There were four men, all named Mateo Gonzalez de Rubalcava, who were born around 1625-1630, and who lived in the Teocaltiche/ Mexticacan/ Nochistlan area. I have been sorting through various documents, trying to get a hold on who these 4 persons were, and whether or not they might be the same person or persons, and I’ve developed a couple of theories which I thought I’d share here. First, a breakdown on who these men were:
Mateo Gonzalez de Rubalcava #1
The first Mateo Gonzalez de Rubalcava married Catalina Cortes de Sandoval on 21 Jun 1651, in Nochistlan; they were velados the following 1 Jun 1652. According to the dispensation of Joseph de Luna and Maria de San Juan Jimenez, Mateo #1 was the son of Antonio de Rubalcava (#1), who was the brother of Lorenzo de Rubalcava, who was the father of Agueda de Rubalcava, great-grandmother of the bride: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9392-D28K-Z?i=481&wc=3JW5-V…
From other records, we know that Antonio #1 and Lorenzo de Rubalcava were sons of Mateo de Rubalcava cc Geronima Morales.
This relationship is confirmed by the IM of Eugenio de Rubalcava and Maria Dolores de Lizarde, which again establishes Mateo #1 as the son of Antonio de Rubalcava #1, who was brother of Lorenzo de Rubalcava, who was father of Blas de Rubalcava: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939N-TT37-2?i=25&wc=3P92-3T…
Mateo #1 died some time before 7 Jul 1670, when his daughter, Melchora de Rubalcava, married. Also, it should be noted that his mother is never mentioned, so her identity remains unknown.
Mateo Gonzalez de Rubalcava #2
The second Mateo Gonzalez de Rubalcava married Cecilia Vasquez de Islas on 4 Feb 1658 in Nochistlán; he died 21 Jun 1710, in Nochistlan. His origins remain uncertain; the only clue I’ve seen is the dispensation of their son, Joseph Gonzalez de Rubalcava, for his marriage to Magdalena Carrillo, hija natural of Geronimo Carrillo and Magdalena Mendoza. According to this dispensa, Mateo #2 and Geronimo Carrillo were 1st-cousins, though the details of their relationship are not explained: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9392-6K99-JY?cc=1874591&wc=…
Geronimo Carrillo might be the same who was married to Maria Lozano Sandoval, and who died and was buried on 8 Mar 1693 in Nochistlan. Likewise, he might be the same Geronimo, son of Diego Carrillo and Maria Lopez, who was confirmed 29 Dec 1666 in Teocaltiche: (left) https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-QT5Y-7?i=46&wc=SS5B-7M… and who was living in their household in the 1681 Teocaltiche padron: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89K2-Y8HH?i=475&cat=23…
If this is the case, then Geronimo’s relationship to Mateo #2 could be through his mother, Maria Lopez de Rubalcava, who was the daughter of Mateo de Rubalcava cc Geronima Morales; since Mateo #2 was his 1st-cousin, then he would also be their grandson. The relationship would look like this:
Tronco: Mateo de Rubalcava cc Geronima Morales
Maria Lopez-1- ?
Geronimo Carrillo-2-Mateo de Rubalcava #2
Magdalena Carrillo-3-Joseph de Rubalcava
Note: it is clear that Mateo #1 and Mateo #2 are NOT the same person, since they were married to different women and having children at the same time, and also, the former died at least 40 years before the latter.
Mateo Gonzalez de Rubalcava #3
The 3rd Mateo Gonzalez de Rubalcava was the son of the above-mentioned Lorenzo de Rubalcava and Catalina Gonzalez, confirmed on 16 May 1634 in Teocaltiche: (right) https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-QT5Y-9?cc=1874591&wc=3…
Mateo #3 had a natural daughter named Catalina Gonzalez, who married Juan Gonzalez Hidalgo on 31 Aug 1667, in Teocaltiche; that she was his daughter is explained in the dispensation of Bernardo Lopez de Nava and Quiteria Jimenez, which claims that, “Mateo Gonz de Rubalcava and Agueda Gonz de Rubalcava were siblings; from Mateo came Catarina Gonzales por copula iliicita, from whom came Nicolasa Gonzalez Hidalgo, mother of the groom; from Agueda came Catharina Arellanos, and from this one, Antonio Jimenez father of the bride”: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9392-6K9Y-JN?i=253&wc=12512…
From other records, we know that Agueda de Rubalcava aka Agueda Lopez was the daughter of Lorenzo de Rubalcava cc Catalina Gonzalez, supporting that Mateo #3 was the same confirmed in 1634. Nothing else is known about him.
Mateo Gonzalez de Rubalcava #4
The 4th Mateo Gonzalez de Rubalcava is mentioned in a Tierras y Aguas document dated 19 May 1653, in Teocaltiche: Antonio Gonzalez de Rubalcava (#2), resident of the estancia de Tepusco and widower of Juana Lozano de Isla, is taking possession of some lands left to him by his deceased wife - and which she had received from her maternal grandmother, Juana Navarro - along with some lands that the same Juana Navarro had left for his and his wife’s children, Mateo de Rubalcava #4 and Petrona de Isla. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSDL-6S99-B?i=200&cat=…
Confirmed on 6 Jan 1654 was Juan, son of Antonio de Rubalcava and Juana Lozano, padrino Miguel Martinez: (right) https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-QT5L-B?i=35&wc=3JFC-VZ…
TWO THEORIES
My first theory is kind of obvious: two men named Antonio Gonzalez de Rubalcava, and both with sons named Mateo Gonzalez de Rubalcava? They had to be the same person, and therefore, Mateo #1 and Mateo #4 were also the same person. This would establish that this Antonio de Rubalcava was the son of Mateo de Rubalcava cc Geronima Morales, and that Juana Lozano de Isla was the mother of his son, Mateo de Rubalcava (she herself was daughter of Pedro Lozano cc Petronila de Isla, and maternal granddaughter of Benito de la Isla cc Juana Navarro, as outlined in the above-mentioned Tierras y Aguas documents; Juana Navarro was daughter of Martin Navarro cc ?).
As for Leonor de Lizardi, does anyone have any proof that the Antonio de Rubalcava (#3) who died on 23 Feb 1682 and who was married to Leonor de Lizardi (who died 3 Dec 1679), was the son of Mateo de Rubalcava cc Geromina Morales? Or is it still presumed? Even if he were the same Antonio de Rubalcava, this timeline would work: he could easily have married Leonor de Lizardi after the death of his first wife (this timeline would also allow Leonor de Lizardi to be the same who was married to Juan de Sepulveda).
My second theory is that Mateo #2 and Mateo #3 are one and the same. This would explain what became of the latter, and it would correspond with the kinship given in the dispensation of Joseph de Rubalcava and Magdalena Carrillo:
Tronco: Mateo de Rubalcava cc Geronima Morales
Maria Lopez-1- Lorenzo de Rubalcava
Geronimo Carrillo-2-Mateo de Rubalcava
Magdalena Carrillo-3-Joseph de Rubalcava
The timelines, the names, the places, the relationships - all of the pieces fall neatly into place. Of course, these theories need to be supported with more documents, including any confirming that Antonio de Rubalcava #1, 2 & 3 are the same person, and that the above-mentioned Geronimo Carrillo was the son of Diego Carrillo cc Maria Lopez.
Please share your thoughts - and any documents that might support or contradict any of this. ;)
Saludos!
Manny Díez Hermosillo
PS - The 1681 Teocaltiche padron has an Antonio de Robalcava, widower, as head of household, and living with him was Juan de Robalcava mestiso. Was he the same married to Juana Lozano, who we know had a son named Juan? Or was he the widower of Leonor de Lizaldi, who died 2 years before? Or both? https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89K2-Y8QV?i=482&cat=23…
What many have probably already noticed, but I am not sure whether anyone has stated is that close relatives tend to be listed close together in confirmations, and since close relatives often times live close to each other they are also listed next to each other in padrones.
My guess is that the Magdalena Lozano viuda and the Antonio de Ruvalcaba viudo are in-laws.
1681 Teocaltiche padrones
- Marcos Yanez
- Magdalena Lozano su mujer
- Magdalena Lozano viuda
- Sebastian de Campos mestizo
- …….
- Antonio de Ruvalcaba viudo
- Juan de Ruvalcaba mestizo
You’re welcome, Rick, and thank you!
And Don Animas, you are absolutely correct, thank you for pointing that out! Magdalena Lozano is undoubtedly the widow of Antonio Bastidas, both mentioned in this Tierras y Aguas document from 2 Nov 1630, “Parecio Joana navarro viuda de benito de ysla vezina deste valle a quien doy fee conozco y dijo que hacia e hiço gracia y donacion mera y irrevocable a antonio bastidas vezino del dicho valle de medio çitio de estancia de ganado menor y una caballeria de tierra que tiene en el rio del pueblo de mechoacanejo que es donde al presente vive llamada de tepusco y el de la dicha media estancia para el rio arriva la qual dicha donacion le hace por ser el dicho antonio bastidas marido y conjunta persona de madalena loçano nieta de la susodicha de quien la dicha Juana navarro ha rrecivido muchas y muy buenas obras y servicios que le ha hecho”.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSDL-6S9Q-4?i=198&cat=…
That was the same day that Juana Navarro donated the other half of said sitio to Antonio Gonzalez de Rubalcava, which explains why their homes are grouped together in the 1681 padron: this is obviously the estancia called Tepusco.
On 14 Jan 1686, Magdalena Lozano, viuda de Antonio Bastidas, would donate a quarter part of the same sitio to Sebastian Campos (also named in the 1681 padron). In that document, she says that the quarter part is of “the sitio that today belongs to Juan de Rubalcava”; would he be the same Juan de Rubalcava mestizo mentioned in the 1681 padron, and presumed son of Antonio de Rubalcava? In which case, this would suggest that Antonio de Rubalcava had already died, and can very well be the one who was buried on 23 Feb 1682. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSDL-6S97-3?cat=278176…
Also, I was looking at the burial record of Leonor de Lizalde cc Antto Rubalcava: she died at the Labor de trigo del Bachiller Lucas de Sepulveda: could this be her son, confirming that she is the same who was married to Juan de Sepulveda?
Things to ponder.
Thanks again for your input!
Manny Díez Hermosillo
Here’s a dispensation that confirms my theory that Mateo de Rubalcava cc Cecilia de Islas was the son of Lorenzo de Rubalcava:
Joseph Maria Orozco cc Catalina Gonzalez, 6 Apr 1709, Nochistlan: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9392-6RSF-52?cc=1874591&wc=…
The groom was son of Diego Orozco Aguero and Maria Carrillo, of Teocaltiche, and the bride was Mulata Libre, of unknown parents, but her birth father was identified as Manuel de Rubalcava Islas. They were at 4 degrees of consanguinity, being great-grandchildren of siblings, she of Lorenzo de Rubalcava, and he, of Josefa Bautista de Rubalcava (actually, his great-grandmother was Maria Lopez aka de Rubalcava, from whom the Carrillo de Sandi descend, but the relationship is the same). Here’s the parentesco given:
Lorenzo Rubalcava-1-Josepha Bautista (Maria Lopez)
Mateo Rubalcava-2-Nicolas Carrillo
Manuel Rubalcava-3-Maria Carrillo
Catalina Gonzalez-4-Jose Maria Orozco
Bada-bing! Mystery solved!
Saludos!
Manny Díez Hermosillo
Manny,
Nice summation of the many older Matheo's. The link below is from the 1671 Zacatacas Libros de Gobierno (via Family Search). This Matheo is not the one who died before July of 1670, as this image (87 of 591) notes Matheo and Juan Rubalcava involved in this transaction when dated on 14 May 1671. It appears they were involved in some caballerias in Nochistlan and/or Aguascalientes jurisdictions. Not sure how much help this is, since no genealogical information can be ascertained, but it does provide locations as to where they were located in the 1670's. To be living in 1671 and in positions of authority, these two Rubalcava's were likely older, which lines up with those folks that have been so nicely summed up by you. Not sure which one it could be, but could add more supporting info.
Zacatecas Libros de Gobierno Link
Lee
Matheo Rubalcava is again mentioned in the Zacatecas Libros de Gobierno records on 23 May 1676. Likely the same Matheo Rubalcava mentioned in the 1671 record that was posted earlier. He is still involved in Goverment affairs. No mention of Juan Rubalcava in this record, and this record mentions only Nochistlan, which is under Juchipila Jurisidiction. Jose Lopez Ramirez and Lazaro Guerrero are also mentioned. Not sure what this record is about, but it does mention a cofradia and also indicates that Matheo is still a presence in this area in 1676.
Zacatecas Libros de Govierno Link 2
Again mentioned in 3 October 1676 records which involved 4 caballerias, I believe in Mexticacan, and noted in Juchipila Jurisdication. Bernadino de Yslas is also mentioned.
Zacatecas Libros de Govierno Link 3
Lee
Great find, Lee, thanks for sharing. And you’re right, this is probably the Mateo de Rubalcava who was son of Lorenzo de Rubalcava and married to Cecilia de Isla. This document is regarding a land grant, and for a lot of land: 2 sitios de ganado mayor/menor, each with 4 caballerias de tierra. But what’s interesting is his son, Juan de Rubalcava, appearing on his behalf and acting in his name, because 1) I don’t have any record of Mateo de Rubalcava cc Cecilia de Isla having a son named Juan, and 2) they married in Feb 1658, so any legitimate child they had would only be 12 years old in 1671. For a young man to legally represent his father, I don’t know what age he’d have to be, but at that time, 25 was the age of majority, in which case, Juan de Rubalcava could have been born as early as 1646. Cecilia was born in 1641 and could not be his mother.
So, there is some genealogical information in this land title: before marrying Cecilia de Isla, in addition to an hija natural named Catalina Gonzalez, Mateo de Rubalcava had a son named Juan, born 1646-1650.
Thanks again for sharing!
Manny Díez Hermosillo
Mateo Ruvalcaba identities