Elena de la Cruz Ramírez de Mendoza

Verification of the lineage of Elena de la Cruz can be found from 8 Aug 1625 when Tomé Domínguez and Elena de la Cruz, citizens of México City, were giving power of attorney to Francisco France in regard to traveling to the city of Vera Cruz in New Spain for the purpose of obtaining proof of Elena's heritage. While testimony was given between 30 Aug - 10 Sep 1625 in Vera Cruz, six witnesses declared that Elena de la Cruz was the daughter of Benito de Paris and Leonor Francisco. Both of Elena's parents were deceased at this time and were former residents of Vera Cruz. Elena's maternal grandparents were Francisco de Mendoza and Leonor de Grisaldos, citizens of Puerto de Santa María, Spain, and her paternal grandparents were Juan Gonzáles and Isabel Gallegos, former residents of Vera Cruz. See Biblioteca Nacional de Madrid, MS 19258 (photos 106-12); typescript of this record by France V. Scholes as found in: France Scholes Papers, MSS 360, Box 11, folder 1.

On 8 August 1625, Tomé Domínguez and Elena de la Cruz, citizens of Mexico City, gave power of attorney to Francisco Franco in regard to traveling to the city of Vera Cruz in Nueva España in the matter of verifying the proof of lineage of Elena de la Cruz. Testimony was taken from 30 August—10 September 1625 in Vera Cruz. Six witnesses declared that Elena de la Cruz was a daughter of Benito París and Leonor Francisco, both deceased and former residents of Vera Cruz. Her paternal grandparents were identified as Juan González and Isabel Gallega, also former residents of Vera Cruz (and very likely deceased by 1625). Her maternal grandparents were Francisco de Mendoza and Leonor de Grisaldos, citizens of Puerto de Santa María in Spain.

From this information we learn that the Mendoza surname Elena Ramírez de Mendoza (also known as Elena de la Cruz) contributed to the Domínguez de Mendoza family name came from her maternal grandfather. The varied use of surnames in her family is an excellent example of how Spanish families did not feel restricted to passing on the paternal surname. This also presents challenges in doing genealogical researcher concerning Spanish families of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

The information on the proof of lineage of Elena de la Cruz was discovered by Professor France V. Scholes many years ago. The document had been preserved in the archives of the Biblioteca Nacional de Madrid in Spain. Scholes made an English typescript of the pertinent information in the document which is now part of the collection of the France Scholes Papers. A summary of the typescript follows:

Proof of Lineage of Elena de la Cruz

Mother of Juan Domínguez de Mendoza

16251

(Summary)2

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 Gonzales 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.

Researcher: France V. Scholes, Ph.D.

Sources: Biblioteca Nacional de Madrid, MS 19258 (photos 106-12); typescript of this record by France V. Scholes as found in: France Scholes Papers, MSS 360, Box 11, folder 1. Special thanks to Irene Brandtner de Martínez for providing a photocopy of the typescript and to Stanley M. Hordes, PhD, for providing the precise citation.

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, Christobal 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.)