You may not see any more posts this year (2006) because I will be on vacation until Jan. 7, 2007. I will be in Australia (aka Oz) with my family, hunting down those elusive ancestors ~ maybe the ones I can't find moved there? Just kidding. I have no known family who have moved there, but I will be taking a much-needed break.
Have a great Holiday Season and a Happy New Years! I will continue to post after I get back (give me a few days to recover from jet lag!)
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
When Family Lore and Census Data Collide...
The census in the previous blog has a lot of information -- not only in what it actually says, but in the family lore that it contradicts. This blog entry will detail that contradiction, as well as discuss the actual information too.
But first, housekeeping! I forgot to give credit where credit was due! The citation for the link (and a big thank you!) goes to: Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: MyFamily.com, Inc., 2005.
Ok, the contradiction: Family lore is that Sixto sent Rosa and Emma to San Francisco so that Rosa would not marry George (Jorge) Villalba. But George followed her to SF and convinced her to marry him against her parents' wishes.
But as the previous posts show, George was living in San Francisco BEFORE Rosa came. And ship records show that Emma came to SF right before the wedding, and her passage was paid for by her father. If she was sent to dissuade her sister, then it would be unlikely that she would serve as maid of honor/witness. Hmmm.... definitely have to do more research on this!
Other things that this census points to that will need more research:
(a) was this Alfred Villalba a brother? a cousin? someone totally not related but with the same name?
(b) relationship of the other Salvadoreans living in the house at that time
(c) Naturalization records for Robert and George! This census states that they exist, and if they do, they detail a lot about where the person, and the person's family, came from.
(d) need to research ships' passenger records for more information and Villalba sailings
(e) definitely need to go to SF and get pictures of the house (if it still exists) and walk around. It is always cool to walk the same sidewalks as an ancestor.
But first, housekeeping! I forgot to give credit where credit was due! The citation for the link (and a big thank you!) goes to: Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: MyFamily.com, Inc., 2005.
Ok, the contradiction: Family lore is that Sixto sent Rosa and Emma to San Francisco so that Rosa would not marry George (Jorge) Villalba. But George followed her to SF and convinced her to marry him against her parents' wishes.
But as the previous posts show, George was living in San Francisco BEFORE Rosa came. And ship records show that Emma came to SF right before the wedding, and her passage was paid for by her father. If she was sent to dissuade her sister, then it would be unlikely that she would serve as maid of honor/witness. Hmmm.... definitely have to do more research on this!
Other things that this census points to that will need more research:
(a) was this Alfred Villalba a brother? a cousin? someone totally not related but with the same name?
(b) relationship of the other Salvadoreans living in the house at that time
(c) Naturalization records for Robert and George! This census states that they exist, and if they do, they detail a lot about where the person, and the person's family, came from.
(d) need to research ships' passenger records for more information and Villalba sailings
(e) definitely need to go to SF and get pictures of the house (if it still exists) and walk around. It is always cool to walk the same sidewalks as an ancestor.
Sunday, December 17, 2006
George Villalba on the 1920 US Census
.The above image, although not very clear here, is the 1920 US Census for San Francisco. The top two lines are the details for Robert and George Villalba. The bottom line of the previous page [not shown] lists an Alfred Villalba also living at the same place. I'm not sure if Alfred is a sibling of George's or not, but I will list his information here just in case.
.
Robert, Alfred and George were lodging in a house, along with several other men from San Salvador. I have written down the information for the other Salvadoreans in the house, and will research them to see if they are related or friends of the family [which can sometimes turn out to be distant relatives]. Sometimes if you can't find your family, you can trace the neighbors or close friends to find them!
.
I'll comment on what this census information means in relation to our genealogy in the next blog.
.
Transcription of the above (Villalba info):
1920 United States Federal Census
State of California
County of San Francisco
City of San Francisco
Enumeration District: 4
Sheet Number 5A [Alfred on Sheet 4B]
Enumeration Date: 5 January 1920
.
Address: 1511 O'Farrell St.
.
Line No. 1
Name: Robert Villalba
Relation to head of household: Lodger
Sex: M
Color or Race: W[hite]
Age at last birthday: 22
Single, Married or Widowed: S
Year of Immigration to the US: 1914
Naturalized or Alien: Naturalized
Year of Naturalization: 1919
Attended School since Sept. 1, 1919: [blank]
Able to read: Yes
Able to write: Yes
Place of Birth: San Salvador
Mother Tongue: Spanish
Father's Place of Birth: Spain
Father's Mother Tongue: Spanish
Mother's Place of Birth: Spain
Mother's Mother Tongue: Spanish
Able to speak English: Yes
Kind of work done: Laborer
Establishment where work done: Dray Company
Employer, Salary or Wage earner: W[age]
.
Line No. 2
Name: George Villalba
Relation to head of household: Lodger
Sex: M
Color or Race: W[hite]
Age at last birthday: 21
Single, Married or Widowed: S
Year of Immigration to the US: 1918
Naturalized or Alien: Naturalized
Year of Naturalization: 1919
Attended School since Sept. 1, 1919: no
Able to read: Yes
Able to write: Yes
Place of Birth: San Salvador
Mother Tongue: Spanish
Father's Place of Birth: Spain
Father's Mother Tongue: Spanish
Mother's Place of Birth: Spain
Mother's Mother Tongue: Spanish
Able to speak English: Yes
Kind of work done: Laborer
Establishment where work done: Dray Company
Employer, Salary or Wage earner: W[age]
Name: George Villalba
Relation to head of household: Lodger
Sex: M
Color or Race: W[hite]
Age at last birthday: 21
Single, Married or Widowed: S
Year of Immigration to the US: 1918
Naturalized or Alien: Naturalized
Year of Naturalization: 1919
Attended School since Sept. 1, 1919: no
Able to read: Yes
Able to write: Yes
Place of Birth: San Salvador
Mother Tongue: Spanish
Father's Place of Birth: Spain
Father's Mother Tongue: Spanish
Mother's Place of Birth: Spain
Mother's Mother Tongue: Spanish
Able to speak English: Yes
Kind of work done: Laborer
Establishment where work done: Dray Company
Employer, Salary or Wage earner: W[age]
.
Last line on page 4B
Name: Alfred Villalba
Relation to head of household: Lodger
Sex: M
Color or Race: W[hite]
Age at last birthday: 24
Single, Married or Widowed: S
Year of Immigration to the US: 1919
Naturalized or Alien: Pa
Name: Alfred Villalba
Relation to head of household: Lodger
Sex: M
Color or Race: W[hite]
Age at last birthday: 24
Single, Married or Widowed: S
Year of Immigration to the US: 1919
Naturalized or Alien: Pa
[I'm not sure what this stands for; definitely not the Na they used for naturalized citizens]
Year of Naturalization: [blank]
Year of Naturalization: [blank]
Attended School since Sept. 1, 1919: [blank]
Able to read: [blank]
Able to write: [blank]
Place of Birth: Spain
Mother Tongue: Spanish
Father's Place of Birth: Spain
Father's Mother Tongue: Spanish
Mother's Place of Birth: Spain
Mother's Mother Tongue: Spanish
Able to speak English: No
Kind of work done: none
Establishment where work done: [blank]
Able to read: [blank]
Able to write: [blank]
Place of Birth: Spain
Mother Tongue: Spanish
Father's Place of Birth: Spain
Father's Mother Tongue: Spanish
Mother's Place of Birth: Spain
Mother's Mother Tongue: Spanish
Able to speak English: No
Kind of work done: none
Establishment where work done: [blank]
Employer, Salary or Wage earner: [blank]
Saturday, December 09, 2006
Another Marriage in the Family
Sometimes researching a collateral line yields new information. A collateral line is a non-direct blood line, basically researching the sibling of someone in your direct line or another relative. As an example, and to continue the research on this line, I am posting the above, page one of the marriage license of Jorge (George) Villalba's brother, Robert to my "Aunt Helen" (although she is my mom's aunt. I won't be posting the second part of the marriage license, as I did with Jorge and Rosa.
My best transcription:
Groom Information (left side)
Name: Robert Segura Villalba
Address: 16 Walter St.
Race: White
Age last birthday: 28
Marital Status before this marriage: [blank, but x's over widowed, divorced]
Number of Marriage: 1
Birthplace: Spain
Occupation: Mechanic
Name of Father: Alfred S. Villalba
Father's Birthplace: Spain
Name of Mother: Juana Calabuik
Mother's Birthplace: Spain
Bride Information (left side)
Name: Mrs. Helen Elisabeth Vincent
Address: 16 Walter St.
Race: White
Age last birthday: 26
Marital Status before this marriage: [blank, x's over single, widowed, indicated divorced]
Number of Marriage: 2
Birthplace: San Francisco, CA
Occupation: housewife
Name of Father: Louie Hillcourt
Father's Birthplace: Denmark
Name of Mother: Phoebe Ranzan
Mother's Birthplace: Oregon
Maiden Name of Bride if previous married: Helen Hillcourt
We, the Groom and Bride named in this Certificate, hereby certified that the information given therein is correct, to the best of our knowledge and belief.
Signed: Robert Segura Villalba and Helen Elisabeth Vincent
Filled out in the presence of Barry J. Gould, Deputy County Clerk
Certificate of Person Performing Ceremony
I HEREBY CERTIFY that Robert Segura Villalba and Helen Elisabeth Hillcourt were joined in marriage by me in accordance with the laws of the State of California at [blank], City and County of San Francisco, State of California, this 16th day of October, 1923.
Witness to the Marriage: Salvador Brand, 1345 Laguna St.
[not listed is second witness named on pg. 2: J. Castille of 1714 Sutter]
Signature of Person performing the Ceremony: Frank W. Dunn, Justice of the Peace
Filed Oct. 20, 1923 E. Godchaux, Recorder
There is lots of additional and new information on this one page of the certificate. First, Robert was born in Spain around 1897 [date of marriage - 26 yrs of age]. This make the time spent in El Salvador by the family less than 30 years, and also gives me a new location -- Spain -- to look for information. With this time frame, I can now look for immigration information for the family from Spain to Central America to San Francisco.
Second, Robert lists his mother's maiden name as Calabuik, not Segura that Jorge listed. Given that the Spanish naming sequence is very different from the American one, it is possible that both are correct! This also give me more avenues to research.
The last bit of information is the names of the Witnesses. Normally these are more than passing aquaintances, and sometimes are relatives. If Salvador or J. Castille came to the US with Robert, it is possible they could be cousins or some other connection.
Monday, December 04, 2006
The Marriage of Rosa Josephina & Jorge, Part II
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City and County of San Francisco
State of California
City and County of San Francisco
MARRIAGE LICENSE
No. 347
These Presents are to authorize and license any Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice of the District Court of Appeals, Judge of the Superior Court, Judge of the Police Court, Justice of the Peace, Priest or Minister of the Gospel of any denomination, to solemnize, within said county, the Marriage of
George Villalba (white) and Rosa Barrios (white)
aged 26 yrs and past, resident of City and, age 24 yrs and past, resident of City and,
County of San Francisco, State of California, County of San Francisco, State of California
said parties being of sufficient age to be capable of contracting marriage as appears by affidavit of record in my office.
In Witness Thereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the Superior Court of the State of California in and for the City of County of San Francisco, this 18 day of Jan., 1928
(seal) H.I. MCULCREVY, County Clerk and ex-officio Clerk of said Superior Court
by A.J. Walcott, Deputy
State of California
City and County of San Francisco
THIS CERTIFIES THAT
George Villalba and Rose Barrios
the parties in the above license, were joined in marriage by me on the 19th day of January, A.D. 1928
in said City and County and State,
that Emma Barrios, a resident of City and, County of San Francisco, State of California,
and Robert Villalba, a resident of City and, County of San Francisco, State of California,
were present as witnesses of said ceremony.
Witnesses:
Name: M. Emma Barrios, No. 231 Delano St.
Name: Robert Villalba, No. 231 Delano St.
In Withness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this 19th day of January A.D. 1928
Gil Casarez, Catholic Priest
Filed for Record at the request of Gil Casarez on Jan. 20th, 1928.
There are several things that struck me about this marriage license when I found it. One is that all the parties involved (except the priest and SF officials) all lived at the same house, 231 Delano, in San Francisco! This is unusual because (a) bride and groom living together in the late 1920's was pretty scandalous, and (b) according to family lore, Emma never lived in the U.S. That a priest would marry them, living in sin, or that Emma would lie about her residence to a priest seemed more than a little odd. Possible explanations for (a) was that Emma and Rosa were staying with the Villalbas (family friends from El Salvador) when the couple decide to marry, and for (b), that Emma was simply asked where are you staying and she gave that address. It was not uncommon for this type of misunderstanding to occur, as the difference between where one resides/lives and where one is staying can be very subtle, especially when a language translation was involved as it was here. The priest would certainly not look askance at this explanation of same addresses for the parties involved.
City and County of San Francisco
State of California
City and County of San Francisco
MARRIAGE LICENSE
No. 347
These Presents are to authorize and license any Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice of the District Court of Appeals, Judge of the Superior Court, Judge of the Police Court, Justice of the Peace, Priest or Minister of the Gospel of any denomination, to solemnize, within said county, the Marriage of
George Villalba (white) and Rosa Barrios (white)
aged 26 yrs and past, resident of City and, age 24 yrs and past, resident of City and,
County of San Francisco, State of California, County of San Francisco, State of California
said parties being of sufficient age to be capable of contracting marriage as appears by affidavit of record in my office.
In Witness Thereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the Superior Court of the State of California in and for the City of County of San Francisco, this 18 day of Jan., 1928
(seal) H.I. MCULCREVY, County Clerk and ex-officio Clerk of said Superior Court
by A.J. Walcott, Deputy
State of California
City and County of San Francisco
THIS CERTIFIES THAT
George Villalba and Rose Barrios
the parties in the above license, were joined in marriage by me on the 19th day of January, A.D. 1928
in said City and County and State,
that Emma Barrios, a resident of City and, County of San Francisco, State of California,
and Robert Villalba, a resident of City and, County of San Francisco, State of California,
were present as witnesses of said ceremony.
Witnesses:
Name: M. Emma Barrios, No. 231 Delano St.
Name: Robert Villalba, No. 231 Delano St.
In Withness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this 19th day of January A.D. 1928
Gil Casarez, Catholic Priest
Filed for Record at the request of Gil Casarez on Jan. 20th, 1928.
There are several things that struck me about this marriage license when I found it. One is that all the parties involved (except the priest and SF officials) all lived at the same house, 231 Delano, in San Francisco! This is unusual because (a) bride and groom living together in the late 1920's was pretty scandalous, and (b) according to family lore, Emma never lived in the U.S. That a priest would marry them, living in sin, or that Emma would lie about her residence to a priest seemed more than a little odd. Possible explanations for (a) was that Emma and Rosa were staying with the Villalbas (family friends from El Salvador) when the couple decide to marry, and for (b), that Emma was simply asked where are you staying and she gave that address. It was not uncommon for this type of misunderstanding to occur, as the difference between where one resides/lives and where one is staying can be very subtle, especially when a language translation was involved as it was here. The priest would certainly not look askance at this explanation of same addresses for the parties involved.
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