In the October 1925 Guam Recorder, Mrs. Dolores Diaz Cruz from Umatac was claimed to be the oldest living inhabitant of Guam. Although, there were no birth records available to support this claim, she was believed to have been 102 years old and therefore possibly born in the year 1823. Some facts reported in the Guam Recorder article about Tan Lole':
- She was born in Agana, but lived most of her life in Umatac
- Her father was Antonio Diaz, "an old resident of the Island."
- She got married at the age of 25.
- She had six children. At the time, one of her sons was living in Rota, one daughter living in Manila, and one son living in Agana.
- She recalled from her childhood that the village of Umatac was the most important city on Guam and port frequented by Spanish ships. Umatac also served as a summer residence for Spanish Governors.
From this article and checking my available records, I have not been quite successful in linking Tan Lole's family with the past and present. Given her age, my first potential earliest record of finding any information on her may be in the Spanish 1897 Census.
However, there were only two people listed with the name Dolores Diaz (given the time period, I must search on her maiden name). One was born about 1835 and married to Dionicio Charfauros and residing in Agat. So, I am wondering if Tan Lole' may have been married more than once.
The other Dolores Diaz recorded in the 1897 Census was born about 1842 and married to Don Justo [Sanchez] de Leon Guerrero and residing in Agana. But I have ruled her out since Don Justo was listed as a widower in the 1920 Census.
Perhaps the hottest clue I have also comes from the 1920 Census, where I think I found Tan Lole listed as Dolores D. Cruz, age 95, a widow, whose relationship is listed "Grandmother," to Juan T[aitano] Charfauros (head of household) and his family in Umatac.
Juan was married to Carlota/Carlina Guzman Cruz. The reason why I have Juan's wife listed with two names is because her name is recorded as Carlota in the 1897 Census while in her 1972 funeral announcement she is listed as Carlina Cruz Charfauros.
With Carlina's funeral announcement and other records I am able to determine that she is the daughter of Antonio Leon Guerrero Cruz and Josefa Cruz Guzman, whose families are linked to the Manggåfan Gutgoho (historically the spelling of this clan name varies).
So because Carlina's maiden name is Cruz, this also left me wondering if Tan Lole' is actually the grandmother of Carlina rather than her husband Juan Taitano Charfauros as recorded in the 1920 Census.
Anybody or family member out there willing to set the record straight and provide more information on the family of Dolores Diaz Cruz? I, for one, would certainly appreciate it.
Just another day in the life of a Chamorro genealogist...
