Manuel
Romero and Manuel Marques
Are
they the same person?
By
Patricia Sanchez Rau
Several
years ago when I began my genealogy research, I concentrated my
search in the Santa Cruz area where it appeared that the majority of
my ancestors were from. My mother had quite a bit of information on
the Ortiz family and had always told us that her four grandmothers
had been related through the Ortiz side.
As
you know, genealogy research has a backward progression; so I started
going through Volume 3 of the Santa Cruz baptisms. I was very naive
and after finding the first few entries I actually assumed it was
going to be a very easy task. As the research progressed I
encountered a very curious problem with the parents of Maria Alvina
Romero and her brother Jose Rafael Romero, two of my direct ancestors
who had married into the Ortiz family. Their parents Manuel Romero
and Maria Paula Valdez had 10 known children.
Juana
Maria Romero born May 22,1795 in Nambe, NM
Maria
de la Encarnación born March 27, 1799 in Pojoaque, NM
Maria
Albina Romero born about 1801
Jose
Rafael Romero born about 1796
Maria
Guadalupe Romero born 1816 Pojoaque, NM
Maria
Ygnacia Romero born about 1815
Jose
Maria Romero born Nov. 1808, Pojoaque, NM
Jesus
Maria born April 24, 1806, Pojoaque, NM
Maria
Venancia born Jan 20, 1804, Pojoaque, NM
Maria
Basilia born April 14,1816, Pojoaque, NM
Going
through the index of Santa Cruz Baptisms Volume 3, I listed all the
page numbers where the name of Maria Paula Valdez appeared and was
reviewing each page. On one entry it indicated the grandparents for
one of the grandchildren as Maria Paula Valdez and Manuel Marques
(instead of Manuel Romero). I just assumed that Manuel Romero had
died and she had gotten married again and indicated that fact on my
family group sheet. Then I found another entry at a later date with
the grandparents listed as Manuel Romero and Maria Paula Valdez. Now
I started thinking that there were two individual families instead of
one. In order to separate them, I knew I would have to list each
known child of Manuel Romero and Maria Paula Valdez and proceed from
there.
By
this time, I had found the Hispanic Genealogy Research Center and the
Great New Mexico database. I wrote down the information on the
Romero and Ortiz children including their spouses then began to
recheck the information with the Santa Cruz baptisms so I could
determine where the discrepancies occurred and separate the Manuel
Marques Family from the Manuel Romero family. Instead of locating two
distinct families, there were no entries for Manuel Marques and Maria
Paula Valdez as a separate family however, there was seven entries
where the known children of Manuel Romero and Maria Paula Valdez were
either listed as having Marques as a last name or listing
grandparents as Manuel Marques and Maria Paula Valdez. Listed below
are the children and grandchildren of Manuel Romero and Maria Paula
Valdez – where the discrepancies occur; I have listed the entire
birth record and translation.
A. Jose Rafael Romero married
Maria Estefana Ortiz daughter of Jose Miguel Cayetano Ortiz &
Juana Sandoval on December 16, 1825 in Nambe, NM.
Pablo
Eufemio Romero bapt. 3-22-1829, Pojoaque
Maria
Rosa del Refugio Romero bapt. 8-1-1831, Pojoaque
Crisanto
Romero
Maria
Juana Andrea Romero bap.2-9-1834, San Ildefonso (listed on Pojoaque
film 16870)
Paula
Romero
Maria
Encarnación Romero
B. Maria
Alvina Romero married Jose Miguel Cayetano Ortiz (she was his second
wife). They were married April 30, 1826. His first wife was Juana
Sandoval. Miguel was the son of Gaspar Ortiz and Maria Francisca
Martin. Maria Alvina Romero and Miguel Cayetano Ortiz have the
following children:
Maria
De La Paz Ortiz
Antonio
Toribio Ortiz - 12-8-1828
Juana
Maria Ortiz - 8-16-1829
Maria
Antonia Ortiz - June12, 1831
Jose
Ramon Placido Ortiz June 22,1832
Maria
Eulogia Ortiz - March14, 1834
Maria
Florentina Ortiz – 10-9-1835 – Her birth record was located in
San Yldefonso even though she was born in Pojoaque. Her birth
record lists parents as Miguel Ortiz and Albina Marques and
grandparents: Paternal – Gaspar Ortiz and Francisca Martin;
Maternal – Manuel Marques and Maria Paula Baldes.
Godparents Jose Alexandro Gonzales and Maria Luisa Belarde
Maria
Yldefonsa Ortiz - 2-2-1837
Jose
Gabriel Ortiz – baptized at Santa Cruz on March 18, 1839 age 3
days – Vecinos from Pojoaque – to Miguel Ortiz and Albina
Marques. Paternal Grandparents – Gaspar Ortiz and Francisca
Martin(es) Maternal Grandparents – Manuel Marques and Maria
Paula Valdez. Godparents Manuel Rivera and Peregrina Pacheco of
Santa Fe.
Maria
de San Felipe Fernando Ortiz baptized 5-30-1841 at Santa Cruz child
of Miguel Ortiz and Maria Marques. Grandparents: Paternal –
Gaspar Ortiz and Maria Francisca Martin(es); Maternal: Manuel
Marques and Maria Paula Valdez. Godfather Mauricio Areva of
Pojoaque.
Maria
Ruperta Ortiz - 3-29-1843
C. Maria Guadalupe Romero
married Jose Miguel Ortiz – son of Jose Miguel Cayetano Ortiz and
Juana Sandoval. Maria Guadalupe Romero and Jose Manuel Ortiz have
the following known children:
Maria
Ramona Benigna Ortiz baptized Feb. 16, 1845
Jose
Bitor Ortiz b. 10-18-1850 Santa Cruz – Grandparents named.
Jose
Manuel Ortiz bt. 11-11-1846 baptized in San Yldefonso age 4 days
Grandparents listed in this record.
Jose
Sebero Ortiz – bt. 11-11-1846 age 4 days Santa Cruz –grandparents
named in this record. Godfather – Miguel Quintana of Pojoaque
Maria
Ramona Vitoria Ortiz bt. 12-22-1839
Maria
Rufina Ortiz – bt. 6-4-1841 age 3 days daughter of Jose Manuel
Ortiz and Maria Guadalupe Romero – record has the grandparents
reversed – shows paternal as Manuel Marques (sic) and Pabla
Valdez; maternal – Miguel Ortiz and Juana Sandoval.
Jose
Julian Ortiz bt. Jan. 9, 1843 age 2 days son of Jose Manuel Ortiz
and Maria Guadalupe Romero; grandparents listed – paternal
Ga(illegible) Ortiz and Maria Paula Valdez – Maternal - Manuel
Marques and Maria Paula Valdez. Godparents Juan Jose
Ortiz and Maria Altagracia
Romero of Pojoaque. I believe the paternal grandparents portion of
the record is incorrect
D. Maria Ygnacia Romero married
Pedro Ortiz – son of Jose Miguel Cayetano Ortiz and Juana Sandoval.
No children are found for this couple in the Santa Cruz, Pojoaque,
Nambe or San Ildefonso baptisms.
E. Maria Gracia Romero married
Juan Jose Ortiz – son of Gaspar Ortiz and Francisca Martin. Juan
Jose is the brother of Jose Miguel Cayetano Ortiz. Maria Guadalupe
Romero and Jose Manuel Ortiz have the following known children:
Maria
Rufina Ortiz – bt. 6-4-1841 age 3 days daughter of Jose Manuel
Ortiz and Maria Guadalupe Romero – record has the grandparents
reversed – shows paternal as Manuel Marques (sic) and Pabla
Valdez; maternal – Miguel Ortiz and Juana Sandoval.
Jose
Julian Ortiz bt. Jan. 9, 1843 age 2 days son of Jose Manuel Ortiz
and Maria Guadalupe Romero; grandparents listed – paternal
Ga(illegible) Ortiz and Maria Paula Valdez – Maternal - Manuel
Marques and Maria Paula Valdez. Godparents Juan Jose
Ortiz and Maria Altagracia Romero of Pojoaque. I believe the
paternal grandmother listed on this record is incorrect.
Maria
Ramona Benigna Ortiz –bt. 2-16-1845
Jose
Manuel Ortiz bt. 11-11-1846 baptized in San Yldefonso age 4 days
Grandparents listed in this record.
Jose
Sebero Ortiz – bt. 11-11-1846 age 4 days Santa Cruz –grandparents
named in this record. Godfather – Miguel Quintana of Pojoaque
Maria
Ramona Vitoria Ortiz bt. 12-22-1839
Jose
Bitor Ortiz b. 10-18-1850 Santa Cruz – Grandparents named.
F. Jose Maria Romero married
Maria Estefana Gallegos daughter of Juan Gallegos and Ana Maria
Salas. They are parents of the following children:
Juan
Relles Romero
Juana
Francisca Romero bt. 2-2-1840
Jose
Demetro de Jesus Romero bt. 12-25-1844
Maria
Desideria Benigna Romero bt. 2-13-1849 – Santa Cruz
Jose
Andres Marques bt. 2-7-1847 in San Yldefonso age 3 days son of Jose
Maria Marques and Maria Estefana Gallegos –
paternal grandparents – Manuel Marques and
Maria Paula Valdez; maternal grandparents – Juan Gallegos and
Maria Sandoval. Godparents – Francisco Garcia and Maria Rosa
Marquez. I believe this record actually for Jose Maria Romero and
Maria Estefana Gallegos.
A
seed of doubt entered my mind. Especially after finding entries for
Maria Alvina Romero where she is listed under two names Marques &
Romero. I started wondering if Manuel Marques and Manuel Romero were
one and the same person. The problem with an idea such as this; is
that I couldn’t let it go. I kept looking for clues to see if I
could find something to indicate that the two Manuels were one and
the same person.
There
was one book written about “The Ortiz Family” by Virginia
Olmstead that I had heard of so I started asking everyone I knew
where I could find a copy. Finally after many inquiries, I was able
to purchase a copy of the book. On page 53 Ms. Olmstead lists a son
of Miguel Ortiz and Juana Sandoval named Manuel who indicated during
a land transaction that his father-in-law Manuel Romero was also
known as Manuel Marques. Ms. Olmstead indicated that Juan Manuel’s
wife was not named; but I felt that on the strength of that entry I
should go back and research the family once more.
I
concentrated my search in Nambe and Pojoaque, as that was where some
of the Romero children had been born. This time, I searched for any
Marques entry. I have been able to locate birth records for Jose
Rafael, Maria Alvina, Maria de Altagracia and Maria Venancia, four
known children of Manuel Romero and Maria Paula Valdes. The entries
I located however, are for children of Manuel Marques and Maria Paula
Valdes. The birth years for these Marques children coincide with
ages known for Jose Rafael and Maria Alvina.
Record
# On July 6, 1796, I baptized and put sacred oils onto Jose Rafael
legitimate son of Manuel Marques and Maria Paula Valdez, landowners
from this jurisdiction. Godfather was Jose Francisco Trujillo.
Record
#2 In this parish of
Our Lady of Pojoaque on March 6, 1807 I baptized solemnly a child
named Maria Alvina legitimate daughter of Manuel Marques and Maria
Paula Baldez. Godparents Mariano Trujillo and Andrea Lucero who
accepted this obligation of spiritual parenting (unsure of rest of
translation.
Record
#3 – On June 13, 1811 I baptized a child, three days old that I
named Maria de Altagracia Romero legitimate daughter of Manuel
Marques and Maria Paula Baldez. Padrinos - Juan de Jesus Baldez and
Maria Barbara Armijo.
Record
#4 On Jan 28, 1804, I
baptized solemnly and placed sacred oil and chrism on Maria Venancia,
three day old legitimate daughter of Manuel Romero & Maria Paula
Baldes, landowners from this parish. Godparents Rafael Martin and
Maria Sisneros, landowners from Chama.
The
other part that I noted that both in the HGRC database and all other
sources is that no personal information was listed about Manuel
Romero and Maria Paula Valdes. On one of the baptismal records of the
Romero children it listed Manuel Romero as “Jose Manuel” Romero.
I have searched all the communities for any information on a Jose
Manuel Romero and to date have found no information.
In
researching another branch of my family I ordered the book “The
Descendents of Lucero de Godoy” by Margaret Buxton. The family I
was researching was Marcos Lucero de Godoy and his wife Maria Antonia
Gomez del Castillo. This family had a daughter named Maria Andrea
Lucero married to a Juan Domingo Valdes. On pages 89 and 172
Margaret Buxton indicates that Juan Domingo Valdes and Maria Andrea
Lucero had a daughter named Maria Paula Valdes married to a Manuel
Ricardo Romero. Was this a coincidence? Marriage information listed
indicated a marriage in 1792 in San Ildefonso.
Before
going any further I checked the godparents listed on all the Romero
children looking for clues that might establish any other family
members for Manuel Romero and Maria Paula Valdes. On Maria Alvina’s
birth record, the padrinos were Andrea Lucero and her second husband
Mariano Trujillo. On the birth record of Maria de Altagracia, the
padrinos were Juan de Jesus Baldes and Maria Barbara Armijo. This
Juan de Jesus was a known son of Juan Domingo Valdes and Andrea
Lucero as indicated on page 137 in the book “The Spanish
Re-colonization of New Mexico” by Jose Esquibel and John Colligan.
Generally, the tradition is that the grandparents would baptize one
child and then some of the brothers and/or sisters might be padrinos
for another child.
In
checking San Ildefonso’s marriage records I have located the
marriage record of a Maria Paula Baldes daughter of Juan Domingo
Baldes and Maria Andrea Lucero and Manuel Ricardo de Jesus Romero son
of father unknown and mother Juana Getrudes Romero on May 2, 1792.
The
fact that there is no father listed for Manuel Ricardo de Jesus
Romero might explain the usage of both the Marques and the Romero
last name.
Manuel
Romero and Maria Paula Valdez baptize their first known child in May
1795, which would indicate that they had to have gotten married at
least in 1793 or 1794. Unfortunately the early films of San
Ildefonso are practically illegible has probably prevented me from
finding any other children this couple might have had.
I
am not yet convinced that the marriage record listed above is indeed
the same Manuel Romero and Maria Paula Valdez. There are quite a few
indications that it might be the same people especially with the
custom of having close family members baptize your children, then it
is very likely that Maria Paula Valdez is the daughter of Juan
Domingo Valdez and Maria Andrea Lucero.
if in at least one of
the baptismal records of the children, Manuel would have been listed
as Manuel Ricardo Romero. I leave this question open to some other
researcher in the hopes that some other document will be forthcoming
to finally resolve this question.
CONCLUSION:
After researching
this family for the past year I believe that Manuel Marques and
Manuel Romero are one and the same person. There are too many
instances when the interchanging of the names occurs to the same
family members. The fact that I have located birth records for four
of the known children of Manuel Romero being baptized using the
Marques last name is an indicator that the names were used
interchangeably.
Though
our ancestors left us a multitude of records to help in our genealogy
searches – there are still a great many dead ends and a lot of
questions for researchers.
