Juan Ramon Bonilla Limardo, where did he come from?

Genealogy & DNA Testing

Genealogy can provide a doorway to the past. The quest for knowledge about our ancestors gives many of us a sense of identity. Many of us research our family tree for personal reasons. Some do it to know about their ethnic backgrounds. Others trace their roots to understand who they are and where they come from. Religious reasons, proof of heritage are other reasons.

Genealogy has become quite popular in the last 40 years, and it’s the second most popular hobby. At a young age researching my family roots was something that came naturally. Always the curious one, asking questions became vital later on in life. My first introduction to this subject most likely began when I saw the television series called Roots by Alex Haley in 1976. Watching the saga of his ancestors unfold in front of me connected with me emotionally.

DNA testing has been around since the 1980s and has become quite popular. One of the companies utilized most is Ancestry, which has a vast database. Therefore, the opportunity to communicate with shared DNA matches can be very beneficial. However, it’s only helpful if there is enough of a paper trail to make a possible connection. With this in mind, it is imperative that whoever you are working with has a well-documented tree.

Mistakes or Bad Habits?

If you are a rookie tracing your family tree or an experienced researcher, you have likely made many mistakes initially. It happens; it’s part of the learning process. But sometimes repeated mistakes become bad habits. And when one person persists in repeating a mistake, others are likely to follow and copy them.

Many people have inadvertently posted erroneous information to their genealogical tree due to the similarity in names. Just because you share a similar surname with someone from the same town does not mean you are related and descend from the same ancestor. Failure to understand this will always result in erroneous family trees.

Who were Juan Ramon Bonilla Limardo & Juan Eusebio Bonilla Salcedo?

There are two men in Yauco, Puerto Rico, that have similar names but are two distinct individuals. One is named Juan Ramon Bonilla Limardo and the other Juan Eusebio Bonilla Salcedo. And because of the similarity in names has resulted in confusion and erroneous genealogical trees. Because of the ongoing issue resulting in this family’s wrong genealogy tree, this became the primary focus of this research.

Recently discovered documents prove that two distinct individuals are being confused with each other. Juan Ramon Bonilla Limardo, son of Juan Ramón Bonilla, and Hermenegilda Limardo, married Josefa Bonilla Figueroa. Furthermore, Juana Florentina and Domingo Bonilla Y Bonilla, children who belong to this couple, provide evidence that Juan Eusebio Bonilla Y Salcedo is not the father of these children.

The Confusion

A passenger list that misidentifies Juana Florentina Bonilla with another woman named Juana Bonilla caused confusion among researchers. The latter was born in San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico. Although it provided a similar name, it was clear that the person mentioned in the passenger list was not from Yauco. Unfortunately, it did not offer any other detailed information. Therein lies the problem. A passenger list is not adequate proof.

This document does not belong to Juana Florentina. The passenger list appears in various genealogical trees with this incorrection information. It bears repeating when one person persists in repeating a mistake; others are likely to follow.

Juana Florentina Bonilla Y Bonilla

Juana Florentina Bonilla Y Bonilla, the daughter of a man named Juan Eusebio Bonilla Salcedo, is incorrect. Because of a recent heated discussion on Facebook, her genealogy was in doubt. Therefore, it was necessary to trace her ancestry. As a result, providing factual information proved imperative and cleared all doubts on Juana Floretina’s genealogy.

Juana Florentina Bonilla Bonilla married Segundo Vega Rodriguez in Yauco, Puerto Rico, on August 16, 1897. The marriage record provides information that can determine the correct family. For this reason, it is essential to look at the names on these documents. An advantage we have in Latin America is that we use two surnames, a vital benefit when researching. Hopefully, the priest lists the second surnames of the parents.

The father listed on their marriage record states Juan Bonilla. However, it doesn’t provide his middle name, nor does it provide his second surname. Therefore, people just assumed the father was Juan Eusebio Bonilla Salcedo. Unfortunately, this is an assumption and a common mistake.

Correct Documentation

A baptismal church record located in Yauco, Puerto Rico, for Juana Florentina and her brother Domingo Bonilla Bonilla identified their parents and grandparents. Undoubtedly this document would have clarified the error, and there would be no need for this article.

Besides, Juana Florentina Bonilla and Segundo Vega’s wedding record in Yauco, Puerto Rico, was available for researchers to discover. Unfortunately, it did not provide the full name of her father. Meaning it just stated Juan Bonilla, not Juan Eusebio nor Juan Ramon. With the lack of data, one could easily manipulate the information to fit their theory. However, as the wedding took place in 1897, it clearly stated that her father is alive. But Juan Eusebio Bonilla Salcedo died in 1890 in Yauco, Puerto Rico. Another clue that researchers overlooked resulted in flawed research.

Final thoughts

Documents recently discovered supports the research and prove that two distinct individuals are being confused with each other. My comprehensive analysis will appear in a future edition of La Hereditas. A well-respected Puerto Rican publication produced by the Genealogical Society of Puerto Rico. Therefore, consider this a brief introduction to the article.

The erroneous trees for both Juan Eusebio Bonilla Salcedo and Juan Ramon Bonilla Limardo are an ongoing problem. Due to one key issue, people who copy trees and do not do their own research. When you rely on others for information and don’t verify their research, you are complacent and setting yourself up for disaster!

In conclusion, there are so many men named Juan Bonilla, Puerto Rico, that you must locate the correct documentation to ensure you have the right person. It is genealogy 101.

Please refer to my other published content titled “The true Genealogy of Juan Eusebio Bonilla Y Salcedo.”

Supporting Documents