I realize I mentioned this several times over, but throughout the years I have learned that much of the history of the Mariana Islands somehow tends to keep the names of the Chamorro people somewhat in the shadows. There is a lack of documentation that mentions their names so here I am trying to add some emphasis and value of our nameless ancestors.
The latest book I have reviewed is a book that published portions of Dr. John Wilson’s 1839-1843 journal in 1991. I presume that the editor kept much of Wilson’s personalized spelling of names and words in tact because some of his spelling on names and even words are not how they would be found spelled today. This is a typical genealogy challenge when trying to identify or confirm names in a story or written manuscript.
It becomes so intriguing for me when I read a book and come across a familiar name. The challenging part sometimes is trying to retrace and identify where I may have come across that name.
In this particular case, some of the names in Wilson’s 1840’s journal contained some names in a document that listed some foreigners that were residing in the Mariana Islands in 1829, some 11 to 13 years earlier prior to the Gipsy passing through. That particular document happened to have been compiled by my great-great-great grandfather John Anderson and a copy was given to me a while back ago by Herman “Jun Pan” Tenorio Guerrero, a fellow Chamorro genealogist and collaborator of the Chamorro Roots Genealogy Project. (Click on image below to see the names of foreigners.)
That said, below are some of the names that were mentioned in Dr. John Wilson’s journal. I injected some additional information with what I know. I realize that many of them may not be Chamorro, but they are linked to Chamorro women by marriage or through their descendants. In some cases, first names or last names were not recorded by Wilson.
- John Anderson (a.k.a Juan Anderson), a Scot that settled on Guam and married Josefa de la Cruz. Anderson was the Government Pilot, Interpreter, and Port-Adjutant. Wilson stated that Anderson was fluent in Spanish and Chamorro and a tolerable French Scholar. Anderson was further described as a tall and very stout man full of conversation and anecdote, but was rather too fond of the bottle. Wilson also indicated that it was recorded that Anderson was a Lieutenant in the English navy, found guilty of breach of trust and fled here [Mariana Islands].
Dr. Wilson performed surgery on one of Anderson’s sons who was a complete cripple and emaciated with extensive ulcers on his hands and legs. John and Josefa had a family of six boys and five girls (no names were recorded).
Anderson provided Wilson with some sling stones and some specimen from a mountain spring that could be molded into something and hardened.
During one evening, Wilson said that Anderson was an amusing character who became tipsy and sang some scotch songs.
- John Roberts (a.k.a. Juan Roberto), a Welsh and a whaler, was the harbor pilot for Apra Harbor. His son Felix Montufat Roberto married Rosa dela Cruz Anderson, the daughter of John Anderson and Josefa dela Cruz.
- Some Englishmen who settled on Guam and married Chamorro women. The information was quite limited and the names of their wives were not recorded, so if any you readers have information to share on this please comment:
- Dr. Cass, a medical practitioner, who was also described as a drunk and with worthless character.
- James (no other details)
- Sherwood (no other details)
- Watkins married an Aguon? -> Rita Aguon Watkins m. Don Calistro Torres Taitano.
- James Wilson (a.k.a. Robert James Wilson) was an English whaler that settled on Guam and married Rufina Palomo Diaz. I am not certain if he was the same person as Santiago Wilson.
- Don Cecilio, Alcalde of Rota. He had a wife, five full grown daughters and one son. His eldest daughter suffered from phgagadenic ulcer on her nose. Wilson indicated that this disease was observed on other Chamorro people who were noseless.
- Don Antonio, approximately 80 years old, was a magistrate and is regarded with much respect by the Chamorro people.
- Jose Sablan, at one time, provided quarters for Dr. John Wilson and Chief Mate Bristowe when they were on liberty.
- Don Filiz Carbo, I presume he meant Don Felix Calvo, was referred to as the “Commissary.” The cockfights that occurred at 3:00pm every Sunday were held in front of his house. Calvo’s guest would watch the cockfights from his balcony. Wilson described Calvo has having a very large family with beautiful fair complexioned children, most of them young at the time.
- There were other Dons that held military rank: Don Jose, Sylvester and Jose Martines. They were “all Spaniards of more or less repute…” The Captain of the Gipsy occupied quarters at Don Martines’ residence.
- Two Guam natives joined the Gipsy as seamen known as Owen and Marianne. However, they were recorded on the crew listing as John Amenda and Macian Panyalina (possibly Pangelinan).
- Dr. Wilson also took up quarters at the residence of Narceto Adda.
- Another Adda was mentioned and treated by Dr. Wilson. He was described as a young man that was deep in decline. I suppose that “deep in decline” referred to near death and that Dr. Wilson may have given him medication to help speed up his death and reduce suffering.
- Another Don Antonio was listed, but this one was the Alcalde of Meriza (Merizo).
Besides some names Dr. Wilson recorded, he also talks about some interesting observations during his visit. Perhaps I will disclose them later in a separate blog entry. IDK
Bibliography
Anderson, John. 1829. Letter to the Governor (list of foreigners).
Souder, Paul B. 1978. Heritage: A geneology of the Souder-Torres and affiliated families throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
Wilson, John. 1991. The Cruise of the “Gipsy” – The Journal of John Wilson, Surgeon on a Whaling Voyage to the Pacific Ocean 1839-1843 (edited by Honore Forster).
