012
    Is there any information you can provide on the descendents of the original land grant owners of the property now partially included in the Mission San Juan Bautista? I am primarily interested in any information about my grandmother Josephine (LARIOS) SMOOT who married Cayetano P. NORONA of San Jose, California. My older family members tell me she was the daughter of the land grant owner at the time they came under the auspices of the U.S. government. I would love to get a few pieces of information or reference books where I can start my search. [Robert Charles Norona (nonmember), Corona, Calif.]

Pregunta 696 - 25 March 2012
    I am helping this Native American family with their documentation and they are having trouble getting certified documents from Mission San Gabriel and Mission San Diego. They keep getting referred to different societies they tell me. I assume the missions have given this duty to some archives or society.  Could anyone give an answer to this? johnalbitre@sbcglobal.net; my phone # 661 831-9178. Thank You Very Much and God Bless. [John Albitre (member), Bakersfield, Calif.]

Pregunta 695 - 3 February 2012
    ​I have been notified by FamilyTree that I have a DNA match with: Maria Rosa Monreal LOPEZ (born 1753 in Sonora or Sinaloa; died in Santa Barbara, Calif.). 
    My question is: I need to contact anyone here in California that might be able to give me information about her family in Mexico and the USA. My mother always told me she had ties to the Los Angeles ALVARADOS, through her father, but it's her mother's family that I need to locate, the following surnames are hers: VALENZUELA, BRIONES, GALAVIZ, LOPEZ, CADENA, AVILA, RUIZ, and URQUIDEZ. Thanks for any help. [Ed Romero (nonmember), Stanton, Calif.]
Pregunta 695 UPDATE - 6 February 2012
    I have a DNA Match with Rosa Maria LOPEZ, wife of Efigeno RUIZ. If anyone knows of anyone here in the USA or Mexico that can help me make contact with any family members that might know of the following:
    My grandmother: Juana Florentina VALENZUELA, born circa 1880-86 in El Fuerte, Sinaloa.
    She married my grandfather: Rafael Manuel Francisco ALVARADO, circa 1903.
    My mother: Maria GALVAN VALENZUELA ALVARADO, 16 March 1904 in Los Mochis, Sinaloa.
    My uncle: Juan Jose GALVAN VALENZUELA ALVARADO. 
    Thanks for any help. [Ed Romero (nonmember), Stanton, Calif.]

Pregunta 694 - 28 January 2012
    I am a descendent of John BURTON and Juana Estefania GALINDO'S youngest daughter, Maria de los Angeles Sicarias BURTON. Based on extensive research I have established that Maria de los Angeles SICARIAS BURTON had two children, Arturo Lasso de LA VEGA (born about 1864), and Dolores Teresa de LA VEGA (born about 1867 -- from whom I am descended). Probate court documents indicate Maria de los Angeles SICARIAS BURTON died in 1869 in Calaveras County, California. I have run into a brick wall because I can find no evidence of a marriage between Maria de los Angeles SICARIAS BURTON and a de LA VEGA. Nor, beyond the probate filing, can I find any record of her having resided in Calaveras County. In the 1860 Federal Census/California I find her residing at her childhood home with her then-widowed mother and her siblings in San Jose, California. If you have any information about the de LA VEGA spouse of Maria de los Angeles SICARIAS BURTON, please contact me at doughertylinda@comcast.net. [Linda Dougherty (nonmember), Seattle, Wash.]

Pregunta 693 - 28 January 2012
    I am looking for my grandmother's father who was from San Juan Capistrano. His name was Crispin CASTILLO. His father was Gustavo CASTILLO. My grandmother's name was Luz PEREZ CASTILLO. She was married to Federico PEREZ whose father was Ricardo VEJAR and mother was Maria Bendita SOTO. Any information will help to try to locate them. [Abram Rodriguez (nonmember), San Diego, CA]
Respuesta a Pregunta 693 - 3 September 2012
    For Abram Rodriguez:  Do you know if Maria Bendita SOTO is related to the following:
    Domingo Ortega SOTO, b-1899 d-1945 Lake Elsinsore, Riverside County, Calif.
    Alejandra Ortega SOTO, b-1877 d-1932 in same area.
    Miguel or Michael SOTO, born and died there, no further info.
    They are related to my mother: Alberta SOTO (married name Alberta Alvarado ROMERO) and my aunt Manuela SOTO DE SOLIS, b-1908 and died in McAllen,Texas.
Please advise if you know the above. Thanks. [Ed Romero (nonmember), Stanton, Calif.]

Pregunta 692 - 27 January 2012
    From: O'Brien, Matt <mattobrien@bayareanewsgroup.com>
    Date: Wed, Jan 18, 2012 at 11:11 AM
    Subject: Media request
    I am planning to write a story about Californio descendents in the San Francisco Bay Area and was hoping you can connect me with some of them. I already have contacts for many members of the PERALTA family, but am looking for descendents of the CASTRO family of Rancho San Pablo in today's Contra Costa County, as well as families that had land grants in the Peninsula and the South Bay. Do you know if any of these families have reunions, and if any are coming up? Do you have an e-mailable map of the Bay Area land grants/ranchos? I'm also curious to know if any of the families -- in the Bay Area or elsewhere -- still own any of the property they had before statehood?
    Regards,
    Matt O'Brien
    925-977-8463
    Reporter
    Contra Costa Times / Oakland Tribune / San Jose Mercury News
    Please contact Mr. O'Brien directly if you can help him and wish to be of assistance. La Tejedora

Pregunta 691 - 27 January 2012
    On 7 May 1888 my great-grandmother Mary MURPHY married Jose C. ORTEGA at St. Brigid's Catholic Church in San Francisco, California. At this time I know nothing more about Jose, except that he was the son of Estevan (as shown in the marriage register). I would like to determine if "Jose C." is Jose del Carmen Toribio ORTEGA (born 16 April 1849, Santa Barbara, California), son of Estevan Antonio Leto ORTEGA (born 6 September 1814, Santa Ines, California) and Deogracias RUIZ (born about 22 March 1815, Santa Barbara, California). I know they had a son named Jose, but don't know if he and "Jose C." are the same person. Can anyone point me to documentation, or suggest how I may be able to make a determination? Thanks! [John Ortega (nonmember), Glendale, Calif.]
Pregunta 691 UPDATE - 6 March 2012
    It turns out that my "Jose C." was indeed Jose del Carmen. I had been searching for evidence in San Francisco and Santa Barbara when I should have been digging in San Luis Obispo. My thanks go to the helpful volunteers of the San Luis Obispo County Genealogical Society, the History Center, and staff at the Mission. [John Ortega (nonmember), Glendale, Calif.]

Pregunta 690 - 27 January 2012 
    I'm relatively new to researching early California Spanish-Mexican records. My great-great-grandmother, Nicolasa CARRIAGA, was in Los Angeles in the 1836 and 1844 Padrons. I'm confident I have traced her ancestry to Salvador CARRIAGA at San Diego Presidio starting in 1780 and then his son Jaime Guadalupe CARRIAGA and grandson Domingo CARRIAGA. The 1844 Padron places Domingo in the same household as Nicolasa so I've concluded Domingo and Nicolasa are brother-sister. I've found several records through the Early California Population Project at the Huntington, and had some others sent to me by folks researching around San Juan Capistrano. I've yet to find a baptismal record for Nicolasa or any other document that proves she is the daughter of Jaime Guadalupe CARRIAGA. Any suggestions for directing further research?
    Secondly, in 1844 Nicolasa is living with Juan de Dios PADILLA who is also found in Bancroft Volume III, pg. 637, as Juan de Dios PADILLA, trader also called "Captain". Family lore says Nicolasa was heir to land in Los Angeles, perhaps a Mexican grant, but I cannot find Juan de Dios PADILLA tied to any grant I've researched using on-line sources. Questions:
    - What source do you recommend for researching land grants in early California?
    - Is there any source that can give me the history of Juan de Dios PADILLA and what he did to obtain "captain"?
    - It appears from a baptismal record at Pueblo Los Angels Church in April 1847 that Juan de Dios PADILLA was deceased and listed as father of a female child, Maria Adelayda PADILLA. I cannot find any further record of Domingo CARRIAGA after 1844 but find his wife in a household without him in the 1852 California census. My suspicion is that both Juan PADILLA and Domingo CARRIAGA could have been killed in the Mexican-American War. Is there a source that lists Los Angeles casualties of the war? Thanks. [Barry Schwoerer (nonmember)]
Resupuesta a Pregunta 690 - 3 February 2012
    In Ted Gostin's Southern California Vital Records, Volume 1: Los Angeles County 1850-1859:
    CARRIAGO, Domingo, burial 1 Nov 1851 Calvary, and
    CARRIAGO, Jaime, burial 1 Nov 1851 Calvary. 
    In the notes section under Domingo "Name also listed as Jaime" and under Jaime "Name also listed as Domingo".
Records from Los Angeles Plaza Church. [Patricia Grisotti (member), Sedro Woolley, Wash.]
Pregunta 690 UPDATE - 6 March 2012
    Thanks. Since sending my inquiry I found a confirmation record for Nicolasa CARRIAGA that proves she is the daughter of Guadalupe CARRIAGA. I have not been able to find her baptism record. I found the record in microfilm of the mission registers. The confirmation record: 2 NOV 1831: Mission San Gabriel Confirmation #1899: Nicolasa Loreto CARRIAGA, of el dfo. Guadalupe y Dolores CAÑEDO; same madrina (Godmother).
[Barry Schwoerer (nonmember)]

Pregunta 689 - 30 December 2011
    Hi,
    I'm looking for information about the children of Governor Juan Bautista Valentín ALVARADO y VALLEJO and Doria Martina CASTRO. In other P&R postings I saw 13 children were mentioned, but their names were not. I ask because I'm working on a Find-A-Grave posting for the ones at St. Mary's cemetery in Oakland, California. I would like to confirm what I have before posting, and I would like to see the whole family done. Can anyone help me with this? In addition, I have asked the people at St. Mary's to find the grave stone for the governor, his wife, and the children, too. Could some family member also call St. Mary's and make the same request? Ask for Regina @ 510-654-0936. Thank you for your help. Al Janske, Find-A-Grave #47432838 [Alfred Janske (nonmember), Oakland, Calif.]

Pregunta 688 - 18 November 2011
    I am hoping to track down contact information for descendents of the BRIONES and MIRAMONTES families, who settled at El Polin Spring in the Presidio of San Francisco (~1812-1850). The Presidio Archaeology Lab (a program of the Presidio Trust) would like to involve Californio descendents in the future of El Polin. If you are related to any of the following people or anyone else you believe lived at El Polin and are interested in updates or providing input, please contact me at kjones@presidiotrust.gov or (415)561-5090. Any information you can provide will be met with much appreciation and thanks, Kari Jones
    Marcos BRIONES
    Candelario MIRAMONTES
    Guadalupe BRIONES de MIRAMONTES
    Juana BRIONES de MIRANDA
    (Maria de la) Luz BRIONES de GARCIA ROMERO
    Gregorio BRIONES
    Epicacia BRIONES de SOTO
    Jose Vicente MIRAMONTES
    Ramon MIRAMONTES
    Jose Ignacio Silvestre MIRAMONTES
    Maria Ramona MIRAMONTES
    Antonio Florencio Teodoro MIRAMONTES
    (Jesus Candolfo) Rodolfo MIRAMONTES
    Jose Arciano MIRAMONTES
    (Maria) Guadalupe MIRAMONTES
    Maria Dolores MIRAMONTES
    Jose Anontio MIRAMONTES
    Raimunda MIRAMONTES
    Jose de los Santos MIRAMONTES
    Jose Julian MIRAMONTES
    Manuel MIRAMONTES
    Bernardo MIRAMONTES
    Juan (Jose de) Jesus MIRAMONTES
    Maria Carmen (Benita) MIRAMONTES
    Maria Soledad MIRAMONTES
    Maria Isadora GARCIA de ROSALES
    Juan Bautista BRIONES
    Francisco Silvestre BRIONES
    Presentacion MIRANDA (de RIDLEY)
    Tomas MIRANDA 
    (Maria) Narcissa MIRANDA de GARCIA
    (Maria Antonia del ) Refugio MIRANDA de MESA
    Jose (de Jesus) Julian MIRANDA 
    Cecilia BRIONES
    Manuela MIRANDA de MESA
    Jose Aniceto (Dolores) MIRANDA 
    [Kari Jones (nonmember), San Francisco, Calif.]

Pregunta 687 - 18 November 2011
    I am searching for any knowledge of descendants of the SMITH family members who were evacuated from Baja California to Monterey in 1850 by the US military and naval forces who had occupied parts of the southern peninsula. I know that some of them never returned to Baja California but stayed on up here with no problem since they were related to Thomas SMITH, a New Yorker who had lived down there for over 40 years. I have accumulated a lot of data on those who stayed in or returned to Baja California, but nothing on those who came to Monterey to stay or to fan out into other regions. Any help will be appreciated. [Harry W. Crosby (Historian member), La Jolla, Calif.]

Pregunta 686 - 1 November 2011
    I have been on a quest for a while now to find out information about my ancestors whose last name have been BRIONES. After doing much research about my last name and my family history I ended up at this page. If anyone has more information on my last name, I would love to hear about it. I would also like to know more about Juana BRIONES if anyone has more detailed information on her and her family.
Respuesta a Pregunta 686 - 7 November 2011
    Simply type in "Juana Briones" on Google or any other search site. There is a large amount of information on who she was and what she is noted for. She was my father's great-grandmother, who raised my grandfather and his brother. She lived from 1802 until 1889, having been born in the San Francisco Bay area of Spanish immigrant families. She spent her entire life in said area. She is claimed to have been the first woman to have owned land in her own right in said area. She was a healer and a very worthwhile business lady. You are welcome to contact me at garce1947@yahoo.com regarding any information of Juana BRIONES. I have records on most of her descendents and have purchased and read a few books on her life. Good luck on your search. [Patrick Garcia (nonmember), Spokane, Wash.]

Pregunta 685 - 1 November 2011
    I am  SEPULVEDA. I would like to know where the name originated and where my ancestors might have come from. [Marcelino Sepulveda (nonmember) El Centro, Calif.]

Pregunta 684 - 20 October 2011
   My quinto bis abuelo, Andres COTA 1700-1762 casado con Angela de LEON 1701-1762, mi pregunta es acercas de uno des sus hijos, Pedro Cayetano de COTA, 1741-1800, estoy tratando de encotrar a la esposa de el, no tengo informacion, de el, no se si tambien fue a california norte, si tambien fue soldados como sus hermanos ROQUE y ANTONIO. El fue padre de Fermin COTA, que fue padre de Jose Maria COTA que fue padre de Amada Leona COTA que fue casada con Jesus LEGASPY, que tubieron a Francisco LEGASPY y el se caso con Paula LEGASPY, estos ultimos fueron mis abuelos maternos. Tambien busco informacion de donder bienen Andres COTA y los padres de el, y de su esposa Angela de LEON. gracias por su ayuda [Melania Molero Pezzolla (nonmember), Herriman, Utah]
Rough translation by La Tejedora: My fifth great-grandfather, Andres COTA (1700-1762), married Angela DE LEON (1701-1762). My question is about one of their sons, Pedro Cayetana de COTA (1741-1800). I am trying to find his wife. I have no information about him or if he was a Northern Californian, if he was also a soldier like his brothers Roque and Antonio. He was the father of Fermin COTA who was the father of Jose Maria COTA who was the father of Amada Leona COTA who was married to Jesus LEGASPY, who tubieron (had ?) Francisco LEGASPY and he married Paula LEGASPY. These last were my maternal grandparents. I also am looking for information  of donder bienen (from where came ?) Andres COTA and his parents and his wife, Angela de LEON. Thank you for your help.
Respuesta a Pregunta 684 - 20 July 2016
    Jose Maria COTA is NOT the father of Amada Leona COTA. Jose de los Santos COTA is the father of Amada Leona COTA, born about 1850. The same Amada married to Jose Pablo de Jesus LEGASPY. The father of Jose de los Santos COTA, however, is Fermin COTA born in 1771. [Alana Jolley (non-member), San Juan Capistrano, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 684 - 31 December 2012
    Andres COTA is my 6th great-grandfather and Antonio COTA (de COTA) is my 5th great-grandfather. My information is that Andres was from El Fuerte, Sinaloa. I also have dates of birth and death and information on the other children of Andres. Feel free to contact me at isabel-ayala@sbcglobal.net. [Isabel M. Ayala (nonmember), Shafter, Calif.]

Pregunta 683 - 3 October 2011
    What was the birth date and death date of Maria Modesta CASTRO, daughter of Gen. Jose Antonio CASTRO and Modesta Victorina CASTRO? [David Castro (nonmember), Vallejo, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 683 - 30 December 2011
    Maria Modesta CASTRO, daughter of Gen. Jose and Maria Modesta CASTRO, was born about February 1843, baptized at Mission San Carlos Borromeo in Carmel, Monterey, 23 February 1843, married William Charles DANA there on 26 May 1861, and was buried there 8 September 1893. From the Temple mission record transcriptions and California censuses it appears the family lived in San Luis Obispo from about 1865 to 1890, then back to Monterey. More about this family is free to view on-line at Ancestry.com. Just type her information into the search form, then look for my vhall General Jose CASTRO family tree. [Valerie Hall (member), Fair Oaks, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 683
    Mission Records, San Carlos Bats Entry #4452, 23 February 1843, Maria Modesta CASTRO, born 23 July 1842 at Mission San Juan Bautista; legitimate daughter of Jose CASTRO and Modesta CASTRO. Godparents: Martina CASTRO and Juan Bautista ALVARADO. Margin Notes: P. de R. [Parvula de Razon] CASTRO [Infant of Reason CASTRO]. Suares. [Maria Modesta CASTRO]. I may have other information. I can be contacted at: californiano@att.net [Franklin G. Mead (member), Rio Linda, Calif.]

Pregunta 682 - 22 September 2011
    I am researching my family and hope you can help! My great-grandmother and her mother died in the 1918 flu epidemic in Los Angeles, leaving my grandmother and her sister without much knowledge of their family (they were raised by a stepmother). My mother started researching but was too ill to continue and with the Internet it seems much easier than before and I wanted to complete the study she started. She was told she was an 8th generation Los Angelonian and had only a few photos and letters. I started researching her mother's family: Noelina MATHER, daughter of Rosa C. BERNAL (9/28/1885 - 11/23/1918, St. Vibiannas Cathedral baptism 1046) and Noel MATHER. Rosa's father was Jose Maria Adolfo BERNAL (7/2/1856-died ?, La Plaza: baptism 1396). Her mother was Maria Constancia MACHADO (4/19/1852 - 9/16/1918: La Plaza baptism 627). I was able to trace her family back to Jose F. Manuel OTCHAGA y MACHADO, who came on the Riviera expedition and was a soldado de cuera at the Santa Barbra Presidio through the online archives at the Huntington Library. However, I can't seem to get anywhere when researching the BERNAL side of the family. I only have the basic information listed below and really have hit a dead end. Any information you have will be greatly appreciated.
    myself: Noelle Constancia HARRISON (1961)
    mother: Sheila Constancia CONDON (1941-2006)
    grandmother: Noelina Constancia MATHER (9/2/1917-1996)
    great-grandmother: Rosa Clorinda BERNAL (9/28/1885-11/23/1918
    great-great-grandmother: Maria Constancia MACHADO (4/19/1852-9/16/1918
    great-great-[grand]father: Jose Maria Adolfo BERNAL (7/2/1856, La Plaza baptism 7/14/1856)
    I don't know when he died. I know his parent's names: Jose Maria BERNAL and Serafina URIBES and that they were married at La Plaza Church on 24 February 1857. I can tell by the 1880 Census that Serafina is widowed and lives with her adult son, Jose Adolfo (my great-great-grandfather). I also know they had 3 other children besides Jose Adolfo. There are so many BERNALS in the Bay Area but I can't seem to find where my Los Angeles BERNAL came from!  Thank-you so much for your help. [Noelle Harrison (nonmember)]
Respuesta a Pregunta 682 - 30 December 2011
    Found just 1 piece of information:
    Burial at LA Plaza Church Cemetery
    1215) May 23, 1866- Jose Maria BERNAL, 67, natl. Sinaloa c.c. Serafina URIBES.
    Since he was born in Sinaloa, he might not be directly connected to the Bernals in the California Bay Area. Hope this helps. [Valerie Hall (member), Fair Oaks, Calif.]

Pregunta 681 - 22 September 2011
    Looking for information on my great-great-grandfather: Pio LOPEZ born 1823 in Mexico or at the missions? Lived in/around New Almaden as a miner. His son Andres LOPEZ born in the 1850s? His son Andres LOPEZ Jr. born 1888 or 9 in San Jose. Any information is greatly appreciated.  [Barbara Lee (nonmember), Miami, Florida]
Respuesta a Pregunta 681 - 3 October 2011
    I found link this online. . . I'm guessing it's the Pio LOPEZ  you seek. It's not a lot of info, but provides name of wife, their children. I have no idea if it's accurate or complete but have a strong hunch, it's him. Good luck!
http://www.myheritage.com/person-1000680_55794331_55794331/pio-lopez [Lisa Cross (nonmember), Palm Springs, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 681 - 6 August 2013
    I am the 4th-great-grandson of Pio LOPEZ , whose son, Manuel, is my 3rd-great-grandfather. Pio was married to Francisca MONTIJO (1831-1881). Pio was alive until 1914 at which time many descendants had been born including great-grandchildren. We have not been able to verify the place of his birth.  We have been in touch with other descendants of his through Eliza LOPEZ BARRAZA, daughter of Pio and Francisca, and Andreas, Jr.'s family who was married to another branch of my family. We believe that there were three Andres/Andreas LOPEZES: Andreas LOPEZ, Sr.; Andreas, Jr.; and Andres/Andreas C. LOPEZ who is the son of Pio LOPEZ. Andreas, Jr. may be the nephew of Pio. but is not likely to be Pio's son. If you would like to discuss further, please let me know. [James Glica-Hernandez (non-member), Woodland, Calif.]
(Editor's Note:  Unfortunately, the Query that was submitted to La Tejedora through the website didn't contain a complete email address for James Glica-Hernandez. If he could please send another email with the complete address where we can get back in touch with him, it would be appreciated.)

Pregunta 680 - 5 September 2011
​    Looking for information on Enardo Roses GERMAN -- most likely born in the late 1700s or early 1800s. He put his children in the convent at San Juan Bautista after his wife died in Santa Barbara. The only name we have for his wife is Mekilia, who was a native woman. His two children were a boy and a girl, and the boy died soon after and have no recorded name for him. But the daughter's name was Maria Santica GERMAN. I can only find information on her on the 1870 US Census for San Luis Obispo County. She lived around San Juan Bautista until 1870, when the California government kicked her and her family off the land they were living on. She and her family then settled on the Cuesta Grade, just above San Luis Obispo, Calif.
    Does anyone have any advice in helping me find the information of Enardo Roses GERMAN and Maria Santica, whose children may have been baptized at Mission San Juan Bautista? Maria Santica GERMAN may have married Desidero BELARDE, April 30, 1853. Their children were: Faustian born 1854, Maria Petra born 1856, and Victorinia born 1859. I have had no luck with the Early California Project of Huntington Library. [Douglas Nulton Sr. (nonmember), San Luis Obispo, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 680 - 27 January 2011
    Maria Ygnacia GERMAN of San Luis Obispo County is in my family tree. Please contact me at mlopez569@hotmail.com as I have the pedigree charts. [Mark (nonmember), Oceano, Calif.] 
Mark: if you have the time to send a little information about this family, I am sure readers would appreciate it. La Tejedora

Pregunta 679 - 5 September 2011
    I believe that Pedro POLLORENA was brought by escolta to San Diego. In later years family moved to Los Nietos where the family became well known. Descendants Edward and family became part of the VERDUGOS, SANCHEZ, etc.  Pedro came from Sinaloa and previous family was from soldiers from earlier arrivals. Sinaloa had many families from earlier years which means that Pedro's family came in the late 1600s-early 1700s. His last name very unusual. My question is, if his last was DELARRAQUI (which was the father's name), why was the mother's, which was POLLORENA kept, and the first last name, DELARRAQUI, eliminated? I am questioning this. [Dolores Maria Pollorena (nonmember), Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 679 - 5 September 2011
    According to Marie Northrop's Spanish-Mexican Families, 1769-1850, vol. I, pp. 278-80, the soldier, Pedro POLLORENA, arrived in San Diego in 1792 with his wife, Maria Antonia (Miranda) Rosalia OCHOA, where their first child was baptized on 15 April. Although Northrop does not mention it, it was not uncommon for children to take the name of their mother if that family was wealthier or more influential. Similarly, husbands would take their wife's names especially if there were estates or titles that went with the names. [Benita H. Gray (member), San Diego, Calif.]

Pregunta 678 - 5 September 2011
    My great-great-grandparents are Jose Antonio ZAMORANO (born 1855 San Diego) and Ramona OSUNA (born 1850 San Diego). They are buried at Calvary Cemetery. I have an 1880 California census document showing them living in San Diego with their children and also Jose's mother, Maria Antonia ZAMORANO (60 years old in 1880). The census document lists all persons as being Indian. I am curious as to confirming who Jose and Ramona's parents are, and where the native blood comes in. [Christina Okesson (nonmember), Eugene, Ore.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 678 - 22 September 2011
    Christina, Ramona OSUNA is my 3rd-great-great-grandmother. . . not of ZAMORANO. I've been searching threads since last year, wondering why I saw no one else searching for her. I don't know very much at all of ZAMORANO, but I know she married him in 1875. Ramona is the daughter of Leandro OSUNA. She was b. abt. 1850, possibly 1849. Her mother was Indian, but I do not know whom her biological mother was. Another relation due to Ramona's daughter, Leonor Marron OSUNA, my 2nd-great-great-grandmother. . . Francisca MARRON was Ramona's "adopted" mother and Leonor's madrina and also her (Leonor's) own great-aunt. Hope I relayed this right.
    Leandro was married to Francisca in 1840. He took his life 3 April 1859. I'm trying to obtain Ramona information, but met with those who are trying to give me wrong time frame, another generation, of another Ramona. It's not brief to elaborate. Please reply! [Lisa Marie Cross (nonmember) caligirlranch1@hotmail.com, Palm Springs, Calif.]

Pregunta 677 - 5 September 2011
    I am looking for information on my great-grandfather and [great]-grandmother.  His name was Jesus SEPULVEDA and her name, I think, was Maria De Los Angeles MONROY. They were both born in Mexico but came to California in the middle 1800s. They had a son, Raymundo, who was baptized at the San Salvador de Jurupa Mission church in Riverside County. I am trying to find dates and places of birth for these two and other family members. My grandfather, Rosendo SEPULVEDA, is one of their issue. Any help you can provide me would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much. [Bill Talbott (nonmember) billtalbott@ymail.com Chandler, Ariz. 602-577-4354]

Pregunta 676 - 5 September 2011
    I am the great-granddaughter of Maria Leonarda CONTRERAS. I think her mother was Maria Soledad HIGUERA, and her father was Miguel CONTRERAS; they were married at San Carlos Mission in Monterey, California. Leonarda was adopted in Monterey, California; the census shows at 10 years old. We are of Salinian Indian heritage. I want to know for sure if Maria Soledad was her mother and why Leonarda CONTRERAS was adopted. Thank you. [Kelly Brown (nonmember), Ventuira, Calif.]

Pregunta 675 - 5 September 2011
    I’m an MFA student at San Jose State University writing a dramatized biography (for my book-length thesis) of Maria Zacarias BERNAL BERREYESSA (1791-1869).  Maria Zacarias, as you may know, was the matriarch of the San Jose BERREYESSA family associated with the Almaden Quicksilver Mine – a family that suffered many losses, of both land and loved ones. I’ve been doing some broad preliminary research over the last two or three months and am quite passionate about giving this remarkable woman a voice. There is a wealth of publicly available data about her genealogy, legal issues, and the fates of her husband and sons, but I’ve been stymied so far by the apparent lack of personal information about Maria Zacarias. I’m appealing to those of you who have a personal or scholarly interest in the BERNAL and BERREYESSA clans to see if you might have access, or know a descendant who might have access, to anything that might reveal more about her as a woman and mother – a photograph, first of all, and any anecdotal information, journals, letters, observations of others, interviews with her children – anything at all. My goal is to bring her to life on the page, and that’s much easier to do when there’s direct or contextual personal information to draw on. If you have any questions about my work or would like more information, please let me know. I very much appreciate any insight you (or someone to whom you forward this!) might be able to provide. Thank you for your time, [Jenny Walicek (nonmember) www.jennywalicek.com, San Jose, Calif.]

Pregunta 674 - 21 July 2011
    I've been working hard on Ignacio Vicente Ferrer VALLEJO'S line and have been able to find quite a bit on his ancestors. I have the death and marriage of Lenor FRANCO, her parents and her husband, Asencio GOMEZ, his death at 95. I also have Ignacio's grandfather Lucas' double marriage with his brother Miguel to 2 sisters (DEGADILLOS and HERRERAS). I would hope someone other than me is interested. Now that most of Jalisco's church records are on line (through LDS Family Search) it is possible to trace the once unknown areas. There are great gaps in years and it takes getting used to the abbreviations and spellings. My Pedro NARVAEZ, captain of the Port of Monterey married Maria Rita ESTRADA (granddaughter of Ignacio VALLEJO). She died at age 23 in Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico, leaving four children. The only other descendent I think would be interested is my 2nd cousin Luis MARMOLEJO-MEILLON. Age is quickly catching up and I felt I should let someone know. I've had this nagging feeling that Geronimo VALLEJO, father of Ignacio Vicente VALLEJO, was baptized in the same place as some of his siblings - and I was right.
    Baptisms, Tepatitlan de Morelos, Baptisms, 1683 - 1726, Image 413
    Geronimo BALLEJO, baptized 11 March 1716, 22 days old in Tepatitlan de Morelos, Jalisco, Mexico, San Francisco church.
    His parents were residents at (I think) Santissima Trinidad church in a town I couldn't read. His parents were residents there and in Las Cañadas (Jalostotitlan) Jalisco, Mexico. They are Lucas BALLEJO and Thomasa de HERRERA. The padrinos were Miguel BALLEJO and Catharina de Herrera, married. Miguel Ballejo and Lucas Ballejo are brothers: they married sisters at Tepatitlan de Morelos (Marriages 1686-1713 Image 146). There are two separate marriages on the same day. This gives the names of both sets of parents. Interesting, Lenor Franco, and later her husband Asencio Gomes de Mendosa are either witnesses or padrinos, but not for the same couple. The names of the two sets of parents are: Joseph Ballejo and Micaela Cornejo; Geronimo de Herrera and Agustina de la Rosa (there is more to her name but not on this record). My next hope is that I'll be able to find the deaths of these individuals. The actual records can be accessed through Family Search - there are over 5 million records in Jalisco, Mexico, and I learned a lot trying to read terrible writing and abbreviations. [Lillian Donahue (member), Albuquerque, N.M.]

Pregunta 673 - 21 July 2011
    Dear Sirs,
    In an issue in the mid-eighties of Town and Country, there was a fascinating article on "Los Californios." As an historian and a grandson of a landowner (not, alas, from California) but far, far away Ukraine - pre-war - my interest in my 'cousins', as it were, I think is only natural which is why I read the above article wide-eyed. It is interesting to me to know whether anything of the fortunes of the old land grant families has remained. If so, have any of these families merged their fortunes with newer anglophone fortunes? That seems to be case throughout history and I wonder if this has taken place in California.
    Yours sincerely
    Dr. Michael Zurowski
    Montreal QC, Canada
    Ph.D. (The London School of Economics and Political Science, 1975).

Pregunta 672 - 21 July 2011
    Trying to find out who were the parents of Cecil VILLALOBOS and where was he born and if he had siblings. Source cited is, I believe: Marie Northrop's Spanish-Mexican Families of Early California 1769-1850, vol. 3?, pp. 142, 14​4. I do not have vol. 3, but I find a Jose Cecilio VILLALOBO and Maria Casilda SOTO as parents of Juan Jose Cecilio VILLALOBO in San Diego in 1816 on p. 325 of vol. II. La Tejedora [Deborah Lopez (nonmember), Lompoc, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 680 - 22 September 2011
    The Census of 1790 California, Los Angeles
    “Juan José LOBO, muleteer, español, from Villa Sinaloa, 47; wife María Nicolasa BELTRÁN, española, [from Horcasitas, Sonora] 33; seven children, españoles: María Rita, 14; María Antonia, 12; Pedro José, 9; Timoteo, 6; José Cecilio, 4; María Dionisia, 2; José Marcial, two months.”
    See this link regarding Maria Nicolasa BELTRAN and Juan LOBO:
    http://genforum.genealogy.com/beltran/messages/49.html
    See this link regarding Jose LOBO and Maria Nicolasa BELTRAN. This is very solid information.
    http://www.militarymuseum.org/SBFounding.html
    Mission Record San Gabriel Matrimonial entry # 1258, 02 November 1812. Jose Cesilio LOBO married Maria Casilda SOTO.
    Spanish-Mexican Families of Early California Volume III – Los Pobladores de la Reina de Los Angeles by Marie E. Northrop, page 107:
    “35. SATURNIA FELIZ, daughter of José Francisco Féliz and María Josefa COTA, was born about 1818 at San Gabriel. She was married 26 June 1836 at Mission San Gabriel to Juan José Cecilio VILLALOBO/LOBO, son of José Cecilio VILLALOBO, soldado de cuera, and María Casilda SOTO. He was baptized 14 January 1816 at San Diego Presidio, de 4 días.
    Children of S. FÉLIZ and J.J.C, VILLALOBO:
    103 i. Gabriela VILLALOBO, bp. 4 Apr 1837 Mission San Gabriel.
    104 ii. María Adelaida VILLALOBO, bp. 6 Mar 1842 Mission San Gabriel.
    105 iii. María Encarnación VILLALOBO, b. c1844 nr. San Gabriel: m. 10 Sep 1859 Mission San Gabriel to Alejo BERNAL (of Alamos, Sonora, Mexico: de 18 Años).
    106 iv. Francisco María Esperanza VILLALOBO, bp 9 Sep 1846 Mission San Gabriel.
    107 v. María Modesta VILLALOBO, bp. 11 Sep 1846 Mission San Gabriel.
    108 vi. José Serafín Refugio VILLALOBO, bp. 25 Feb 1849 Mission San Gabriel.
    109 vii. Felipe Santiago LOBO, bp. 24 May 1851 Los Angeles Plaza Church, de 3 días.
    110 viii. María de los Angeles LOBO, b. 2 Apr 1853; bp. 25 Apr 1853 Mission San Gabriel; m. 12 Feb 1869 Mission San Gabriel to Ygnacio OCHOA (of Oquita, Sonora, Mexico).”
    Note that the last two children are named LOBO here. Their grandfather, José Cecilio VILLALOBO, usually used the surname LOBO, although I have seen at least one incidence where he was recorded as VILLALOBO. The great-grandfather Juan Jose Miguel VILLALOBO was only known by that name well after he came to the Presidio of Santa Barbara. Prior to that, he was usually known as Jose LOBO, and occasionally Juan Jose LOBO.
    If you need further information, I may be able to help. Contact me at californiano@att.net [Franklin G. Mead (member), Rio Linda, Calif.]

Pregunta 671 - 21 July 2011
    Hi,   
    My cousin's husband is a Californio descended from a Juan DIAZ from Monterey. He is said to have been a soldier.  Does anyone have information on this family.  [Cecelia Brewart (nonmember), Upland, Calif.] 
    Note: Usually I would hesitate to publish this query without more information as to time period or family since there must be more than one Juan DIAZ from Monterey. However, in trying to pinpoint any Juan DIAZ from Monterey, I found that a soldado de cuera, Juan Francisco REYES, had two children in Monterey and that Juan REYES' father was Juan Joseph DIAZ. Juan REYES evidently took his mother's name, REYES, for some reason, which was not uncommon. But it seems possible that one of his children or grandchildren might have reverted to DIAZ. Since I thought this an intriguing possibility, I have published the query to open discussion. My information is from Marie Northrop's Spanish-Mexican Families of Early California 1769-1850, vol. I, pp. 282-84. La Tejedora

Pregunta 670 - 1 July 2011
    I have been told that the last name of BUELNA is not used in Spain, and that it was brought to the new world by three brothers who came in 1540 with Coronado. Their true surname is unknown but they came from a town or village called Buelna (northern Spain, Asturias) and eventually it was used as their name, and that anyone with that last name is somehow a descendant of the three brothers. Has anyone else heard of this? My great-grandmother was Rosa Henrietta BUELNA [born 1830, died 1911]. [Mary Ryan (member), San Francisco, Calif.]

Pregunta 669 - 23 June 2011
    Needing information on great-great-grandfather, Astro (or Asto) Porteo VALENZUELA, and his wife, my great-great-grandmother Delfina VALENZUELA, parents of Clara VALENZUELA. I think she was about 13 or 14 when she married William SPROUL at the Santa Barbara Mission, 2 March 1865. My family is having such a problem with finding this information! Thank you. [Constance Valenzuela (nonmember), Ventura, Calif.]

Pregunta 668 - 23 June 2011
    I am interested in corresponding with any HIGUERA descendents to help fill in the blanks on Tomas and Basilia HIGUERA'S children. The Museum in San Luis Obispo has graciously provided a photo of them. I am missing only one picture in the direct line to me. Also many thanks to Paul Howard and Stephen Gibb for sharing their extensive research. [Linda Higuera (member), Loveland, Colo.]

Pregunta 667 - 14 June 2011
    In doing a Google search for "burton juan california san jose" one of the search results was a 2004 "Errors in Research" posting by Sheila Ruiz Harrell. In the posting she was correcting information about a BURTON vs. a BUTRON. At the end of the posting she asked that anyone descended from Juan BURTON and Juana Estefania GALINDO please contact her. I am descended from them via their daughter Maria SICARIAS BURTON. Maria SICARIAS had two children and then died in 1869 in Calaveras County. I have traced the familial connection through probate records and death  records of the two children. I'm still lacking church and civil records of birth for the two children, marriage record of Maria SICARIAS (surname of her two children is de LA VEGA), and birth/baptism records of the two children, and the full name and vitals of their father. I have been working extensively with Calaveras and Santa Clara County historical archives and Catholic parishes to fill in the missing record!  Fortunately, through the Huntington Library's excellent digitization of all the California Missions records, the Family History Library parishes films, and Dolores Castro Shaw's book, I have been able to trace Juana Estefania GALINDO'S ancestry back to the parents of Nicolas GALINDO and the parents of his wife. I just have this gap around Maira SICARIAS BURTON - who was her husband and how did she come to move from Santa Clara County to Calaveras County between the 1860 Federal Census (where she is residing in Santa Clara County) and 1864 when her first child, a son, was born in Calaveras County? (I found one suspect source that indicated 1862 as his birth date.) Her second child, a daughter, was born in 1867 in Calaveras County. I would appreciate any information regarding de LA VEGA (1860-1870) in Northern California, and information about other descendants of Juan (John) BURTON and Juana Estefania GALINDO. [Linda Dougherty (nonmember), Seattle, Wash.]

Pregunta 666 - 14 June 2011
    Juan De Mata PICO and Juana VALENZUELA were the parents of my ancestor, Francisca PICO.  Juan De Mata PICO was born in 1814 in Santa Barbara. Ramon LEON married Francisca PICO LABRADO as her second husband. I believe his son, John/Juan R. LEON (born 1878 or 1879 Vallejo, Calif.), married her daughter, Juana LABRADO, finding this out was shock to me (source though census records, S.B wedding records). Ramon LEON was born in Chile. I found census stating he was in California sometime between 1833 and 1845. Juan R. LEON'S mother was born in California. Her family was most likely in Alta California before 1848, but I do not have her name. I have traced Juan De Mata PICO and Juana VALENZUELA all the way back to Luis Quintero so to complete my tree I need the missing information on Juan R. LEON.
    My family knows that Ramon LEON came from Santiago, Chile. There was Inca woman by the name of BUSTIMANTE, but I can't figure out if she was Ramon LEON'S first wife and thus grandmother to my great-grandfather, Ramon de LEON. I was told by my grandmother that BUSTIMANTE was his real mother. She even showed me a picture of her on metal plate, the way they used to take pictures. If anyone has information on this Inca woman please let me know.  Thanks!! [Jason Gonzales (nonmember), Santa Barbara, Calif.]

Pregunta 665 - 2 June 2011
    Hello,
    I saw a post from you about the ALVARADO family. My name is Heather Ann ALVARADO. My grandfather was Lionel ALVARADO and 6 grandfathers back was Juan Bautista, father to my 5th grandfather, Francisco Xavier. (I may be off a generation.) As I understand it, Francisco is the uncle of Gov. Juan Bautista ALVARADO. I am not 100% sure my search has taken me into the right path/family line and hope someone can help? [Heather Alvarado Thompson (nonmember), Murriet, Calif.]

Pregunta 664 - 13 May 2011 
    I have been told all my life that my great-grandmother Martina LUGO, born August 1865 in California, was a direct descendent to Antonio Maria LUGO. However I cant find her! I'm wondering if her real name wasn't Martina but some sort of nickname. . . it has become somewhat an obsession since I was named after her.  Martina's husband, my great-grandfather was Manuel MOSQUIERA and was born June 1861 in California, but his parents were born in Mexico. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated. Most Sincerely. [Tina Mosquiera Johnson (nonmember), Downey, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 664 - 27 January 2012
    I found a Mamuel Dioncio MOSQUIERA 18 April 1858 Nuestra Senora de la Soledad, Huaras, Ancash, Peru.
Parents: Manuel MOSQUIERA and Maria EDUARDO. Hope this helps! [No name or contact information given]
Respuesta a Pregunta 664 - 1 July 2011
    Martina LUGO is my daughter's great-great-great-grandmother on her mom's side by way of the CORTS. From what I have found, her name was indeed Martina and she was married to Manuel MOSQUIERA. Thanks for the Antonio Maria LUGO tip. Unfortunately, I don't have any other leads for you. Good luck! [Herb Gordon (nonmember), Murrieta, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 664 - 27 September 2012
    Yes, that is the family! Martina and Manuel had an older daughter named Rose who later married into the CORT family. They also had sons (including) Manuel Jr. who marrIed a lady named Eugenie; another son named Pablo, (also) Ralph, Philberto, and my grandfather Arthur. They also had another daughter Lillian, aka Andencia, who later married into the ABBOT family. I would love any and all information, maybe pictures of the old family. Most Sincerely. [Tina Johnson (nonmember), Downey, Calif., valntina.tjohnson@gmail.com]
Respuesta a Pregunta 664 - 9 June 2013
    LUGO family: Francisco Ginez de LUGO and wife Gertrudis, Villa Sinola, New Spain (Mexico), start it all. They arrive with the 30 families in Alta California 1775. However, they are not on de Anza's manifest from Tubac, Arizona? Your date 1865 would be four generations later, say x 10 children per family this is a lot of LUGO familia. Try the 1860 census. I found my great-great-grandmother living with a sister and three cousins at the same address. Good hunting or call Dan BAILEY, VASQUEZ, LUGO [Dan Bailey (non-member), Destin Florida]

Pregunta 663 - 13 May 2011
Pregunta deleted at the request of the author. La Tejedora

Pregunta 662 - 13 May 2011
Pregunta deleted at the request of the author. La Tejedora

Pregunta 661 - 21 April 2011
    I think my father is somehow related to Pedro AMADOR. My dad's mom was born in a small town adjacent to Cocula, Jalisco, named Santa Rosa, Jalisco. My grandma's name was Rafaela AMADOR and her dad's name was Francisco AMADOR. When my grandma got married, she moved to Cocula, Jalisco, and there is where my father was born. We have a house in that town and my dad still goes to this day. I wish I could somehow find if there is a relation to Pedro AMADOR, we would be so proud. [Sonia Mora (nonmember), Ventura, Calif.]

Pregunta 660 - 6 April 2011
   I am looking for information on the wife of Jose de los Santos BORONDA (1842-1925). I believe his first wife was Rosario CASTRO (1852-1895). Also any information on her parents. [Rick Harris (nonmember), King City, Calif.]

Pregunta 659 - 6 April 2011
    I was told that I am a direct family member of Antonio Maria LUGO (1778-1860). My grandmother was Martina LUGO MOSQUIERA. She was married to Manuel MOSQUIERA. My quest for now is to trace Martina's family tree back to Antonio Maria LUGO - any takers? [Tina Johnson (nonmember), Downey, Calif.]

Pregunta 658 - 24 March 2011
    I have been told that I am a descendent of Don Antonio LUGO. My grandmother's name was Martina LIGO. She married Manuel MOSQUIERA. From stories passed down there is no way she was his daughter since he died in 1860 and my grandmother was born in 1865. She must have been a granddaughter from one of his sons or daughters. Also I read that the the Don was married 4 times? I only found 2 wives with a total of 21 children! [Tina Johnson (nonmember), Downey, Calif.]

Pregunta 657 - 24 March 2011
    Looking for any information on Hijar-Padre colony, specifically Jose Zenon FERNANDEZ and his sons, Maximo & Denesio FERNANDEZ, of Quito Ranch and Fernandez Rancho in Oroville Calif. I am a direct descendant of this line. My grandfather, Daniel FERNANDEZ, was directly raised by Maximo and lived with Denisio. Also interested in any information on Jenny HUEGUERA, late 1800 to early 1900, my great-great-grandmother. [Chuck Shea (nonmember), Penn Valley, Calif.]

Pregunta 656 - 24 March 2011
    I would like to find information regarding my ancestor, Manuela GRACIANA, born in San Diego, Calif., in 1848 and her mother, Maria Candelaria GRACIANO, who was granted land in 1838 near Santo Tomás south of Ensenada, Mexico, referred to as Rancho San Francisco of Las Fronteras. [Denise Gauthier (nonmember), Pleasanton, Calif.]

Pregunta 655 - 24 March 2011
    Maria Francisca CASTRO (born about 1795 at Loreto, Baja California) married Jose Canuto BORONDA 12 September 1816 at Mission San Carlos de Monterey. I have questions about her parents, Antonio Maria de CASTRO, a common soldier (born about 1760-1770 Baja California), and wife Maria Victoria BELTRAN (born circa 1775 Baja California). Does anyone know the parents of these two? Does anyone know anything else on these two people?
[Aaron (nonmember), Rogue River, Oregon]

Pregunta 654 - 12 March 2011
    Cristobal PALOMARES was born in Durango, Mexico on 14 June 1770. His parents were Jose Antonio Manuel PALOMARES and Maria Pascuala VALENZUELA; godparents were Juan de Dios CORONEL & Maria Aranzasu CORONEL. Christobal arrived in Monterey, Calif. in 1786. He died in 1834 in Los Angeles. His son Ignacio owed the San Jose Rancho with Vejar & Luis ARENAS. What I am trying to find out is any information on his parents, Jose & Maria? Josefa. His daughter was my great-grandmother and her husband was Luis ARENAS. Their daughter, Luisa, was my grandmother, married to Levi STANCHFIELD. Thank you. [Philip M. Stanchfield (nonmember), San Diego, Calif.] 

Pregunta 653 - 12 March 2011
    I am interested in my grandmother's family, the ROMEROS of Carpinteria. She was  born there in about 1879 and had 4 sisters and  3 brothers. I was told her family's mother & father were the owners of 90% of Carpinteria. My  grandmother was named Maria Santos ROMERO. She  married my  grandfather who was born Ramon VASQUES in  Santa  Barbara, Calif. His father, Ramon Veco VASQUEZ, was born in Santa Barbara in 1841. Thank  you. [Arnie Venzor (nonmember), San Diego, Calif.]

Pregunta 652 - 12 March 2011
    Spanish Frontier Mothers and Wives: I am looking for the parents of the following women: 
    Juana Maria HERNANDEZ (born about 1740 at Culiacan, Sinaloa; died about 1775-1776) married (about 1759) to Felipe Santiago TAPIA. 
    Maria Ygnacia Josefa DOMINGUEZ married to Anastacio Josef BUELNA. Their son, Joseph Antonio, was born about 1754 at Villa de Sinaloa, Sinaloa. 
    Josea BALENQUILA married to Anselmo BUELNA (no further information). 
    Maria Ceila Bonifacia COTA married to Juan Antonio BOTILLER. Their son, Jose Joaquin, was born about 1786 at Loreto, Baja California. 
    Ana Maria Josefa GARCIA married to Juan Jose SEPULVEDA. Their son, Francisco Xavier, was born about 1742 at Villa de Sinaloa, Sinaloa. 
    Maria Candelaria de REDONDO (born about 1746 at Villa de Sinaloa, Sinaloa; died 10 August 1804; buried 12 August 1804 at Mission San Gabriel; widow in 1790 at Santa Barbara) married (about 1763 at Villa de Sinaloa) to Francisco Xavier SEPULVEDA. 
    Can anyone help me with these, please? [Irvin E. Chambers (member), Menlo Park, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 652 - 24 March 2011
    Ana Maria Josefa GARCIA was born 1720 in Villa de Sinaloa. She married Juan Jose SEPULVEDA (date unknown) and died about 1745. I have not been able to find out who her parents were. Ana & Juan are my grandparents many years removed.  
    Maria Candelaaria de REDONDO (ARRENDONDO) -- I have never been able to trace down her side of the family other than she was married to one on my grandparents in 1763.
    I will e-mail you more information soon. I am from the Josef Antonio Andres SEPULVEDA line of the SEPULVEDA family. [Richard Sepulveda@cox.net (nonmember), Vistak, Calif.]

Pregunta 651 - 20 February 2011
    Does any research indicate a direct connection between the name de ANZA and de ANDA? [Anthony de Anda (not yet member), Santa Paula, Calif.]

Pregunta 650 - 24 January 2011
    Wondering if anyone has information on Josefa BUELNA, sister of my great-grandmother Rosa BUELNA; Rosa was born 15 July 1863 along with her twin Blanca. Their parents were Don Bonifacio Antonio BUELNA and Gertrudis HIGUERA. I understand that she was married at least 2 times (possibly 3?) to a Mr. WATSON and a Mr. MORENO. And does anyone have information on Christina ESTORGA and  Elvira TAROT who were ? cousins?  Thank you.  [Mary Ryan (member), San Francisco, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 650 - 24 March 2011
    I have spent years collecting information on this family. Josefa had two sons with WATSON, at least 4 children with OLIVAS, and then 5 children with MORENO. Please email me at sheila-ann@juno.com and we can compare and share our findings. Great to know someone else is researching this family! [Sheila Ruiz Harrell (former member), Modesto, Calif.]

Pregunta 649 - 24 January 2011
    I am looking for information about the family of Juan de Mata BORONDA and Juana Maria ROMERO. Juan de Mata was born on 8 Feb 1822, married in 1847,  and is the son of Jose Manuel BORONDA and Juana Marie COTA. I'm looking for a son of Juan de Mata who may be the father of the Edelfrieda Victoria BORONDA. Edelfrieda Victoria BORONDA was born about October 1891 and is living with her aunt Maria Y. in the 1900 census. Maria Y. is a daughter of Juan de Mata BORONDA and Maria Juana ROMERO. Aunt Maria was first married to Antonio MENDEZ, and then Ventura GONZALES. I am trying to ascertain the parents of Edelfrieda and must assume by the census sheet that her father is a brother of Maria Y. BORONDA. Edelfrieda married Earl KELSO in 1908 and they had a daughter, Crystal Ramona, on 27 March 1909 in Monterey. Earl, Frieda, and Crystal eventually moved to Washington State where Earl and Frieda divorced and Frieda married Gilbert SCHMELZER and they had a son, Gilbert Eugene, in 1916. Frieda would pass away on 15 January 1917 and is buried in the GAR Cemetery in Snohomish, Washington. Her death cert listed a father as "Fernando" but I fail to find any sons of that name in the BORONDA family. Since the information was probably given by someone without close knowledge of the BORONDA family I am leaning towards guessing that her father may have been Bernardo Leon BORONDA. Does anyone recognize Edelfrieda Victoria BORONDA? Thank you. [Kent Benn (nonmember), Westport, Mich.]

Pregunta 648 - 30 December 2010
    My daughter is doing a family research project for school and I'm having trouble figuring out our family history. My grandmother's maiden name is Florence Josephine CASTRO, her married name Olga ANDERSON. She was born in San Francisco in 1909. Her parents names were Jose or Joseph CASTRO and Otilia NUNEZ. I think Otilia was born in Guatemala and met her husband in San Francisco in 1907. She had a sister Doris (1911-2003) who never married and had no children. I am looking at pictures to try and figure out a link to Jose CASTRO (born 1880 in San Luis Obispo, Calif.). I remember my grandmother saying she was one of his descendents. His father, Jose CASTRO, was born 1845 in California. Joseph CASTRO, my great-grandfather, is labeled in an undated picture with his younger brother, "Eddie", and younger sisters, Mollie and Lenna. Another childhood picture is labeled San Luis Obispo. My grandmother's mother's parents names were Augustine and Conchaquinto? NUNEZ. My grandmother passed away 30 April 2000 in Spokane, Washington. Any help confirming my links to Jose CASTRO of San Luis Obispo and his father and/or figuring out our family heritage is appreciated. Thank you. [Kim Haney (nonmember), Spokane, Wash.]

Pregunta 647 - 19 December 2010
    I am a descendant of Jose Jacinto Maria LORENZANA, one of the LORENZANA orphans of 1800. I understand he was at Casa de Cuna in Mexico City prior to his departure from Mexico at age 10. As he was Indian, I'm interested in knowing his birth name, his group or tribe, and where it was in Mexico he came from. Any information or suggestions on how I can acquire this information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time and consideration. [Timothy Jones (nonmember), Quincy, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 647 - 19 December 2010
    Since most or all the orphans were gathered up from the streets back in the 1790s, it is almost impossible to trace their lineage. Most infants were the result of Spanish soldiers mingling with the native women who probably belonged to an array of Indian tribes in the region. Some were the result of Indians with Indians and the ones labeled mestizo are the result of offspring of Spanish and Indian mix and male or female and Indian women. It gets real complicated after a few generations of these mixtures. As you know, most of the natives in the region at the time Herndo Cortez arrived in the 1520s were Aztec plus whatever other natives they had for slaves when they conquered tribes of the surrounding area. Casa de Cuna is a name for an orphanage as used back then, and orfanato is used today to describe an orphanage. I do have a list of the orphans and the families of gente de razon they were assigned to in 1805, as well as who they married.  For further information, please call me at (559) 299-5830 or send me an e-mail to jandeloren@att.net [John Lorenzana (member), Clovis, Calif.]

Pregunta 646 - 7 December 2010
    Looking for information that may link Angela de LEON (who wed Andres de COTA) and Agustina de LEON (who wed Manuel ROMERO). . . are they sisters? cousins, aunt and niece, or related at all? They do have descendents in common, including me.
    Angela de LEON was mother of both Don Pablo Antonio COTA and his older brother Jacinto COTA y de LEON. Jacinto, according to Los Californianos information, was born about 1720; Pablo about 1740. Pablo was buried at Santa Barbara 31 December 1800. He had been the alcalde there. Pablo's wife was Rosa Maria LUGO. There has always been a story that my grandmother's mother's, mother's parents were 3rd cousins. They are 2nd cousins through the 2 COTA brothers, but if Angela was the sister of the Augustina de LEON who wed Manuel ROMERO and was mother of Felipe ROMERO who wed Juana LINON -- that would explain/back up the family story.     
    On another subject, a short time ago I had a DNA test done to determine my mitochondrial DNA, I knew it would be one of 3 options, and it did come up Native American, but what tribe? What can I do to find out which tribe? The ancestors are Maria Lugarda SALGADO and her mother, Lucia ALIPAS, who wed a Spanish soldier of Portuguese descent named Francisco SALGADO. He had a brother who was a Jesuit missionary. Maria Lugarda married Juan Romero  and they were the parents of Maria Gertrudis ROMERO, who was born about 1779 at Loreto and wed Manuel Antonio COTA y de LEON, born 23 January 1779 at Mission San Antonio de Padua. Manuel was the son of Pablo Antonio COTA y de LEON and Rosa LUGO. [Mary Ryan (member) San Francisco, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 646 - 27 January 2012
    Maria Lugarda SALGADO married Juan ROMERO. Felipe ROMERO is in my family tree. To know the tribe write to me at mlopez569@hotmail.com [Mark (nonmember), Oceano, Calif.]
    Mark: could you let the rest of us know the tribe, too? La Tejedora
Respuesta a Pregunta 646 - 12 March 2011
    In his wonderful book on the Jesuits, Antigua California, Harry Crosby states that Francisco Javier SALGADO was a soldier at Loreto and at the northern Jesuit missions. Therefore, if he married in Baja California, his wife, Lucía ALIPAZ, could have been a Cochimi Indian. 
    Lugarda's husband, Juan María ROMERO, is described as a mestizo from Sonora, so some of his forebears were probably Yaqui or Seri Indians. Many Yaquis came to the peninsula over the years. Francisco Javier's wife could have come from these groups, too. 
    Also, Crosby does not mention a Jesuit Padre Salgado. [Rondi Frankel (nonmember), Mexico City, Mexico]

Pregunta 645 - 6 December 2010
    I am a teacher and looking for information about the descendants of Patricio CASTRO, Isabella CASTRO, and Jose CASTRO. They are all the children of Victor Ramon CASTRO (born) 1817. I believe they all had land in El Sobrante near San Pablo Dam Road and Castro Ranch Road. Isabella and Patricio both married brother sisters in the FITZGERALDS family. I'm not sure who Jose CASTRO married. I see all three of them on a land map of the late 1880s. I have Belle CASTRO in Hercules, Calif., in 1930 and Patrick CASTRO in Richmond, Calif., in 1930. I heard Patricio (Patrick) CASTRO had grandsons who were famous rodeo riders. Any information would be appreciated. Thank you. [Joanne Rubio (nonmember), El Sobrante, Calif.]

Pregunta 644 - 23 November 2010
    Hello, 
    In doing my genealogy I've discovered my family and I are descendents of Andres de COTA and Martin Olivera REYES, Francisco Salvador de LUGO, Juana Maria Rita MARTINEZ, Josef Vicente FELIZ, Maria Manuela Ygnacia PENUELAS, Pablo Antonio COTA, Angela de LEON, Ygnacio Narciso OLIVERA, the list goes on. In researching my family I find these families were part of the Rivera-Moncada Expedition. I am looking for Clemente VILLA who married Vibiana TORREZ on 12 April 1885 in Santa Margarita, Calif. She was the daughter of  Maria Guadalupe Lucina de Refugio OLIVERA and Jose Vibiano TORREZ. I know they were married on 11 January 1858 at the Santa Barbara Mission.
    Vibiana TORREZ was suppose to have been born 28 April 1866 in San Salvador de Jurupa. Can someone tell me where this was? Can anyone tell me how to trace Clemente -- they have his birthday as 1854 in Southern California or Mexico? My mother seemed to think that he was born in Santa Rita Beach, Mexico. Most of my mother's family has passed and no one seems to know who his parents were. I thought perhaps he was a descendant of Juan Jose VILLA of the Rivera  Expedition. [Debbie Maysey (not yet member), Atascadero, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 644 - 6 April 2011
    Ms. Maysey,  
    Maria Viviana de Jesus TORRES was born 22 April 1866, likely in Agua Mansa on the Santa Ana River, now part of Colton, California. She was baptized on 02 May 1866 at the San Salvador de Jurupa chapel there. The original record can be found in the 1st book of baptisms for San Salvador de Jurupa, currently in the archives of the San Bernardino Catholic Diocese. San Salvador de Jurupa was a community on both sides of the Santa Ana River where now the San Bernardino and Riverside county lines now intersect. It was begun about 1844 primarily by emigrants from New Mexico. Agua Mansa was the part on the northwest bank of the Santa Ana River and La Placita (La Placita de los Trujillos) was on the southeast bank (part of which is now in the city of Riverside).
    Viviana was one of nine known children of Jose Viviemo TORRES (aka "Vibiano" or "Vivian" TORRES) & Juana Maria Guadalupe OLIVERA. The couple was indeed married on the date you cite, but at Mission San Luis Obispo, not Mission Santa Barbara. The fact that 3 of their 9 children were born and baptized in San Salvador de Jurupa implies Viviemo and/or Juana had family there.
    Juana Maria Guadalupe OLIVERA was born or baptized on 12 December 1846 at Mission La Purisima near Lompoc, California. She was a daughter of Juan Guadalupe Lucio OLIVERA & Augustina CALDERON.
    Viviemo TORRES was born somewhere in New Mexico about 1832. He may have come to California with a sheep drive in the mid-1850s; but I've not found him in San Salvador de Jurupa records before the early 1860s. He likely arrived in San Luis Obispo County about 1858. I believe he can be found at San Simeon in the 1860 census. (He may or may not be a relation of my own TORRES ancestors from the Pozo area.) Viviemo was a foreman on Santa Margarita Ranch until he was shot and died in 1880.
    As for Clemente VILLA, he is likely a "VILLAVICENCIO", possibly of the Baja California VILLAVICENCIOS, which would match your mother's recollection. The 1900 census gives his birth date as "May 1860" in Mexico, but it was likely actually ten years earlier, in 1850. That same census says he emigrated here in 1879. [Alexander King (member), Los Angeles, Calif.]

NOTE: The two queries below mention previous postings. If that information is important, please give the 3 digit Pregunta number (which is followed by the day it was posted). It is very time consuming for me to attempt to locate a particular query without the number. La Tejedora

Pregunta 643 - 16 November 2010
Pregunta (almost the same as a previous person has posted): 
    My great-grandmother, Concepcion de RUIZ, was born in early Los Angeles in 1845. She died in Los Angeles in 1938. She married George Washington ROWE (deceased approx. 17 February 1905) in 1870 in the Old Plaza Church. I am trying to locate who her parents were and any information regarding her family (especially her parents), her life (early), and or the ROWE'S (particularly in this time period. . . early California). A previous posting on your site stated, in a question, that she was Castilian Spanish and her parents came here on a land grant [concession] from Spain. Please help! Muchas gracias de antemano! [Craig Rowe (nonmember), La Verne, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 643 - 20 February 2011
    I found one piece of information for your Conception RUIZ. From the Temple transcripts of the Mission Records I found the entry at the Los Angeles Plaza Church for their marriage:
    1085)  Jul 4, 1870 -  George ROWE, 33, native of Canada, of John & Alma RAND, with Concepcion RUIZ, 25, vda. de Charles HOSKER,  of Anselmo (RUIZ) y Ma. Jesus ACEBEDO de L.A.  Manuel BRUNETTI, y su muger Susana YBARRA, wits.
    That at least gives parent's names, including mother's maiden names. You could probably request certificates of death from the state for both George and Concepcion, which will have more information. Good luck. [Valerie Hall (member), Sacramento, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 643 - 14 January 2013
    Can you please help me with question 643.  I am unclear on what "Vda. de Charles HOSKER of Anselmo (RUIZ) y Ma. Jesus ACEBEDO" means. I am specifically looking to who Conception's parents are and I am not sure who Charles HOSKER is? The print maybe? Thanks so much for your help. [Janet Gauger (nonmember), Lincoln, Calif.]

Pregunta 642 - 16 November 2010
    I have been trying to sort out errors in my family history. I have read on a previous post that the Jose de Jesus LOPEZ cited in Spanish-Mexican Families of Early California by Marie Northrop is not the right Jose de Jesus LOPEZ, and other references were also cited as incorrect. Who is the right Jose de Jesus? This obviously makes the ancestor lines based on this error wrong. Can anyone please help? Please post or email me directly, either way. californiana@att.net Thank you. [Linda Mead Smith (member), Lawndale, Calif.] 
Respuesta a Pregunta 642 - 20 November 2010
    Marie Northrop: Spanish-Mexican Families of Early California – Errors Regarding  Jose de Jesus LOPEZ. Vol. III, page 377:
    “52.   Jose de Jesus LOPEZ, son of Cornelio Maria LOPEZ and Maria Rafaela Laureana ROMERO, was baptized 19 March 1817 at Mission San Gabriel. (1) He was married 25 February 1844 at Mission San Gabriel (2) to Maria Marcela BOJORQUEZ. She was born 22 February 1825 in San Jose and baptized 25 February 1825 at Mission Santa Clara, daughter of Bartolome Francisco BOJORQUEZ and Maria Nicolasa LINARES. LOPEZ died in 1854 in Sonoma. Maria Marcela was married (3) 20 January 1850 in Los Angeles to John (Juan) SLERT; she died 14 June 1896 in Santa  Monica.
    Children of J.J. LOPEZ and M.M. BOJORQUEZ:
    127  i.  Quirino LOPEZ, baptized 13 June 1843 Mission Solano. (4)
    +128  ii. Jose Silvestre LOPEZ born 1847.
              iii. Maria Andrea LOPEZ, born 2 June 1848 Mission Solano; married 12 October 1868 Los Angeles Plaza Church to Joseph LAVENTHAL (of Prussia).
    129  iv. Maria Rafaela de Jesus LOPEZ, baptized 3 January 1850 Mission Solano.
    130  v.  Guadalupe LOPEZ, baptized 1851 Mission Solano.
    132  vi. Jose de Petra LOPEZ, born Sonoma Co.
    133  vii. Sebastian LOPEZ,
    134  viii. Margurita LOPEZ, baptized 25 February 1855 L.A. Plaza Church, de 3 dias; married January 1873 L.A. Plaza Church to Manuel DOMINGUEZ (age 23, born Santa Barbara, son of Domingo DOMINGUEZ & Francisca VARELAS)."
    (1) This baptism date is for Josef de Jesus LOPEZ, son of Ygnacio Maria de Jesus LOPEZ and Maria Timotea VILLALOBOS. This Josef de Jesus LOPEZ was born on 16 March 1817 and baptized on 22 March 1817 at Mission San Diego, baptism entry #63. I have found NO other records for this person. The correct Jose de Jesus LOPEZ was born in 1820 (verified by military enlistment records). The Mission San Gabriel baptism records #6295, 11 April 1819 through #6559, 1 December 1820 are lost. His baptism would have occurred during this period.
    (2) The marriage reference and date of 25 February 1844 for Jose de Jesus LOPEZ and Maria Marcela BOJORQUEZ are incorrect. They were married 25 October 1844 at Mission San Rafael Archangel, marriage entry #561.
    (3) The reference to the marriage of Maria Marcela BOJORQUEZ and John SLERT is incorrect. They were married on 20 January 1856. In 1850, Jose de Jesus LOPEZ was still living, and married to Maria Marcela BOJORQUEZ​.
    (4) Quirino LOPEZ is incorrect. Quirino was the illegitimate son of Maria Marcela BOJORQUEZ. He was baptized at Mission San Francisco de Solano, Baptism record #1520 by Fr. Jose Lorenzo Quijas. Fr. Quijas neglected to record the actual date of the baptism, nor the child’s surname. There is no entry for Quirino’s surname, nor is there any reference to his father. He is recorded as natural (illegitimate). He appears to have been baptized between 1841-1842. He is not the son of Jose de Jesus LOPEZ and did not live in the LOPEZ household. He was raised by his grandparents, Bartolome Francisco BOJORQUEZ and Maria Nicolasa LINARES. He appears on the 1860 census as Vicente BOJORQUEZ.
Respuesta a Pregunta 642 CORRECTION - 7 December 2010:
    Mea culpa: I stated that in the 1860 census, Quirino BOJORQUES was listed as Vicente BOJORQUEZ. This is incorrect. He was listed as Vetro BOJORQUES. I am sorry for any inconvenience. [Franklin G. Mead (member), Rio Linda, Calif.]
    Vol. I, page 207, Children of Ygnacio Maria de Jesus LOPEZ:
    “9.   Josef de Jesus LOPEZ
      Baptized     22 March 1817 at Mission San Diego
      Married       To Maria Marcela BOJORQUEZ (5).”
    (5)  He was not married to Maria Marcela BOJORQUEZ.
    Vol. I, pages 79 & 80:
    “9. Maria Marcela BOJORQUEZ 
    Born    22 February 1825; baptized 25 February 1825 at Mission Santa Clara
    Married (1) 25 October 1844 at Mission San Rafael 6  to Jose de Jesus LOPEZ
                 (2)  20 January 18506 at Los Angeles Plaza Church to John SLERT of Germany.”
    6  Here, Marie Northrop is correct in the marriage of Jose de Jesus LOPEZ and Maria Marcela BOJORQUEZ, but is in error with the marriage date of John SLERT and Maria Marcela BOJORQUEZ. The marriage was in 1856.
    Vol. II, Page 142:
    “Jose de Jesus LOPEZ [son of Cornelio Maria LOPEZ and Maria Rafaela Laureana ROMERO] born about 1820 at San Gabriel 7.  Buried 27 December 1827 (child) 8.”
    7 Here, Marie Northrop is correct in the birth date of Jose de Jesus LOPEZ, but is in error in the death information.  Marie Northrop has confused him with his brother. Jose de Jesus LOPEZ died in Sonoma in 1854. Sonoma City, County and newspaper did not start keeping/reporting death records until 1855.
    8  Jose Ygnacio de Jesus LOPEZ, brother of Jose de Jesus LOPEZ, was born 19 November 1825 and baptized on 21 November 1825 at Mission San Gabriel, baptism entry #7365. He was buried on 27 December 1827 at Mission San Gabriel, burial entry #5269.
    This information substantiates the Jose de Jesus error. For additional lineage information, see the Los Californianos Correction page on their website Corrections. Mutnick and others have also made this error.
    I have additional information, and can be contacted at Californiano@att.net [Franklin G. Mead (member), Rio Linda, Calif.]

Pregunta 641 - 16 November 2010 
    Jose Antonio de LOS NIEVES was born almost as soon as the ROBLES arrived at Branciforte. Eugenia came along in 1800, Rafael two years later, Raimundo in 1804, and Antonio a year later. Teodoro, Avelino, Secundino, Maria Guadalupe, Nicolaus, Fulgencio, and Estefana came in rapid succession. Jose Antonio de LOS NIEVES died in 1822, only a few months after he had taken as a bride Petra VASQUEZ. His son, Policarpio, was born after Jose Antonio’s death. Rafael was also known as Jose Rafael ROBLES. Because Benito ROBLES was born about 1827, I believe that Jose Rafael ROBLES was his father, and not Jose Antonio de los Nieves ROBLES. Does anyone have proof of this? [Robert Stone (nonmember), Auburn, Calif.]

Pregunta 640 - 16 November 2010
    As a child I lived on the Pico Ranch in San Jacinto where my father was a vaquero in the mid-1920s. I was trying to piece together that part of my life. At that time, Ruth PICO seemed to be in charge -- because Albert was only a few years older than I was, I did not know him. What I have always wondered about was, which PICO line was she from? -- e.g., her father and uncles. I have thought of Ruth PICO so many times over all these years, and can still remember her when we attended Mass at St. Anthony's in San Jacinto. I'm a YORBA descended from Teodocio, son of Jose Antonio YORBA. [Ruth Pico (nonmember)] 

Pregunta 639 - 31 October 2010
    My great-grandmother, Concepcion de RUIZ, was born in early Los Angeles in 1845. She died in Los Angeles in 1938. She married George Washington ROWE in 1870 in the Old Plaza Church. We are trying to locate who her parents were. A cousin told me that she was Castilian Spanish and her parents came here on a land grant from Spain. We would like more information on her family. We have an obituary but can't seem to locate more information about her early life here with her family. Thank you. [J Gauger (nonmember), Lake Almanor, Calif.]

Pregunta 638 - 31 October 2010
    I have traced my family on the DUARTE side as follows: myself Marc Jon DUARTE, father Fernando Carlos DUARTE, grandfather Emmedine DUARTE, great-grandfather Manuel, and Angel DUARTE (1830) and his wife Francisca FIQUEROA (1843). One of their sons was named Refugio DUARTE and it looks like a tie to the Duarte ranch? Can you help any with this? Thanks so much. [Marc Jon Duarte (nonmember), Benton City, Wash.]

Pregunta 637 - 31 October 2010
    Was there anyone with the de Anza expedition having the initials P. G. de P.? [D.J. Hamilton (nonmember), Kearney, Ariz.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 637 - 16 November 2010
    A list of the members of the Anza Expedition can be found at: http://www.sfgenealogy.com/spanish/anzadir.htm 
    This list also notes spouses and compares names with the 1790 Californ ia census. There are additional persons who are in California around that same time, as members of military (pay master, etc.). The Presidios at San Diego and Monterey are already in existence. The town of San Jose is founded with some of the Anza Expedition families who were ordered there in 1777.
    What is the source of your "name" by initials? [Julia Christy (member), Sundance, Wyom.]

Pregunta 636 - 31 October 2010
    Researching Maria Rita VALDEZ who married Vicente Ferrer VILLA. They had 11 children, and owned Beverly Hills. What are the names of their kids and whom did they marry? I need to find living descendants. I need sources/references of the "real" reason Maria sold Beverly Hills, Calif. I would like dates/places of: birth, baptism, marriage, death and burial of Maria and Vicente and their kids, if possible. Her parents were Eugenio VALDEZ and Maria Fabiana QUINTERO; her grandparents were Luis QUINTERO and Maria Petra RUBIO. [Johann Hassan (nonmember), Los Angeles, Calif.]

Pregunta 635 - 31 October 2010
    I am interested in finding information regarding my great-great-grandmother Maria Ramona PEREZ. She was born in Los Angeles, Calif., around 1833 and married Francisco ESTRADA of Concha, Chihuahua, Mexico in the year 1853 at San Gabriel Mission. I am also related to the John C. TURNER family and Placida RUELAS family of El Monte and Azusa, Calif., in the 1800s. I would enjoy hearing from anyone with further information. My email is gailjohnny4u@aol.com. Thanks. [Gail Gonzalez Lopez (nonmember), Victorville, Calif. 

Pregunta 634 - 2 September 2010
   My great great great grandparents were Francisco Ramon VILLAR (or VILLA, BILLAR, de VILLAR, etc.), and Susana BANEGAS (or BENEGAS, VENEGAS, etc.), living in the Presidio de San Diego, California, circa 1820s to early 1840s and possibly more. I do not have their vitals but assume they were born between 1790 to 1810 in Nueva España (New Spain, Colonial México), most likely. . . Alta California, Baja California, or Mexico. My great-great-great-grandfather, Francisco VILLAR, came to San Diego as a soldado de artilleria (artillery soldier) of the Mexican 6th Battalion, arriving with José María Echeandía and Agustín Vicente Zamorano. Family lore states my great-great-great-grandfather, Francisco VILLAR, also acted as comandante or subcomandante de San Diego mid-1835 to early 1840s. Francisco and Susana's daughter, María Bernarda Lugarda VILLAR (1834-1899), was my great-great-grandmother and the wife of my great-great-grandfather, George LYONS (1823-1908), pioneers of San Diego. Any other information on my family would be most welcome. [Donna Lyons aka Donna de Villar (nonmember), Orange County, Calif.]

​Pregunta 633 - 2 September 2010
    I am looking for information re my grandmother's, Angelina Margarite CHAVEZ, mother. All I have is a copy of her marriage license which states her mother's name was Rose TAYLOR of Ohio. I have searched the county records as well as the ECPP at Huntington to no avail. My grandmother's father was Miguel "Mike" Presentacion CHAVEZ, son of Bersabe MACHADO (daughter of Ygnacio) and Presentacion de la Luz CHAVEZ, son of Julian Antonio CHAVEZ and Maria Dorotea ROMERO. Julian came from Taos with his brother, Mariano. Julian stayed, became involved with pueblo politics, serving in many capacities, acquiring land, e.g., Chavez Ravine. Does anyone know of any other source I might find some information on? I don't know if Rose TAYLOR was a maiden name or a second marriage. Thank you. [Susan Margarite Worthen (nonmember), Hidden Valley Lake, Calif.]
​
    There is a cloud of mystery around my grandmother's (Angelina Margarite CHAVEZ) parentage, and I hope you can help. According to family and her recorded marriage license, her father is Miguel (Mike) Presentacion CHAVEZ, son of Jose Presentacion de la Luz CHAVEZ and Bersabe/Versabe MACHADO, son of Julian Antonio CHAVEZ and Dorotea ROMERO. That we know. But her mother's name on the license is "Rose TAYLOR, of Ohio". There was a "rumor" that she was really "Rosa RUIZ". . . but can't seem to find any trail of either one. Angelina was born in December 1900 and married Louis Anthony WORTHEN, son of Harry Stoughton WORTHEN and Refugio BERRYESSA, in 1922. Anyone out there know anything about these people? Thank you for any help. [Jo Ann Merrill (nonmember), Hidden Valley Lake, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 633 - 16 November 2010
    Hello,
    I have a relative who has Mariano CHAVEZ as her great-great-grandfather, who was the brother of Juliano of Chaves Ravine.
    Re your case -- have you checked out this California Index off Ancestry.com?
    California Birth Index, 1905-1995
    Birth, Marriage & Death
    Preview Name: Margaret Angelina CHAVEZ
    Birth County: Los Angeles 
    There's more to see Birth Date Gender 
    Mother's Maiden Name 
    Please feel welcome to email me directly at seesouls@hotmail.com 
    Sincerely. [Paul Burke (nonmember), Spokane, Wash.]

Pregunta 632 - 2 September 2010
    I am curious about Maria Antonio REDONDO who is my 4th-great-grandmother. Would anyone know if she is the sister of Maria Candelaria REDONDO? I can't seem to find any information on either of their parents, but I do remember seeing the name LIMON in my family tree at one time. Thanks in advance for any help that you may give me. [Sherry Moser (nonmember), Las Vegas, Nev.]

Pregunta 631 - 2 September 2010 
    I've learned I am a  descendant of Juan de la Maria OSUNA, my 5th-great-uncle; his father, Juan  Ismerio OSUNA, my 6th. I  do know that my great-grandfather's mother was Eleanor  MARON (born 1871; also known as  Leonor  MARON), who married John DURANT. My grandfather spent his early years with her until she died about 1922, I believe, when he was about 8 years old. However, in my  research, online, historical records/books and family input, I cannot locate who her siblings in fact are, or her parents. I believe it's the Silvestre MARRON line, but no matter where I look or stumble upon, I cannot find a listing of 'all' the children of whichever MARRON I'm reviewing. My  thinking is that since my grandfather knew Ramon or Raymond (as he was  often called) as his uncle (actually he was his great-uncle and the last of the Silver Dons 1 Oct 1882 - 25 Jul 1973), this makes Ramon OSUNA my 3rd-great-uncle. I last saw him on his ranch in either  '71 or '72 when I was  7 years old. It had to be that Ramon was a son of one of Eleanor  MARRON'S sisters that married an OSUNA. Thus, making Ramon, her nephew. Any help or  direction would be appreciated. As at this rate, I know more about surrounding branches that I'm likely not linked to.
    My great-great-grandmother had a horse and carriage in which she and my grandfather used to ride around San Diego. Here's something else: There was a man that was super kind to my grandfather (as a young boy) and left him a horse named Johnny Brown. . . when my grandfather, 8,9,10 (1922, 1923 or 1924) or so went to get the horse, the man's son refused to provide Johnny Brown's saddle, blanket, reins, and general tack, but he did give him Johnny Brown. My mother believes the man that owned JB was likely an uncle or brother of Leonor/Eleanor MARRON-DURANT. If anyone could remember whom it was that owned a horse named Johnny Brown. . . I might be able to move ahead with that name. I know, it's a long shot, but one of the older folks just might say, "Hey, I remember, or heard of, so and so owning a horse named JB." That man, whomever he was LOVED that horse, and wanted to give him to one that also loved JB as much; namely my grandfather, Melvin J. DURANT. Is there anywhere that lists "ALL" the children of Sylvestre and Leonora MARRON? [Lisa Marie Durant-Cross (member), Palm Springs, Calif.]
Pregunta 631 UPDATE - 1 November 2012
    I've long since learned that Juan Maria OSUNA is my 5th-GGF, his father, JYO, my 6th-GGF, not uncles as originally thought.
    Ramon Nacho OSUNA is a cousin, even if my own grandfather called him "Uncle" likely due to R.N.O. being 32 years older, but definitely his cousin. Taking a break from the Spanish records, viewing the French paper trail in Nice, France.  That seems much easier to have found; have reached so far that the records are mainly in Latin. I never dreamed this could even be possible.  [Lisa Cross (member), Palm Springs, Calif.]
Pregunta 631 UPDATE - 15 July 2013
    I forgot to mention (in the 2 Sept 2010 Respuesta) there were but two Juan Maria MARRON names that I had found. Juan Maria Romualdo MARRON (married to Marra Felipa de Jesus Catalina OSUNA, another ancestor of mine) and his nephew, Juan Maria Matias MARRON (son of Silvestre MARRON, Silvestre was the young brother of JMRM).
    Juan Maria Romualdo MARRON left Felipa a widow 17 Sep 1852. . . so, that cancels him out as Leonor was born in 1869. That leaves Juan Maria Matias MARRON; he married Lorenza SERRANO in 1875, he died in 1924. Ramona married a ZAMORANO about the same year. [Lisa Cross (nonmember), Palm Springs, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 631 - 2 September 2010
    Leonor MARRON, baptized 7 Mar 1870 at San Luis Rey (recorded in San Juan Capistrano book), was born 15 Mar 1869. She was an hija natural (illegitimate daughter) of Juan Maria MARRON and Maria Ramona OSUNA. Her madrina was Francisca MARRON de OSUNA. I am not sure which of the many Juan Maria MARRONS this refers to--possibly Silvestre's oldest son, Juan Maria Matias MARRON (born 1851).  
    I have three husbands listed for Leonor, including Jean DURANT with a child Maria de la Luz Eliza DURANT (born 13 Mar 1897). Probably there were others. I have these marriages for Leonor: 18 Oct 1888 Jose de los Santos CHICO in San Diego; 19 Jun 1898 Jean DURANT in San Diego; and 17 Sep 1907 Concepcion MOLINA in San Diego.
    Leonor's mother, Ramona OSUNA, is listed in the 1860 census as an Indian living with Francisca MARRON DE OSUNA. I believe that her father was Leandro OSUNA and his wife Francisca adopted her. Leandro died 1859 (suicide). Francisca was Silvestre MARRON'S slightly older sister. Silvestre's first wife was also a Leonora.
    Ramon N. OSUNA (1882-1973) was the son of Julio OSUNA and Josefa CROSTHWAITE. Julio, in turn, was the son of Leandro OSUNA and Francisca MARRON. Thus Julio (born circa 1848) and Ramona (born 1851) were probably raised as siblings. Ramona was born at San Dieguito in January 1851. I have Ramona buried at Mission Hills Cemetery 9 May 1894. [Ellen Sweet (member), La Jolla, Calif.]

Pregunta 630 - 2 September 2010
    The following Californios were soldiers in the 1st Native Cavalry, California Volunteers, during the Civil War and died at Fort Mason, Arizona. I am looking to confirm and complete information on them in order to mark their unmarked graves. If you have information, please consider sharing it for this worthy cause.
    Private Joaquin Manuel VALDEZ-PICO. Parents: Jose VALDEZ (1799-1878) and Rafaela PICO. Pension no. 402.027, dated 1889. Joaquin died of disease on 3 November 1865 at Fort Mason.
    1st Lieut. Crisanto Soto-_________. Parents: Unknown. Enlisted in San Francisco on 5 June 1863. Died of disease at Fort Mason on 16 October 1865.
    Sergt. Francisco HIGUERA-(PALOMARES?). Parents: (?Bernardo HIGUERA and Maria PALOMARES?). Enlisted in Santa Clara on 25 May 1863. Died of disease at Fort Mason on 19 November 1865. (NOT HIGUERA-SAEZ, who appears on the 1870 Census in Santa Clara.)
    Private Francisco Xavier DUARTE-ONTIVEROS. Parents: Manuel A. DUARTE and Maria Apolinaria ONTIVEROS. Enlisted in Los Angeles on 23 February 1864. Died of a gunshot wound at Fort Mason on 23 October 1865.
    Private Dolores BERNAL-___________. Parents: Unknown. Enlisted in Los Angeles on 13 January 1864. Died of disease at Fort Mason on 4 December 1865. mil gracias! [Lisa Casillas Siemsen (member), Sierra Vista, Ariz.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 630 - 27 January 2012
​    Dolores BERNAL (1827-1865)
    Bruno BERNAL 1799 Maria Antonia Silveria ORTEGA (1809 - 1852)
    Bruno's parents Josef Joaquin BERNAL (1762-1837) & Maria Josefa Daria SANCHEZ (1768-1858)
    Maria ORTEGA'S parents Don Ygnacio Maria Antansio ORTEGA (1764-1829) & Doña Ana Maria Gertrudis del Rosario ARCE (1771-1821)
    Francisco Xavier DUARTE (>1821 - 1865) relative of my mother's
    Manuel Antonio DUARTE (1801- ?) & Maria Apolinaria ONTIVERAS (1805- ?)
    Manuel's parents Juan Josef DUARTE (1765-1818) & Maria de los Angeles SERRANO (1791-1844)
    Maria ONTIVERAS' parents Juan Patricio ONTIVERAS (1772- ?) & Maria Antonia RODRIGUEZ (1780 - ?)
    Francisco HIGUERA (circa 1828 - 1865)
    Gregorio Ygnacio Maria HIGURA (1789 - >1845) & Maria Eulogia Concepcion PALOMARES (1800-1841)
    Gregorio's parents Joaw Joaquin Antonio HIGUERA (1755-1809) & Maria Teresa de Jesus COTA (1770-1813)
    Maria PALOMARES parents Jose Cristobal PALOMARES (1770-1831) & Maria Benedicta SAEZ (1780- 1858)
    Joaquin Manuel VALDEZ (mulato) (>1826-1865)
    Jose Rafael VALDEZ (1799-1878) & Maria Rafael PICO (1799 - ?)
    Jose's parents Private Eugenio VALDEZ (1755-1838) & Maria Fabriana Sebastiana QUINTERO (1766-1822)--Luis QUINTERO'S daughter
    Hope this helps. I have some more. Sincerely. [Patricia Thurlby (nonmember), Merced, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 630 - 29 June 2012
    I'm related to Francisco HIGUERA. Please contact me at my e-mail Hughiguera@yahoo.com. I have information on our family tree. I'm a direct descendant of Bernardo de LA LUZ. Maybe we can help other. [Richard Higuera (member #1623), Monterey Park, Calif.]

Pregunta 629 - 2 September 2010 
    I am looking for information on Antonio del CASTILLO, husband of Maria Teodosia VILLAVICINCIO. According to a book co-written by Eloisa Del Castillo Sifers, Antonio inherited part of Rancho Villa from Alessandro VILLAVICENCIO. Maria Teodosia VILLAVICINCIO was born in 1833, I have no dates for Antonio DEL CASTILLO. However, their son Antonio Maria del CASTILLO was born in 1858 in Cayucos, Calif. Any help you can give in regards to Antonio del CASTILLO would be appreciated. [Steve Fowler (nonmember), Saint Charles, Illinois]

Pregunta 628 - 2 September 2010
    I'm doing research on my family in California. My great-great-grandfather, George HOPKINS, was born in San Jose, Calif., 05 April 1853 to John HOPKINS of New Hampshire (?) and Maria MARTINEZ, a Mexican woman who was living in Alta California prior to the Gold Rush. It's unclear but she may have had relatives in Sinoquipe, Sonora, Mexico, as well. I unfortunately have been stuck here and am looking for more information on the MARTINEZ families living in San Jose prior to and during the Gold Rush. We do believe Maria MARTINEZ died in California, perhaps San Pedro. But I'm not 100% that she was born there (although it seems likely to me). Census records have been less than helpful. Unfortunately, Maria is also a common name. 
    I'm hoping to find some evidence of their marriage (if they even had one--which I believe they did) and evidence of their parents' names (both John and Maria--but especially Maria given the context of this site). It may not be super-helpful but I also know that George HOPKINS lived in San Jose until about 1863 when he moved to San Francisco and later worked aboard steamboats in Puget Sound in 1873 or so. He moved to Mexico in 1883 where he married in Sonora and produced a very prolific family tree. ANY leads would be greatly appreciated! [Juan Pablo Ferrer (nonmember), San Francisco, Calif.]
Pregunta 628 UPDATE - 15 May 2012
    I'm looking for information on the MARTINEZ families living in the San Gabriel Valley, especially those that would have lived/worked near Rancho San Jose (present day Pomona). Maria MARTINEZ is my great-x3-grandmother and gave birth to a son after the Gold Rush (April 5th, 1853), George HOPKINS, who went on to found a massive clan in Mexico.
    George states in his personal papers that his father was John HOPKINS, born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and that his mother, Maria MARTINEZ, was born in Alta California (years unknown). It is unknown if his parents were married, but it seems unlikely. He reported that he came from "meager" origins (I understand even the land owners around Rancho San Jose didn't know how to read). However, he states in his personal papers he was later educated in San Francisco. I am looking specifically for the names of George's grandparents, and the place/dates of birth of his parents, Maria MARTINEZ & John HOPKINS. [Juan Pablo Ferrer (nonmember), San Francisco, Calif.]

Pregunta 627 - 2 September 2010
    I have been looking for info re: my last name: GERMAN. I'm Mexican & my family comes from Sonora, Mexico. I recently came across some information re: Juan Bautista de Anza. Six people on his expedition (Sonora) had the last name GERMAN. De Anza was from Arizpe, Sonora; my ancestors came from towns very close by!! [Brenda German (nonmember), Mexico]
Respuesta a Pregunta 627 - 27 January 2012
    GERMAN family is in my family tree, specifically Maria Ygnacia GERMAN. If you want more, write to me at mlopez569@hotmail.com [Mark (nonmember), Oceano, Calif.]
Mark: I, and I am sure other readers, would like to know if you can connect Brenda with Anza's German families. La Tejedora

Pregunta 626 - 3 August 2010
    In tracking back my family origins, I show where Juan de Jesus POLLORENA was married to Ana Joaquina SEPULVEDA. However, I don't have a clear connection for her to the SEPULVEDA family. Who was her father, and her father's father? [Steve Milan (nonmember), Ventura, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 626 - 3 August 2010
    According to Saddleback Ancestors, Revised Edition, p. 161: Francisco Xavier SEPULVEDA'S eldest son, Juan Jose SEPULVEDA, after the death of his first wife, married Mariana Diaz LORENZANA as his second wife. Their only child was Joaquina Ana, baptized 29 July 1806 San Gabriel, who married first Juan de Jesus POLLORENA on 14 July 1824 at San Gabriel and second Jose Trinidad URQUIDEZ on 10 April 1873 San Gabriel. Mariana LORENZANA was born about 1786 in Mexico City and was one of those orphans who had been brought to Alta California in 1800. [Benita H. Gray (member), San Diego, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 626 - 18 May 2014
    I believe we have the same family tree connection with the name Juan de POLLORENA 
and Joaquina Ana SEPULVEDA(sic). We need to talk. Reneeedenscott@yahoo.com  [Renee Scott (nonmember), Pasadena, Calif.]

Pregunta 625 - 3 August 2010
    I have seen some genealogy that connects me to the Antonio Mario LUGO through his last son, Juan Francisco LUGO, born in June 1860 (of second wife Maria GERMAN born 1807). Note, he would have been born after Antonio Maria LUGO died in Feb. 1860. My records show that Juan Francisco LUGO married Soledad LOPEZ (birth and death unknown) and had Rafaela Ann LUGO (born in 1898). Rafaela married Jesse Joe GARCIA and has my grandfather John GARCIA. I can't find anything about Soledad LOPEZ and I can't find any formal birth records proving that Rafaela was the daughter of Juan Francisco LUGO and Soledad LOPEZ. Please reply if you have some information. brettburns1959@msn.com Thanks. [Brett Burns (nonmember), Highland, Utah]
Respuesta a Pregunta 625 - 3 August 2010
    According to Marie Northrop's Spanish-Mexican Families of Early California 1769-1850, vol. I, p. 209: Juan Francisco LUGO was born 16 June 1860 and baptized 1 July 1860 at Los Angeles Plaza Church. His mother, Maria Florentine de Jesus GERMAN, was baptized 14 January 1828 at Mission San Gabriel. [Benita H. Gray (member), San Diego, Calif.]

Pregunta 624 - 3 August 2010
    To Whom It May Concern: 
    I will go by the name of barthur. I am a descendant of Prospero and Juana Bautista DOMINGUEZ, Gabrieleno Indians of San Gabriel Mission, San Gabriel, Calif. My ancestor Jose de Jesus DUARTE was born to Vicente DUARTE and Juana B. DOMINGUEZ in 1852. I am in search of the marriage record of Jose de Jesus and Angelia REAL, my great-grandparents. If anyone can help me with this marriage certificate I would be greatly appreciative. It would lock up all of the information I need to complete my genealogy. A birth certificate for Angelia REAL would also help. Her birth year should be around 1854. If you are also related in the realm, I would be willing to discuss it with you. I also have information on Andres DUARTE and kin. You can write me at barthur55@yahoo.com. Thank You. [Arthur Duarte "barthur" (nonmember), Lancaster, Calif.]

Pregunta 623 - 3 August 2010
    I'm trying to find information on Manuela COTA, my great-grandmother. She is from the Santa Barbara/Ventura area and was born about 1859/1861. She had 2 sons: John Oscar HUEBNER (born about 1881) and Austin Daniel BARNARD (born 17 Dec. 1890). We think she was from the Jose M. COTA (born about 1831) family from the Santa Barbara area, but can't make the positive connection. We have no exact birth date nor is there any record we can find on her death. Any help out there? [Randy Blair (nonmember), San Jose, Calif.]

Pregunta 622 - 3 August 2010
    I need more information about Refugio ORTEGA, married to Jose Guadalupe GUTIERREZ. Her death has been stated to be 16 April 1912. I have a death certificate for Mrs. Refugio GUTIERREZ, widow, for that date, but the parents that are  listed on the death certificate do not match with my other information - Jose Manuel ORTEGA & Maria Josefa LUGO. The parents that are listed on the death certificate are: father: Refugio CERVANTES; mother: Trinity MENDEZ - both born in  California. The informant was: Mrs. Bruce Anderson from Santa  Barbara. There appear to be two Refugio GUTIERREZ widows living in Santa Barbara at this time (1900 - 1920) which is adding to my confusion. My husband's great-grandfather was her son, Gerardo GUTIERREZ. Thank you for your help.
    I can trace the GUTIERREZ family back before 1848. Jose Guadalupe was born on 9 April 1833 at the Santa Barbara Presidio.  His parents were Octaviano GUTIERREZ and Celedonia RUIZ. Jose married Maria del Refugio ORTEGA and their son was Gerardo GUTIERREZ, born in 1861, also in Santa Barbara. Gerardo married Rafaela MARTINEZ. His daughter was Mary Frances GUTIERREZ who married Henry Virgil WARD. Their son was George William WARD, father to my husband, Richard Alan WARD.
    The Respuesta a Pregunta 113 (22 February 2003) by Sheila Ruiz Harrell mentions Elvira GUTIERREZ and her parents: Jose Guadalupe GUTIERREZ and Refugio ORTEGA. (Elvira was a sister to Gerardo.) Other researchers, including a Los Californianos member, Chaffee, confirm this as well as her death date. Chaffee uses the same sources as published by the Santa Barbara Genealogical Society, which are found online. Unfortunately a member of the SBGS has confirmed that the parents on the mortuary source for Refugio are the same as the ones that I found on the death certificate.
    It might be helpful if I could get in touch with the person who wrote the Pregunta to try to straighten this out. I can share information as to Gerardo's children and even have pictures of his brother Evaristo's family. They include the CARRILLO family - showing Marigarita and her brothers. They were copied and added to the Los Californianos photo album. Thanks for your help. [Mary Ward (not yet member -- trying!) Scotts Valley, Calif.] 
Note: Refugio evidently is always used in the masculine. Thank you Sheila Ruiz Harrell. La Tejedora

Pregunta 621 - 18 July 2010
    I have identified Juan Pablo PERALTA, born 1809 in San Diego, and Joseph Theodoro PERALTA, born 1814 in San Diego, as sons of Juan Pablo PERALTA and Ana Gertrudis ARCE. I wonder whether these two sons married and stayed in California.
    My grandmother's father was Jose Juan Santiago PERALTA born 1858 in Hermosillo, son of José Juan PERALTA and Maria Concepción CRUZ, who married at Hermosillo in 1845. José Juan and Teodoro PERALTA (who married to Eulalia CRUZ in 1850) owned a Hacienda (Pozo de Peralta) few miles south of Hermosillo by the Sonora River.
    I know that the Sonora´s PERALTA family is related to the PERALTAS of Arizona and California, but I haven't been able to follow the line beyond José Juan and Teodoro. I assume there was constant moving among these families especially during the time of Mexican independence, the US-Mexico war, and even during the Civil War, when old Mexican families back to Sonora used to cattle and mine in their former properties now part of the United States. José Juan Santiago PERALTA married Margarita ENCINAS in 1888 at Tucson, Arizona. [Manuel I Puebla (nonmember), Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico]
Respuesta a Pregunta 621 - 18 July 2010
    According to Marie Northrop's Spanish-Mexican Families of Early California 1769-1850, vol. I, pp. 273-74:
Juan Pablo PERALTA and Ana Gertrudis ARCE had 9 children. Their sons were: Genero Eustaquio (born 19 Sept.1807, baptized 20 Sept. Mission San Juan Capistrano, married 1 Feb. 1828 Ana Maria ACEBEDO, buried 1 Jan. 1843, Los Angeles Plaza Church); Juan Pablo (baptized 23 Apr. 1809 Mission San Diego, married about 1830 Maria Nieves LOPEZ, buried 22 May 1852 Mission San Juan Capistrano); Felipe Venancio BAROLOME (baptized 24 Aug. 1812 Mission San Diego, no further information); Jose Teodosio (baptized 29 May 1814 Mission San Diego, no further information); Rafael Aplonio (baptized 14 Apr. 1816, married 28 Oct. 1851 Catalina MANRIQUEZ at Mission San Juan Capistrano, buried 16 July 1894 at Yorba Cemetery, Orange County). According to Saddleback Ancestors, Revised Edition, pp. 121-25: Janario Eustaquio (Genero Eustaquio) had no known children; Juan Pablo had 11 children (all of whom married in Alta California and at least two were buried there); Rafael had 8 children (all of whom apparently lived in Alta California); no mention of children of Felipe or Teodosio. [Benita H. Gray (member), San Diego, Calif.]

Pregunta 620 - 18 July 2010
    ​I am researching the Antonio Ygnacio AVILA family, and in particular the probate of his estate, including Rancho Sausal Redondo. The ECPP database has a baptismal record (no. 00897 LA Plaza Church) for a Higinio (aka Yginio) AVILA, with Antonio Ygnacio and his wife Rosa RUIZ listed as the parents. Higinio is listed as razon and legitimate. The padre, Thomas Eztenaga, included this notation in the margin of the record: "Yginio, hijo legitimo de Antonio Ygnacio AVILA y de Rosa Maria RUIZ por reginaldo." I believe that "reginaldo" is not capitalized. There is no age at baptism given for Higinio. However, in the margin, the recorder noted, "Yginio Abila por reginaldo parv.o" and he was also listed in the records as recien nacido. The circumstances of the baptism were normal - it was not a provisional baptism. The baptism took place at the Plaza Church. It is actually unlikely that this is a child born of Rosa RUIZ, as she would have been 50 years old at the birth, and her last previous birth was 9 years earlier. There are no other mission records for Higinio (including a death record) and he is not mentioned in Antonio Ygnacio's will, executed in 1850. There is no mention of him in the probate records. Does anyone have any other information on Higinio or the circumstances of his birth/parentage? Does anyone have any insight on what the notation "por reginaldo" means? [Donna Schuele (nonmember), Woodland Hills, Calif.]

Pregunta 619  - 2 July 2010
    Where can I find naturalization records of foreigners arriving in California prior to statehood? I see references in Bancroft, but I have not seen any original sources. In particular, I'm looking for the naturalization referred to in Bancroft of William MATHEWS, which occurred before 1840. There are at least two William MATHEWS, my ancestor being one (his children are all baptized in Sonoma) and the other living in Monterey, where all his children were born. Both of their wives are named Josefa, which further confuses my story. I see a lot of similarities in the story of Juan MARTIN, who was either two people or a bigamist. I have thrown up my hands several times and even hoped my ancestor was a bigamist, because I can't find traces of the second fellow, with one exception: I have found two different baptisms for the two William MATHEWS, one in Santa Clara and the other in Monterey. So, I am hoping that naturalization records might give me more clues.  Please help! [Patricia Howe (perpetually pending provisional), Napa, Calif.]
Pregunta 619 UPDATE - 3 August 2010
    Hello Lynn Gould-
    Los Californianos forwarded your e-mail contact because you are researching the person I call "Monterey William MATTHEWS". I've looked into him a bit because he seems to be tangled up with my ancestor, the "San Jose/Sonoma/Napa" William MATTHEWS, my ancestor. One of my William MATHEWS' daughters (my great-great-grandmother) lived until 1931 and was interviewed several times in the San Jose newspapers, so we have some nearly first-hand stories about her father, along with many undocumented family legends.
    I have found mission baptismal records for each man, which does indicate they were two unique persons, and a marriage for the Monterey fellow (but not for the Sonoma man). There are numerous baptismal records of their children in both Monterey (for WM#1) and in Sonoma (for WM #2). At least I assume these were separate families, as both of their wives were named Josefa.
    I have tracked some of the family of the Monterey man through census records, and did find a reference that he died in Round Valley (the paper said Lassen County, but I believe that was an error).
    I have tracked two of the children of the Sonoma man (my ancestor and her sister) but have no record of this man's death or anything else.
    There was a book about the Bear Flag revolt done about 15 years ago for the Sonoma Historical Society (which had some of the worst research I've ever seen) actually put together a bio of what appears to be a hybrid of both fellows, much to my frustration. The author had not cited any sources and I have not been able to sort out any truths from it. Very frustrating. But, for all I know, there may be a THIRD William MAT(T)HEWS around at the time. It's a pretty common name. [Patricia Howe (perpetually pending provisional), Napa, Calif.]

Pregunta 618 - 2 July 2010
    In her books who does Ms. Northrop have married to Carlos Antonio de Jesus CARRILLO, who married on 26 May 1808? A book published by Kenneth M. and Doris Castro called Castro's of California have him married to Maria Josefa Joachim CASTRO baptized 29 April 1794, twin sister to Jose Joaquin CASTRO baptized 29 April 1794. Northrop's book has Carlos married to Josefa Raymunda CASTRO, twin baptized 11 April 1792; her twin brother was Jose Raimundo CASTRO, baptized 11 April 1792. Does anyone have definite proof which twin sister Carlos was married to? [Leonard Turnbull (nonmember), Aurora, Colo.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 618 - 27 January 2012
    As payback to some of the wonderful answers others have posted I have found the answer from Huntington's Early California Population Project.
    Carlos CARRILLO (baptized BP 00019) (son of Capitan del Presidio de San Diego Raymundo CARRILLO & Tomasa LUGO) was married to Maria Josefa CASTRO (SC 01784) (daughter of Mariano CASTRO & Josefa ROMERO) on 26 May 1808 at la capilla del Real Presidio de Monterrey by Padre Domingo Yturrate (Mar SC 744).
    Carlos Antonio de Jesus CARRILLO born el dia 24 de Desiembre del año pasado s/o Joseph Raymundo CARRILLO & Thomasa Ignacia de LUGO was baptized on 17 February 1784 at the Iglesia at the Presidio of Santa Barbara by Dumetz, Francisco. His madrina was Maria Francisca LOPES. His padrino was Ayudante inspector Capitan Nicolas SOLER.
    Josefa Raymunda CASTRO born 11 April 1792 "cerca de medio dia" d/o Soldado de la compañia de este Presidio de Monterey Mariano CASTRO & Maria Josefa ROMERO was baptized on 11 April 1792 at the Yglesia del Real Presidio de Monterey by José Señán. Her madrina was Barbara PACHECO, "casada con el sold.o Ygnacio CASTRO." Her padrino was Jose Antonio RAMIREZ, maestro carpintero de esta mison.
    Her brother, Jose Joachin CASTRO, was baptized on 25 April1794 at San Antonio.
    That should cover it. The ECPP is a great place to find the mission records. [Tony Arkin (nonmember), Newark Calif.]

Pregunta 617 - 2 July 2010
    I live in Holland and I wanted to know something about the PICO history and I wanted to do some research about the PICO family, but you did it already. If you have more information or want to contact me mail me at matspico@hotmail.com [Mats Pico (nonmember), Holland]
Note: this query is really too broad for our pages, but perhaps someone would like a Pico pen pal in Holland? La Tejedora

Pregunta 616 - 2 July 2010
​    Jose Maria PINEDA, married to Maria Luz MUNOZ, was in Los Angeles in the 1800s. Does anyone have information regarding why they were in Los Angeles, for how long, place of origin, and when they left? I believe Jose Maria might have been a soldier. [Raul Pickett (nonmember), Porterville, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 616 - 31 October 2010
    Pablo L. Martínez's Guía Familiar de Baja California has the following records: José María PINEDA and María Luz MUÑOZ appear as the parents of Manuel PINEDA. Martínez calls Manuel a defender of Baja California during the Mexican-American War. Manuel, born in Puebla de los Ángeles, was a sargento at the Loreto presidio. He married Guadalupe MORENO or OLACHEA, daughter of Juana OLACHEA, in the mining town of San Antonio, (southern) Baja California, on 20 December 1834. Their son, José Fidencio Ramiro, was born in San Antonio on 2 January 1835, christened 6 January 1835. José Fidencio died in La Paz on 16 February 1886. [Rondi Frankel (nonmember), Mexico City, Mexico]

Pregunta 615 - 21 May 2010
    I am trying to find out information on Santiago MARTINEZ and his descendants who came to California about 1838 with a small caravan from Abiquiu, New Mexico. He brought his family with him and they settled in the San Bernardino area. He has a son, Apolinario, born either on the journey or just after they reached California. I can not find any mention of birth or baptismal for Apolinario either in the San Gabriel mission records or the Los Angeles pueblo church records. Are there any records from the outpost mission in Jurupa or Politana? [Dorothy Oliva (provisional member), Capitola, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 615 - 29 June 2012
    I am a descendant of Santiago and Ruperta MARTINEZ, and have a photo of Ruperta appearing as a widow with her son, Antonio Jose MARTINEZ. I have seen Santiago's wife's name listed two ways -- as Manuela (Manuelita) RENAGA and Maria Manuela MARTINEZ y LARRANAGA. I have a forwarded e-mail from an Alexander KING stating the following: "Santiago MARTINEZ and Lorenzo TRUJILLO disagreed over where to move the community to, after Lugo reneged on his agreement for the settlement at La Politana. Santiago MARTINEZ advocated sites much closer to Los Angeles, including La Jabonera (in today's Pico Rivera); but he was turned down by the local Ayuntamiento and the New Mexicans settlers voted to go with Lorenzo TRUJILLO'S arrangement with Bandini." Were you able to locate the baptismal records? If not, maybe this info might help. [Elaine Augustine (nonmember), Ventura, Calif.]

Pregunta 614 - 14 May 2010
    I have been doing some research on my husband's ​FERNANDEZ family from Santa Clara County and Santa Cruz County. We've recently discovered the possibility that he is a descendant of Maximo FERNANDEZ and Maria Magdalena BERRYESA. We've found a few of their children using the censuses, but can't seem to determine which of their children would be his great-great-grandfather. If anyone has genealogy information for Maximo and Magdalena, we'd very much appreciate hearing about it.
    Thanks. [Cindi Fernandez (nonmember), Chandler, Ariz.]

Pregunta 613 - 14 May 2010
    Has anyone information on the family of RODRIGUEZ-LUCERO who were born in Arizona and settled in San Diego?
[Helen B. Collins (member), San Jose, Calif.]

Pregunta 612 - 5 May 2010
    I am looking for information on a James DEAS/DIAS. He was born in 1855 in Santa Clara County. He died in 1892. An 1880 census says both his parents were born in Mexico. Also in 1880 a Lena DIAS was living in the same house as him and his wife but does not say if they are related. His name is spelled DEAS on his grave, the original spelling may be DIAS. I don't know if James is his birth name. He does not appear in any other records except for 1880. I am looking for his parents and any possible siblings. I have heard that his mother's name might have been BUELNA, but I have found no records of that or his birth. Any help would be great. Thank you. [Clay Deas (nonmember), Clayton, Calif.]

Pregunta 611 - 5 May 2010
    As a volunteer of the Cambria Historical Society, I am researching Don Julian ESTRADA, who was awarded the Mexican land grant for Santa Rosa Rancho in 1849. I have found some information but would like to identify a portrait/drawing of him and his wife Nicolasa. Have you come across this or can you refer me to a descendent who might be able to assist? Thanks so much. [Kathryn Charbonneau (nonmember), Cambria, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 611 - 27 September 2012
    My records have Jose Julian Antonio ESTRADA born 1-28-1815 and baptized 1-29-1815 at Mission San Carlos, Monterey County, California (SC 02938) (1815-1872). Buried at same Mission. Married to Maria Nicolasa GRAGIOLA born and baptized 9-10-1820 at the same Mission. His parents were Jose Mariano ESTRADA (circa 1784-1845) from Loreto, Baja California, and Maria Ysabel Marciala ARGUELLO (SC 01423) born July 1, 1789, and baptized July 2, 1789 at Mission San Carlos; she was buried at the same Mission January 20, 1835. Nicolasa's parents were Jose Antonio GRAGIOLA from Culiacan, Sinaloa, Province of Mexico, New Spain, and Maria Andrea Antonia JIMENEZ born Oct. 30, 1802, and baptized at Mission San Carlos on November 30, 1802. [Patricia (Trejo) Thrulby (non-member), Merced, Calif.]

NOTE: THE FOLLOWING QUERIES HAVE PROBLEMS, BUT SINCE NO EMAIL ADDRESS WAS GIVEN, I CANNOT CONTACT THE SENDERS FOR MORE INFORMATION. PLEASE ALWAYS INCLUDE AN EMAIL ADDRESS!
La Tejedora

1. How many graves were there in San Gabrile [sic]?  
Mission San Gabriel, Calif., or the city or someplace other than California? When? Total? (probably impossible to determine) Marked? Recorded in mission and/or civil records?
2. I am seeking to confirm the existence of the Redfeather clan within the Navajo peoples.
The only Native American records we have are California mission records of baptisms, marriages, and deaths.
3. As far as my family knows, we were relocated from the four corners territory into Sacramento, (as mule team drivers) & also Ventura Calif., and Somis, Calif. (as migrant workers). 
When? We only post queries related to family lines in Alta California before 1848.

Pregunta 610 - 5 May 2010
    My mother, Elizabeth (Bette) ALLEN, is/was a member of Los Californianos. I am carrying on her research. She descends from Felepe Santiago GARCIA and Petra Joaquina Alcantara del Rincon de LUGO through two children, Juan Jose GARCIA (the first white child born in upper California) and Jose Antonio Inocencio (Inocente) GARCIA. I also descend from Leonardo LOPEZ, Sr., (died 1883 in San Luis Obispo Co., Calif.) who married Maria Laurenza Rafaela GARCIA (child of Jose Antonio Inocencio (Inocente) GARCIA). I am filling in as many descendants of these people as I can find. I am currently working on Inez LOPEZ, born 1856, who married Juan Salvador GARCIA, born 1850-1852. I have questions about their descendants. I am informed by my mother that Joyce Guinn, a member of Los Californianos, descends from this couple through their son, Edward Lucas GARCIA. I would like to contact Joyce Guinn or have her contact me (boballen1948@sbcglobal.net) [Bob Allen (nonmember), San Jose, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 610 - 18 July 2010
    I am interested in Leonardo LOPEZ'S family as Jose Maria LOPEZ, his son by his Indian wife, was raised by my McAULIFFE grandparents when Jose was left by his father after his mother died, and he was placed in the orphanage in Watsonville, Calif.  Leonardo LOPEZ wanted to marry Rafiela GARCIA, and he didn't want to keep half-Indian Jose. The Rev. Apolinarius Roussel placed Jose in the McAULIFFE'S household. He never married, and remained a valued family member of the McAULIFFES until he died. Jose LOPEZ kept in contact with his San Luis Obispo LOPEZ sisters and brothers, and they were kind to him. There are descendants of Leonardo LOPEZ at this time. [Helen Collins (member), San Jose, Calif.]

Pregunta 609 - 28 March 2010
    Juan BOJORQUES (born 1806) and Ysidora GALINDO (born 1816) were the parents of four children: Maria Juana de Jesus (born 1832); Geronima Antonia (born 1834); Maria Luisa/Lucia Guadalupe (born 1835); and Francisco de las Llagas (born 1837). Of these four I’ve found only two marriages: Maria Juana de Jesus and her sister Maria Luisa Guadalupe. Maria Juana de Jesus married Jose Antonio Maria CASTRO and had 7 children before Antonio died at age 28. Juana remarried within 6 months to Jesus PALOMARES and they had 3 children. I have no idea what happened to Jesus PALOMARES but Juana married again to Manuel ENRIQUES. Juana and Manuel had 8 children.  Juana’s sister, Maria Luisa/Lucia Guadalupe BOJORQUES, married first Jose Antonio de Jesus PENA/PINA and they had one daughter, Maria de Jesus Nicanor (born December 1849). Maria Luisa/Lucia married a second time to Jose Nemesio SEPULVEDA at St Joseph’s Church, San Jose, Calif., in July 1853. I have no children listed for these two. One of Maria Luisa/Lucia’s descendants, John Robert FELIZ, was a Life Member of Los Californianos. I’m hoping to find more descendants, either his children or descendants of John’s father’s family. I know this is a long shot, but any information on the families of Maria Luisa/Lucia Guadalupe BOJORQUES and either of her husbands would be so appreciated! I can be reached at Sheila-Ann@juno.com but please be sure to cc this website for others to learn more about these families, too. [Sheila Ruiz Harrell (member), Modesto, Calif.]

Pregunta 608 - 28 March 2010
    I am trying to find the father & mother of Jesus URQUIDEZ (born 1828; died 1911; married to Isabel POMBERT). I have a feeling there was a name change or a different spelling. I was once refered to the Lorraine ESCOBAR-ESTRADA database and still can't find the parents of Jesus. I would appreciate any help you can give me. [Debbie Miles (nonmember), Magalia, Calif.]

Pregunta 607 -  28 March 2010
    I am researching the family of Manuel BUTRON. Specifically, I would like to know what became of Maria Ramona Sixta BUTRON McMAHON after her husband, Jeremiah McMAHON, was killed in a gunfight in Monterey in March 1855. The 1860 census shows 3 of her children living with her aunt, Rosa BUTRON SIMMLER, in San Luis Obispo County. Ramona was born in 1819 at Natividad and married Mr. McMAHON in San Juan Bautista in 1848. [Roger Carsner (nonmember), Elk Grove, Calif.]

Pregunta 606 - 28 March 2010
    HELP - Can someone tell me if I am on the right FELIZ line? Juan Victorino FELIZ (born COZALA) married Maria Micaela LANDERAS about 1771. They had two sons: 1) Jose Ignacio (born about 1774; married Antonia Dolores VILLA; died 1891 in Santa Barbara) and 2) Juan Manuel (born about 1775; married Maria Isabel Asencion COTA in Santa Barbara 17 May 1795).
    I followed Juan Manuel's line. He died 1800 or 1801. He married Maria Isabel de la Ascension COTA. They had Juan Jose (de Gracia), baptized July 1799(?) at Mission Santa Barbara. When Juan Manuel died, did Maria Isabel marry Jose Dolores PICO? Was she pregnant with a daughter -- Nariana de Jesus who was baptized 8 September 1801 in Monterey? Juan Jose (de Gracia) married Maria Antonia Dionisia Ascension CASTRO, daughter of Jose Joaquin CASTRO and Maria Antonia AMADOR. Their daughter (my 3rd-great-grandmother) married Juan Pablo BERNAL. Juan Jose died in 1871 in Santa Cruz, Calif. He was about 75 years old.
    ...Or should I have followed Jose Ygnacio FELIZ, who married Maria Antonia Dolores VILLA??? They also had a son. HELP SOMEONE. [Dorothy Wuss (member), San Jose, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 606 - 5 May 2010 
    I have information for Juan Victorino FELIZ that I think would be of interest to Dorthy Wuss. Contact me at my e-mail address jandeloren@att.net. [John Lorenzana (member), Clovis, Calif.]

Pregunta 605 - 14 March 2010
    My great-great-grandmother is Maria Refugio ALVISO FAGALDE. Information has been handed down in our family that either her father or her grandfather was with Juan Bautista de Anza when the San Francisco area was settled or founded. I keep getting the two Francisco sons of Domingo ALVISO mixed up with one another, and their wives. So I'm not sure which one was her father or where anyone was born, or if they were Mexican or Spanish, or a mixture. Can anyone provide information for me, so that I can continue the search of my ancestry through Domingo ALVISO and Maria Angela TREJO. I thank you for your help. [Laura Sanders Fagundes (nonmember at present), Placerville, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 605 - 28 March 2010
    According to Dorothy Gittinger Mutnick (Some Alta California Pioneers and Descendants, Div One, Vol I, Entry #74), Maria Geronima del Refugio ALVISO was baptized at Mission San Jose in 1839 as the daughter of Francisco Solano ALVISO and Bernabela Antonia LINARES. Francisco Solano ALVISO was baptized at Mission San Antonio in July 1792, the son of Francisco Xavier ALVISO and Maria Augustina BOJORQUES. Francisco Xavier ALVISO was 12 years old when he came with his parents Domingo ALVISO and Maria Angela de la Luz TREJO on the Anza Expedition, 1775-76. Maria Anglea de la Luz TREJO is my 5th-great-grandmother, so I guess that makes us cousins! Write to me here if you want more information  Sheila-Ann@juno.com   [Sheila Ruiz Harrell (member), Modesto, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 605 - 18 July 2010
    Maria Angela TREJO was the 2nd wife of Pedro Antonio BOJORQUES. (They are my grandmother's great-great-grandparents). See Pregunta 021. She and Pedro were married about 1770 in Sinaloa and she was the one who accompanied him in the 1776 Anza expedition. They had 3 children, and that's where my family comes from. (His first wife was Maria Francisca DE LARA and their daughter, Maria Augustina BOJORQUES, was born in 1771. She was married on 12 Dec. 1787 to Francisco Xavier ALVISO. I have no clue if he was related to Domingo ALVISO.)
    This was Maria's 2nd marriage. Her first marriage was to Corporal Domingo ALVISO and she had 4 children with Cpl. Domingo before being widowed. I don't know who those children were. Maria Angel TREJO (or CHUMACERO) was born at Mission San Miguel de Orcasistas in 1747 and died on 4 Jan. 1803 at Mission San Carlos de Monterey. Hope this helps! [Carol Cronin (not yet member), Omaha, Neb.]

Pregunta 604 - 14 March 2010
    Trying to find information on the Juan Bautista ALVARADO family and the LOPEZ family who lived in San Juan Bautista, Hollister, and Watsonville area. Thanks. [Norma Lawrence (nonmember), Gustine, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 604 - 28 March 2010
    www.Ancestry.com  allows non-subscribers to view what has been submitted for free, and I have posted a chart for Govenor Juan Bautista ALVARADO born 1809, which includes his grandfather and my ancestor by the same same name, Juan Bautista ALVARADO, born 1749. If you try the search form tool for him and the LOPEZ family, it will give you information and photos compiled by many researchers. [Valerie Hall (member), Fair Oaks, Calif.]

Pregunta 603 - 14 March 2010
    I am new to genealogy and I am trying to find information on Manuel NIETO who had received a Spanish land grant in 1784. He was a corporal in the "Leather Jacket Guards." [Kathy Nieto-Hafliger (nonmember)]
Respuesta a Pregunta 603 - 14 March 2010
    According to Marie Northrop's Spanish-Mexican Families of Early California: 1790-1850, vol. I, pp. 237-38:
Jose Manuel PEREZ NIETO was born about 1748 at Villa de Sinaloa, Sinaloa, Mexico, of Jose NIETO and Manuela PEREZ. He was buried 13 December 1804 at Mission San Gabriel. About 1775 he married Maria Teresa MORILLO (born about 1756 at Loreto, Baja California; buried 21 September 1816 at Mission San Gabriel) at Loreto. They had 6 children between 1776 and 1796: Joseph Ygnacio (baptized at Loreto), Juan Joseph Maria (baptized at San Diego), and Joseph Antonio Maria, Antonia Maria de los Santos, Maria Manuela Antonia, and Antonio Maria de los Santos (all baptized at San Gabriel). Joseph Manuel was a soldier at Monterey 28 February 1773 and at San Luis Obispo in 1774, where he was padrino for an Indian baptism officiated by Fr. Junipero Serra. He returned to Loreto and escorted Los Angeles settlers to San Diego in August 1781. He was the third grantee of a Spanish land concession in 1784 (Rancho Los Nietos, 300,000 acres), which was the largest concession to an individual during the Spanish regime. [Benita H. Gray (member), San Diego, Calif.]

Pregunta 602 - 14 March 2010
    Is there another site similar to the Alta California website, but in Baja California? As we could not complete our trace of our surname in Alta California families. Thank you. [Frank Mijares (not yet), Oceanside, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 602 - 14 March 2010
    I am not aware of a Baja California site, but we do have links on our link page to websites that might take some family names back to Baja California or even Spain. Also, we have books in our Traveling Genealogy Library (open to the public for a nominal fee at all of our meetings) which go back into Baja California and, occasionally, back to Spain. Among them are Marie Northrop's 3 vols., Spanish-Mexican Families of Early California: 1790-1850, and Guía Familiar de Baja California, 1700-1900, Vital Statistics of Lower California, which are also available in some community libraries and might be available for borrow through interlibrary loan. [La Tejedora]
Respuesta a Pregunta 602 - 2 July 2010
    There's a copy of this book, Guia Familiar de Baja California, 1700-1900 Vital Statistics of Lower California) @ the Santa Ana Library in the "Heritage  Room" only. [Vivian Romero (not yet member), Tyler, Texas]

Pregunta 601 - 14 March 2010
    I am looking for the family name Matheo NOMOVIT, born 1760 in the present area of San Juan Capistrano, California, and died 19 Apr 1783 in San Juan Capistrano, Alta California. I am also looking for the wife who is a possible native to California, Maria Luisa ZAIGEVEDE, born about 1752 in the present San Juan Capistrano area, died 06 January 1783 in San Juan Capistrano, Alta California. I need help in finding more of this family. [Elizbeth Wagner (nonmember), Sacramento, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 601 - 14 March 2010
    Our records of San Juan Capistrano are not complete and I did not find the people you are looking for. I think you should be making inquiries with the tribes that resided in the San Juan Capistrano area before the Spanish came. The Spanish did not found the Mission San Juan Capistrano until 1776. Also you could look for the burial records of Matheo and Maria Luisa on the Mission San Juan Capistrano microfilm records available through any Latter Day Saints Family History Center. Their baptism records could be there also, but they were both born before San Juan Capistrano was established. If they were converted and had their children baptized, those records could also be there. [La Tejedora]

Pregunta 600 - 2 March 2010
    Refugia LEIVA'S parents' lines go back to the mid-1700s. Ruth's father was Francisco Antonio who was born in Santa Barbara in 1821. Francisco's father was Juan Jose LEYBA (natural) of Santa Barbara. Francisco's mother was Maria Gertrudis Stanisloa FELIZE, also from Santa Barbara. Ruth's mother was Maria Antonia ARELLANES also born in Santa Barbara in 1845. Maria Antonia's parents were: Jose Regino ARELLANES, recorded as a natural of Santa Barbara and Maria Monica Josepha SANCHEZ, also recorded as natural of Santa Barbara. Ruth's birth was about 1857. Her death record is from the Ventura mission book of death. I just want to know where Ruth was buried. Ruth's death date 1 May1889 Ventura, Ventura, Calif. I've been to the mission, and the Ventura court house hall of records, and got no results. Thank you for your time. [Jim Garcia (nonmember), Los Angeles, Calif.]

Pregunta 599 - 2 March 2010
    I'm looking for the parents of Porfirio CASTRO (born 15 September 1855) who married Maria Catalina Helena "Ellen" McDONAUGH. He died in Santa Barbara, Calif., on ? June 1917. According to my grandparents and some old California newspapers I have, my family is related to Gen. Jose Antonio CASTRO but I haven't been able to find any information about Porfirio's parents other than his mother's name may be Maria Antonia. Porfirio and Ellen had 3 children, Antonia, Frank Henry, and Louisa. Louisa is my great-great-grandmother. I am fascinated by this side of my family and I've tried Ancestry. So far, no luck other than what I've listed. Any information would be so appreciated! [Lindsay (nonmember), Seattle, Wash.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 599 - 2 July 2010
    A direction you might try researching is the family of Jose Rafael CASTRO and his wife Maria Soledad COTA. Author Beverly Hendrickson Wade is a descendant and wrote that one of their 8 children was Jose Joaquin Porfirio CASTRO born about 1846 in Santa Cruz -- the only Porfirio CASTRO I've seen. This family is of the CASTRO - BOTILLIER line, which doesn't tie in to Gov. Jose CASTRO. Rafael's parents were Jose Joaquin CASTRO and Maria Antonia AMADOR. Rafael's wife was Maria Soledad COTA (y ROMERO). Lots of good history there, especially in the Marie Northrop books. Best of luck in you search. [Valerie Hall (member), Fair Oaks, Calif.]

Pregunta 598 - 2 March 2010
    There were two Gabriel SIBRIANS born to the same family, one in 1820, one in 1824. I hope this will help to identify between them.
    FHC Tape  #0944282 
    I. Jose Gabriel CIBRIAN, Santa Clara Bats, II # 6875 1 day old, baptized 19 March, 1820. Parents Leocadio SIBRIAN and Maria Petra ARCHULETA. **10-1999, I found a Gabriel CIBRIAN in two Great Registers in Santa Clara County, 1. 1890 SIBRIAN, Gabriel  who on the date of registration Jan 5, 1888 was 68 years old.  2. 1892 Great Register of Santa Clara County, Gabriel SIBRIAN -- date of registration Oct. 13, 1892, sworn age is 72. This proves to me that this is our ancestor, who was born in 1820.  
    II. Gabriel CIBRIAN, 2 days of Leocadio and Ma. Petra ARCHULETA, Santa Clara Bat.II # 7480, 24 March 1824. ** This has to be the Gabriel below who died in 1837.
    FHC Tape 0944282 # 7200-01; 5 August 1837, Crispin and his brother Gabriel CIBRIAN, who did not receive any Sacrament because they had killed them, and I not knowing of their death until the other day. 
    After years of research into this problem, I finally found in William H. Davis' book Seventy-Five Years in California, Chapter XLVIII (48), Yoscolo, the Mission Indian Renegade, page 235. The mystery is solved; on page 236 is the following information:
    "There was a great Indian fight in 1837 with many Indians killed, about 100 were killed and wounded in this battle. Of the Californians only eight or ten were killed, but a large number were wounded. Among the killed were two brothers CIBRIAN, of a well-known family of the pueblo of San Jose."
    I have researched the CIBRIAN family for thirty years and if anyone has any information concerning this please contact me m.works@comcast.net. [Marian Wyman Works (member), Anacortes, Wash.]

Pregunta 597 - 15 February 2010
    I am trying to find information about Rosario CASTRO (1852-1894). She married Jose de los Santo BORONDA (1842-1925 -- baptized 17 November 1842 at Mission San Carlos). He was the son of Jose Manuel BORONDA (1803-1878) and Juana COTA (1805-1894). They were married 2 May 1821 at Mission San Carlos. [Rick Harris (nonmember), King City, Calif.]

Pregunta 596 - 15 February 2010
    I'm looking for information regarding Jacoba FELIZ and wonder if she is part of the family of Corporal Jose Vicente FELIZ. I would also like the names of her children. She was the second wife of Ignacio DEL VALLE who at one time was the head of the Camulos Rancho. [Annette Sanchez (nonmember), Pico Rivera, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 596 - 15 February 2010
    According to Marie Northrop's Spanish-Mexican Families of Early California: 1769-1850:
    Vol. I, pp. 144-45: Maria Jacoba FELIZ was the 4th child, 2nd daughter of Jose Tomas FELIZ (born about 1793 at Los Angeles of Francisco FELIZ and Maria Josefa COTA; buried 12 November 1830 at Los Angeles Plaza Church) and Maria de Jesus LOPEZ (born about 1797 at Mission San Vicente, Baja California of Juan Bautista LOPEZ and Maria Dolores SALGADO), who married 5 January 1815 at Mission San Fernando. Maria Jacoba was baptized 25 July 1820 at Mission San Fernando. She married first, Antonio de VALLE on 1 February 1835 at Mission San Fernando. She married second, Luis SALAZAR on 24 June 1844 at the same mission. Jose Tomas FELIZ  was a soldado de cuera in the escolta of the Santa Barbara Presidio. Juan Bautista LOPEZ was the Mayordomo at Mission San Miguel, Baja California in 1790.
    Vol. II, pp.306-308: Maria JACOBA was the third wife of Antonio del VALLE who was buried 3 June 1841 at Mission San Fernando. They had four children: Jose Antonio del Altagracia delVALLE (baptized 13 March 1837 at Los Angeles Plaza Church), Ygnacio de Gracia DEL VALLE (baptized 14 September  1838 at Mission Santa Barbara), Vicenta del VALLE (baptized 11 July 1840 at Los Angeles Plaza Church), and Maria de la Concepcion Antonia del VALLE (baptized 9 December 1841 at Mission Santa Barbara). Maria JACOBA also had children by SALAZAR, but they are not listed. Antonio del VALLE was the grantee of Rancho San Francisco in 1839 and Mayordomo at Mission San Fernando 1835-1837. [Benita H. Gray (member), San Diego, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 596 - 27 January 2012
    Juan Bautista & Maria Dolores SALAGADO (see Respuesta of 15 Feb. 2010 below): this is my family tree.  
E-mail: mlopez569@hotmail.com if you want answers. [Mark (nonmember), Oceano, Calif.] 
Mark, if any of the information below is incorrect, please send your corrections in to the website. Thank you. La Tejedora

Pregunta 595 - 15 February 2010
    Does anyone have information for a Josefa REYES, born about 1828, a Native Californian? [Rick Waldau (nonmember), Huntington Beach, Calif.]

Pregunta 594 - 15 February 2010  
    Is there any connection between the ROBLES brothers of old Villa de Branciforte (1795 or so) and the town of Paso Robles? [Anthony Smoke (nonmember), Santa Cruz, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 594 - 2 March 2018
    The City of El Paso de Robles ("Pass of the Oaks"), also known as Paso Robles or just Paso, in San Luis Obispo County is located on the former Mexican land grant of Rancho Paso de Robles given in 1844 by Governor Manuel MICHELTORENA to José Pedro NARVÁEZ. There is no known connection between Paso Robles and the sons of José Antonio ROBLES of Branciforte. See http://www.prcity.com/about/history.asp for more about the history of Paso Robles. See Santa Cruz: The Early Years by Leon Rowland for more about the ROBLES family of Branciforte. [Don Gibson (member), Roseville, Calif.]
​
Pregunta 593 - 2 February 2010
    Am looking for information on my great-great-grandmother Maria Jesus VALENZUELA, born in San Diego, California, in 1810 and married Don Dolores LUCERO who was also born in San Diego. I believe her father was Don Pedro FRANCO, who arrived from Spain in 1790 as a military attaché. [Adrianna Lenain (nonmember), Irvine, Calif.]

Pregunta 592 - 2 February 2010
    I am researching saddle work/design for the 'Californio' period. I am primarily looking at the type of flowers, leaves, stems used on saddle work that represents the California vaquero period. If anyone can direct me to any historical/reference books or magazines, it would be greatly appreciated.  Muchas Gracias! [Samuel Cortina (nonmember), Austin, Tex.]

Pregunta 591- 2 February 2010
    Using the Huntington Early California database, I've found 10 children born to Jose(f) Cipriano BERNAL and Petra PACHECO (2nd marriages for both). Eight daughters and 2 sons...and it appears that five of the daughters had at least 11 illegitimate children between them. It appears that Josefa, Ygnacia, Fransisca, and Antonia each had two, and Humiliana had three. I've found subsequent marriage records for Fransisca (to Carlos FREN), Humiliana (to Jose MESA). Of the other three daughters, Encarnation, Dolores, and Guadalupe, I can find a marriage (Encarnation to Francisco ALTAMIRANO) but no additional illegitimate children. Josefa apparently had two unfindable marriages, as she has one legitimate child with Luis GARCIA and four with Guillermo MATHIAS (William MATHEWS). One of Josefa's illegitimate children has the name of the father (Guillermo MATHIAS) crossed out in the original document. Josefa is most likely my ancestor, and all the data I've found on her supports the family "legends."
    My questions: what was the culture in San Jose/Santa Clara at the time that this family of girls were so, shall we say, unsupervised? Second, where can I look for possible marriages in the early 1840s besides the mission records? (Did Sutter record any of the weddings he performed?) Josefa's granddaughter said that her grandparents were married in Sonoma by a priest who didn't need to hear confessions. Does that make any sense? Any input on these general issues would be appreciated. [Patricia Howe (not yet member), Napa, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 591 - 15 February 2010
    Patricia, the supervision of women and girls/culture of the area really depend on two things: when, and how the family was racially identified. As the California missions began to decline and the Church lost much of its influence on the indigenous peoples, the institutions of marriage began to fragment in many ways. Catholic marriages were always resisted in different ways by neophytes, but by the 1830s and on, multiple partners and children born with fathers who were "incognito" or "no conocido" in the Mission records became quite common. You might want to read Steven Hackel's amazing book, Children of Coyote, Children of Saint Francis -- it's an in-depth study of the San Carlos (Carmel) Mission, and covers much of the social/cultural/legal responses of the Indians to missionization. I am descended from Indians at San Carlos who are mentioned in the book. The time just before and right after secularization (closing of the missions) was profoundly difficult: starvation, alcoholism, homelessness, and anti-Indian laws and culture created a massive challenge to the Indians who had already survived tremendous upheaval. The "unsupervised" girls were the least of their worries, and in fact, turn out to be a large part of the reason any of us survived at all! Good luck with your research. Hackel has a great bibliography. [Deborah Miranda (nonmember), Lexington, Virg.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 591 - 2 March 2010
    I did just find a file in the San Jose Library California Room with a single sheet of paper, on which there are what appears to be possible translations of routine administrative issues in 1843 (I wish I could find the reference). It refers to the resolution of the case of Miliana (Humiliana) BERNAL, based on the complaint of Margarita PACHECO, wife of Francisco PALOMARES. Miliana was accused of being "in concubinage with Senor PALOMARES" and to be sent to San Francisco, not to return to San Jose on pain of law. There must be someone out there who has researched this fascinating aspect of the history of early California, please help me learn more. I suspect many, but not all, of Miliana's sisters may have been in similar circumstances. And regarding Ms. Miranda's helpful post, how would I learn what the racial identification of this family was? (Of course, family legends insist they were Castilian Spanish). Thanks so much for any leads, clues, or cousins! [Patricia Howe (not yet member), Napa, Calif.]

Pregunta 590 - 2 February 2010
​    Does anyone have information regarding Josefa parvula, baptism #124 of the Plaza Church de Los Angeles on 15 May 1828? There is no reference in the baptism record to Josefa’s mother, while the father is stated to be gentiles Chapo of the Rancheria Coppa. In addition, why would there be so much information in the baptism for the father and NONE regarding the mother? There must be an explanation for this practice. There is another example of the practice in baptism #109, Gertrudis parvula, the sister of Josefa. Again, in the baptism record there is plenty of information for the father, but no mention whatsoever of the mother. Does someone have an explanation for this practice or why there is no mention of the mother? [Rick Waldau (nonmember), Huntington Beach, Calif.]

​Pregunta 589 - 6 January 2010
    Looking for any information on Manuel BORONDA (arrived in Monterey Calif., 1769), Manuel BORONDA Jr. (1803), Juana COTA, Jose de los Santos BORONDA (1842 to 1925), Rosario CASTRO. [Rick Harris (nonmember), King City, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 589 - 6 January 2010
    I do not find José Manuel BORONDA listed among those who arrived in and explored Alta California in 1769. However, Building and Builders in Hispanic California: 1769-1850 by Mardith K. Schuetz-Miller had many references to him, including almost 2 pages of biography (pp. 59-60). He is identified as a Spaniard from Xéres, Bishopric of Guadalajara Jalisco, born about 1750, died 1826. His name first appears in Alta California on 31 December 1785 in a list of employees of the Department of San Blas attached to Santa Barbara wherein he was described as age 35 and a bachelor.
    According to Marie Northrop's Spanish-Mexican Families of Early California: 1769-1850, Vol. II, pp. 27-28: José Manual BORONDA was a corporal, carpenter, and teacher at San Francisco and Monterey 1790-1818. The school at Monterey was called Tularcitos. Manuel built the first adobe casa outside the presidio walls about 1817. His marriage and the vitals of his 14 children are listed. Jose Manuel BORONDA, the son, is covered on pp. 29-31 in the same manner. He was juez de camp in 1836 at Rancho Las Salinas and grantee of Los Laurels in 1839. His wife, Juana Maria Inocencia COTA, is listed on p. 29 and her family lineage is covered in Vol. I, pp. 115-18. Jose de los Santos BORONDA is listed on p. 30, as is Rosario CASTRO, his wife.
    The information on these individuals is too extensive for me to include it all here, but you should be able to borrow these books on interlibrary loan through your local library. They are also available to the public for a modest fee in the Traveling Genealogy Library at all the Los Californianos meetings. Our meetings are detailed on this website under Meetings. It is likely that you would find other information about your family lines in the library as we have a fairly large genealogical collection. [Benita H. Gray (member), San Diego, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 589 - 16 November 2010
    María Carlota del Rosario CASTRO was born 20 October 1853, christened 15 January 1854 at Mission Santa Cruz. She was the daughter of José María CASTRO and Francisca HIGUERA and wife of Santos/José Santos BORONDA.
    She's in the Monterey County censuses for 1870 (Castroville) and 1880 (Monterey) with Santos. Next door to them in the 1870 census are her parents, José María CASTRO and Francisca HIGUERA. I found this at http://newsarch.rootsweb.com/th/read/CAMONTER/2003-02/1046053810. Best regards. [Rondi Frankel (nonmember), Mexico City, Mexico]

Pregunta 588 - 5 January 2010
    I am looking for any information about Juan de ARCE who is believed to have been an Englishman with a Spanish name and Capt. Francisco de PEREDA y ARCE who sailed with Padre Keno in 1683. Possible both may have been in the Sinaloa, Mexico (New Spain), area around the same time, 1670 - 1700.
    My research shows a Juan de ARCE who was with the Guzman expedition circa 1530 possibly settled in the Sinaloa area and another Juan de ARCE who served in presidios in Sinaloa 1698. Capt. Francisco de PEREDA y ARCE sailed out of Sinaloa in 1683 but do not know if he was originally from the area. Any information would be appreciated. [Robert Arce (nonmember), Flower Mound, Texas]
Respuesta a Pregunta 588 - 5 January 2010
    Jose Gabriel de ARCE (my ancestor), who was a soldado de cuera with the Portolá Expedition, was the son of a Francisco PEREDA y ARCE and Rosa LOPEZ. Gabriel was born in the Villa de Sinaloa, Sinaloa, about 1727. Unfortunately, it is my understanding that the old records of the Villa de Sinaloa have been lost. [Benita H. Gray (member), San Diego, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 588 - 31 October 2010
    An ancestor in our family named Juan de ARCE was an Englishman who was raised in Spain. A Jesuit priest named Juan Maria SALVATERRIA asked the Spanish Crown during the Bourbon era if he could explore Baja California and convert it to a Church State. When he was granted permission, he took 13 (or 6 depending on your source) Spanish soldiers with him, one of them being Juan de ARCE. They established their first mission which still stands to this day: Loreto Mission, near La Paz. He was also in Sinaloa.
    I don't know yet the name of Juan de ARCES'S son but I know he had two grandchildren, Sebastian and Jose Gabriel. Jose Gabriel had a son named Antonio ARCE who supposedly married an American woman from Texas named Margaret DAVIDSON. Antonio had at least five sons: Antonio, Juan de Dios, Gregorio, ​Salvador, and Jose Gabriel ARCE.
    Of these five sons, Gregorio had a son whose name I can't recall right now. This man had children (16 I think) with several women. His first marriage was to my mother, Lucia HUERTA, and they had two sons, my brothers Gregorio and Gabriel ARCE. Gregorio is now a retired policeman in his seventies and Gabriel passed away in 1990 at age 50 while awaiting a heart transplant. A book with information about Juan de ARCE and the Jesuit priest with whom he traveled was written by Harry Crosby. It's titled Gateway to Alta California: The Expedition to San Diego, 1769 (Sunbelt Cultural Heritage Books). [E. Gibson (nonmember), San Diego, Calif.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 588 - 31 December 2010
    According to Harry Crosby’s book Antigua California: Mission and Colony on the Peninsular Frontier, 1697-1768, Francisco de PEREDA Yy ARCE and Rosa LOPEZ were the parents of Sebastian Contantino de ARCE and Jose Gabriel de ARCE. I have not been able to locate anything to establish that Francisco de PEREDA y ARCE was the son of Juan de ARCE. I have come across comments in various books making vague inferences that Sebastian and Jose Gabriel were Juan ARCE'S grandchildren but no specifics are ever provided. 
    What I do have in the way of facts is that Francisco de PEREDA y ARCE was the captain of one of the ships Padre Kino used to sail from Sinaloa to Baja California in 1683 and Juan de ARCE arrived in Loreto in 1698. I don’t think these dates support that Francisco de PEREDA y ARCE was the son of Juan de ARCE but they also do not totally rule out the possibility since it is only a 15-year difference. 
    Also, if Francisco de PEREDA y ARCE is the father of Sebastian Contantino de ARCE and Jose Gabriel de ARCE then why did they take the mothers name (ARCE) rather than the father’s name of PEREDA?
    I’ve also learned that most church records from this period from along the Sinaloa river area have been lost due to multiple floods between 1758 and 1770. I’ve been trying to locate military records but have been unsuccessful.
    Any help with information pertaining to the relationship of Francisco de PEREDA y ARCE to Juan de ARCE along with any information on the PEREDA family line in the Sinaloa area (1600s-1700s) would be greatly appreciated. [Robert Arce (nonmember), Flower Mound, Texas]
Respuesta a Pregunta 588 - 25 March 2012
    This is not of the ARCE you mention but considering it is an ARCE'S baptismo of 3 August 1695, surely they are related.
    Villa de S.n Mig.l Prov.a de Culiacan en treze de Agosto de Mil, Seise.tos noventa, y cinco a.s en esta S.ta Igl.a Parrochial Yo el P.e Nicolas de Salas cura propiet.o en dha [that's as it looks like but crossed like a t across the dh] Villa baptize, y puse los Sanctos Olios a Christoval TIBURCIO hijo legitimo del Capp.an D.n Christoval de AGRAMONTT y ARCE, y de D.a Juana Maria XEREZ [believe the X is a P as in Perez]. Fueron Sus Padrinos D.n Mig.l DE AMARILLA [no s at end of this one], y D.a Catharina de AMARILLA. Y por que conste lo firme ~ signed by Nicolas de Salas.
    If I mistook a letter or two, it's likely the insignificant areas ... not in the names themselves. Some padres did have less than nice handscript.
    I hope this record is a connection for someone. If not, it does show that the Capt.'s mother was of the ARCE name, marrying an AGRAMONTT; or likely to assume. I've found the AGRAMONTT name at times with one "t."  [Lisa Marie Cross (nonmember), Palm Springs, Calif.]

​Pregunta 587 - 5 January 2010
    I am asking about my great-grandfather. There are so many questions that some of us have. We would like to know about our history. Records of my great-grandfather Seferino VALDERAMOS and his sister Francisca VALDERAMOS show they were placed in orphanages in the 1850s. They may have Chumash ancestors. He was born in 1845 in San Luis Obispo, died in Phoenix, Ariz. in 1954. [Sylvia Sanchez (nonmember), Alhambra, Calif.]

Pregunta 586 - 5 January 2010
    It is exciting to find out that I am a direct descendant of 4 well-known California families: John Cameron GILROY and Clara Maria ORTEGA, Thomas W. DOAK and Lucarda Maria CASTRO. Jose NEOFITO, John Cameron GILROY'S son, married Cecelia DOAK. Their son Theodore GILROY is my great-grandfather. His daughter Cecelia Isabella GILROY is my grandmother, her daughter, Emma Edith DANT, is my mother (all are deceased). Thanks to a Kathy Earshaw and Ancestry.com, I have much information. However, I would like advice on how to obtain more information on: 1. The DOAKS and 2. Theodore GILROY'S first wife, Refugia GONZALES, from Mexico. Thanks for your wonderful organization!  marieterranova@hotmail.com  Gilroy/Ortega/Castro Family Tree on ancestry.com  [Marie Terranova (nonmember), Westerly, R.I.]
Respuesta a Pregunta 586 - 5 January 2010
    According to Marie Northrop's Spanish-Mexican Families of Early California: 1769-1850, Vol. II, pp. 51-52:
Maria Lugarda de las Nieves CASTRO (born 18 May 1801; baptized 20 May 1801 at Mission San Carlos de Monterey; married 8 November 1820 at Mission San Juan Bautista to Thomas DOAK) was the 5th child (3rd daughter) of Jose Mariano CASTRO (born about 1765 at Sinaloa, Sonora, Nueva España [now Mexico]; died 1828) and Maria Josefa ROMERO (born about 1777 at Loreto, Baja California, Nueva España [now Mexico] of Juan Maria ROMERO and Maria Lugarda SALGADO) who were married 19 February 1791 at Mission Santa Barbara, Alta California, Nueva España (now California). Mariano's parents were Joachim Isidro CASTRO and Maria Martina BOTILLER. Mariano was a soldado de cuera with Anza in 1776 and at the Royal Presidio of Monterey; he was grantee of Rancho Las Animas and La Brea. [I am including this information because Ms. Terranova's first (short) query to La Tejedora asked about Mariano. In addition, Maria Lugarda's name is cited somewhat differently than Ms. Terranova has. La Tejedora]

Pregunta 585 - 5 January 2010
    Hello,
    I am currently doing some genealogy and need some help. How is General CASTRO [related to] Maria Antonio CASTRO?
    She is my great-great-great-grandmother who married Juan ANZAR. And they had Policronio Estolastico de Guadalupe ANZAR, who married a Mariquita ZANETTE, and they had Frank ANZAR. Frank married a Violet HUNT and they had my grandmother Lolita ANZAR. She married a William Vincent LIZOTTE and they had my mom.
    So my question is, how is General CASTRO related to Maria Antonio CASTRO? And were they Spanish or Mexican? Please help??!! [Aaron (nonmember), Roseville, Calif.]