One Man's Musings

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DNA Results

I have been thinking about doing a DJNA test as to ascertain my genealogical origins. I selected FamilyTreeDNA as the laboratory to conduct such test. I started by requesting a Y chromosome study, which means the chromosome that is passed from father to son. Here are some results: My Haplogroup is J-Z631. My understanding as a lay person is that Haplogroup refers to a genealogical tree branch. According to FamilyTreeDNA my paternal line was formed when it branched from the ancestor J-Z8421, and the rest of mankind, around 1900 BCE. The man who is the most recent common ancestor of this line is estimated to have been born around 950 BCE (FamilyTreeDNA.) He is the ancestor of at least six descendant lineages known as J-Y87605, J-Z1043, J-Y144394, J-BY178901, J-FT101890, and J-PH9933. There are 793 DNA tested descendants whose earliest known origins are from Germany, United States, England and 46 other countries. Descendants of J-Z631 (my Haplogroup) are from these countries: S...

Teenage Friends

I didn't have many teenage friends. Some friends were actually schoolmates, while others were members of the Columbus' Squires, an offshoot of the Knight of Columbus. Schoolmates were few, as I dropped out in the eight-grade. Most of my friends got together at the Knights of Columbus club house, either to attend meetings or enjoy the amenities, like the swimming pool. We also got together at the local Dairy Queen soda fountain. I remember the names of six schoolmates, and a handful of the club cohorts. Perhaps I have a good excuse not to remember their names because I have been away from them for fifty-five years. The aforementioned friends were exclusively male. Schools were not co-educational in organizational form. Sometimes it was a challenge to meet girls of our own age. There were, however, charitable events called Kermesse, attended by teenagers of both sexes. Attending those events often required having the courage to approach gals who one didn't normally know; it...

My Uncle Malaquias Fregoso

I have vague memories of Malaquias Fregoso. He was my baptism godfather. He would come to visit my family while we lived in Mexico City. My memory is that of a tall person, always dressed in three-piece suits and walking with the assistance of a cane, with a Doberman carved in the handle. He would bring me a bag a fruit, almost always my favorite, luscious plums. Shortly after my parents passed away, I found an old picture of Malaquias. It depicts a tall gentleman, with a young gal and a lady. Now, the dedication in the back of the picture reads: It is with love that I dedicate this picture of my parents to my dear aunt Maximiana (my paternal grandmother) as they celebrate their fortieth wedding anniversary. I assume the adult lady is Nicolasa Madrigal, Malaquias' wife. Signed by Eliza. My genealogical research indicates Eliza to be one of the Fregoso family. Eliza's siblings were Atanasia, Felipe, Jovita, Alfredo, and Roberto. As a side note, I met my cousin Atanasia when I wa...

There is something to be said about reading

I was born in Mexico. I was taught how to read and communicate in Spanish. I was, in my own estimation, an average student who was not particularly fond of reading. There was, however, an early interest in the English language. I loved movies, particularly the ones filmed in Hollywood. I remember asking my dad to take me to see West Side Story for the sixteenth birthdate. I hated having to read the sub-titles to understand the dialog. I remember thinking: I've got to learn English. I immigrated to United States when I was twenty-one years old. My first English teacher was Dr. Kaplan, who was an instructor with the Mott Adult HS. I graduated from Central HS, Flint, Michigan, then enrolled to college in the fall of 1969. There are three life events that aroused my interest in reading, particularly in the English language. The first was a college professor who encouraged me to read, Thank you Dr. Cyril Leeder, Flint Community Junior College. The second event was being promoted by Mr....

Berardino Brambila Cueva

Bernardino Brambila Cueva was born on September 24, 1770 (http:/FamilyTree.com) He was born in Tecolotlan, Mexico. He is my third great grandfather. He married Maria Josefa Gomez Rosales, who was born on November 20, 1789. They had twelve children. The second born was my second-great grandfather Casildo Brambila Gomez, born April 2, 1802. Bernardino was the son of Jose Reyes de la Brambilla Ortega and Margarita de Jesus Cueva Benavidez. Bernardino's grandparents were Agustin de la Brambilla and Antonia Gonzalez de Leon. Agustin and Antonia were, in turn, the children of Jose de la Brambilla and Juana Guijarro. The above information comes from my grandfather's notes, and FamilyTree.Com.

Arrival

I arrived in Michigan It was a foggy summer afternoon when I arrived in Michigan fifty-two years ago. The year was 1968. I had an uneventful four-hour flight from Guadalajara, Mexico to Chicago. The 45-minute trip from Chicago to Flint was on an old prop engine commuter airplane. My brother in-law Robert Gatrell, my sister Connie and my niece Ana Lourdes picked me up from the airport, I had been admitted to the US as a foreign student. I was a high school drop-out in Mexico. I did not know what to expect regarding high school requirements to obtain a diploma in the US, but I had the most fervent desire to graduate. My English vocabulary was rudimentary at best; my slang vocabulary was non-existent. I had previously met Bob some years back when he married my sister. I knew little about Bob. He was previously married, and he worked as a general foreman. Bob’s kids from the previous marriage were all adults, except for Mark, a sixteen-year-old who was also a member of Bob’s fa...

Aunt Josefina

I have fond memories of Maria Josefina Mendoza Mendez de Leon. She was born in 1907. Josefina's parents were Guillermo Pablo Mendoza Ramos (1870-1907) and Ana Mendez de Leon (1876-1947.) Ana Maria was the second wife of my grandfather Felipe N. Brambila. They married on August 8, 1921 in Ameca, Jalisco, Mexico. Grandpa was sixty-seven years old; Ana Mendez de Leon was forty-six years old. My mother lived with my grandfather since my grandmother had passed away on May 11, 1921. My mother Carmelita was seventeen years old when grandpa married the second time.My mother and Josefina became lifetime friends, considering each other sisters. Josefina had a heart of gold. She helped my parents in time of need. She was charitable to others as well. Tia Josefina (term of endearment in Spanish) died on April 6, 1993 in Mexico City. She wrote me a letter on June 16, 1990. She told me that she just returned from Russia, where she spent 22 days. The letter was a farewell note....