Finding out what it means to be Boricua through a genetic & genealogical journey through my family history
My third great grandfather Benito Orozco also lived his life in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico (like my 2nd great grandfather), though his marriage record points to him being born in Las Piedras, Puerto Rico – a town just to the north of Yabucoa. Las Piedras, Puerto Rico [Wikipedia] Benito’s year of birth is unknown to me, …
My 2nd great grandfather, José Avilés Magraner, has been to me the quintessential Puerto Rican ancestor. Growing up I had always heard José Avilés was tall, white and had blue eyes. Stories were passed down to me about him that turned out to be typical myths heard in stories passed throughout the generations in Puerto …
52 Ancestors – #6 José Avilés Magraner (1891-1981) Read More »
Post #5! I’ll dedicate this post to a man I knew soooo little about until recently. Literally, growing up I only knew his name and that was about it. Yet now with how much I know about him, I feel a strange connection to this ancestor. I wish I would have meet him, but unfortunately …
52 Ancestors – #5 Manuel Correa Rivera (1920-1993) Read More »
I can’t believe that this will already be the fourth post in the 52 week series challenge! I have been thoroughly enjoying searching my tree for ancestors which whom’s stories I can share. When the digits start doubling up, the going will get tough as I try to figure out who to write about. But …
When fellow French Guadeloupean genealogist David Quénéhervé began his email with “Hi, I think that I’ve found something in Basse-Terre“, I knew that I was going to be delivered some new information pertaining to my ancestors. David has helped me numerous times from finding and using the BNMP, to understanding documents and life in Martinique …
A New Piece to the Puzzle! The Jean Charles Gustave Mystery Continues… Read More »
When researching my family, I have always seen it important to research other branches of the family. While looking into my Charles/Gustave side of the family I came across a cousin who went through some pretty serious tragedies practically year after year. My 1st cousin 4x removed, Pedro Juan Gustavo Siman (who’s last names later …
I want to focus on an ancestor in this post that I’ve been learning a lot about recently through stories. This ancestor is my great grandmother Mercedes Ortiz Marrero. I unfortunately never got to meet my great grandmother but hearing stories about her has gotten me as close to knowing her as possible. My father’s …
52 Ancestors – #3 Mercedes Ortiz Marrero (1903-1984) Read More »
This second post will be about a challenging ancestor of mine who I have mentioned a lot before but I want to dedicate a post to him since he has been a troubling ancestor to pinpoint. This post will be about my 4th great grandfather Jean Charles Gustave. Jean Charles Gustave has been very elusive …
52 Ancestors – #2 Jean Charles Gustave (1819-1891) Read More »
I guess I’ll start this challenge with a man who I know both some about but yet know nothing about. This man is my great grandfather Felix Vélez Mercado. Felix’s family photo was what catapulted me into genealogy and it was featured in my first post ever in my blog! L-R: Felix (standing back), Carmen …
52 Ancestors – #1 Felix Vélez Mercado (1905-1953) Read More »
Every time I log into my ancestry.com account I always check the sidebar for recently added blogs and yesterday I stumbled upon one called “The 52 Ancestors Challenge“. I was intrigued so I decided to read the post and find out what exactly it was about. The 52 Ancestors Challenge Post I was excited to …