The Baca / Douglas Genealogy and Family History Blog

26 October 2008

Socorro County Marriages Online 1860s to 1880s

I found this database online: Socorro County, New Mexico Marriages 1727-1900. Although the title says that the list is from 1727-1900, it's actually from the mid 1860 to the late 1880s.

This is just one of the databases on Socorro to be found on the Genealogy Trails History Group. Other records found on this site include census transcriptions, biographies, military data and history.

As with any online resource, always be careful. Do not accept it as a source for your research. Rather, use it as a clue to find more reliable information. This is especially important since the database does not cite a source. I have no idea where it came from. It's possible that it was found in either the San Miguel Church or the Socorro County marriage records.

25 October 2008

Marriage Records for the Zimmerly Family

As I've mentioned before, I have a set of 2nd great grandparents named Samuel and Maria Paubla (Torres) Zimmerly. They were the parents of six children, including my great-grandfather Estevan Zimmerly. Sadly, Samuel Zimmerly died before any of his children were married and had their own children. In fact, Samuel died just 40 days after my great-grandfather was born. However, Paubla was able to see all of her children marry, and the births or many, if not all, of her grandchildren.

Below, I have the marriage records of all six of the Zimmerly children. Interestingly enough, they were married in the same sequence as they were born.

All of these records can be found in Socorro Marriages, Archives of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, FHL (Family History Library) Microfilm # 16997. I did my research at the Albuquerque Special Collections Library.



  1. Juan Jose Zimmerle married Isabel Torres, the daughter of Eduardo Torres and Juliana Ortega, on 8 February 1888.



  2. Gertrudes Zimmerly married Herminio Torres, the son of Jose Torres y Padilla and the deceased Maria Dolores Gallegos, on 1 November 1889.



  3. Ricardo Zimmerly married Eloisa Stackpole, the daughter of Ricardo Stackpole and Elisia Torres, on 26 February 1900.(There is also a record on the same frame for my paternal great-grandparents Juan Baca and Carolina Bourguignon.)



  4. Maria Dolores Zimmerly married Ricardo Abeyta, the widower of Leonides Chaves, on 31 March 1902.



  5. Teresa Zimmerly married Estanislado Miera, the son of Narcisio Miera and Placida Montoya, on 28 May 1906.



  6. Esteban Zimmerly married Delfina Torres, the daughter of Jose Epitacio Torres and Guadalupe Padilla, on 22 April 1908.




24 October 2008

Controversy in Socorro about Confederate Burial Site

In the early years of the Civil War, Confederate soldiers from Texas invaded New Mexico. A battle ensued in Valverde, which is about 30 miles south of Socorro. After the Confederates won they battle, they set up a makeshift hospital in Socorro. A few of the soldier died, and were buried in the town.

Recently, there has been controversy about whether the bodies of these soldiers should be exhumed from their places. The problem is that this site lies within the boundaries of a Socorro widow's property, and she does not want the exhumations to take place. She plans to give the land to her children, and does not want to have the land disturbed.

Personally, I understand the arguments of both sides. This site is of great historical interest. However, property rights need to be respected. Maybe the city could solve the problem by following what the widow suggests. She would surrender the property if the city gave her a comparable piece of land.

Maybe its a good thing that I'm not a government official. I would hate to make a decision like that.

Anyhow, here is a link to a recent Albuquerque Journal article about the issue: Family Lot may be Graveyard for 27 Confederate Soldiers.

Socorro's newspaper the El Defensor Chieftain also has an article that mentions the issue as it was discussed at a Socorro City council meeting: Socorro Approves Utility Rate Increases.

And here is a web site that has a 2002 Albuquerque Journal article about the site: Civil War Battle Left Loose Ends. The site also has a link that lists the Confederate Civil War dead who are supposedly buried on the site.

18 October 2008

November 2008 NMGS Program

Saturday, November 15, 2008, 10:30 AM

Botts Hall, Albuquerque Special Collections Library

423 Central NE, Albuquerque NM

(NW Corner of Edith and Central)

The
New Mexico Genealogical Society
presents

Ramona Caplan


 

speaking about


 

Cathay Williams,

Buffalo Soldier

Her True Story into the 20th Century


 

This is the unique story of an African-American woman, born into slavery, who became a soldier in the United States Army. In the years after the Civil War, and well into the 20th Century, women were not allowed to join the military. She, like a few other women in history, disguised herself as a man in order to serve her country. She was the only documented female member of the Buffalo Soldiers.

Her story is intertwined within the history of post Civil War New Mexico. As such, Cathay Williams will represent Luna County in the New Mexico Historical Marker Initiative, a program that recognizes women who impacted the history of our state. Please join us in celebrating this remarkable woman.


 

This program is free and open to the public.

For more information about our programs, please visit the New Mexico Genealogical Society website at http://www.nmgs.org/workshop.htm

Influencing Others to Blog Their Genealogy

I just received a message on my Facebook page that one of my blog posts actually influenced someone to blog their own genealogy.

Kathy Brady-Blake read my post "How to Create Your Own Genealogy Blog" and decided to "just do it" and create her own blog.

Check out her site: "Kathy's Genealogy Blog".

04 October 2008

Inquiry: Photos of the Kavanaugh Family

Rebekah Sanchez, a member of the New Mexico Genealogical Society, sent me old photos of the Kavanugh Family. She was unable to identify certain members of the family.

I've posted the photos on the NMGS Blog. Follow this link to view the pictures and read Rebekah's descriptions of the people in them.