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Sablan Surname
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- Written by: Bernard Punzalan
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.
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
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- Written by: Bernard Punzalan
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.”
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.
Pedro (Peter) Matanane: CHamoru World War I Army Infantry Veteran
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- Written by: Bernard Punzalan
Pedro (Peter) Matanane: CHamoru World War I Army Infantry Veteran
Service No. 2278333
It’s pretty cool to work on a research project that ends up leading to a sidebar manifesting towards the development of working on another research topic of interest. While working on the CHamoru Mess Attendants/Stewards Project, I became fixated with members of the Matanane family. I am drawn to their family because I am related to the ones that also have Anderson roots, specifically manggåfan/familian CHe’. This journey has led me to discover more about the life of Pedro Matanane, who is the first CHamoru World War I Army veteran I have come across with the CHamoru Roots Genealogy Project.
Pedro was born on Guam, April 14 1895. He is the son of Josefa Matanane[1] and Joaquin Matanane Martinez[2]. From the 1920 church census Pedro was recorded as living in San Francisco, California. I am also able to ascertain that he had a brother named Jose (Peping), who married Maria Pereda Anderson (manggåfan CHe’, my grandmother’s sister). His Uncle, Juan Matanane (brother of Josefa), although listed with his family, was also noted as residing in San Francisco, California. All the families in the census figure below appear to be adjoining neighbors and reinforce that they were very close in their day-to-day relationships.
[1] Josefa Matanane and her son Pedro are listed on page 95 of the 1920 church census of Guam. Because this was a church census led by a Spanish priest, the names were recorded using Spanish conventions and notes. Therefore, females were recorded with their first names and maiden surnames, and males were recorded with their first name followed by their paternal surname and then maternal surname.
[2] Pedro’s marriage certificate identifies his father as Joaquin Martinez Matanane and his mother, whose surname was listed as a question mark but with the first name as “Josephine.”
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