Por NatalieRuizReynaga |

Hi, everyone!
I'm new here at Nuestros Ranchos and want to say thank you to everyone for sharing what you have. In just a few short weeks, I have learned tons and tons about my ancestry!!!

Here is a general question about the Catholic Church documents I hope that someone can answer. So far, I have noticed this in the early to mid-1800s in Zacoalco de Torres, Jalisco. Have you seen how sometimes in the margin under the person's name who is baptized or married, it says V or vecinos, or Y or Ydos or Yndios?

I wonder if that was how they identified the Native Americans and the non-Native Americans. Does anyone have any knowledge about this practice? If that is their ethnicity they were noting in the margins, does anyone know how they defined the Indian ethnicity?

For that matter, where can I get information on interracial marriages in Mexico? I was told one of my ancestors could not marry the mother of his child because he was Indian and she was not. Yet, I know in the beginning, it was encouraged to inter-marry.

Thank you for any information you can provide!

--Natalie Estrada
natcruz1@aol.com

Hello, what a small world. I have also researched the family records of Zacoalco and have noticed the "v" and "Y"'s you mention. In Zacoalco this is more often seen starting around the second half of the 19th century. Before that, the parish priests used the usual racial terms as in other parishes: espanol, indio, mestizo, mulato, coyote, etc. Comparing my ancestors in Zacoalco, I have noticed that vecino encompasses all castes and indio, well just indio, native. At the turn of the 20th century, they stopped using those terms.

I agree that you shouldn't count these terms as actual proof of the race of our ancestors. They usually referred to physical appearance and sometimes, social status. One example, my 4th great grandfather Domingo Apodaca was married as a mestizo, (half espanol half indio) His wife was described as espanola, and their children became espanoles, except for one who was described mulato! As for Domingo, I found his death certificate and guess what, he was no longer a mestizo, but espanol! Anyways, use those terms as possible clues, but not as factual evidence.

By the way, what families are you researching in Zacoalco? I grew up in Zacoalco and many of my family lines are in Zacoalco and nearby Santa Catarina. Especifically in Zacoalco, I have the surnames Martinez, Rodriguez, Frias, Aguilar, Castro, and way back, Gonzales de la Campa. Check my family tree in the files section and see if anything sounds familiar.

Steve in NC

Hello, Steve,

Yes I have seen many of your ancestors in the indexes!!!

Thank you very much for replying. My great-grandfather was listed as yndio when born, but as not indigenous when married, or something like that. I understand now how confusing and inaccurate the whole process was. I was especially curious because once they immigrated to the United States, I'll bet it was up to the immigrant to identify ethnicity. I've seen old U.S. censuses that list another great-grandfather as Indian, then 10 years later Mexican for race.

Okay, now back to your family tree. I am in dire need of my link to Frias! My g-g-g grandmother was Cristina Frias, and I can't find records on her anywhere. I only got her name as being the grandmother listed in my great-grandmother's birth, or something like that.

Okay, I'll check your family tree, and hopefully can find something!

Thanks again,

Natalie

on the interaccila marriage legality, that depended on both parties economic classes, and parental approval. interracial marriage wasn't illegal per say, but if the wealthier parties's parents didn't want the marriage to happen, they can elgally prevent the marriage usually, since parental approval played a big role in marriages.

anyways you can't always rely on the racial categorizations in mexican records. they aren't always accurate.
http://www.nuestrosranchos.org/node/20614

Thank you, Katy!

I appreciate your explanation. It makes sense now what I have heard from my family. Thank you for the link to your previous discussions, as well! I read them all.

Take care,

Natalie

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