We're back!!!

We've really not had too much internet access on our trip as we 'tented' it most of the time. First, "Happy Birthday," to everyone's birthday I missed, past, present, and future. Since there have been so many birthdays this year I've decided to skip mine and put my age in a holding pattern.

One of the interesting places that we stopped was where Ben Garica was born in Abiquiu, New Mexico. I've written a little about it in my blog so I won't forget. Click on the title above to read more. As I talk to Randy and do some internet research I'll add more.
Randy has had an interest in our family genealogy and has traced back the Garcia line to this aged town. He has traced it back through Catholic Church records that show Ben was born here. The records show that his parents like many of the people that populated the area were a mix of Mexicans of Spanish descent as well as the Native American tribes, the Apache and the Navajo. I believe that exact confirmation would only be established through a DNA test. Our first stop was at the ruins of a church by the name of La Santa Rosa DeLima. We couldn’t stop next to it so we parked the car and walked back. I’ll do a little internet research and fill in the blanks.

We stopped at the grocery store to buy some soft drinks and asked the directions to the local parish. The most recent parish, the one presently in use is called St. Thomas Apostle Parish. We were directed across the street and up the hill. Just above the road and behind some bushes an old part of the town opened up and of course was a place for tourist information. I knocked at the door and an older distinguished looking gentleman opened the door. He introduced himself as Napolean Garcia. He had lived in a Abiquiu his entire life, as his forefathers had. He was about 74 years old. We showed Randy what we had found and what he already knew about the geneology he believes that this person may very have been our great-uncle. Small world.


He gave us a little history on the area: It was established on the site of an old Indian pueblo in the mid-18th century. It became a settlement of Spaniards and Genizaros (Hispanicized Indians). In 1776, explorers Fray Francisco, Ataancio Dominguez, and Silvestre Velez de Escalante visited here. In 1839 the settlement became one of the stops
on the Spanish Trail that linked Sante Fe with Los Angeles, California..

Also, he showed us a book that he had that listed the first settlers in the area. There were a few Garicas in the mix. I took pictures of the book.

It was easy to see what had attracted different groups of people to the area; it was an oasis in an otherwise very dry land. When you follow Rio Chama it is lush and green. Being in the river bottom there were ample opportunities to grow the produce that was needed. I would imagine any excess could be sold or traded to people traveling through the area.

I can’t say as I felt a connection with the area, but I did understand more the hardships that our ancestors had gone through and why Ben’s parents may have wanted to move.
Jim