Mostrando las entradas con la etiqueta Dr. Nydia R. Hanna. Mostrar todas las entradas
Mostrando las entradas con la etiqueta Dr. Nydia R. Hanna. Mostrar todas las entradas

martes, 15 de febrero de 2022

Simon Boyer and the French Republican Calendar

By Dr. Nydia R. Hanna

Simon Boyer was the first Boyer to emigrate from France to Puerto Rico. He settled in Guayama in the 1830’s, with descendants in Guayama, Arecibo, Ponce, Mayaguez, Quebradillas, and Arroyo. 

born: 22 Dec 1800 at Saint-Michel-d' Euzet, Gard, France 
married Francisca Hortensia VEINTIDOS-ABRÓN (Vingt-Deux Abrart) 
died: 05 Jan 1852 at Guayama, PR 

Simon's Parents are given in his domicile papers in Puerto Rico as Etienne BOYER (1768), Marie DEYDIER (1775)

Simon's Children: Augosto Eugenio "Agustin" BOYER-VEINTIDOS (1836) who married Francisca Emilia VIRELLA-RIVERA in Guayama on June 10, 1857. Maria Margarita BOYER-VEINTIDOS (1832), Maria Emilia BOYER-VEINTIDOS (1834), Juan Bautista BOYER-VEINTIDOS (1844) and Olivia Polonia BOYER-VEINTIDOS (1848).

Simon's grandchildren include: Adela BOYER-VIRELLA, Agustin BOYER-VIRELLA, Carmen BOYER-VIRELLA, Federico BOYER-VIRELLA, Simon BOYER-VIRELLA, Juan Rufino BOYER-COLON (1856)


In Simon’s domicile papers in Puerto Rico dated 1832, a copy of his birth was recorded, but they did not understand the year he was born and just wrote ‘illegible.’

The section reads:

El dia segundo del mes nivose del año —(ilegible) de la Republica Frances.

Acta de nacimiento de Simon Boyer, nacido el primero del mes, a las once de la mañana, hijo de Esteban Boyer, labrador, y de Maria Deydier, casados, habitantes del canton de San Miguel de Euzet, departamento de Gard…

The original record of his birth in Saint-Michel-d' Euzet, Gard, France states that he was born on the first of Nivôse and the birth was recorded on the second of the month of Nivôse in the IX or ninth year of the French Republican Calendar.


The French Republican Calendar was a calendar created and implemented during the French Revolution and used by the French government for about 12 years from late 1793 to 1805. On 21 September 1792, the French First Republic was proclaimed, and the new National Convention decided that 1792 was to be known as Year I of the French Republic. It decreed on 2 January 1793 that Year II of the Republic had begun the day before. However, the new calendar as adopted by the Convention in October 1793 made 22 September 1792 the first day of Year I. Consequently, the months and years of this French Republican Calendar do not align exactly with the Gregorian Calendar (the calendar we use today).

Years appear in writing as Roman numerals, with epoch 22 September 1792, the beginning of the "Republican Era" (the day the French First Republic was proclaimed, one day after the Convention abolished the monarchy). As a result, Roman Numeral I indicates the first year of the republic. Roman numeral IX is the 9th year of the Republic.

Months and days were also different than the Gregorian Calendar. There were twelve months, each divided into three ten-day weeks called décades. 

Autumn:
Vendémiaire (from French vendange, derived from Latin vindemia, "vintage"), starting 22, 23, or 24 SeptemberBrumaire (from French brume, "mist"), starting 22, 23, or 24 October
Frimaire (From French frimas, "frost"), starting 21, 22, or 23 November

Winter:

Nivôse (from Latin nivosus, "snowy"), starting 21, 22, or 23 December
Pluviôse (from French pluvieux, derived from Latin pluvius, "rainy"), starting 20, 21, or 22 
January
Ventôse (from French venteux, derived from Latin ventosus, "windy"), starting 19, 20, or 21 February

Spring:

Germinal (from French germination), starting 20 or 21 March
Floréal (from French fleur, derived from Latin flos, "flower"), starting 20 or 21 April
Prairial (from French prairie, "meadow"), starting 20 or 21 May

Summer:

Messidor (from Latin messis, "harvest"), starting 19 or 20 June
Thermidor (or Fervidor*) (from Greek thermon, "summer heat"), starting 19 or 20 July
Fructidor (from Latin fructus, "fruit"), starting 18 or 19 August

Understanding the terminology used in the French Republican calendar, it is clear that Nivôse is the 4th month in the French Republican Calendar and “an 9” is year IX of the French Republican Calendar on the birth document for Simon Boyer in France.

We then use a conversion table between the French Republican Calendar and the Gregorian Calendar.  According to the conversion table below- he was born on the 1st of Nivôse an 9 or IX. This translates to Dec 22, 1800. He was registered on the 2nd of Nivôse, an 9 or IX- so registered on the 23rd of December, 1800.

All documents in France between the years 1793 and 1805 will use the French Republican Calendar and subsequently the dates will need to be converted to reflect the correct date in our Gregorian Calendar.

After converting the dates from his birth document to the Gregorian Calendar, we can verify his birth and registration as:

Birth- Dec 22, 1800
Registered: Dec 23, 1800
Saint-Michel-d' Euzet, Gard, France
Father: Etienne Boyer
Mother: Marie Deydier

The parents of Simon BOYER were Etienne BOYER and Marie DEYDIER who married in Saint-Michel-d' Euzet, Gard, France on 08 Feb 1796.   From this marriage we know that Etienne’s parents were Francois BOYER and Rose VEAUCLARE.  Marie DEYDIER’s parents were Pierre DEYDIER and Marie FAUCHET.


Each person’s birth documents may include an actual birth date, a baptism date and a registration date. Three possible dates for any one person’s birth event. This happens in Puerto Rico -an actual birthdate, a baptism, and a registration date -with the civil registration date sometimes occurring days, months or even years later, if at all.

Bibliography

  1. Archivo General de Puerto Rico  Publ: Puerto Rico, registros parroquiales, Iglesia Católica, 1645-1969, Defunción,  Guayama, LD- Folio 194, No s/n
  2. Puerto Rico, Registros de extranjeros, 1815-1845  Auth: National Archives and Records Administration  Publ: Washington, DC  Date: 1832  Locn: NARA microfilm T1170
  3. Actes paroissiaux et d'état civil de Saint-Michel d'Euzet (1598-1932) État civil Actes1793-an X, image #72
  4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Republican_calendar
  5. Conversion table source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nivôse
  6. Actes paroissiaux et d'état civil de Saint-Michel d'Euzet (1598-1932) » État civil » Actes » 1793-an X, image #102-103

jueves, 14 de octubre de 2021

Figueras vs. Figueroa in Cabo Rojo

There are many surnames that are similar and have been interpreted or transcribed as one spelling and other times as a different spelling. There are also surnames that are substantially different surnames that have been confused or misinterpreted. The surnames Figueroa and Figueras are two such surnames that are totally different families with different origins. Unfortunately, handwriting has been the culprit as the endings of these two surnames are sometimes unrecognizable in script.

One line of the Figueras family of Cabo Rojo includes Miguel Ángel Figueras born May 9, 1890, and baptized on June 20, 1890 (APSMACR, LB 37, Folio 83). The transcript is as follows:

Yo, Padre Benito Sanchez, de la Orden de San Agustín y Cura Párroco de la parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel en la ciudad de Cabo Rojo. 

Certifico: Que en el libro 37 de Bautismos perteneciente a este archivo Parroquial y en el folio 83, se halla la siguiente partida... 

En la Parroquia de San Miguel de Cabo Rojo a veinte de Junio de mil ochocientos noventa, yo, el Presbítero Don Carlos Jofre, Cura Ecónomo de la misma, bauticé solemnemente y puse el nombre de Miguel Ángel a un niño que nació el día nueve de Mayo próximo pasado, hijo legítimo de Leonardo Figueras y Monserrate Montalvo. Abuelos paternos: José [Figueras] y Claudia Rodríguez. y Maternos: José [Montalvo] y Beatríz Meléndez. Padrinos: Don Juan Colberg, Doña Esther Cabrera todos de este Parroquia á quienes advertí el parentesco espiritual y sus obligaciones. de que doy fe... Carlos Jofre 

Es copia exacta del original la que remito, expedida a petición de parte interesada, y para que así conste lo firmo y sello en esta Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel, a quince de Abril de mil novecientos treinta y dos. 

El Párroco..Benito Sanchez 

Here is a closeup of the surname

Leonardo Figueras y Rodriguez and Monserrate Montalvo y Meléndez children include:

  1. Josefa (1885-1960)
  2. Candelaria (Candida) - (1887-1949)—Registro Civil, Cabo Rojo, Libro Nacimientos 7 Folio 87v and Cabo Rojo, Libro Defunciones, No 166
  3. María Irene - (1889- 1978) Registro Civil, Cabo Rojo, LN 10, Folio 231 and San Germán, Libro Defunciones 63-207
  4. Miguel Ángel - (1890-1954) -APSMACR, Libro Bautismos 37, Folio 83
  5. Francisco Eugenio (Efigenio) - (1892-1950)
  6. María Andrea - (1893-1981) Registro Civil, Cabo Rojo, Libro Naciemiento 18, Folio 273v, and Mayaguez, Libro Defunciones 200-317
  7. Modesta - (1897-1982) Registro Civil, Mayaguez, Libro Defunciones 200-401
  8. María Monserrate - (1899-1906)- Registro Civil, Cabo Rojo, Libro Defunciones 30, Folio 88
  9. Lázaro Antonio - (1901- 1968) Registro Civil, Cabo Rojo, Libro Numero 29, Folio 203v

The death of Leonardo Figueras y Rodríguez in Cabo Rojo in 1903 (Registro Civil, Cabo Rojo, Libro Defunciones 28, Folio 292) clearly shows his surname as Figueras and his parents as José Figueras and Claudia Rodriguez.

Excerpt of the death of Leonardo Figueras y Rodriguez, 1903

The paternal grandparents are José Figueras and Claudia Rodríguez. This same couple was transcribed as José Figueroa and Claudia Rodríguez in the baptism entry of Julián María Figueroa y Rodríguez in the 2003 Transcription by Eugenio Luis Colón of Libro Número 15, 
Bautismos de Blancos 1838-1842. (APSMACR, LB 15, Folio 225)

Julián’s death in 1904 at the age of 60 in Cabo Rojo clearly states his surname as Figueras and not Figueroa. His parents are verified as José Figueras and Claudia Rodríguez.



The same transcription error appears earlier with Josef Figueras married to María Roque in Cabo Rojo. His death in 1799 states his surname as Figueras (APSMACR, Libro Defunciones 2, Folio 82). Whereas his marriage in 1794 was transcribed as José Figueroa. A careful review of the original is warranted (APSMACR, LM 1, Folio 39).

José’s son, Francisco Figueras, is listed as Francisco Figuera (sic) as godparent in 1842. (APSMACR, Libro Bautismos 15, Folio 246v)

The daughter of Francisco Figueras and María del Carmen Montalvo was baptized on September 7, 1819, in Cabo Rojo and appears in the transcription by César A. Zapata Lozada of Libro 10 de Bautismos de Blancos de la Parroquia San Miguel Arcángel de Cabo Rojo 1814-1820 as María Magdalena Figueroa y Montalvo (p. 91). A closer inspection of the actual record reveals that the surname is indeed Figueras. (blurry copy) (APSMACR, Libro Bautismos 10, Folio 159v)

In Cabo Rojo, the Figueras family married Montalvo, Palermo, Rodríguez, Vega, Galindo and Sepúlveda family members, among other surnames. The indexed records on both Ancestry and FamilySearch are sometimes transcribed incorrectly, confusing Figueroa with Figueras. My recommendation is to review every Figueroa record in your ancestral tree by looking at the actual record and not relying on the indexed transcript.

The Figueras family is indicated as being from Spain in a few documents. In 1833, a Jayme Figueras y Roig obtained a passport to travel to San Juan from Tarragona Spain, where he lived in the village of Torredembarra. 

The connection from the Figueras family in Cabo Rojo to Jayme Figueras y Roig has not been identified. Other Figueras families reside in many other cities in Puerto Rico.

Bibliography

Archivo Parroquial San Miguel Arcángel de Cabo Rojo (APSMACR)

  • Libro de Bautismos: 37, Folio 83
  • Libro de Bautismos: 15, Folio 225 and 246v
  • Libro de Bautismos: 10, Folio 159v
  • Libro de Matrimonios: 1, Folio 39
  • Libro de Defunciones: 2,  Folio 82

Registro Civil de Puerto Rico, Cabo Rojo, Mayaguez and San German

Archivo General de Puerto Rico (AGPR), Gobierno Político Superior, Pasaportes 1795-1889, Caja 155, Film # 1389448, image 1365, transcribed by Rachel Rose

viernes, 19 de junio de 2020

The Galiano and Galiana families from Hormigueros and Cabo Rojo


At times, surnames in Puerto Rico can be so similar that there can arise a confusion about the origins of the family. This is the case of the two different families in the Cabo Rojo/Hormigueros area: Galiana and Galiano.

The Galiana Family


Mariana Galiana and Esteban Barber emigrated from Spain and settled in Cabo Rojo, PR where Esteban was a mariner. They had 6 children in Cabo Rojo and a large family of descendants. In several documents in Cabo Rojo, the surnames were transposed and the Galiana surname appears as Galiano for the children of Esteban Barber and Mariana Galiana. Mariana Galiana was born in Villajoyosa, Alicante, Spain as documented on the birth of her children in Cabo Rojo. Example: Rosa Maria Barber y Galiana. Mariana’s death document correctly states her surname as Galiana and her parents as Bartolomé Galiana and Francisca Lloret (later found to be Tonda y Lloret). The marriage of Mariana Galiana to Esteban Barber occurred in Villajoyosa, Alicante, Spain on Feb 24, 1869. Both the Barber and Galiana families are from this area of Alicante, Spain for several centuries.

The Galiano Family


The Galiano family has a completely different origin. Santiago Galiano, also a mariner in Southwest Puerto Rico, was born in Laigueglia, Genoa, Italy on Aug 4, 1771 and settled in Hormigueros. Santiago married Maria Rapaz in Mayagüez in 1822. Santiago previously had three children with Tomasa Preciado y de la Seda in Hormigueros from 1812-1815. This is also a very large family in Southwest PR. In his signature below in Hormigueros, we see that he signs S.Yago Galiany. His baptismal document states his name as Jacoby Domenico Galliany. Santiago, (also San Iago, San Tiago, Santyago, Sant-Yago, San Thiago) is a Spanish name that derives from the Hebrew name Jacob, or Jacobo/Jacoby in Italian.
Santiago’s death record in Mayagüez states that he was from Laigueglia, Genoa.

Firma de Santiago Galiano Puerto Rico
Santiago Galiano's Signature

Both the civil registrar and church scribes wrote the surnames for these two families incorrectly at times, and other times correctly. Since Santiago Galiano had several sons and grandsons, the Galiano surname was more recognizeable and probably contributed to the civil registrar and priest errors. The correct origin of these two surnames were clarified by obtaining the baptismal and marriage documents in the birth country. 

Sources: 
  • Esteban Barber y Mayor and Mariana Galiana y Tonda, Marriage Feb 24, 1869 - ARCHIVO HISTÓRICO - DIÓCESIS DE ORIHUELA - ALICANTE, Parroquia La Asunción de Villajoyosa, Alicante, Spain. QL-28 (1869-1870) Folio 294 , No. 13.
  • Mariana Galiana y Lloret (Tonda), Defunción: Registro Civil de Puerto Rico, Cabo Rojo, Bk 47, Folio 520, No 239.
  • Rosa Maria Barber y Galiana (appears as Galiano), Birth: Registro Civil de Puerto Rico, Cabo Rojo, Bk. 6, Folio 191, No. 225.
  • Jacoby (Santiago) Domenico Galiano Baptism: Aug 4, 1771, Laigueglia, Genoa, Italy Parroquia San Matteo, Libro quinto de bautismos.
  • Santiago Galiano, Death- 16 Dec 1840, Mayaguez, PR, Libro de defunciones, folio 104.
  • Santiago Galiano and Maria Rapaz - Archivo Parroquial Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria de Mayagüez, Libro sexto de matrimonios, folio 50v. 3 de junio de 1822 - D. Santiago Galiano, oriundo de Génova, h.l. D. Santiago y Da. Valentina Galiano con Da. María Rapas, h.l. D. Felipe y Da. Celestina Meses, difuntos. Testigos: D. José Vigo y D. Manuel Vidó.

Acta Matrimonio de Esteban Barber y Mariana Galiana

Acta Nacimiento Rosa María Barber Galiano(a)

Acta Defunción Mariana Galiana y Lloret

Defuncion Santiago Galiano Puerto Rico
Acta de defunción de Santiago Galiano

Bautismo Santiago Galiano
Bautismo de Jacoby (Santiago) Domenico Galiano

Lista de Catalanes que imigraron a Cabo Rojo

Por César A. Zapata Lozada Estudiando los libros sacramentales de la parroquia San Miguel Arcángel de Cabo Rojo, otros libros y documentos h...