Hello, I'm Valerie Cefre, maiden name Garcia (y Guzman), and I'm very excited to join such an incredible group of people dedicated to chronicling the past for our future generations to enjoy! My mother was born in Zacatecas and my father was born in southern California and for most of my life, that's all I really knew about either side of my extended family. Both my parents had difficult childhoods which meant that they generally avoided taking about the past. It wasn't until my paternal grandmother was in her last days that my extended family (her in-laws) came to visit, from Texas! I was surprised to see my great uncles in Wrangler jeans, boots, and cowboy hats. My dad casually said that his father's side was from Corpus Christi as if it were common knowledge. Years later, my husband wanted to work on his family tree and I decided to do my side along with him but I didn't expect to find much since my mother was born in Nochistlán and my dad's maternal side came from Nuevo León. I was very surprised to find that the Mexican civil records and Catholic church records were so detailed and easy to find. By about my 4th generation in, I was hooked. I've been working on my family tree for about 7 years. Pretty much all of my work is on my Ancestry.com tree, I've included the link below and I'm more than happy to send an invite link if needed. I've learned so much while doing this research and I am thrilled to learn from this incredible group. I hope that I can contribute to the collective understanding of how we are all beautifully connected to each other. https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/tree/172539693/family/familyview?c… https://www.nuestrosranchos.org/v.guzman-garcia

Hello-----I am Jorge Andres Casarez (y Sanchez)

My genealogy education began when my parents shared the names of their parents and grand parents.  

• My mother born in DF/MXCD told me of her grandfather: Victoriano Sanchez Calderon. From Jilotepec, MX. In his family was someone who was Jewish and came from Aragon and Andorra.  
• My Father Andres Casarez was born in Pleasanton, Texas, told me of his father Frumencio Casarez born in Webb County Texas and his father Plutarco Casares who came from and was born in Real de Catorce, San Luis De Potosi, who was married to Felicita Zamorra who was una Huasteca. 
  • The Texas lineage mixes with Esparza of the Alamo and the Huizar who was a surveyor for the Missions in the San Antonio and Justicia at San Jose Mission. 
• And for many years that is all that I knew, then 25 years ago I started.  
•  I am focusing on my Casarez ancestors. I have learned of the 1591 Tlaxcala Migration/Exodus/Quizaliztli of the soldiers and their families sent to Zacatecas and San Luis Potosi; the Crown needed help because of the silver mines and the Chichimecas. 
  • From internet I found that in that 1591 Migration there was a Juan de Caceres y su muger Juana. 
• I hope to learn more about the resources available here and see how I can contribute.
• I want to learn how to store items such as maps and find out if it is possible to show what I have found and maybe add links if possible to good sources. 

I was raised speaking English. I can speak Spanish but sadly, it will soon become clear that English is may first language. I can read it but as in speaking my vocabulary is not bad but not what I want. My writing is a bit worse. But I will read baptisms and maps and I will try to read in Spanish things like Don Quixote or Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz.... and admit it is ridiculously hard. I have memorized the first paragraph of Don Quitote and can't wait to tell family that at that time it was Lantejas not Lentejas and that it was mesmo not mismo as it is now. So I say this because I will admit that below is the product of Mr. Google...

I wish you all the very best and thank you for the membership.....JORGE C....................

Hola-----Soy Jorge Andres Casarez (y Sanchez)

• Mi educación genealógica comenzó cuando mis padres compartían los nombres de sus padres y abuelos.
  • Mi madre nacida en DF/MXCD me contó de su abuelo: Victoriano Sanchez Calderon. De Jilotepec, MX. En su familia había alguien que era judío y vino de Aragón y Andorra.
  • Mi padre Andres Casarez nació en Pleasanton, Texas, me contó de su padre Frumencio Casarez nacido en Webb County Texas y su padre Plutarco Casares que vino y nació en Real de Catorce, San Luis De Potosí, que estaba casado con Felicita Zamorra que era una Huasteca.
    • El linaje de Texas se mezcla con Esparza del Álamo y los Huizar que fue agrimensor de las Misiones en San Antonio y Justicia en la Misión de San José.
  • Y durante muchos años eso fue todo lo que supe, luego hace 25 años comencé.
  • Me estoy enfocando en mis antepasados ​​Casarez. He aprendido de la Migración/Éxodo/Quizaliztli de Tlaxcala de 1591 de los soldados y sus familias enviados a Zacatecas y San Luis Potosí; la Corona necesitaba ayuda debido a las minas de plata y los chichimecas.
    • En Internet encontré que en esa Migración de 1591 había un Juan de Cáceres y su muger Juana.
• Espero aprender más sobre los recursos disponibles aquí y ver cómo puedo contribuir.

Quiero aprender a almacenar elementos como mapas y averiguar si es posible mostrar lo que he encontrado y tal vez agregar enlaces si es posible a buenas fuentes.

Me crié hablando inglés. Puedo hablar español, pero lamentablemente, pronto quedará claro que el inglés es mi primera lengua. Puedo leerlo, pero en cuanto al habla, mi vocabulario no es malo, pero no es lo que quiero. Mi escritura es un poco peor. Pero leeré bautismos y mapas e intentaré leer en español cosas como Don Quijote o Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz... y admito que es ridículamente difícil. Me he aprendido de memoria el primer párrafo de Don Quitote y no veo la hora de contarle a mi familia que en aquel tiempo se llamaba Lantejas y no Lentejas y que era mesmo y no  mismo que ahora. Así que digo esto porque admito que lo que sigue es producto del Señor Google...

Les deseo a todos lo mejor y gracias por ser miembros....JORGE C

Greetings, 

My name is Shamuwel. I am a descendant of Don Lope Ruiz De Esparza. Nice to meet you all !

Hola,

Gracias por aceptarme en este interesante grupo.  Mi nombre es Adriana Lopez.  Mis antepasados tambien han poblado la region del Bajio, he encontrado unos 200 nombres, algunos por comprobar.  Me interesa informacion sobre esta region.  Mis archivos los voy a ir anadiendo en https://nuestrosranchos.org/adilogue

disculpen la falta de acentos

Hello all!

I have just recently (last 6 months) started looking into my family history. All four of my grandparents came to the US from Mexico between 1916 and 1922. 

My father's paternal line is from Jalisco, mostly Lagos de Moreno and Etzatlan. I've hit a wall on his maternal side. I can't get beyond his mother's parents.

My mother's family is from Zacatecas. Her maternal line has roots in Sombrerete. But on her paternal line, I can't get beyond her grandparents. 

I have subscribed to Ancestry, which has helped in addition to Family Search. Are there digital archives from these states/cities in Mexico that we can access? Would appreciate any tips. 

Thanks!

Here is my folder: https://nuestrosranchos.org/monica_fisher

Hello Everyone,

My name is Laura Villa and I am oringinally from Los Angeles County, California. My grandparents families come from Zacatecas. I have been working on gathering information, documents, and photos for over 15 years for our tree. I would be happy to share any information I have, and I would also love to connect with any relatives!

My grandfather was Manuel Jesus VILLA who spent most of his life in California. His parents were Margarito VILLA (born in 1881 in Juchipila son of Bruno Villa and Bernarda Perez) and his wife Maria ORTIZ (born in 1886 in Tabasco, Zac., daughter of Calixto Ortiz and Virginia Lara). Margarito and his wife moved back and forth between Mexico and California. 

My grandmother was Soledad CASILLAS who was born in Nochistlan. Her parents were not married. They were Isidoro CASILLAS (born 1892 in Nochistlan, son of Severo Casillas Borroel and Daria Teran Tolentino) and Eusebia SOLIS (born 1895 in Tabasco, Zac., daughter or Bernabe Solis and Maximiana "Maxima" Rodriguez). Soledad immigrated to California, but her parents remained in Mexico.

My folder is: https://nuestrosranchos.org/laura107

Hello, everyone. I’m new to the group and looking forward to collaborating with all of you. I have been working on my family tree on and off for about 10 years. 

I have hit a wall on my paternal line and am hoping for guidance and suggestions on how to move my research forward. I cannot locate birth records or parents of Matias Lepe (possibly y Rodriguez?) born around 1698 in Cocula, Jalisco and married to Bernardina Espinoza. I cannot locate her birth records either. 

I also need help tracing my Santana (Santa Ana) ancestors past Joseph Antonio Santana born about 1650 in Sayula, Jalisco and married to Juana Maria Lopez Bueso y Guerrero de Ocon. 

Any help you are able to provide on these two ancestors is greatly appreciated!

Vicky

I wanted to introduce myself to the forum.  I'm Raymundo Muñoz from Brownsville, Texas.  I've been researching (since COVID lockdown) about my fathers paternal side of the family since i know very little from about them and am wanting to know more since that's the last name I carry.

A few things that I know about my grandfather is that he originated in Teocaltiche, Jalisco and then moved to Matamoros area (supposedly fleeing Jalisco for beating up the son of his boss) where he married my grandmother and then immigrated to Huntsville, Texas.  If you can see the attachment, it is confirmed (by my father) that his Pablo Muñoz and Virginia de Anda Quesada.  If anyone can help confirm that if I am in the right path and lastly if anyone has any information on Jose Maria Muñoz and his spouse Pascuala Gutierrez.

Thank you,

Raymundo

Greetings, 

Thank you for accepting me into this group and on facebook. My name is Alma Contreras and my family on my mother's side is from a small town named Mala Noche, Zacatecas, Mexico in the municipity Valparaiso. My grandmother is from San Jose de llanetes and grandfather from mala noche. I'm interested in our indigenous background. Who our ancestors are and which tribe. 

If you want to learn more about genealogy in general, the RootsTech conferences can be helpful. The good thing is that these conferences can be "In Person" (costs involved), or "Virtual" (free). This conference runs from March 2nd through March 4th, starting at 8am (Mountain Time) each day.

The link, if interested is:

https://www.familysearch.org/rootstech/event/rt2023