The Ortiz brothers with different second surnames; their genealogy is a series of three parts documenting the genealogy of the Ortiz lines in Puerto Rico.
Juan Ortiz de Peña, José Ortiz Colón and Juan Ortiz Colón
This research will be in three parts. Starting with Part I, Part II & III will appear in a future post.
- Part I. Introduction and descendants of Don Juan Ortiz de Peña & Doña María de Thorres
- Part II. Descendants of Juan Ortiz Colón & María Concepción Rodríguez (Bonilla) and final conclusions
- Part III. Descendants of José Ortiz Colón & Doña Fabiana Torres
PART I The Ortiz brothers with different second surnames; their genealogy
Introduction
I am revisiting an article written by Dr. Don José Angel Colón Pérez (QEPD), my 5th cousin 1x removed, entitled “Sobre Los Ortiz de Peña en Coamo.” The original composition appeared in the Boletín de la Sociedad Puertorriqueña de Genealogía, VOL. VI April 1994 NUM 1/2.
This article is especially valuable to me because it provides crucial information on the genealogy of this family. The Ortiz de Peña family married into many of my family lines, including Aponte Ramos, Alvarado Rodríguez, Miranda Santiago, and Colón, to name a few. Unfortunately, many erroneous trees are circulating on various genealogy websites, with names mistaken for others and inaccurate dates for children and their parents, among other issues. Few researchers know they may descend from the Ortiz de Peña line, and by reviewing the article, I was able to add children and sources not previously indicated, as well as provide clarification of spouses and other genealogical information.
My relationship with Dr. Colón
Dr. Colón and I extensively communicated when I joined the SPG in 2010. We share direct mutual ancestors; Don Francisco de Alvarado & Doña Francisca Rodríguez. This post is not about this couple but the Ortiz de Peña and Ortiz Colón line that marries our family lines. Don Colón directly descends from them. I would pick his brain regularly, and he was always accommodating, patient, and pleasant. Unfortunately, he passed away several years ago, and I miss our conversations greatly. The article is dedicated to his excellent contributions to the Puerto Rican Genealogy Community.
About his article
Don Colón recently published an in-depth article about his ancestors, which covered several families with the surname combination he shares. His goal was to prove the relationship between three men who were brothers: Mr. Juan Ortiz de Peña, who married Mrs. María de Thorres, as well as Mr. Juan Ortiz Colón Y Torres and Doña María Concepción Rodríguez (Bonilla), and Don José Ortiz Colón and Doña Fabiana de Torres. Don Colón utilized marriage dispensations, or “dispensas,” to prove his point, and his article placed particular emphasis on these three individuals, although there were other individuals with similar surnames.
I am still in the process of researching and looking for additional records, as I have not completed my review of all the deaths for Coamo, Cayey, and the surrounding areas. Whenever I come across any new information, I make sure to document the children and their spouses via baptism, marriage, and death records. I also include godparents in my research, as I feel that they are an essential piece of the puzzle. Additionally, I indicate if there were any family relationships within the married couples, as I find this information to be extremely useful when researching and breaking down brick walls. If any of you have any further information I may not have, please share it with me so we can fill in the missing pieces together.
Sources for Don Colón
It seems that he relied heavily on information provided by David Stark, who is an Associate Professor of History at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan. David Stark has a Ph.D. in Latin America from Indiana University and has contributed numerous publications in the Bulletin of the Puerto Rican Society of Genealogy and Hereditas: David E. Cuesta Camacho (QEPD) Researcher and published author. Ursula Acosta (QEPD) was a founding member of the Puerto Rican Genealogy Society and was active as president of the Publications Committee from 1994 to 1999. She began researching genealogy in the 80s after finishing her Ph.D. in psychology. Edmund Colón Gaulden is a researcher and publisher, and Ramon Rivera Bermudez (QEPD) is a researcher, historian, and published author.
Genealogy; The Ortiz brothers with different second surnames; their genealogy
Father: Don Juan Ortiz de Peña Y Torres
Birth: Abt.1733 in Valle de Coamo, Puerto Rico (records not available for this period)
Marriage: Abt. 1756 (records not available for this period)
Death: 04 Dec 1799 in Valle de Coamo, Puerto Rico
Source: Coamo, LD1, 1773-1810, Image #2030, f.283-283v
Notes: No age indicated nor parents. He appears as Don Juan de Peña Ortiz, “Testo”(left a will), “con”(with) Don Juan de Rivera Sánchez. “Hijos nombrado”, (children named): Pedro, Blas, Ysidro, Lucia, Manuela, Anastacia, y Vicente.
Mother: Doña María de Thorres
Parents: Unknown
Birth: Abt. 1739 in Valle de Coamo, Puerto Rico (records not available for this period)
Death: 17 Aug 1795 in Valle de Coamo, Puerto Rico
Source: Coamo, LD1, 1773-1810 Image # 1965 f.221v-222
NOTES: No age indicated nor parents. Children were not named, and she did not leave a will.
Children The Ortiz brothers with different second surnames; their genealogy
Don Juan Ortiz de Peña Y Torres and Doña María de Thorres had the following children:
1) PEDRO CELESTINO ORTIZ DE PEÑA Y TORRES
Birth: 8 Jun 1759 in Valle de Coamo, Puerto Rico
Baptized: 3 Jul 1759 in Valle de Coamo, Puerto Rico
Source: Coamo LB1 1701-1773 Image #133 f.48v
Padrinos: Jacinto Rodríguez Y Francisca Millan
NOTES: His baptism record indicates his parents as Don Juan Hortiz de Peña and Doña María de “Rivera.” Mother is listed as Doña María de Rivera instead of Doña María de Thorres. She could probably have been de Thorres de Rivera.Marriage: 03 Feb 1782 in Valle de Coamo, Puerto Rico
Source: Coamo, LM1 1778-1798 Image #1888 f.22v
Spouse: Doña Rosa Aponte Y Ramos
Parents: Don Pascual Ramos Aponte & Rosalia Aponte
Birth: Abt.1762, Valle de Coamo, Puerto Rico
NOTES: In the wedding record for Pedro (he doesn’t use Celestino), the parents are identified as Juan de Ortiz de Peña and Doña María de Torres.Death: 13 Mar 1794 in Valle de Coamo, Puerto Rico
Source: Coamo, LD1 1773-1810 Image #1940 f.196v-197
Notes: He is recorded as Ortiz de Peña. No names of children are listed. No Testo.
Children: Juan (1783), Hilario (1785), María (1788), María (1790), Marcelina (1793)2) ISIDRO ORTIZ DE PEÑA Y TORRES
Birth: 15 Apr 1761 in Valle de Coamo, Puerto Rico
Baptized: (15 días) 30 Apr 1761 in Valle de Coamo, Puerto Rico
Source: Coamo, LB1 1701-1773 Image #151 Num 32 f.66v
Padrinos: José Colón Y Paula ColónMarriage: 12 Nov 1796 in Valle de Coamo, Puerto Rico
Source: Coamo, LM1 1778-1798 Image #2053-54 f.185-186v
Dispensados: 4to Grado de Consanguinidad
Spouse: Doña María de la Paz de Alvarado Y Rodríguez
Parents: Don Francisco de Alvarado and Doña Francisca Rodríguez
Birth: Abt. 1781, Valle de Coamo, Puerto RicoDeath for Isidro: Unknown
Death for María: UnknownChildren: Felipe (1798), Miguel (1799), Maria de Gracia (1801), Juan (1805), María Magdalena (1803), María Belen (1808)
Notes: There are two siblings, both named Isidro. Usually, a family has a child with the same name because the original child may have passed away. It was not unusual for another child to be named the same, to conserve and honor the name. I believe that was the case with these two children. It made me question if Isidro, born in 1765, is the one that married María de La Paz Alvarado Y Rodríguez. I thought it was important to highlight that. I have not located a death record for either one. If I do, I will update this information to reflect any changes.
3) BLAS ORTIZ DE PEÑA Y TORRES
Birth: 09 Feb 1763 in Valle de Coamo, Puerto Rico
Baptized: (15 Días) 24 Feb 1763 in Valle de Coamo, Puerto Rico
Source: Coamo, LB1 1701-1773 Image #173 Num 83 f.87v
Padrinos: Etanislao Colón Y Hipolita OrtizMarriage: 27 Feb 1786 in Valle de Coamo, Puerto Rico
Source: Coamo, LM1 Image #1925 f.59v
Spouse: Doña María Ramos de Aponte
Parents: Don Pascual Ramos* & Rosalia de Aponte*
Birth: Abt. 1760 in Valle de Coamo, Puerto Rico
NOTES: Widowed; Manuel Colón, Blas is listed as “de Peña.Death for Blas: Unknown
Death for María: UnknownChildren: Anastasia (1787), Basilia (1789), Juan (1791), Domingo (1793), Patricio (1795), María Antonia (1797), Micaela (1799), Bernardino (1802)
NOTES: Don Pascual’s original surname may be Ramos de Aponte. Doña Rosalia Aponte died on 21 Feb 1784, Coamo LD1 1773-1810 Image #1828 f. 89v-90. The document only mentions her husband, Don Pascual Ramos, and no age or children. There may be a mention of a will, “Testamento,” but the image is unclear. We have concluded that Doña Rosalia’s full surname is Lebrón de Quiñones de Aponte. She has appeared as Lebrón in a document.
4) ISIDRO ORTIZ DE PEÑA Y TORRES
Birth: 02 Feb 1765 in Valle de Coamo, Puerto Rico
Baptized: (15 Días) 17 Feb 1765 in Valle de Coamo, Puerto Rico
Source: Coamo LB1 1701-1773 Image #199 Num 13 f.113
Padrinos: Eduardo Aponte Y Juliana Garcia
Marriage: Unknown
Death: Unknown5) JUANA LUCÍA ORTIZ DE PEÑA Y TORRES
Birth: 07 Jan 1767 in Valle de Coamo, Puerto Rico
Baptized: (15 Días) 22 Jan 1767 in Valle de Coamo, Puerto Rico
Source: Coamo LB1 1701-1773 Image #227 Num 10 f.139v
Padrinos: Francisco López Y Francisca ColónMarriage: 10 Jan 1791 in Valle de Coamo, Puerto Rico
Source: Coamo, LM1 1778-1798 Image #1969 f.103
Dispensados: 3ro con 4to Grado de Consanguinidad
Spouse: Don Manuel Miranda Y Burgos
Parents: Juan Miranda and Catharina Burgos (Catharina falleció el 8 dec 1779, Coamo, LD1 Image #1786 f. 49v)
Birth: Mar 1770 in Valle de Coamo, Puerto Rico
Baptized: 7 Apr 1770 in Valle de Coamo, Puerto Rico
Source: Coamo, LB1 1701-1773 Image #271 f.183
Padrinos: Joseph Batalle? & María AponteDeath of Juana Lucia: 05 Aug 1829, Valle de Coamo, Puerto Rico
Source: Coamo, LD5 1821-1830 Image #729 f.197v-198
NOTES: Testo Aug 1829, 70 years old, hija legitima de Juan Ortiz y María Torres. Children listed in the death record: María Antonia, Carlos, María Andrea, María Josefa, María de los Dolores, and Rosalia.
Death of Manuel: Unknown
Source:
Children: Pedro (1793), María Antonia (1795), Carlos (1798), María Nicolasa (1800), María (1802), Rosalia (1804), Vicente (1811)*possible child6) MARÍA MANUELA ORTIZ DE PEÑA Y TORRES
Birth: May 1769 in Valle de Coamo, Puerto Rico
Baptized: 08 Jun 1769 in Valle de Coamo, Puerto Rico
Source: Coamo LB1 1701-1773 Image #260 Num 44 f.171v
Padrinos: José Santiago Y María Colón
Notes: Age not shown. Remember that the custom was to be baptized not older than 15 days. However, it is not unusual to see 21 days. Therefore she may have been baptized at 15 days old. Father identified himself as Juan Peña de Ortiz in this baptism record.Marriage: 15 Feb 1790 in Valle de Coamo, Puerto Rico
Source: Coamo, LM1 1778-1798 Image #1958 f.91v
Dispensados: 3ro con 4to Grado Consanguinidad
Spouse: Pablo Miranda Y Burgos
Parents: Don Juan Miranda Y Doña Catarina de Burgos
Birth: Feb 1768
Baptized: (15 Días) 3 Mar 1768 in Valle de Coamo, Puerto Rico
Padrinos: Don Andrés Santiago Y Doña Juliana Aponte por Doña Manuela Rodríguez
Source: Coamo, LB1 1701-1773 Image #243 Num 34 f.156
NOTES: Doña María Manuela is recorded as Ortiz de Pena.Death for María Manuela: Unknown
Source:
Death for Pablo: Unknown
Source:Children: Estanislao (1790), Leonarda (1792), Rosalia (1794), Ramón (1796), Juan María (1799), Juan Celedonio (1802), Andrés (1803), Juana (1805), Rosa (1808), Teresa (1810)
7) FABIAN ORTIZ DE PEÑA Y TORRES
Birth: Jan 1771 in Valle de Coamo, Puerto Rico.
Baptized: 04 Feb 1771 in Valle de Coamo, Puerto Rico
Source: Coamo LB1 1701-1773 Image #285 f.197
Padrinos: José Santiago Y Maria Colón
Notes: Age not shown. Remember that the custom was to be baptized not older than 15 days. However, it is not unusual to see 21 days. Therefore he may have been baptized at 15 days old.
Marriage: Unknown
Death: Unknown
Source:
NOTES: Father identified himself as Juan Peña de Ortiz in this baptism record.8) MARÍA ANASTASÍA ORTIZ DE PEÑA
Birth: Mar 1772 in Valle de Coamo, Puerto Rico
Baptized: 08 Apr 1772 in Valle de Coamo, Puerto Rico
Source: Coamo LB1 1701-1773 Image #307 (folio not indicated.)
Padrinos: Manuel Colón Y Apolonia Ortiz
Notes: Age not shown. Remember that the custom was to be baptized not older than 15 days. However, it is not unusual to see 21 days. Therefore she may have been baptized at 15 days old.Marriage: Abt. 1797 (Estimate based on the date their first child was born.
Spouse: Don Juan Prudencio de Alvarado Y de Rodríguez
Parents: Don Francisco de Alvarado & Doña Francisca de Rodríguez
Birth: Abt. 1775, Valle de Coamo, Puerto RicoDeath for María Anastasía: Unknown
Death for Juan Prudencio: UnknownNOTES: She was also known as María Encarnada. Don José A. Colón Pérez indicated that this is the baptism record for María Anastasía Ortiz de Peña, although the document states María Encarnada. I did not find any information on María Encarnada. She could have decided to change her name, and this family may have settled in Barranquitas. Since all the earlier church books were lost, locating marriage or death records is challenging.
Children: Mauricio (1798), María Nicolasa (1800), Juan (1804)
9) VICENTE ORTIZ DE PEÑA Y TORRES
Birth: 05 Apr 1775 in Valle de Coamo, Puerto Rico
Baptised: (15 Días) 20 Apr 1775 in Valle de Coamo, Puerto Rico
Spource: Coamo LB2 1774-1790 Image #385 f.32v
Padrinos: Rafael Colón Y Gregoria ColónMarriage: 11 Jan 1802 in Valle de Coamo, Puerto Rico
Source: Coamo, LM2 1798-1813 Image #47 f. 40v
Dispensados: 4to grado de consanguinidad.
Spouse: María Micaela Colón Y Aponte
Parents: Don Manuel Colón and Doña María Aponte Ramos
Birth: 1784 in Valle de Coamo, Puerto Rico
Baptized: (42 días) 11 Nov 1784 in Valle de Coamo, Puerto Rico
Source: Coamo LB1 1701-1773 Image #612 f. 258v
Padrinos: Don Justo Morales Y Doña Florentina de Santiago
NOTES: Don Manuel Colón was deceased when Micaela was baptized.Death for Vicente: Unknown
Death for María Micaela: UnknownChildren: Valentina (1802), José María (1805), María (1807)
10) BONIFACIO ORTIZ DE PEÑA Y TORRES
Birth: Jun 1780 in Valle de Coamo, Puerto Rico
He was baptized: on 18 Jun 1780 in Valle de Coamo, Puerto Rico, age not shown. Remember that the custom was to be baptized not older than 15 days. However, it is not unusual to see 21 days. Therefore he may have been baptized at 15 days old.Source: Coamo LB2 1774-1790 Image #500 f. 144
Padrinos: Juan Colón de Luyando Y Juliana Bonilla
Marriage: Unknown
Death: Unknown11) ANTONIO ORTIZ DE PEÑA Y TORRES
Personal Research
Birth: Unknown, in Valle de Coamo, Puerto Rico
Marriage: N/A
Death: 14 Jul 1779 in Valle de Coamo, Puerto Rico
Source: Coamo, LD1 1773-1810 Image #1784 f. 47v
NOTES: The age of the child is not indicated. Since he was named, I believe he may have been at least a year old or older.
Sources
- Ancestry
- FamilySearch
- Church Records and Indexes
- Facebook Page; HijosdeCoamoPR
Hi, My name is Antonia and I am searching my grandfather’s family. His name was Jose Angel Ramirez Y Rodriguez 1908 Carcel Mayaguez P.R. Would you be able to direct me to someone who can possibly help me?
Who was he married to?
Hey there! Thank you for posting your information. You helped me to find Pedro Celestino Ortiz de Peña y Torres. I want to return the favor, with information I hope you’ll find helpful. María Encarnada and Anastasia Ortiz de Peña y Torres are two separate people and sisters. Anastasia was baptized on May 22, 1773, with her mother’s name listed as María Rivera, which is the same on her brother Pedro Celestino’s christening record.
Also, and perhaps more importantly, only Juan Ortiz de Peña y Colón (part 1) and José (Joseph) Ortiz de Peña y Colón (part 3) are brothers. Juan Ortiz de Peña y Colón (part 2) is either the brothers’ paternal uncle or their cousin. I have not firmly established the relationship as of yet. Juan (part 1) and Joseph (part 3) are two of 10 siblings. Another brother, Juan Francisco Ortiz de Peña y Colón, is my 5th-great-grandfather.
Good luck with your research. I hope this helps!
Hey there! Correcting my earlier post, I misspoke regarding the relationships between the three supposed brothers. Joseph (part 3) and Juan (part 2) are brothers, as documented by the record of marriage of their respective children, Manuel Ortiz de Peña y Torres and Andrea Ortiz de Peña y Rodríguez de Bonilla. But I do not believe that Juan (part 1) is a third brother. I can find no documentation to support this relationship. If you have it, please point me in the direction of where I might find the documentation to support a sibling relationship between Juan (part 1) and either Juan (part 2) or Joseph (part 3).
Based on various godparent relationships, I am certain that Juan (part 1) and Juan Francisco Ortiz de Peña y Colón (my 5th-great-grandfather) are brothers. I had thought that Joseph (part 3) was their brother, but now I believe a different Joseph is their brother although I have not pinpointed him.
Hello, Thank you for your comment. I haven’t posted Part 3 yet. I am finalizing the sources before posting.
[…] Jose Angel Colon Perez (RIP). (The Ortiz brothers with different second surnames; their genealogy, Part 1) His original article entitled “Sobre Los Ortiz de Peña en Coamo,” appeared in the Boletín de […]
¡Fantastico trabajo!
Soy descendientes de Juan Ortiz de la PeñaColon y Fabián Torres, vivo en Málaga y estoy Parte 3 que hace referencia a mis antepasados.
Gracias,
Josephine
This is awesome!
I had been looking for my great grandfather, Jose Jesus Ortiz y Melendez. He lives in Barranquitas, PR. He bornes around 1839-1940 married with Isabel Rosado Burgos. Died in Barranquitas, PR around 1934. His parents are Jose Ortiz and Evangelista o Maria evangelista Melendez. I can not find them and maybe there is and Hipolito Ortiz related but not sure. Every searching send me to Coamo matching then with Ortiz de Peña, but need more information.
Hi there, thank you for the comment. The problem with Barranquitas is the issue with records. We lost many of the church books for that town. We have a marriage book that starts in the 1860s and we lost the earlier Baptism books. I also have a problem finding my ancestors from Barranquitas. If I ever come across these names I will let you know, as I am working on Part 2 and 3 of this blog.
As always great job! Waiting for your next blog post.
Hi,
My ancestors were Ortiz de Peña, I have my tree and DNA in Ancestry
I am from San Sebastián, Puerto Rico
Hi Daisy. Would love to review your information. Send me a invite please.
Thank you
Hi! I wonder if you can help me with my “Melendez”? Through research I made I was able to find them in Orocovis and Coamo area in or about 1870. I’m following my grandparent Manuel Melendez Robledo married to Maria Rivera. I would like to know about his grandparents and back. Thanks! Maria
I descend from a Melendez line from Orocovis but don’t recall a Robledo. I will check and get back to you. 🙂