Elena Domínguez de Mendoza

On August 8, 1625, Tomé Domínguez de Mendoza, merchant and citizen of the City of Mexico," and his wife, Elena de la Cruz, gave power of attorney to Francisco Franco authorizing him to go to Vera Cruz to obtain legal proof of the lineage of the said Elena de la Cruz. In Vera Cruz, August 30-September 10, a formal inquiry was made in the usual form. Six witnesses were examined who testified: (1) that Elena de la Cruz was the daughter of Benito París and Leonor Francisco, deceased citizens of Vera Cruz; (2) that her paternal grandparents were Juan Gonzáles and Isabel Gallega, former residents of Vera Cruz; (3) that her maternal grandparents were Francisco de Mendoza3 and Leonor de Grisaldos, citizens of Puerto de Santa María in Spain; and (4) that the said parents and grandparents were "old Christians," unstained by any mixture of blood with Moors, Jews, conversos, or persons who had been tried and punished by the Holy Office of the Inquisition.

[Sources: B.N. Madrid, MS 19258 (photos 106-12). The original probanza consists of eight unnumbered leaves. All the essential facts are given in this summary. The name of the maternal grandfather helps to explain the fact that Elena de la Cruz was also known as Elena Ramírez de Mendoza. In testimony before the tribunal of the Holy Office, April 27, 1663, Christóbal de Anaya Almazán testified that his wife was Leonor Ramírez de Mendoza, daughter of Tomé Domínguez de Mendoza and Elena Ramírez de Mendoza. Proceso y causa criminal contra Christobal de Anaya, por proposiciones hereticas. A.G.N., Inquisición, tomo 582, exp. 2.]

Elena’s family apparently came from Cádiz Province in Andalucía. The town of Puerto de Santa María is located there not far from the city of Cádiz. By far, the largest number of our Spanish ancestors came from the Andalucía region. [Andalusia in English]

• Reference: Ancestry Genealogy - SmartCopy: Aug 23 2017, 11:58:44 UTC

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Elena Domínguez de Mendoza isthe daughter of Tomé Domínguez de Mendoza. Tomé Domínguez de Mendoza was a Spanish soldier who served as acting Governor of New Mexico in 1664.