Once I learned about the possible connection with Spanish royalty, I began reading about King Fernando and Queen Isabella. We maybe related to King Fernando but not Queen Isabella. Carl Duaine’s Book “With all arms”, has a good account of the illegitimate children of King Fernando. Duaine translated the work of Manuel Morales Munoz from Los Altamiramos – Historical Archives.
Las Estradas
“The founder of the line in New Spain was Don Alonso de Estrada, who was a native of Ciudad Real, in the kingdom of Castile, where he was born at the end of the fifteenth century. He was the natural son of Fernando, the Catholic, King of Aragon, by the account of several historians and so recorded in the Holy Inquisition (Historical Archives of the Nation in Madrid Testimony 1501. No. 17) and Dona (Maria) Luisa de Estrada, daughter of Fernan, Duke of Estrada, head of the House of Estrada, ambassador of the Catholic Kings to England, sent especially to negotiate the second marriage of Dona Catherine of Aragon to Henry the VIII of England. Dona Catherine of Aragon is King Fernando and Queen Isabellas’s daughter. She has a fascinating story as well, capture part of her story on Starz in “The Spanish Princess” or in the book by Philippa Gregory, ” The Constant Princess”.
I also read the Queen’s Vow by CW Gortner, on page 232-234, the story is told in a dramatic depiction of the details. Fernando has been away to Aragon and delayed returning to Queen Isabella in Castile, where royal decisions needed to be made. Her informant and advisor tells Queen Isabella, “His majesty has been lying to you for months. He has a mistress in Aragon with child, the mistress has begged him to stay.” The informant continues, “I thought he (the King) would have told you about his bastard son by another woman before your marriage? It’s not a secret, all of Zaragoza knows about him, even King Juan has the child in court and give him gifts.” Queen Isabella angrily removes the informant from count as her advisor. When the king finally arrives, she confronts King Fernando. He replies, “ I was going to tell you about the boy. He is 2 years old. It was a moment of weakness of madness… I needed comfort. I do regret it.” He believed the boy was his. Queen Isabella orders him to see to his “upkeep”. HIs name is Alfonso (Alonso). He continues to say about this new affair, “It meant nothing to me.”
She reminds him that while he needed comfort, she was navigating her mom’s health care, their daughter and the crisis of Enrique’s death, her half brother and King of Castle,
They do have a rough patch, but are forced to work together to declare war and protect their holdings from a new threat. They do eventually reconcile, and Queen Isabella knows she must have a male heir for the kingdom. Aragon may not authenticate her daughter as the Queen, only males could be kings. In Castille, women could rule, but not in Aragon.
There is also memory of the affair, in CW Gortner’s book, The Last Queen. Juana, Isabella’s daughter states, “ My father adored my mother but he had a mistresses, one bore a son and another a daughter named Joanna. The queen had both children brought to court to be reared as royalty. QueenJuana is also dealing with the newly discovered affair between her husband, King Philip and his court lady. Juana is devastated and is trying to get over it, wondering how her own mom might have felt and reconciled. Juana is told about her sister, Princess Isabella, who was next in line to the throne, has died. King Philip, (Juana’s husband) desperately wants her to petition the courts that he should be the next in line to the throne. Another story to follow and learn about.
Don Alonso de Estrada gave outstanding service to Charles V, who named him treasurer of the New Spain and in October 1524, charged him with governing New Spain. He as born in 1470. Ana Estrada, his daughter was born in 1498 and marries Juan in 1525 in Spain, another record stated 1511 in Mexico City. More to research here. Cortez, Ponce de Leon and Marcos Aguilar also governed in New Spain, but eventually the office returned to Alonso. Here is the possible family lines:
I also found a disturbing on the history of Marcos Alonso de Arcon de Sosa y Estrada. There is some notes that 4. Marcos Alonso de Arcon y Estrada and Constanza were accused of practicing Judaism and Constanza may have been burned during the Inquisition. Some biographies were not sure of his ancestry and notes that they must have tried to keep it secret. Is this why he came to Mexico?https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/68169479?cid=mem_copy
There is MUCH discussions about the parents of 4. Marcos Alonso de Arcon de Sosa. Some claim that his parents were already in Mexico, when he was born in Spain. Don Alonso Estrada was named treasurer of New Spain at the end of 1524, Marcos Alonso de Arcon de Sosa was born in 1525, in Spain. I could speculate he is Don Alonso’s son and not Ana Estrada’s son. There is not a baptism record in Mexico, but he was born in Spain. I see many family trees that do include him as the son of Juan Alonso and Ana’s son, but no proof. Maybe he was actually a nephew or illegitimate son (left in Spain), while Don Alonso traveled to the New World, but much more genealogy research is needed to confirm. See interesting websites. I have a few sources that state that Marcos and Juana were Sephardic Jews, their story follows.
https://www.geni.com/discussions/197136
The primogenitor of the de la Garza Falcón family was Captain Marcos Alonso Garza y del Arcon, a Spanish nobleman, native of Lepe, province of Huelva, Spain. He arrived in Mexico City about 1550 becoming very active in Spanish court social circles and marrying into the prominent Trevino family. He married Dona Juana de Trevino Quintanilla, daughter to Capitan Diego de Trevino and Dona Beatriz de Quintanilla. Her brother was General Jose de Trevino. In 1569, he and his wife arrived in Durango City in the province on Nueva Viscaya, present day state of Durango. Two sons were born Don Alonso de Trevino and Don Josef de Trevino. Notice that the children took their mother’s family name Trevino, since it was much more prominent. Could it also have been the family name tied to their past in Spain? Pedro was also known as Pedro de la Garza Falcon Trevino. Falcon is assumed to be the same as Arcon/Argon from the Royalty connection perhaps? He also drops the Sosa name which another relative also dropped the Sosa name because it could have been a Jewish reference.
Capitan Marcos Alonso Garza y Arcon was a miner by trade and he arrived with family to settle, Real de Mapimi, a mining town in the province of Nueva Viscaya (Durango). His three children included Don Pedro de la Garza, Dona Juana Trevino and Do Blas de la Garza Falcon. In 1603, Don Marcos Alonso and his family moved to La Hacienda de San Francisco in the jurisdiction of Monterrey, Nuevo León, México. His two sons, Alonso and Blas bought the hacienda. After his wife’s death, Don Marcos remarried Dona Catalina Martinez Guajardo and had 2 daughters, Dona Juana de la Garza and Dona Isabel Martinez. She took her mother’s name because it was very prominent in Nuevo Leon. Their families contributed to the settlement of Nuevo Santander and the pacification of the Indians. I see another account that the marriage to Catalina was first and then Juana. Will have to confirm this.
5. Capitan Marcos Alonso and Juana Trevino started 7 family lines in the Garcia Family tree. I have shared 4 lines. There is 3 others that start with Joseph Trevino (349), Francisco de la Garza (347) and Capitan Alonso de la Garza. So even if some of the connections are not correct there is 6 other lines that start with Marcos and Juana with a possible connection to Ana ->Alonso Estrada and King Fernando.
https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/123124538?cid=mem_copy
Another theory, as to why the last name Alons(z)o was totally abandoned by the family is a mystery, but it may have to do with the fact that the Alonzo last name of Lepe, Huelva, Spain was associated with the Jews. Hernando Alonzo financed and aided Hernan Cortez in his actions. After the conquest of Mexico City, Hernando Alonzo, a well known Jew in the New World, was becoming too wealthy and powerful, and thus a threat. Hernando Alonzo was burned alive under orders of the Inquisition. While no link has been established between Hernando Alonzo and Marcos Alonzo, the name may have been changed for protection. Source: Geni.com
6. A Pedro de la Garza marries Maria Inez Guajardo (also known as Inez Rodriguez) have a son, Pedro de la Garza marries Maria Luisa de la Rocha Robles-> Pedro de la Garza de la Rocha marries Ana Diaz Botello->Maria Josepha de la Garza (353)marries Diego de Hinojosa Cantu->Jose Manuel Hinojosa de la Garza->Manuel Angel Hinojosa Chapa->
Maria Anastasia Lucia Hinojosa->Maria Leonor Gonzalez Hinojosa->Maria Concepcion Canales->Juan Canales-> Juanita Canales, my paternal grandmother.
Pedro and Inez also have a daughter named Elena de la Garza.
6. D Elena de La Garza marries Capitan Juan Cavazos->Pedro Garcia Avila marries Margarita Cavazos->Joseph Garcia de Avila D Cavazos->Capitan Francisco Garcia Salinas (477)->->Ana Maria de Garcia->Maria Teresa Trevino Garcia (235)->Maria Josepha Victoria de Jesus Hinojosa** (117)Trevino ->Jose de los Santos->Maria Ursula Vela->Dario Vela->Natalia Vela, my maternal grandmother.
Maria Josepha** Hinojosa also has->Maria Feliciana Hinojosa(105)->Jose Rafael Pena->Jose Marcelo Pena->Maria de los Santos Pena->Ramon Alvarado, my maternal grandfather.
6. D Elena de la Garza also has Maria Cavazos de la Garza (341) ->Antonio Guerra Canamar de la Garza-> Francisco A Guerra-> Jose Juan Manuel Guerra->Maria Segunda de Jesus Guerra->—>Jose Gregorio Canales->Juan Canales->Juanita Canales
There is also 6. E Capitan Blas de la Garza, he also contributed to a the Garcia family line. Blas and Beatriz had Lazaro de la Garza->Lucas de la Garza 270->Maria Lucia Gertrudis de la Garza->Jose Francisco Angel Garcia->Pedro Ignacio Garcia->Jose Encarnacion Garcia->Cecilio Garcia->Francisco -> Reynaldo Garcia.
Lazaro also had Maria de la Garza 260, who married Tomas Garcia ->Cristobal Garcia->Nicolas Antonio Garcia->Juan Francisco Angel Garcia->Pedro Ignacio Garcia->Jose Encarnacion Garcia->Cecilio Garcia->Francisco Garcia, my paternal grandfather. Blas and Beatriz had about 17 children.
The photo below is of another son, Capitan Blas Maria de la Garza Falcon Villarreal. His monument in Corpus Christi is a symbol of friendship and the first successful Spanish colonizer with a land grant. King Felipe of Spain appointed a Governor to help keep the French out of the region. The Governor founded 23 settlements, but only Capitan Blas was successful in establishing the first and famous South Texas ranch industry . To the region, he brought his family, longhorn cattle, horses, farming tools and other domestic animals and taught the region about cattle drives, branding and corrals.
I would like to encourage all of you to send me stories about our family, maybe its about Tia Neta, Mama Juanita, Papa Ramon. I would like to include a more recent family story with the genealogy.
This next story was told to me by Chila Covington and Tere Weber, my cousins. Chila was 3 years old when she went to live with Mama Juanita, “Mama Grande”, after her 38 year old mother passed away. Her friends were Frankie and Luis (my brothers), but she recalls that Mama Juanita wasn’t happy with them playing together, she thought the boys would be too rough. Her other four sisters, Tere, Beatriz, Berta and Tula went to live with Tia Neta (Ernestina), about 3 blocks away. Their dad, Armando Garcia provided financial support and their house. Janie Mendez, a cousin lived with Tia Neta. Since Janie was older, she was able to help with meals and cleaning. Janie took good care of the girls, naming her own daughter Berta. in the photo below, I am with my twin brother on Janie’s special wedding day.
Wedding Cotulla Texas, circa 1963
My paternal grandmother, Mama Juanita loved theater. She would put on annual productions that would be fund raisers for the church. Mama Juanita learned the choreography from the different regions of Mexico during her annual visits to Mexico accompanied with Tia Neta. The production included regional dances and poems with children participation. One of the young girls would be crowned the queen after raising the most money for the church. Janie was crowned queen during the “fiesta patrias” and later she recalls when Tere was 13 years old, she won the award and crown. Berta, Beatriz and Chila were the maidens following behind holding up her train. Chila wore a fluffy yellow dress sewn by a Olivia, Tia Petra’s daughter, She was a seamstress from Mexico and Mama Juanita’s niece and Armando’s cousin. She always came to help during these events as she was a seamstress for theatrical productions and movies in Monterey. Tere wore a beautiful white dress, Beatriz a blue dress, Chila a yellow dress, and Berta a pink dress. Tula was dressed as La Virgen de Guadalupe.
One of the other theater stories, involved her dad, Tia Armando. He was portraying a character that got shot. The girls were upset, they thought the killing than been real and not just a play. Mama Grande, as Mama Juanita was called, would assist in recitals of patriotic poems, dances, and songs, such as “El Grito”. The theater production profile was a melodrama. Armando was dressed as the bride. It was an all male ensemble. The groom was Tom Mendez, who was in high school and a nephew of Trinidad or Trine. People enjoyed the hilarious production until the girls started crying.
Their dad, Armando was most handsome in a white coat as Master of Ceremonies. He loved theater, drama and especially comedic situations. Well, come to think about it, ALL the Garcia sons were happy, comedic individuals!
Another yearly event that Mama Grande produced was on Mother’s Day also at the Welhausen School Auditorium. She would have community involvement with participation of patriotic songs, and especially poems about mothers. Tere recalls how she recited a long poem about the death of a mother. Of course the audience cried with the obvious connection and empathy knowing Tere’s family history and her 4 sisters. Tere was very dramatic and loved the drama, emotionally moving the audience since they knew the history of the girls being …motherless. These events also had Spanish dances in the evening.
Tia Neta and Mama Grande would travel all over Mexico during the summers and take 2 or 3 of the girls including Janie along on the trips. Mama Grande would visit theater productions, many churches, and museums. etc. She loved art, culture and history. She was a teacher before she married. She was teaching in the ranch where she met Papa Francisco. Of course all her daughters, (Ofelia, Ernestina, and Consuelo) taught children and adults in the community.
The photo above included: (circa 1940) Back row: Olivia-grandmother’s niece and seamstress from Mexico, Ruben Mendez – Ernestina’s husband and their uncle being their mom’s brother. Consuelo or Tia Chelo.
Front row: Roberto-Olivia’s son, Ernestina or Tia Neta, Petra – Mama Juanita’s sister. She also had another sister named Faustina who was a natural healer or by the town called her a “bruja”.
Corina- Tia Chelo’s daughter.
Virginia-grandmother’s and Tia Neta’s good friend and best baker of empanadas.
My mother is Tomasita Alvarado, 1923-2018, (on left) in Queen’s attire, from a very similar church event from her home town in San Deigo, Texas, circa 1940. I also included a photo of my cousin’s Mother, Trinidad Mendez, 1910-1948 (on right). Beautiful mothers from the inside out!
Garcia Guittar Family History 
Hello, I too am related to Alonso de Estrada, Duke of Aragon and Blas de la Garza Falcon. How can I get a copy of this? Is it a book? Do you have it in Spanish? Thank you very much – Rosa Ma. Castillo Franco
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