One Man's Musings

I have, for many years, wondered my mother's reluctance to acknowledge her Spanish roots. However, it is understandable. It has been the effort of the Mexican educational facilities, such as the ones that my mother and I attended, where Spaniards were not recognized for their cultural contributions to Latin America. Although she was entitled to her bias, I fully recognize that in any conflict, such as the Mexican war of independence, bad feelings remain in the participants of a conflict. Many Spaniard civilians were murdered by Mexican insurgents. Recently, I read a book in Spanish which title translates: The Independence of the Region of Autlan and the coast of Jalisco. (http://www.gacetamichoacana.com/.../libro-autlan-en-la-independencia....indd_.pdf) The Book is written by Carlos Martin Boyzo Nolasco, a noted historian. The book provides a historical narrative of the Mexican war of independence as it applies to this region. It provides the names of many protagonists, both Span...

My grandfather Felipe N. Brambila made the following entry to his notes. I can not dismiss the blessings bestowed upon me for having my three siblings live a long life. On this date (September 1, 1925) my sister Juliana is sixty-nine years old, Epifanio is sixty-seven years old, and Josefa is sixty-five years old. As for myself, I thank the almighty for reaching seventy-one years of age. We four are the children of my father's first marriage. i.e., Luis Brambila and my mother Maria Feliciana Fregoso. It has been brought to my attention recently, that Epifanio died seven years later. Details are provided below. Pictured above is a young Josefa at age 12. The picture was taken in Guadalajara, Mexico in the year 1872. What a pretty gal. The pictures' dedication notes she is the last child born of Luis and Maria Feliciana. My great grandfather's name was Luis Brambila and his wife was Maria Fregoso. My great-great grandfather was Casildo Brambila (Spaniard) and his wif...

My grandfather Felipe N. Brambila included the following epigram in his memoirs. I am not sure weather my grandfather wrote it. He simply might have included the epigram as one of his favorite literary pieces. The epigram is dated May 4, 1877. He must have been a law student at the time, as he graduated two years later. My intention is to translate this epigram to modern English. The prose in the Spanish version flows seamlessly, while my translation does not. Without much adieu, here it is: What do you know, Luciano? You are a "know it all" You seem insignificant, you live forgotten and alone. While I, with frankness have limited knowledge my name is known have published three tomes. If you were a stone in water said Luciano, you would sink to the bottom it is much brighter in the surface if you throw a cork in the water the same can be said of humans and objects the shallow people float while the solid ones plunge to the bottom while I rapidly sink to t...

My second great-grandfather was Casildo Brambila. My mother told me that he was a Spaniard. Casildo's profession was a wine tester (Spanish catador). According to family lore Casildo had blond hair and blue eyes. He had three kids; Maria Rafaela de Jesus, Maria Ysadora and Jose Luis de Jesus. Casildo was born in Tecolotlan, Jalisco, Mexico, on April 3, 1803. He was baptized six days later. Casildo's parents were Bernardino de la Brambilla and Josefa Gomez. Bernardino was the son of Jose Reyes de la Brambila and Margarita de Jesus Cueva Benavides. Casildo was married to Maria Rita Gomez de la Paz, who is the daughter of Antonio Gomez de la Paz - captain of the loyalist Spanish forces during the Mexican war of independence. Antonio Gomez de la Paz was married to Josefa Garfia de Alba. According to my mother, Josefa was a decedent of the duke of Alba (Spanish royalty). My grandfather's sister Josefa was named after Antonio's wife. I wonder if I am named after my great ...

My mother was born in 1904 in the city of Monterrey, Mexico. Her dad was a circuit judge. As I review my mother's birth certificate, the document notes my grandfathers position as an agent of the public ministry, which I believe is the equivalent of a prosecutor attorney.  According to my grandfather's unpublished book, he was a judge in the town of Mascota from 1887 to 1892. He also notes that he was a judge in the following towns during the period of 1908 to 1924: Sayula, Autlan, Ameca, Cocula, Tecolotlan, San Juan de los Lagos, La Barca, Guadalajara, and Chapala. These towns are located in the Mexican state of Jalisco. During this time period, there were at least two warring factions: Carrancistas (followers of Venustiano Carranza) and Maderistas (followers of Fransisco Madero). A third group were the Villistas (followers of Pancho Villa) These groups invaded the towns where my grandfather was a judge. I am not sure whether Grandma Florencia accompanied my grandfather and mo...