The Tudela family’s surname origins can be traced to Guam in the 1800's. They are one huge branch of Josefa dela Cruz and John Anderson. Their daughter, Josefa Engracia dela Cruz Anderson, married the Spanish soldier Francisco Tudela in 1848. Omaira Brunal-Perry (2012) wrote quite an informative and interesting paper on Francisco Tudela and the Anderson family.
Francisco Tudela was born in Bocairente, Spain around 1805 and actually began his enlisted military career in Spain in 1823. He held various positions that eventually brought him to the Philippines until he was transferred to Guam. He was appointed as the Sargento Mayor (Commander in Chief) of the Mariana Islands in 1841 and in 1844 promoted to Subtenient (Second Lieutenant). In 1847, Tudela returned to the Philippines because his first wife, Maria de Torres, had passed away. By 1848, he requested retirement and permission to establish his residence in the Mariana Islands, which was granted by Queen Isabella II.
Shortly after taking up residence in Hagåtna in 1848, that is when he married Josefa dela Cruz Anderson and together they had three children: Jose, Ana and Maria. Tudela passed away seven years later in 1856. Tudela's passing left his wife, Josefa, with a substantial inheritance to become "the richest person in the Mariana Islands."
Bibliography
Brunal-Perry, Omaira. 2012. 19th Century Society in Agaña: Don Francisco Tudela, 1805-1856, Sargento Mayor of the Mariana Islands’ Garrison, 1841-1847, Retired on Guam, 1848-1856. Micronesia Area Research Center : Mangilao, Guam (Presented at the 1st Marianas History Conference, June 14-16, 2012)
