Introduction / Research Questions

Hello, I've just joined this group and am looking forward to interacting and exchanging information with all of you. I am researching Ruiz, Zavala, Castellanos, Dias, Mendes, Rodrigues and Quevedo. Currently I
am researching the Castellanos and Zavala families that lived near or in La Barca. I've been fortunate to find some records of baptism for Porfirio Castellano Zavala (Sep 17 1875) my GG Grandfather. The records indicate that the baptism took place in San Juan Bosco so this suggests that they lived near that local parish. What is curious to me is the criss-crossing of surnames. For example, Porfirio Castellanos Zavala was married to Guadalupe Castellanos (born October 7th 1875 in La Barca). However, Porfirio's mother Refugia (born about 1860) was also a Castellanos! Unfortunately, I cannot find much more information about Refugia's family.

Guadalupe's parents were Guillermo Castellnos (born about 1849) and Rita Mendes (born about 1850). I was very fortunate to find a record of baptism for one of their other children Cenobio Castellanos (1 Nov 1865, La Barca) that includes both sets of grandparents. From my experience, this was a great find. I'm glad to have names, but have little else. This also suggests that these sets of grandparents were present in the region. Is this a correct assumption, that the records of baptism include people who were physically present? In any case, the grand parents (my GGGG grand parents) were Jose Antonio Castellanos / Dorotea Dias (Guillermo's parents) and Eduwiges Mendes / Dolores Rodrigues (Rita's parents). I'm making the guess that they were born around the 1830's. Incidentally, Eduwiges (Edubigen) and other variants are very, very strange to me. In the original baptismal record it is next to impossible to read. A transcriber on family search labs rendered in Eduwiges. Does anyone have any history behind such a name? Needless to say researching my family history in Mexico is quite the learning experience!

Regards,

Rudy