Antonio Navarro 1786-1862
Wife:María Josefa Castro Miranda: 1796–1864
Marriage: Children:
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Antonio Navarro, the earliest ancestor of the Navarro surname known to us, was murdered on the 17th of January 1862 in the small mining town of San Antonio on the Baja California peninsula. He was 76 years old. He was buried in the small municipal cemetery in San Antonio, Baja California Sur under a large marble headstone with an iron cross on top and the initials A.N. The grave, which remains to this day, is one of the grander of the cemetery. Translated, the epitaph on his tombstone reads;
In Memory of the Citizen
ANTONIO NAVARRO who died on the 18 January 1862 at 76 years of age. Santiago Viosca and Rosalia Navarro his wife dedicate this homage in memory of his love and respect and his virtues as a man and a father.
As mentioned in the epitaph, the tomb was commissioned by the youngest daughter of Don Navarro; Rosalia and her husband Santiago Viosca. Considering the norms of the time it is most unusual that the epitaph makes no reference to his qualities as a husband, even though his wife, Maria Josefa Castro was still alive at the time of his death, she would die two years later, and was living in San Antonio at the time. Neither do we know how he was murdered or by whom, since there are several missing pages for the registry of deaths in San Antonio in 1862. Although his wife could be a potential suspect! It is more likely that he was murdered by a political or business rival since during his lifetime his ambition and constant endeavor to further his wealth and power made him several sworn enemies.
A native of Tepic, Nayarit, Don Navarro arrived at Lower California in 1806 and proceeded directly to the Royal mining town of San Antonio, which had been founded in 1756, along with the neighboring town of Triunfo, by a Spanish soldier named Manuel de Ocio. However, the mines of the California Peninsula were not over abundant with gold, and most miners were forced to supplement their income with other activities.
In the first decades of the 19th century cattle ranching and breeding, agriculture, mining and to a lesser extent pearl fishing were the main economic activities in the San Antonio region. Many of the inhabitants were small landholders owning a few cattle. By marketing the derivative products, the ranchers were able to become quite affluent, this in turn allowed them to participate in the politics of the region. Don Navarro was no exception and in 1807 he was granted a petition for land for the use of cattle ranching in the area. Apart from mining and cattle ranching he was also involved in the activity of pearl fishing.
A native of Tepic, Nayarit, Don Navarro arrived at Lower California in 1806 and proceeded directly to the Royal mining town of San Antonio, which had been founded in 1756, along with the neighboring town of Triunfo, by a Spanish soldier named Manuel de Ocio. However, the mines of the California Peninsula were not over abundant with gold, and most miners were forced to supplement their income with other activities.
In the first decades of the 19th century cattle ranching and breeding, agriculture, mining and to a lesser extent pearl fishing were the main economic activities in the San Antonio region. Many of the inhabitants were small landholders owning a few cattle. By marketing the derivative products, the ranchers were able to become quite affluent, this in turn allowed them to participate in the politics of the region. Don Navarro was no exception and in 1807 he was granted a petition for land for the use of cattle ranching in the area. Apart from mining and cattle ranching he was also involved in the activity of pearl fishing.
These activities ensured his economic growth and his social position in San Antonio, which he consolidated even further in 1809 when he made a very advantageous marriage to María Josefa Castro, a native of San Antonio and the daughter of one of its founding families. Apart from any wealth he may have had prior, his marriage into the Castro family procured even further his financial, social and political growth and by the year 1812 he had become one of the first men of affluence and power in Lower California. By the early 1820´s he was a prominent cattle rancher, commercial trader, owner of pearling boats and having a marked influence on the political affairs of the region.
From 1822 when he was elected procurator for San Antonio, B.C. until 1856 when he was Governor of the Territory, he held several governmental positions, seldom without controversy. In 1824 he was elected Mayor but was forced to resign after only 3 months in office due to public criticism of abuse of power. Again in 1836, whilst acting as mayor, he was imprisoned by José Mariá Mata, the General Commander of Baja California for his opposition and efforts to stir up the townspeople. |
In the year of his death, 1862, Don Antonio was a partner with his son in law Santiago Viosca in the “The Triunfo Gold and Silver Mining Company”and was living in El Triunfo.
Between 1810 and 1843 Antonio and his wife María Josefa had 13 children; six boys and 7 girls. All his children were born in San Antonio and were baptized at the local church, San Antonio de Padua. Five of these children presumably died as infants, leaving six daughters and two sons who would survive to adulthood.
By all accounts his daughters were quite beautiful and educated in all the feminine accomplishments of their era and Don Navarro, having learned the benefits of his own advantageous marriage to Maria Josefa wasted no time in marrying them off to equally affluent men; wealthy miners and commercial traders from his native town of Tepic and rich and influential men on the Peninsula. With each marriage of his children his own power, influence and wealth was enriched. |
1. Vicenta Ascensión Navarro Castro: 1810–Born May 3, 1810 • San Antonio Pueblo, Baja California, Mexico.
2. Jose Antonio Julian Navarro Castro: 1812–Born on February 14, 1812 in San Antonio, Baja California Sur, Mexico and baptized on February 15, 1812 at the church of San Antonio de Padua, San Antonio. His godparents were Francisca Cota and Maria Martinez.
2. Jose Antonio Julian Navarro Castro: 1812–Born on February 14, 1812 in San Antonio, Baja California Sur, Mexico and baptized on February 15, 1812 at the church of San Antonio de Padua, San Antonio. His godparents were Francisca Cota and Maria Martinez.
3. Ma Teresa Anastacia de la Cruz Navarro Castro: 1813–Born on May 2, 1813 in San Antonio and baptized the following day. Her godparents were Juan José Angulo y María de Jesus Castro.
On October 7, 1831 Ma. Teresa married Julian Cota Martinez at San Antonio de Padua in San Antonio Pueblo, Baja California Sur, Mexico. They had 5 children that we know of:
On October 7, 1831 Ma. Teresa married Julian Cota Martinez at San Antonio de Padua in San Antonio Pueblo, Baja California Sur, Mexico. They had 5 children that we know of:
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4. María Domitilda Maura Navarro Castro: 1814–1871: the fourth child of Don Antonio Navarro and María Josefa Castro Miranda, Domitilda was born on November 14, 1814 in San Antonio Pueblo, and baptized on December 8, 1814 at the church of San Antonio de Padua, San Antonio, Baja California. Her godparents were Don Juan 'Conde'? and his wife. On January 28, 1835 she married JOSE MARIA TIRSO DEL PILAR HIDALGO SANTOS (1809–1864) in San Antonio, Baja California Sur, Mexico. She died in Mazatlán on August 15, 1871 in Mazatlán Sinaloa, Mexico.
5. Manuel Prudencio Navarro Castro: 1817–Born on April 28, 1817 in San Antonio Pueblo, Baja California, Mexico and baptized at the church of San Antonio de Padua on April 29, 1817. His godparents were Sargento Juan Bautista Talamantes and his wife, Catarina Moreno.
6. José Thomas Navarro Castro: 1818–Born on September 17, 1818 in San Antonio Pueblo, Baja California Sur, Mexico and baptized on September 19, 1818 at the church of San Antonio de Padua. His godparents were Antonio Romo and Juana...?
6. José Thomas Navarro Castro: 1818–Born on September 17, 1818 in San Antonio Pueblo, Baja California Sur, Mexico and baptized on September 19, 1818 at the church of San Antonio de Padua. His godparents were Antonio Romo and Juana...?
Juana Francisca, the seventh child of Don Antonio Navarro and María Josefa Castro Miranda, Juana Francisca was born on May 14, 1820 in San Antonio Pueblo, and baptized on the same day at the church of San Antonio de Padua, San Antonio, Baja California. Her godparents were Don Fermin Cota and María Ignacia León. On April17, 1840 she married Manuel Francisco Nestor Hidalgo Santos in San Antonio, Baja California Sur, Mexico. She died in Mazatlán in 1902.
8. Helena Navarro Castro: 1822–Born about 1822 in San Antonio. On June 14, 1850 she married Juan Guerra in San Antonio Pueblo, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Witnesses at the marriage were Urbano Navarro and Antonio Moreno.
Don Antonio´s only surviving son, Ramón was born in San Antonio on the 14th June 1825. His godparents at his baptism, which occurred one week later, on June 23, 1825, at the San Antonio de Padua church, were Don Julian Cota and his wife Teresa Martinez.
When he was 24 years old, on January 31, 1850 at San Antonio de Padua church, Ramón married María Paz Martina Moreno Cota (1832–1925), from El Triunfo. María was 19 years old and daughter of Ignacio Moreno and Loreto Cota. The witnesses were Don Ramon Talamante of 35 years and Don Vicente Diaz of 25 years.
Don Ramón, like his father, was dedicated to cattle ranching, mining, merchandise activity and was also active in local politics. In all of his activities, commercial or political, he worked in close participation with his brother in laws, the Hidalgo brothers and his brother in law, Santiago Viosca Solar. One of these businesses was the “The Triunfo Gold and Silver Mining Company”, with his father Antonio, Santiago Viosca and Henry S. Brooks.
When he was 24 years old, on January 31, 1850 at San Antonio de Padua church, Ramón married María Paz Martina Moreno Cota (1832–1925), from El Triunfo. María was 19 years old and daughter of Ignacio Moreno and Loreto Cota. The witnesses were Don Ramon Talamante of 35 years and Don Vicente Diaz of 25 years.
Don Ramón, like his father, was dedicated to cattle ranching, mining, merchandise activity and was also active in local politics. In all of his activities, commercial or political, he worked in close participation with his brother in laws, the Hidalgo brothers and his brother in law, Santiago Viosca Solar. One of these businesses was the “The Triunfo Gold and Silver Mining Company”, with his father Antonio, Santiago Viosca and Henry S. Brooks.
"The Triunfo Company. — The adventure of Mr. Flores proving a great success, Don Ramon Navarro, afterwards Governor of the Territory, visited San Francisco, to sell some of his own mines near the old town of Triunfo, in the San Nicolas ledge. The Triunfo Company is the result of this visit. Judge Alexander McElroy, a miner of Mariposa, was sent down with Navarro, and his report determined the formation of this Company"
From 1855 to 1859 he was Judge of San Antonio, municipal mayor of La Paz, and provisional Governor of Baja California, and in 1860 he was the Internal Governor for the Territory of Baja California
As municipal mayor of La Paz in 1858, he joined forces with the municipalities of San José del Cabo, San Antonio and Todos Santos and led an opposition to the Plan of Tacubaya, which proclaimed to disregard the Constitution of 1857, and against the designated president, General Félix María Zuloaga Trillo.
As municipal mayor of La Paz in 1858, he joined forces with the municipalities of San José del Cabo, San Antonio and Todos Santos and led an opposition to the Plan of Tacubaya, which proclaimed to disregard the Constitution of 1857, and against the designated president, General Félix María Zuloaga Trillo.
On January 27, 1863 Don Ramón, his brother-in-law Santiago Viosca Solar, and the American merchant James P. Leese, (who had partnered with Viosca for the project to colonize and develop the territory of Baja California, known as the Leese Concession in 1862) signed a contract with the Mexican government for a concession to exploit the natural resource of guano on the Pacific islands and coasts of Baja California. This natural resource, which was the accumulated excrement of seabirds and bats, was highly sought after as a cheap and highly effective fertilizer for agricultural work in the United States and Europe.
In 1866 the Governor of the territory Baja California, Antonio Pedrin, wished to resign due to poor health and called for a general election to be held in March 1866. Ramón Navarro was named candidate and ran against Magaña Navarrete. The latter won, but Navarro claimed that there had been irregularities with the votes and his supporters pressured presidents of the polling stations to have the vote declared null and void. However, the permanent deputies of the legislative assembly insisted that the elections were legal and ratified Magaña Navarrete.
Governor Antonio Pedrin tried to call elections again, but with the outbreak of an armed uprising in the municipality of Santiago, and the occupation of La Paz in the subsequent days to support the installation of Magaña Navarrete in the governorship, Antonio Pedrin eventually gave up and promptly left for San Francisco. Ramon Navarro, Victorino Legaspy and Miguel Amao were immediately imprisoned and sentenced to death. However, a group of prominent personalities of La Paz advocated for their release and managed to get Magaña Navarrete to lift the punishment. Meanwhile, Antonio Predin spoke to Benito Juarez and was reinstated as Governor and returned to Baja California. Amongst those opposed to Magaña Navarrete in 1866 were several members of Ramon's family: His brother, Manuel M. Navarro and three cousins; Adolfo Hidalgo Navarro:1836, Juan Hidalgo Navarro: 1843-1911, and Tirso Hidalgo Navarro 1838–1886, all sons of José Maria Tirso del Pilar Hidalgo Santos 1809–1864 and María Domitilda Maura Navarro Castro 1814–1871.
In 1866 the Governor of the territory Baja California, Antonio Pedrin, wished to resign due to poor health and called for a general election to be held in March 1866. Ramón Navarro was named candidate and ran against Magaña Navarrete. The latter won, but Navarro claimed that there had been irregularities with the votes and his supporters pressured presidents of the polling stations to have the vote declared null and void. However, the permanent deputies of the legislative assembly insisted that the elections were legal and ratified Magaña Navarrete.
Governor Antonio Pedrin tried to call elections again, but with the outbreak of an armed uprising in the municipality of Santiago, and the occupation of La Paz in the subsequent days to support the installation of Magaña Navarrete in the governorship, Antonio Pedrin eventually gave up and promptly left for San Francisco. Ramon Navarro, Victorino Legaspy and Miguel Amao were immediately imprisoned and sentenced to death. However, a group of prominent personalities of La Paz advocated for their release and managed to get Magaña Navarrete to lift the punishment. Meanwhile, Antonio Predin spoke to Benito Juarez and was reinstated as Governor and returned to Baja California. Amongst those opposed to Magaña Navarrete in 1866 were several members of Ramon's family: His brother, Manuel M. Navarro and three cousins; Adolfo Hidalgo Navarro:1836, Juan Hidalgo Navarro: 1843-1911, and Tirso Hidalgo Navarro 1838–1886, all sons of José Maria Tirso del Pilar Hidalgo Santos 1809–1864 and María Domitilda Maura Navarro Castro 1814–1871.
Ramón died on October 28, 1866 in Culiacán, Sinaloa, just 8 months after having been imprisoned and just four years after the death of his own father. His cause of death is registered as ´fiebre maligna´, which could have been malaria or bubonic plague. He was only 41 years old and was survived by his widow and eight young children:
- Ramona Concepción Navarro Moreno: 1851– Born on February 15, 1851 in San Jose de Cabo, Baja California Sur. Ramona married Adolfo Belloc Calderon (1843–) on November 15, 1868.
- Ma Teresa de Jesus Navarro Moreno: 1852– Born on October 15, 1852 in San Antonio Pueblo, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Ma. Teresa married Guillermo Zelayeta (1849) on August 14, 1877.
- Félix de Valois Roberto Navarro Moreno: 1854–
- Juan Ramon de Jesus Navarro Moreno: 1857–Born on March 15, 1857 in San Antonio Pueblo, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Death unknown.
- Maria Margarita Domitila Navarro Moreno 1861–. Born in July 1861 in La Paz, Baja California. Baptism 16 Sep 1861, Nuestra Senora de la Paz, La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Death unknown
- Manuel Antonio Navarro Moreno 1864, San Jose de Cabo, Baja California Sur, México
- Margarita Navarro Moreno 1865–1949. Born in 1865, San Antonio Pueblo, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Death: October 8, 1949 • Guadalajara, Jalisco, México. Married Ignacio L Cornejo Romero (1862–1930) in 1893 in La Paz , Baja California Sur, Mexico.
- Maria Josefa Lena Navarro Moreno 1865–. Born on February 23, 1865 in San Jose de Cabo, Baja California Sur, México. Baptized on March 19, 1866 at Nuestra Senora de la Paz, La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico.
Ramón also had an illegitimate daughter with Vicenta Cota. Carlota (Navarro) Cota, was born about 1850 in San Antonio Pueblo and in 1869 she married Napoleon Savin Cota born 1848, son of Adolfo Savin Aumodrie 1824–1890 and Guadalupe Cota Leon
1823–1901.
1823–1901.
10. Ma Inés del Rosario Navarro Castro 1828–1892, the tenth child of Antonio Navarro and Josefa Castro and was born on January 22, 1828, and baptized the next day at the San Antonio de Padua church. About 1845 she married Coronel Francisco Padilla Figueroa (1797–1880), from Guadalajara, son of Jose Rafael Padilla Y Leon and Maria Josefa Justa Figueroa. María Inés died on April 27, 1892 in México, Distrito Federal, México.
11. Rosalia Carlota Navarro Castro 1835–1891: Rosalia, the youngest daughter of Antonio Navarro 1785-1862 & Josefa Castro Miranda, was born on the 26th September 1835 in San Antonio, Lower California and baptized at San Antonio de Padua church on the 18th October 1835. Her godparents were Don Jésus José Lopéz & Doña Josefa Lebrija. In 1858 she married Santiago Viosca Solar, and the family moved to La Paz, where she would live until her death in 1890.
12. Manuel Sisibuto Teodoro Navarro Castro: 1840– Manuel Sisibuto Teodoro was born on November 5, 1840 in San Antonio Pueblo, Baja California, Mexico and was baptized on December 20, 1840 at the church of San Antonio de Padua. His Godparents were his elder sister Juana Francisca and her husband Don Manuel Hidalgo de los Santos.
In 1870 he was a witness at the marriage of his cousin Manuel M. Hidalgo Navarro to Elena Savin Cota, where he states that he has been living in La Paz since 1863, is a commercial trader and single. He was also involved in pearl fishing with Daniel Hidalgo Cota, Juan and Manuel Hidalgo Navarro and Gregorio Padilla Navarro.
In 1870 he was a witness at the marriage of his cousin Manuel M. Hidalgo Navarro to Elena Savin Cota, where he states that he has been living in La Paz since 1863, is a commercial trader and single. He was also involved in pearl fishing with Daniel Hidalgo Cota, Juan and Manuel Hidalgo Navarro and Gregorio Padilla Navarro.
13. Ma Dolores Simona Judit Navarro Castro: 1843–. María Dolores Simona Judit was born on November 27, 1843 in San Antonio Pueblo, Baja California, Mexico and baptized on December 27, 1843 at San Antonio Pueblo, Baja California Sur, Mexico
Her Godparents were her elder sister Helena Navarro Castro and Gabriel Gonzalez (the parish priest).
On the 14th August 1858 at the church San Antonio de Padua in San Antonio, María Dolores was a witness at the marriage of her sister Rosalia Navarro Castro to Santiago Viosca Solar.
Her Godparents were her elder sister Helena Navarro Castro and Gabriel Gonzalez (the parish priest).
On the 14th August 1858 at the church San Antonio de Padua in San Antonio, María Dolores was a witness at the marriage of her sister Rosalia Navarro Castro to Santiago Viosca Solar.
- México, Baja California and Baja California Sur, registros parroquiales, 1750-1984
- Mexico, Select Baptisms, 1560-1950
- Mexico, Select Church Records, 1537-1966