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Sablan Surname

Details: Written by: Bernard Punzalan; Published: 14 November 2020

For quite some time I have been trying to trace the source of my Sablan lineage stemming from my father’s side. Specifically, my great-great-great grandfather, Francisco Sablan Quitugua who married Rita Diaz de la Cruz sometime in the early 1800’s.

Although, many of the Sablan families throughout the Mariana Islands trace their lineage through what is said to be two brothers: Juan and Manuel Zablan^[1], I have not been to make any connection with those lineages. They purported arrived on Guam sometime around 1825.

However, while recently indexing names contained in Levesque’s History of Micronesia, I find a document, Document No. 1835A^[2], listing of 21 “Heads of barangays,” “For the Commons,” under the city of Agaña. Two of them were: Mr. Ignacio Sablan and Mr. Alvino Sablan. Barangays were municipalities within a city/town. I have yet to come across any other data to support that they are descendants or relatives of Juan or Manuel Zablan or to establish any other family connection. But, this is certainly a new lead of possibilities.

1835: Ignacio and Alvino Sablan

Interestingly, within that same 1835 listing, my great-great-great Scottish grandfather John Anderson, who married Josefa de la Cruz, was listed as a head of barangay for the navy. It made me wonder if this was my Sablan connection because: Francisco Sablan Quitugua and Rita Diaz de la Cruz’s daughter, Ramona Cruz Quitugua, married Jose “CHe’” Cruz Anderson, son of John Anderson and Josefa de la Cruz. Ramona and Jose, where the manggåfan (familian) CHe' originates, are my great-great grandparents.

Bibliography

[1] __. 2019. Sablan Family Reunion. Accessed November 14, 2020 from: https://www.sablanreunion2020.com/

[2] Levesque, Rodrigue. 2003. History of Micronesia: Volume 23, Whalers and Second D’Urville Expedition, 1831-1839, p318. Levesque Publications. Quebec, Canada

Merfalen Surname

Details: Written by: Bernard Punzalan; Published: 11 November 2020

For quite some time I have been searching for the origins of the Merfalen surname. I think I may have found it while indexing names contained in the History of Micronesia volume series by Rodrigue Levesque. In an 1827 report^[1] containing a list of foreigners living on Guam, there is a recording of Juan Medfalin, an Englishman listed with cattleman as his occupation, married, living on Guam for the past eight months and sponsored by Laureano Taitagui. This would place Juan’s arrival on Guam sometime around the latter part of 1826. While the names and information in the report is quite narrow, Levesque (editor) footnoted, “Many of those names are hard to decipher; some contain errors in spelling or in transcription. First names have been left as they appear, in Spanish.”

Juan Medfalin

If in fact John Medfalin was also known as Juan Merfalen (current surname spelling), he would likely be the paternal source of origin for the Merfalen family on Guam. This notion would also suggest that he may have had at least one son (first name currently unknown) who was the husband of Maria Quisalao^[2]. Maria, born about 1830, was listed as a widow in the 1897 census^[3].

Bibliography:

[1] Levesque, Rodrigue. 2003. History of Micronesia: Volume 22, the Lutke Expedition and the First D’urville Expedition, 1827-1830, p209. Levesque Publications. Quebec, Canada

[2] Påle’ Forbes, Eric. 2012. Accessed 11 Nov 2020, https://paleric.blogspot.com/2012/04/lost-surnames.html

[3] Mallada, Victor F. 1897. Padron de Almas: Año de 1897 (Transcription), p99-71a. Copy obtained from the Library of Congress.