Miguel Caldera's Mother

Linda:

Miguel Caldera's mother is simply called Maria in the documents where she appears. I believe this includes Miguel's will where he leaves a donation to a church for masses to be prayed for her soul. She was a Guachichil indian woman who must have died soon after bearing Miguel and Maria as they appear to have been raised by Franciscans in the newly established mission in Zacatecas. Miguel must have been one of the first mestizos born in what came to be known as Zacatecas.

Miguel had only one illegitimate daughter Isabel who had two sons. All the Calderas that were wealthy and powerful in the Jerez area appear to be descendants of Miguel's sister Maria Cid. Her son Pedro Cid Caldera was the main heir to Miguel Caldera. He was definitely considered an espanol. He was, like his uncle, a captain in the Spanish army. The caste system was not strictly based on race. I have seem many a Tlaxacaltec family 100% indigenous described as espanoles in records. They were literate Christians who were judges, officials, etc. so they were for all intent and purpose of the caste with full rights, i.e. espanoles. Such was Pedro Cid and his descendants who all married into the old Jerez families such as the Carrillo de Avila, Carlos de Godoy, Llanos y Valdes, etc.

Susana Leniski has a lot of information on the descendants of Maria Cid. Also, Phillip Wayne Powell has published a number of books on Miguel Caldera.

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Linda Everett wrote:
Composed Surnames in Mexico

Arturo, has Miguel Caldera's mother ever been named? I've never seen anything except his fathers name. Is it known where Miguel Caldera was born? I have 3 Caldera grandmothers in my direct lines. Any idea why the Caldera's, including my lines all claimed Espanol when they were Mestizo's from very early on. When I was in El Durazno, district of Jerez it seemed half the town was Caldera, green eyes, blue eyes, freckled and also very dark skinned with brown eyes.
Linda in Everett