Castro tree online too

Well, what there is of it. Doesn't anyone have any more information on these folks? When did they emigrate? Did Antonio ever become a citizen? How about Remedios? How about Uncle Frank or Uncle Tony?

I did go to Estepa last year, and I met my third cousin, Jose, who is probably just turning two right around now. He is Abuela's brother Antonio's great grandson (just as I am Abuela's great granddaughter). He and his family still live in Estepa and were incredibly nice to us--showed us all around (though it was pouring rain). Even showed us where Abuela used to live:

Vigallon Family Tree online

I just added a link to an online version of the research I did in Antequera two winters ago. I traced the Vigallons back to the early 1600’s... ten generations, all the while in Antequera. I also created a link to the data in the Resources section at right. I hope to get a Castro tree up there soon. (And I'd love to do the Sanchez and Rodriguez families too, but I need more data.)

A note about privacy... if anyone is uncomfortable with me putting the names of living members of the Vigallon family online, please let me know. (Only the first generation of Vigallon's in America is listed.) I tend to err on the side of caution, but if I haven't gone far enough, please don't hesitate to correct me.

Liz

Antonio Castro Blanco

Bob Castro just sent me this awesome picture of Antonio Castro Blanco (Grandpa Castro), perhaps when he was in the army. (My son says his "metally" suit looks very uncomfortable!) Margaret sent me a "pass" that he had that gave him permission to change from one cuartel to another. I've written the Spanish Defense Department Archives to see if they can give me any more information about his military service. From what I could understand on the "pass", he might have had to spend six years in the service. The pass is dated 14 May 1901, it says Antonio was 20 at the time, that he was born in Estepa (in the province of Sevilla), that his parents names were Tomas and Remedios, and that he enlisted in 1897 (when he was 16 or 17??). I can't wait to hear what else they tell me. I'll keep you all posted. (Or if you have any more information or pictures, please let me know. For example, does anyone have any information on when, how, or in what ship the Castros traveled to Hawaii?)

Christmas silver dollars

Every Christmas, all the cousins would just wait because we knew that all the uncles would get together because they would give us a present and the present was silver dollars to each one of us. And we had it for several Christmases and we would look forward to it, and we were so pleased to get one.

Vigallon grandparents

I love this picture of Grandma Concha and Papa...


(thanks to Bob Castro, who sent me this one!)

Jota

The jota mentioned by Marge, brought back a rush of memories. During the holiday season at Abuela,s house on Cherry Street and First Avenue (now Marina Blvd) it was party time at the Castro's. Or, as the Spanish say it "Fiesta." Family and friends would come to the house and meet in the finished basement. Why the basement was in such fine shape,(most in those days were all dirt)is a story for another time.

Amongst the family and friends were musicians to provide live music. Through the night there was music, dancing, and joke telling. At some point the castanets came out. Usually two pair. One pair was on the hands of the second oldest brother, Tony. The second pair on the hands of Abuela. It was always the hi-lite of the evening when "Mom" came on the dance floor with son Tony, while younger son Manuel was playing the jota on the accordian. All the family and friends applauded and hollered and whistled and carried on.

Years later I relived these moments as I watched my cousin Johnnie who had taken dance lessons for years do the jota for a short film that was being produced.
Again some years later I experienced that feeling of the past when my younger cousin,
Angelo (Gig) Trujillo, a professional dancer and son of Margaret Castro Trujillo, danced the jota on stage.

Tell me about Abuela

Margaret (Castro) Dambley told me the other day that Abuela (Grandma Castro - Remedios Linares Fernandez) used to babysit her when she was small. Margaret told me that she was sweet and kind and sang her lullabies. And that she danced the jota!

I wish I knew her. Do you have a story about Abuela you could share?

thanks,
Lizzy
(Elizabeth Castro, Johnny's daughter)

Welcome!

Do you have a story about the family? Here's your chance to write it down and share it with the rest of us. We'd love to hear about the old times... life in Hawaii, moving to California, stories about Spain. And we'd love to hear about the new times... new babies, jobs, locations.

You can either comment on someone else's story, or, if you want to write your own, let me know and we'll get you an account of your own. Feel free to share this site with anyone else in the family so that we can all be in contact with each other.