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Por Edesparza81 |

Hi. I'm stuck and need some help. Looking for records for Juan Esteban (or Estevan) Esparza and his Father Gregorio Esparza. I have Esteban marriage record to Maria Luciana Preciado in 1791 in cocula jalisco. In it, it says he is 24 so I can assume he was born in 1767. However sometimes they're not sure of their age. 2 family members were wrong on their age on their kids birth records. When I found their birth records they were off by 5 years. That could be one reason I can't find his recoredd. The other is that it says he's from El Pueblo de Amatlan, I'm guessing it's Amatlan de Canas in Nayarit. How he went from there to Cocula I'll probably never know. Says parents were Gregorio Esparza and Mariana Lopes. I can't find any other record to confirm age and birth place. The only Record i have found in Amatlan through Gregorio and Mariana is a Joseph Raphael De la Cruz Esparza born in 1768. Possibly a brother. I don't know how else to find it other that going through every single entry for at least a decade. I also don't know how to find Gregorio's birth date so I can continue going back. I want to trace all the way back to Spain to the town of Esparza in Navarro. Can anyone help with any info or suggestions.

Here is the Marriage record.
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-18430-34984-18

Its the last entry bottom right and goes for the next couple pages. If anyone can find more information on it, it would be greatly appreciated. I still have trouble reading and understanding some words and abbreviations. Such as the ranch he's from. And the word that looks like THO, I know its an abbreviation and i see it everywhere but have no clue what it means

This is the record for Esteban possible brother https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-17946-28217-14

Thanks!!

Hola,

It says he's been living in Rancho de Quilita, in the jurisdiction of Tecolotlan, for six years at the time of this testimony.

I'm not clear on the "THO" that you're talking about? There is an abbreviation, "dho" that they'd use constantly in these documents; it means "dicho" which means "stated" as in the name of the town has already been stated prior in the document.

How are you certain that your Esparza line goes directly back to Esparza, Navarra? There are several towns and places named Velez in Spain, mostly in Andalucia and Murcia but I have no idea or proof that my ancestors' line goes back to any of them. Wondering how you are you sure of yours? Do you have a source of info that directs you to that place?

Sandra Velez

I wasn't sure if it was quilita since i couldn't find it on a map. Must not be there anymore. Yes it was DHO i was referring too and that makes much more sense when i read it now, thank you.

I'm not certain my line comes from there. I just assumed since there is a record of a ruiz de esparza coming from there to aguas calientes. It's one of the many reasons im doing this, finding my roots. As are all of us. So I'll see what happens if i can trace it there

Thank you for the input Sandra.

Sandra Velez

http://www.microrregiones.gob.mx/catloc/Default.aspx

This is a government site and is excellent for looking up the locations of towns & ranchos that may no longer exist. You can find non-existent or very small, unmapped towns/ranchos by clicking first on the name of the municipality, then on the name of the town/rancho you're looking for, and whether it's currently active or inactive, it will be listed and shown on a Google-type map including satellite imagery.

If you can't find a rancho in one municipality, remember local government lines have changed over the years from then to now, and while any town may have been in one municipality back when, it could be in a different one now, so look also in adjoining districts as well.

Edesparza81,
In Tecolotlan, the closest town I found to Quilita was Quililla, which could be the modern name of the town you're looking for. Cocula or Tapalpa would be other good ones to check in if you think present-day Quililla might not be the Quilita listed in your documents.

Good luck

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