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.

George Villalba on the 1920 US Census

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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.

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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!

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I'll comment on what this census information means in relation to our genealogy in the next blog.

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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

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Address: 1511 O'Farrell St.

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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]

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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]

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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

[I'm not sure what this stands for; definitely not the Na they used for naturalized citizens]
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]

Employer, Salary or Wage earner: [blank]