Latest Update: 15 May 2006

PREGUNTAS Y RESPUESTAS

This page is for the exchange of genealogical information relevant to
early (pre 1848) Hispanic Californians 
(also called Californianos or Californios) and their descendants.
We will include both question and answers, for the benefit of all the cousins of the questioner.

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 310 - 25 September 2005

 I am looking for family information on Andres Duarte who was the owner of Rancho Azusa de Duarte in the mid 1800s.   I am related on my mother's side of the family.  I have gone as far back as Frank P. Duarte (1867-1939) and his wife Enedena (Serrino) Duarte (1888 - 1955) and would like to know more about my family history.  Any information would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you. [Edward Quezada (nonmember)] Note: see also Respuesta filed between Preguntas 322 and 323.

Respuesta a Pregunta 310 - 25 September 2005

According to Marie Northrop's Spanish-Mexican Families of Early California 1769-1850, Vol. II, pp. 68-70:
Andres Avelino Duarte [the grantee of Rancho Azusa] was baptized 30 November 1805 at Mission San Juan Capistrano. His parents were Jose Francisco Leandro Duarte and Maria Francisca Briones. He married Maria Gertrudis Florentina Valenzuela about 1827. Northrop records only one child, Felipe Santiago Duarte, evidently their first, born 30 April 1828. Felipe married in 1850 and Northrop records his first child, a girl, as being born in 1855.  If Northrop's material is accurate and complete, it is unlikely your Frank (born in 1867) was a direct descendant of Andres. However, he could have descended from another of Leandro's children or from Cayetano Duarte or Juan Jose Duarte both of whom lived in the same areas or even from some other Duarte. I suggest you try to ascertain Frank's parents through California vital statistics or later mission records. Your Family History Center could help you with this. Northrop carries these families down into the mid 1800s, so with Frank's parents we should be able to determine the right lineage.

For those interested in Andres: Governor Juan B. Alvarado granted him Rancho Azusa [some 7,000 acres] on 10 May 1841. He was granted a San Gabriel lot in 1846. He was buried 24 January 1863 at Mission San Gabriel Cemetery. The city of Duarte retains his name. [Benita H. Gray (member), San Diego, Calif.]

Pregunta 309 - 25 September 2005

Respuesta a Pregunta 309 - 27 October 2005

I have information on the Aguilar family in Baja California and Alta California dating from about 1700, but had not seen information about a Gracia Smith/Aguilar who might have married a Jose Norberto Velasquez.  On the other hand,  my Aguilar ancestors were involved in the early settling of Baja California and participated in expeditions into Alta California during the same time period that you note.  I know there was a lot of intermarriage between the families of los soldados. Do you have any other information about Gracia?  [Aguilar (nonmember), Elk Grove, Calif.]

Respuesta a Pregunta 309 - 25 September 2005

According to Harry W. Crosby's Gateway to Alta California, p. 171:
José Velázquez was born in 1717 at San Ildefonso de Ostimuri, died in 1785 and was buried at San Gabriel. He married Juana García, who died at Misión de el Rosario in 1781. Their children were Francisca, Anastasia María, and María (possibly same as Anastasia María). He was a soldier at Loreto from 1751; promoted to corporal May 1768. Went with Rivera to San Diego and north with Portolá on the second, successful search for Monterey. Left Monterey on 14 June 1770 with one companion [sailor/arriero Juan Bautista Caravajal] to carry a letter announcing the port's discovery and occupation to waiting officials in Mexico. Eventually took ship at San José del Cabo and carried the news all the way to Mexico City. Returning from Mexico, he was promoted to alférez in 1771. He then served out of Velicatá, heading the Escolta de la Frontera guarding the new Dominican missions and supplies and settlers en route from Bahía de San Luis Gonzaga to San Diego and delivering mail from Loreto to San Diego or back. In July 1775 he received custody of Francisco Avila and Sebastián Alvitre. He was a Lieutenant at San Diego 8 August, 4 October 1781. In 1785 he lead a punitive expedition [under direction of Pedro Fages] in the area west of Misión de San Vicente, looking for a band that had killed a soldier deserter and some mission animals. "Honrada" appears on service record. [Benita Gray (member), San Diego, Calif.]

Pregunta 308 - 25 September 2005

Respuesta a Pregunta 308 - 15 May 2006

Juana Guadalupe Castillo-Soberanes ~ Rancho Los Ojitos

Try Monterey Historical Society here: http://www.mchsmuseum.com/missionsant.html

Privately, death certificates available here: http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/Recorder/death.htm
Monterey County Recorder County Clerk
P. O. Box 29
Salinas CA 93902
[Teresa Russell y Espinosa de Boronda (nonmember), Long Beach, Calif.]

Pregunta 307 - 16 September 2005

The Feliz (Felix, Felis) family was prominent in Los Angeles history; and indeed we know that outlaw Joaquin Murrieta’s brother-in-law, Reyes Feliz, was hanged for his involvement in the murder of General Bean in San Gabriel, and so was obviously in the L.A. area.  Has a connection been established between L.A.’s old Feliz family and the gold-fields-area  Felizes (originally from Sonora, Mexico) involved with the Murrieta group; or is it simply evidently a happenstance that Reyes Feliz was hanging out in Los Angeles?  It would be quite interesting to know if the L.A. Feliz family was helping shelter relatives who were known criminals!  (There is a cool-headed rendition of the story of Joaquin Murrieta at http://www.cocohistory.com/essays-murrieta.html , including mention of various Feliz family members.)  If you prefer, you may contact me directly at odinthor@csulb.edu .  Thanks! [Brent C. Dickerson (nonmember), Los Alamitos, Calif.] Note: please copy your information to our Web site as I am sure others will be interested. La Tejedora

Pregunta 306 - 8 September 2005

Juan Jose Rangel and Maria de la Paz Espinoza married in 1820 at Mission San Carlos de Borromeo de Monterey. Their children were: Maria Gertrudis Concepcion (my great grandmother) born 1837, Monterey, Calif.;  Jose Agusorion born 1840; Jose Guadalupe Tomas Victoria born 1841; Maria Manuela born 1843; Jose de los Santos born 1846; Jose Ygnacio Altagracia born 1847; and Jose de Jesus [born about 1832, Altar, Mexico] who married Maria las Angustias los Angeles Lara at Mission San Gabriel 1851. My great great grandmother Gregoria Quis Gomez was born 1830; baptized 1836 San Fernando Mission. Thank You. [Katherine Beatty (nonmember), Oregon]

Pregunta 305 - 8 September 2005

I am interested in Antonio Coronel. Any information on the Coronel family and tree, of Los Angeles and Santa Barbara will be appreciated. Thanks Rick Coronel. [Rick Coronel (nonmember), Los Angeles, Calif.]

Respuesta a Pregunta 305 - 8 September 2005

Your question is so broad, it is difficult to answer. It is much more helpful if you can ask specific questions. I do not have Marie Northrop's Spanish-Mexican Families of Early California: 1769-1850, Vol. III on hand at the moment. It may cite several Antonio Coronels living in Los Angeles over the years. I do have Vol. II, which has only one, so I will give you that information from pp. 57-58. If you could give a time period, we could be more helpful.

Antonio Franco Coronel [born 21 October 1817, Mexico City, Mexico; buried 17 April 1894, Los Angeles Plaza Church] was the second child, first son of Jose Ygnacio Franco Coronel [born about 1795, Mexico City of Agustin Franco Coronel and Ygnacia Salazar; buried 21 December 1862, Los Angeles Plaza Church] and Maria Josefa Francisca Romero [born about 1802, Tuluca, Mexico of Jose Manuel Romero and Josefa Rosel; buried 2 November 1871, Los Angeles Plaza Church, age 70 years, 7 months], who married about 1815 in Mexico and had a total of nine children. Antonio Franco Coronel was married 18 December 1873 at Los Angeles Plaza Church, age 55 years, to Mariana (Mary Ann) Williamson, age 23 years. She married second Dr. C. Edgar Smith in 1895 at Los Angeles. 

Jose Ygnacio Franco Coronel was a soldier in the Spanish army in Mexico in 1810; corporal of cavalry in 1814. He came to Alta California with the Hijar and Padres colony on the vessel Natalia in 1834. He was a teacher at Rancho Corralitos in Monterey in 1836 and taught school in Los Angeles in 1837. He had a store and was secretary of ayuntamiento. He was grantee of La Canada in 1843; Cajon de los Negroes in 1846. [Benita Gray (member), San Diego, Calif.]

Pregunta 304 - 24 July 2005

I am seeking information on my great great grandmother, Pilar de los Delores Arguello. She was married to Ceasar Agustus Sixtus Luckhardt.  I believe that her father was Francisco Nicodemis Arguello.  I am descended through her son, Ceasar Santiago Luckhardt, to my grandmother, Bonnie Luckhardt Moore, to my mother, Nancy E. Moore.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.  m.mcgrew@verizon.net [Michael Mcgrew (nonmember), Aloha, Ore.]

Pregunta 303 - 24 July 2005

Pregunta 302 - 24 July 2005

 I  am doing the research for my Uncle Joel Manuel Martinez born 4 March 1937. We are trying to find out who Manuel Martinez's parents are and how he was related to Don Ignacio Martinez.
Here is what we have so far: Manuel Martinez [born 2 July 1880 California; died 9 July 1950 California; mother's maiden name Espinosa] married Minnie Thorpe [born in England]. Their sons [both born and died in California] were George Francis [born 19 February 1911; died 23 September 1976; married Muriel/Meryl Ellen Ramey] and Roy Vincent or Vincent Roy [born 27 December 1912 or 1913; died 23 November 1981; perhaps married twice, one possibly named Mabel]. Both George Martinez and Roy Vincent Martinez served in the military during WWII.

Cipriano Espinosa was Manuel's uncle [born 14 February 1863 California; died  30 June 1946 California]. He resided in Tracy, California with his wife Mary, his daughter, Eva [born about 1901/1902] and his mother-in-law [Sarah Phel] per 1920 Census.  I have been unable to locate Uncle Cip in any other census, so he may possibly have used another name. Supposedly George Martinez and Roy Vincent lived with Uncle Cip after the death of their mother, Minnie Thorpe.

We have in our possession a postcard sent from Manuel Martinez to his mother, a Mrs. M. Hilton, Tracy, Calif. which mentions a Bonilla boy from Gridley - postcard is postmarked 20 November 1917 from San Francisco, Calif.  We have no idea what Manuel's mother's first name is.  We suspect she may have married secondly a Hilton.

Uncle Joel also recalls Pio Pico and the Pacheco family being mentioned as part of his family. St. Vincent's Orphanage, in Marin County, California has also been mentioned-either Manuel Martinez or his sons at one time were wards there.  Any help would be appreciated. [Helen Ortiz Eberle (nonmember), Pleasanton, Calif.]

UPDATE - 25 September 2005

> I have additional information to add.  According to Manuel Martinez'
> Social Security application his mother's name was Margaret Espinosa.  His
> father's name was Francisco Martinez.  Manuel was born in Concord, Contra
> Costa County, California, 2 July 1880.  County Clerk has no record of his
> birth. St. Catherine's Church, Martinez, Contra Costa County, California
> indicates his baptismal date and his parents names. [Helen Ortez Eberle (nonmember), Pleasanton, Calif.]

Pregunta 301 - 24 July 2005

I am looking for a death certificate and marriage certificate for Maria de la Luz (Chumash Indian) and a Manuel Evare/Ybarra/Evara or any variation.  They were from Santa Ines. Maria died there, so I imagine she lived there, too, but I know they farmed out to rancheros. We are trying to ascertain whether Manuel was Chumash.  My grandmother, Amelia Bell Morse [born in Santa Barbara], was Maria's granddaughter, but she died in 1970 at the age of 85. She never spoke about her past because she was ashamed of being an Indian as they were very much looked down upon in those days.  I don't know if it was ignorance or shame that she didn't register on the 1930 rolls but when her birth certificate was redone because it was lost in a fire or something, she always said that it was put down that she was white.

I have tried contacting the Santa Ines Tribal Council and Genealogy Council, but have received no reply. I have both volumes of the Cultural Affiliation and Lineal Descent of Chumash Indians in The Channel Islands and Santa Monica Mountains edited by Sally McLendon and John Johnson and meet with Mr. Johnson yearly.  But I still do not know for certain that Manuel was Chumash.  I do hope someone can be of some help. [Kathy Pappo (nonmember), Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.]
(310) 831-5295

Respuesta a Pregunta 301 - 15 May 2006

Here is what Jean Baptiste Le Moyne De Bienville had to say [about Indians}:

Their honesty is immaculate and their purity of purpose and their observance of the rules of their religion are most uniform and remarkable.  They are certainly more like a nation of saints than a horde of savages.

An Indian chief once said, In its eternal midnight, remember? We, too, belong to the world and it is spread for our eyes. It is the Indian's land too and the bones of their fathers. See how their sons still strive without fear. Not lying, not speaking with forked tongue. Men know, in night-darkness, what wisdom thrives with the fathers.

Guadalupe, Juana, and María de la Luz – were first-generation Californios (colonists who were born in California), all born into a soldiering family stationed at El Presidio de Monterey. Their parents were mulattos. Bowman states that María de la Luz never married. . .    http://www.stanford.edu/group/presidio/juana.html [Teresa Russell y Espinosa de Boronda (nonmember), Long Beach, Calif.]