Hola a todos,

Long-time lurker, first-time poster. I have been doing patrilineal research for a few years, starting with the Avila/De Avila surname in Aguascalientes and altos de Jalisco. Thanks to the researchers on this site, I was able to continue the line to Joseph de Avila Sosa (b. 1612 and d. 1670 in San Luis Potosí) cc Josepha Montañes de Sotomayor (b. 1631 in Sierra de Pinos, d. 1706 in San Luis Potosí). They married on 7 January 1647 in Ojuelos de Jalisco.

Joseph de Avila Sosa's parents were Juan Lopes de Avila cc Mariana de Sosa Gonzalez. They married on 14 January 1607 in El Sagrario, San Luis Potosí. They had at least three children that were born in San Luis Potosí, (1) Maria born in 1608, (2) Juan born in 1610, and (3) Joseph born in 1612, from whom I descend.

Juan Lopes de Avila died on 19 December 1614 in SLP, with various online sources listing his birth year as somewhere between 1570-1590. But I've hit a brick wall as I cannot figure out where he could've been born. I know that Mariana de Sosa Gonzalez is a granddaughter of Pedro Benito and there are many records of that family in Zacatecas.

Anyone have any leads on where this Juan Lopez de Avila came from?