Latest Update: 6 May 2009

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 460 - 10 September 2007

My name is Ramon Espinosa de los Monteros my family was from Monterey California and a lot of them are interned in the Carmel cemetery . I am the last of them. My family came to Alta California in the 1770s with Father J. Serra. My grandfather's name was Abel Espinosa and the clan settled in
Monterey, California. One son was my father Ramundo; my uncles were Abe, Henry, Alfonso, and Rommie + Tias. They all have passed. In 1950 we had a junta in Monterey and a whole crew of them attended, but since I came from the East they were not very social.  I have a history of the family from Spain to California, but that's all. I have a cousin, Felix Splegler, who lives in Alpine, California. That's all I know. I would like to hear from other descendants of my family. Saludos [Ramon Espinosa de los Monteros (nonmember), Colton, Calif.]

Pregunta 459 - 6 September 2007

How are the Alvisos and Higueras related?  I see many Alvisos and Higueras.  I am an Alviso married to a Higuera from the Los Angeles, California area.  Where do they come from? Our Alviso's come from Mexico but we are told are Italian. My grandfather Simon Alviso married a granddaughter of Geronimo so we are part Apache. If someone knows regarding this please respond. 
[Victoria Alviso Higuera (nonmember), San Bernardino, Calif.]

Respuesta a Pregunta 459 - 3 January 2008

I am related to the Alvisos. Maria Josefa Amador de Alviso, widow of William Julian Wilson, married Antonino Higuera at Mission San Jose around the mid 1840s. Higuera was one of the grantees  of Rancho de los Vaqueros along with Francisco Alviso, Maria's brother. Hope this helps. [Donn Wilson (not yet member), Modesto, Calif.]

Respuesta a Pregunta 459 - 6 September 2007

I am sure there are many connections between the Alvisos and the Higueras. Marie Northrop's Spanish-Mexican Families of Early California: 1769-1850, vol. I, pp. 20-24 has some discrepancies/contradictions about the Alviso/Higuera connections and relationships. I hope there will be respuestas from others that can straighten them out. [Benita H. Gray (member), San Diego, Calif.]

Pregunta 458 - 6 September 2007

My great grandfather arrived in California in 1832 (estimated). His name was Augustine Manriquez, he married a full-blood Juaneno with a last name of Hisquerdo. I believe he was a soldier/rancher near San Juan Capistrano.  I wish I knew more about my great grandmother.  If anyone can help, I'd be eternally grateful. [Daniel McKim (nonmember)]

Respuesta a Pregunta 458 - 3 April 2009

  What is the first name of Hisquerdo? I show Augustine born 29 August 1855, died 4 July 1940, about 85 years of age at time of death. I'm looking for wives for Luis Manriquez about 1772 and Jose Julian Manriquez about 1801. Both are from San Juan Capistrano, Calif. [Lupe C. Lopez (nonmember), Whittier, Calif.]

Respuesta a Respuesta a Pregunta 458 - 3 April 2009

According to Marie Northrop's Spanish-Mexican Families of Early California 1769-1850, Vol. I, pp. 223-224:
Jose Julian Manriquez married Maria de la Trinidad Dominguez (born 9 June 1805 of Mariano Dominguez and Maria Venacia Sotelo and baptized same day at Mission San Jose] on 24 May 1822 at Mission San Gabriel. Luis Manriquez married Maria Juliana Thomasa Alanis (born 20 December 1781 of Maximo Alanis and Juana Maria Mirando; baptized 26 December 1781 at Mission San Diego; buried 11 August 1821 at Mission San Gabriel having died in childbirth) on 24 January 1795 at Mission San Diego.

Pregunta 457 - 6 September 2007

I am researching relatives who are reported to have founded Santa Barbara. The names are Matias Reyes who is reported to have donated property for the Botanical Gardens and his wife Rosilda possibly Gonzales.  They only had one child that I am aware of an that is Petra Reyes who married Jose Antonio Cruz. Thanks for your help. [A. Flowers (nonmember), Atlanta, GA.] Note:  I could find no Reyes associated with the founding of Santa Barbara in my limited resources at home, but certainly they could have been early settlers. I feel it is important to correct misinformation so hope our readers can provide us with material on Matias Reyes and his ancestors and descendants. La Tejedora

Respuesta a Pregunta 457 - 15 March 2008

Matias Reyes was my great grandfather.  Petra Reyes Cruz was one of his daughters. [Victoria Leah Reyes (nonmember), Seattle, Wash.]

Respuesta a Pregunta 457 - 2 March 2008

Matias Reyes, although not an original founder, was indeed a well-known figure in early Santa Barbara. Matias Reyes was a wood-cutter and sold firewood door-to-door. He did own at one time 101 acres of land in Mission Canyon. Part of it was the Botanical Gardens and also included what is now known as Scoffield Park.

Matias was married to a full blooded Cahuilla Indian by the name of Griselda, first married by a Justice of the Peace in San Diego, then again by the Church in Santa Barbara. The first of several children is listed as Petra Reyes (later married to Jose Antonio Cruz). I found one record that listed Petra's mother as 'Christiana, a neophyte'. A local historian believes the priest who recorded this misunderstood Griselda's name and wrote it by mistake as "Chrisanta."

Matias died on 21 March 1902 in Santa Barbara, Calif. You may view his picture in one of several Santa Barbara history books, one in particular is Santa Barbara Past and Present by Walker Thompkins, published in 1975; another is California Editor by Thomas M. Storke.

Matias Reyes was my great-great grandfather, Petra my great-grandmother. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at debbiescasa@verizon.net [Debbie Silva (nonmember), Santa Barbara, Calif.]
 

Pregunta 456 - 6 September 2007

I am trying to trace my ancestry and believe that one of the children of Carlos Antonio Carrillo or Jose Antonio Carrillo may be the grandfather of my grandmother, Eva Carrillo de Gallardo (1883 - 1979).  She was born in Los Angeles.  I would very much appreciate any help with finding her family's lineage.  Does anyone know the names of Carlos' or Jose's children?

I know that Eva Carrillo's father was a lawyer.  She was linked to the Habsburgs in Austria and a Viceroy of New Spain.   Much of her family were high ranking officers in the Mexican Army. She once said she was a cousin of Leo Carrillo, the actor, and of Wm. Gaxton, the actor and that her relatives settled California. Please help! [Kay Mcanally (not yet member), Los Angeles, Calif.]

Respuesta a Pregunta 456 - 6 September 2007

According to Marie Northrop's Spanish-Mexican Families of Early California: 1769-1850, vol. I, pp. 99-100: Carlos Antonio's male children were Jose Gertrudis Carmelo [born 1810, married Maria Manuela Ortega]; Pedro Catarino [born 23 February 1818, married Maria Josefa Bandini]; and Jose de Jesus [born 29 December 1824, married Tomasa Gutierrez]. Northrop has a little more information on these sons and their sisters, but none on their children or the children of Jose Antonio Carrillo. [Benita H. Gray (member), San Diego, Calif.]

Pregunta 455 - 6 September 2007

I am looking for any information on Lucia Vasquez, born 1855 in Monterey, Calif. She married Juan Silvestre Artellan of Monterey. Her great grandfather was Juan Vasquez who came with De Anza to California. Any information at all about her is greatly appreciate. I am a descendant of Lucia's. (Please email me any info as I may forget to check this board). Thanks!! amy.jansen@sbcglobal.net [Amy Jansen (nonmember), Salinas, Calif.] Note: Please copy your response to latejedora@loscalifornianos.org so we may post the information on this Web site for anyone else who may be interested. La Tejedora

Pregunta 454 - 6 September 2007

I would like to confirm certain Castro members of my family line for whom I have no sources.  From Census reports, I do know that Narciso Castro (born 1843/Calif.; married Joana Herman, born 1850/Calif.) was the son of Evaristo Castro (born 1820/Calif.; married Magdelena Pacheco Molano, born 1830/Calif.).  However, I am unable to find sources confirming, as reported by family members, that Evaristo Castro was the son of Jose Castro (born about 1800/?) and Inez Robles (date/place of birth unknown).  Furthermore, I am unable to find proof that Jose Castro was in turn  the son of Jose Mariano Castro (born 1765 Sinaloa/Mex.; married Maria Josefa Romero, born 1777 Loreto/Baja Calif.).   I am told that Jose Castro was the younger brother of Maria Josefa Castro (born 11 Apr. 1792/Santa Barbara, Calif.).  Any source material you can provide on the line from Evaristo Castro to Jose Castro and his wife Inez, to Jose's purported parents Jose Mariano Castro and Maria Josefa Romero would be gratefully appreciated! [Marilyn Moffitt (nonmember), Alameda, Calif.]

Respuesta a Pregunta 454 - 29 September 2007

Hello distant cousin Marilyn! In one of those twists of fate my family has been looking for years for a way to confirm my great great grandfather's, Salvador Castro, parents. We had information that he was the son of Jose Saturnino Trinidad Castro and Inez Robles and that there was a will listing their children dealing with Rancho Las Animas but had no idea where this will/information came from. Salvador was supposed to have been born/baptized at Santa Cruz. Repeated searches have not turned him up anywhere in the mission records. I have come to the deduction that Salvador's birth records are in the missing books from Santa  Cruz and he is listed nowhere else. The best part of all this is just in the last week a search I did turned up the Leon Rowland pre-statehood document files on line at the UCSC  McHenrey Library special collections. In them is a transcript of Inez Robles de Castro's will dated 13 April 1867, Branciforte, listing her children!! Averisto (Everisto,many ways to spell this) and Salvador are in there.

It is Box#A-3,Card# 128.01,.02,.03 card category CASTRO, document #038. I really don't know much about this resource, where the actual will is etc. I am trying to compose an e-mail to them to get information about this resource and hopefully to plan a trip there in the future. Perhaps someone with Los Californianos can enlighten us about this resource.

But it is good to find something after so long looking.I  have been in touch with several cousins that are descendants of Salvador's children and have a copy of a picture of him. I would enjoy hearing/sharing what you know about his brother or any of this family, my email is mtrh8@yahoo.com [Tina Micheal Ruse (not yet member), Sacramento, Calif.]

Respuesta a Pregunta 454 - 6 September 2007

According to Marie Northrop's Spanish-Mexican Families of Early California: 1769-1850, vol. II, p. 51: Jose Saturnino Trinidad Castro married Maria Ines Robles. Jose Saturnino was the third child and second son of Jose Mariano Castro and Maria Josefa Romero and was born 9 February 1797; baptized 10 February 1797 at Mission San Luis Obispo. According to Northrop, none of his siblings were born or baptized in Santa Barbara nor named Maria Josefa. Jose Mariano Castro [born about 1765 at Sinaloa, Sonora, Mexico of Joachim Isidro Castro and Maria Martina Botiller; died 1828] married Maria Josefa Romero [born about 1777 at Loreto, Baja California, Mexico of Juan Maria Romero and Maria Lugarda Salgado] 19 February 1791 at Mission Santa Barbara. I realize this does not connect Evaristo, but I hope it helps. [Benita H. Gray (member), San Diego, Calif.]

Pregunta 453 - 11 July 2007

Hi, I am a descendent of Jose Manuel Ruiz and Maria Antonia Transvina. Jose Manuel died 1835. I know he had  4 daughters and 1 son, Juan, who died at age 25. My family history states my line comes from Antonio Ruiz (a son of Jose Manuel Ruiz?), who had Rodrigo Ruiz (married Jesus Martinez) who had Julio Ruiz (11 May 1882) who had my grandmother (Mercedes Ruiz Trujillo). I can't find the connection of Antonio Ruiz to Jose Manuel Ruiz in history, can you help? Thanks for your help. [Sylvia Perreira (nonmember)]