This 568-page book contains eight generations of descendants of Francisco Vela and Maria Ortiz. In 1685 Francisco mentions that he entered El Nuevo Reyno de Leon (Nuevo Leon) forty years prior in about 1645. It is estimated that he was born in about 1625 in Cuencame, Nueva Viscaya since he mentions, in a document in the archives of Monterrey, that the cattle brand that he uses belongs to his father and that it is registered in Cuencame. Francisco is considered to be the progenitor of the Vela surname in Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas, and Texas. This book contains information from the 1640s through the late 1800s.
To date I have only found two daughters and three sons for Francisco and Maria with documented proof. In 1685 he also mentions that his five sons took arms to defend the kingdom as soon they were of age to do so. This means that I have two more sons missing and there may be more daughters missing too.
The major problem for me and all other researchers in researching this family is that this family settled in Cerralvo and the records for Cerralvo are missing prior to the 1750’s. The little we know is based on the archives of Monterrey and the marriage investigations of Guadalajara.
Based on my research I believe that the parents of Francisco are Juan de Rocha and Juana de Robles. Juan de Rocha in his will dated October 6, 1647 in Monterrey makes no mention of Francisco and only mentions a daughter by the name of Maria Lucia de la Rocha. A marriage investigation dated June 1, 1730 mentions Francisco as being the brother of Maria de la Rocha. Then, another marriage investigation dated October 10, 1684 lists the daughter of Francisco Vela and Maria Ortiz as being Maria de la Rocha. There are other marriage investigations that add more to the puzzle but I believe these one’s provide enough information to determine the parents of Francisco.
The father of Maria Ortiz is Diego Andres Sanchez and the proof can be found in the marriage investigation dated October 10, 1684. Other researchers list her mother as Francisca Ortiz but I have yet to find proof.
In my database I have many other major branches of Vela that I have not been able to connect to Francisco. All those lines go back to the 1750s and it is my belief that most if not all of the progenitors of those lines are the grandchildren of Francisco and Maria. Unfortunately for us we may never know due to the lack of records prior to 1750.
I truly hope that you find this book useful in your research. Also keep in mind that this book is just a tool, it is still your responsibility to find copies of records and verify my work. In this, I have attempted to included citations for every fact listed in this book so that you may know where my information came from and for you to find records faster.
$59.95
Book Details
Series: Last Names of Nuevo Leon (Book 25)
Paperback: 568 pages
Language: English
ISBN-13: 979-8386484958
Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 1.28 x 11 inches
Shipping Weight: 3.51 pounds
