Descendants of Melchor De Los Reyes de Ecija: Circa 4 1/2 Centuries in America (2 Centuries in Nueva España/present day México and circa 2 1/2 Centuries in Texas)

By Joel Reyes

The Descendants of Melchor De Los Reyes de Ecija have resided in North America for about 4 1/2 Centuries (2 Centuries in Nueva España (New Spain)/present day México and circa 2 1/2 Centuries in Texas).

On April 10th, 1576, his son Baltazar De Los Reyes arrived in New Spain and was among the first settlers of this family name to migrate to New Spain. Circa 1773, Baltazar's 5th great-grandson José Lazaro Reyes was the first Reyes to migrate to Colonial Spanish Texas.

NOTE: Second Edition includes European ancestors (Spanish nobility), Genealogy Tree of Reyes Tree, Index, additional maternal lineages and much more.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Joel Reyes
• Release date: Nov 20, 2016
• ISBN: 9781370434220

Joel Reyes

I was born in Abilene, Texas, to Joe David Reyes Sr. and Maria Norfelia Perales. I’ve resided in Dallas, Texas, for the past 26 years and hold two degrees, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Texas at Dallas and a Master of Business Administration in Information Technology Management from Western Governors University. As a child my fondest memories were those of my great-grandmother Elena Villanueva our family’s matriarch. As far back as I can remember, my family would make annual trips down to South Texas (Lower Rio Grande Valley “El Valle”) to visit our great-grandmother Elena. Although at the time my siblings and I could speak a little Spanish (i.e. Spanglish), unfortunately, our first language was English therefore struggled most of the time when speaking with our great-grandmother. As a result, our parents, cousins, great-uncles/aunts use to translate for us. I can still remember many of the wonderful stories our great-grandmother use to share with us about our Tejano ancestors. Without a doubt my interest in genealogy stems from my great-grandmother Elena. I knew that one day I would grow up and write a genealogy book that would substantiate all of the wonderful stories about our familia and antepasados that our great-grandmother use to share with us. My great-grandmother Elena was extremely proud of her Tejano roots and Hispanic Heritage as should all of her descendants.

Book preview

Dedication:

I dedicate my family tree to my great-grandmother Elena Villanueva (see cover page for 1933 portrait of my great-grandparents Elena Villanueva and Aniceto Reyes) who inspired me to pursue and complete my family’s genealogy tree. Elena was born on August 10, 1900 in Toluca, Hidalgo County, Texas, and was the family’s matriarch up until 2008 when she passed away at the blessed age of 107 years and 8 months old. My great-grandmother Elena was extremely proud of her Tejano roots (original Spanish settlers of Texas) and Hispanic Heritage as should all of her descendants.

I also dedicate my family tree to my parents, Joe David Reyes Sr. and Maria Norfelia Perales who without them there would be no family tree and finally to my precious daughter, Laken Morgan Reyes who was born in 2016 and is the youngest of the Reyes clan in my lineage.

Laken Morgan Reyes

Table of Contents

Dedication

Reyes Lineage in Europe: Nobles and Knights

Patriarch of Reyes Family Lines in Seville and Ecija: Melchor De Los Reyes de Ecija

Great-grandfather of Don Bernardino De Reyes and Melchor De Los Reyes de Ecija: Don Martin De Reyes

Primogenitor of Claudius Clemens Regum (Claudio Clemente De Reyes): Appius Claudius Sabinus Regillensis

Research on European Ancestry: Ana de Baena and Elvira de la Vega

Genealogical Tree of Reyes Family

First Reyes to migrate to New Spain

First Reyes to migrate to Colonial Spanish Texas

Descendants of Melchor De Los Reyes de Ecija

Texas/Tejano Timeline

Reyes Migration Timeline to New Spain (Nueva España) and Colonial Spanish Texas

Research on Sons, Daughters and Ancestors of Juan De Los Reyes de Ecija

Racial Classifications for Reyes Ancestors

Origin of Reyes Surname

Reyes Coat of Arms and Family Crest

Autobiography

Conclusion

Appendix

Reference List

Reyes Lineage in Europe: Nobles and Knights

The Reyes lineage dates back to ancient Rome so to refer to it with some historical foundation we must first accept what was written in the 8th Century by the famous Bishop of Orense, Don Servando, Confessor to King Don Rodrigo (last of the Gothic monarchy) and Prince Don Pelayo², ⁵, ⁸, ²²-²³. The Bishop states in his Book of Lineages that theReyes surname originates from Claudio Clemente de Reyes, a Noble Knight from an illustrious Roman family around the year 230 A.D., father of Santa Claudia Regina ², ¹⁵-¹⁷, ²⁶ ,¹²⁸, ¹⁷⁹. Since the Spanish language did not evolve until after the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in 5th Century A.D., Claudio’s Latin name was Claudius Clemens Regum (Claudius means from Roman family name Claudius - gens Claudia, Clemens means merciful, and Regum means of Kings⁴⁹, ⁷⁹, ⁸², ¹²⁶-¹²⁷. Additionally the Latin word Regina means Queen and the Spanish sentence Noble caballero de la sangre mas elevada de Roma implies that he was from a patrician family of the highest nobility/military rank in Roman Empire which was Dux or Duke)¹⁶, ²⁶, ⁷⁵, ⁸¹.

Rodrigo Méndez Silva (17th Century Historian) states in his book Genealogy of the Captain of Armored Knights Don Luis García Reyes that the original Reyes Solar (Spanish word Solar means Ancestral lands/First Manor house which implies that he was Lord of the Manor), before the 7th Century, originated in las Montañas de Burgos (Mountains of Burgos). Miguel de Salazar substantiates this information by describing the exact location - el Valle de Mena (Valley of Mena which belongs to the jurisdiction of Villarcayo Burgos)², ¹², ¹⁵-¹⁷, ²¹, ²⁶.

According to the historical data contained in ancient chronicles and stories on the first Nobles and Knights with Reyes surname, the cradle was observed to be Galician. Francisco Piferrer (19th Century Historian) states in his book Nobles of the realm and Knights of Spain … that the Noble with the most viable and consistent data begins with Gomez de Reyes, in the year 611 A.D. (during the reign of 7th Century Visigothic King Gundemar), Lord of the house and Castle de Bocirios in Chantada, Lugo, Spain (second Reyes Solar). His son was García de Reyes who founded a new Manor house (third Reyes Solar) in an eminent hill called Altamira near Noya (La Coruña) who had a son or grandson named Gonzalo de Reyes, one of the renowned soldiers who served under Don Pelayo (Early 8th Century King of Austurias) in his heroic endeavor against the Moors², ¹⁵-¹⁷, ²²-²³, ²⁶, ¹⁷⁹, ¹⁹⁴.

Towards the end of the 8th Century the well-known Nuño de Reyes is shown. Nuño de Reyes served under the reign of Alfonso II the Chaste (Late 8th Century King of Austurias) and was one of the twelve Knights of high blood chosen to form a brotherhood that, over time, became the Military Order of Santiago², ¹⁴-¹⁷, ²², ²⁶.

The descendants of this ancient and illustrious family are later found elsewhere in Galicia, Murcia, both Castillas, Leon and Andalucia (as a result of wars and the Moorish conquest), and later, during the discovery of the new world, in America¹⁵-¹⁷, ²⁶. Within the illustrious family of descendants is found Payo de Reyes, a nobleman, one of the 87 descendants from the Kingdom of Murcia; Don Martin de Reyes, Knight of the order of Calatrava, Noble Master of the castle de Sanlucar de Barrameda, and Chief Magistrate of Antequera; Don Bernardino de Reyes, alderman of the city of Málaga (Spanish city located in Province of Málaga, one of the oldest cities in the world) who served King Don Felipe II (16th Century King of Spain) gloriously in the last Morisco uprisings in the Kingdom of Granada; Don Pedro de Reyes, Canon to Holy Cathedral Church of Trujillo, in the Indies, and Apostolic Commissioner and Subdelgate to Holy Crusade; Matias de Reyes (early 1700s) who was from Nerja, Province of Málaga; Don Gregorio de Reyes, conquistador of the New Kingdom of Granada (16th Century Spanish colonial provinces in northern South America), and his first cousin Don Benito de Aguilar y Reyes¹⁵-¹⁷, ²⁶.

One of the lines of the Reyes family was also established in the city of Seville, Andalucia, Spain, in 16th Century. To her belonged the following descendants: (see next section for Patriarch: Melchor de los Reyes de Ecija)

I. Gaspar de los Reyes (born circa 1572), a native of Seville, judge and steward of the city in 1603, listed as nobility of Seville in the 17th Century³⁵.

II. Francisco Felix de los Reyes (born circa 1760) judge of the city in 1798³⁵.

Another Reyes line was established in the nearby city of Ecija, Seville, Andalucia, Spain. To her belonged the following descendants: (see next section for Patriarch: Melchor de los Reyes de Ecija)

I. Gaspar de los Reyes (born circa 1675), a native of Ecija, was married to Ana Lozano y Guerrero, born of that union was

II. Gaspar de los Reyes y Lozano (born circa 1705), a native of Ecija, was married to Ines de Torres y Prados (daughter of Andres de Torres y Ana Prados Valderrama, natives of Ecija), born of that union was

III. Andres de los Reyes y Torres (born circa 1730), a native of Ecija, alderman of this city, Captain of the Militia Regiment and Knight of the Order of Santiago (entered in 1765; the Order of Santiago is only open to descendants of noble blood)¹⁰, ¹⁴, ¹⁵.

Alonso de Santa Cruz (16th Century Spanish cartographer and historian) states that the Reyes lineage was also established in France, and Italy, with a branch in Naples, the Counts of Machia, and another one in Milan, of which Don Antonio de Reyes descended from, a Knight of the Order of Santiago, who served as Captain of the fast horses in el Piamonte, which is described by Diego de la Mota (16th Century Canon Friar from the Convent of the Order of Santiago in Uclés) in his work Catalogo de los caballeros de dicha orden¹⁵-¹⁷, ²⁴-²⁶.

The descendants of this illustrious family are later found in Portugal (Gaspar de los Reyes born in 1644), Chile (Cristobal de los Reyes born circa 1670 in Chile who was the son of Gaspar from Portugal); and Peru (Captain Gaspar de los Reyes Quintero born circa 1610)¹⁷.

Patriarch of Reyes Family Lines in Seville and Ecija: Melchor de los Reyes de Ecija

Aristocrat and Nobleman Gaspar de los Reyes (born circa 1572 in Seville):

Gaspar de los Reyes, judge and steward of Seville in 1603, was the son of Gaspar de los Reyes (born circa 1545)³⁵, ³⁷-³⁸.

His father Gaspar de los Reyes was the son of my 15th great-grandfather Melchor de los Reyes de Ecija (born circa 1515 in Ecija, Seville, Andalucia, Spain; aka Melchor de Ecija and Melchor de los Reyes) which makes him my 15th great-uncle and his son my 1st cousin 15x removed ¹, ⁶, ⁷, ³⁷-³⁸.

Justification-

The obvious reason was they were all named after the three wise men (Melchor, Baltazar, and Gaspar).

Luis Ricardo Fors (19th Century Author) in 1879 states in his book Indicaciones para una Galeria Biografica de Andaluces Ilustres that one of the illustrious families of Seville was that of Melchor de los Reyes³⁹.

Enrique Otte Sander (21st Century Author) states in his book Seville, Sixteenth Century: Material for its Economic History that in 1576 my 15th great-uncle Gaspar de los Reyes was a silk merchant³⁷.

Eleven years later (1587), Eberhard Crailsheim (21st Century Author) states in his book The Spanish Connection: French and Flemish Merchant Networks in Seville 1570-1650 that my 15th great-uncle Gaspar de los Reyes was a import duty/customs tariff judge who resided in Seville, Santa María, and was one of the witnesses that attorney Antonio Carrillo in 1587 presented on behalf of Manuel de Bues³⁸.

The following House of Trade archives (Casa de Contratación en Sevilla) for my 14th great-grandfather Baltazar de los Reyes (born circa 1540 in Ecija, Seville, Andalucia, Spain)¹, ⁷were found-

 1576 license request to travel to New Spain, shows all three witnesses (Gonzalo de Herrera – clothes merchant, cousin of Baltazar’s first wife Elvira de la Vega, Diego de Ayllón – books merchant, close family friend who knew the grandparents of Baltazar and second wife Isabel López, and Pedro Jiménez Aragonés – clothes merchant, brother-in-law of Baltazar’s second wife Isabel López’s great-uncle Anton Rodríguez) residing en la collacion de Santa María en Sevilla¹, ³- ⁴, ⁶- ⁷

The common mercantile profession, residence in la collacion de Santa María en Sevilla, family relationship, and intimacy with Baltazar’s family (knew Baltazar and wife from a very young age, knew grandparents, etc.) from witnesses strongly implies that Baltazar himself was also a merchant and resident of the same collacion (district/neighborhood) prior to migrating to New Spain. According to author Eberhard Crailsheim, Baltazar’s younger brother Gaspar de los Reyes, was also in the mercantile profession (merchant/customs tariff judge) and resided in the same collacion (Seville, Santa María)¹, ³-⁴, ⁶-⁷, ³⁸, ⁷³

 Baltazar De Los Reyes was a wealthy Empresario (Businessman) who travelled back and forth from Nueva España (New Spain) to España (Spain) time and again⁶, ⁷, ²⁷-³⁰

 In 1579, Baltazar, a visitor from La Ciudad de México, is shown as returning back home to New Spain where his wife and children live, with two servants and una esclava (Female slave; Prior to the 17th Century, race-based slavery did not exist in the world. Instead, persons of a different religion unwilling to convert to Christianity, or persons captured in war, could be enslaved for life (e.g. Europeans, Africans, Asians, Native Americans))²⁷-²⁹

 On May 5th, 1580, Baltazar is shown as returning back home to New Spain with his servant Juan de Meneses⁶

 In 1584, Baltazar, a visitor from La Ciudad de México is shown as returning back home to New Spain (after completing business therein) with wife Isabel López, three of his children, twelve year old mestizo nephew named Francisco (more than likely son of brother-in-law Juan Lopez - both from New Spain), and one servant. Destination is shown as Puesto de San Juan de Ulúa Veracruz- aka Castle of San Juan de Ulúa³⁰

According to author Kent C. Williams, Baltazar De Los Reyes was the wealthiest man in La Ciudad de México in 1608⁹.

Thomas Hillerkuss (20th Century Author) states in his book Diccionario biográfico del occidente novohispano: siglo XVI that the surname Reyes begins in la Ciudad de México with my 13th great-grandfather Francisco de los Reyes (Baltazar’s son who was born circa 1561 in Seville, Andalucia, Spain)⁵⁴.

More than likely, these facts prove that nobleman Gaspar de los Reyes (born circa 1572) was the son of Gaspar de los Reyes (born circa 1545) who was the son of my 15th great-grandfather Melchor de los Reyes de Ecija which makes him my 15th great-uncle and his son my 1st cousin 15x removed.

Aristocrat and Nobleman Andres de los Reyes y Torres (born circa 1730 in Ecija):

Andres’ grandfather, Gaspar de los Reyes, a native of Ecija, Seville, Andalucia, Spain, was born circa 1675 therefore only 4 generations away from my 15th great-grandfather Melchor de los Reyes de Ecija (who was born circa 1515 in Ecija, Seville, Andalucia, Spain; aka Melchor de Ecija and Melchor de los Reyes)¹, ⁶, ⁷, ¹⁰, ¹⁴, ¹⁵.

More than likely, Gaspar is a descendant of Melchor de los Reyes de Ecija due to timeline, supporting justification below, and fact that Melchor was born in Ecija (nearby city less than 70 miles away from Seville). As a result, Andres’ 5th great-grandfather was my 15th great-grandfather Melchor de los Reyes de Ecija which makes him my 6th cousin 10x removed¹, ⁶, ⁷, ¹⁰, ¹⁴, ¹⁵.

Justification-

Although the population counts of 16th Century European cities are not exact, at the beginning of the 16th Century, the population of Ecija was less than 20,000²⁰⁷.

Just a handful of individuals were found in Ecija archives with a surname similar to Reyes living in the late 16th and 17th Centuries. However, none were confirmed as ancestors therefore increasing the possibility of the Reyes family line in Ecija descending from the Seville branch⁶³ ,⁶⁵-⁶⁶, ⁷².

Although the Padrones (Masters) archives for Ecija begin in 1561, the first record that contains a similar last name is found in 1678 (Maria de los Reyes)⁶⁵-

Padrones 1561-1701

 1596 (page 607; their last name is Reis or Reys instead of Reyes) – Gaspar de los Reys (labrador- farmer), Rpo de los Reys (panadero- baker), and Miguel de los Reys (panadero- baker)⁶³

 1678 (page 11; not enough documentation exists to determine if Reyes was her last name. More importantly, could not locate a potential father in Ecija) - Maria de los Reyes viuda (widow)⁶⁵

Although the Puebas de hidalguia (Proof of Nobility) archives begin in 1293, the first record in Ecija that contains a similar last name is found in 1624 (Antonio de los Reyes Almoguera)⁶⁶-

Puebas de hidalguia 1501-1811, Nobleza de Ecija

 1624 (page 555; last name confirmed as Almoguera) – Antonio de los Reyes Almoguera (escribano- scribe and notary public /cabildo- administrative council who governed the municipality of Ecija)⁶⁶

o 1645 Criminal Case regarding the marriage of Doña Antonia Maria de Almoguera (daugthter of Antonio and Doña Laureana de Morales Ahumada) with Don Pedro Martínez Motero⁷²

According to the following House of Trade archive (Casa de Contratación en Sevilla) for my 14th great-grandfather Baltazar de los Reyes (born circa 1540 in Ecija, Seville, Andalucia, Spain)¹, ⁷-

 All three witnesses (Gonzalo de Herrera – clothes merchant, Diego de Ayllón – books merchant, and Pedro Jiménez Aragonés – clothes merchant) on 1576 license request to travel to New Spain state that they know Melchor de Ecija and had known Ana de Baena, father and mother of the said Baltazar de los Reyes (porque este testigo conoce a Melchor de Ecija y conoció a Ana de Baena padre y madre del suyo dicho Baltazar de los Reyes)¹, ⁷

 The fact that Melchor de los Reyes de Ecija moved his family to Seville from Ecija in the mid-16th Century was deduced from the following statement made by all three witnesses- and he knows that the said Baltazar de los Reyes and the said Isabel López are from Seville because he’s known them from a very young age (y que sabe que los dichos Baltasar de los Reyes y de la dicha Isabel López su mujer son naturales de esta dicha ciudad de Sevilla porque los conoce de muy años de poca edad) ¹, ⁷

After the discovery of the Americas, Seville became the economic centre of the Spanish Empire as its port monopolised the trans-oceanic trade and theCasa de Contratación(House of Trade) wielded its power, opening a Golden Age of arts and letters³³.

Luis Ricardo Fors (19th Century Author) in 1879 states in his book Indicaciones para una Galeria Biografica de Andaluces Ilustres that one of the illustrious families of Seville was that of Melchor de los Reyes³⁹.

Thomas Hillerkuss (20th Century Author) states in his book Diccionario biográfico del occidente novohispano: siglo XVI that the surname Reyes begins in la ciudad de México with my 13th great-grandfather Francisco de los Reyes (Baltazar’s son who was born circa 1561 in Seville, Andalucia, Spain)⁵⁴.

More than likely, these facts prove that Andres’ 5th great-grandfather was my 15th great-grandfather Melchor de los Reyes de Ecija which makes him my 6th cousin 10x removed.

Great-grandfather of Don Bernardino de Reyes and Melchor de los Reyes de Ecija: Don Martin de Reyes

Aristocrat and Nobleman Don Martin de Reyes (born circa 1425):

Don Martin de Reyes, was a Knight of the order of Calatrava, Noble Master of the castle de Sanlucar de Barrameda, and Chief Magistrate of the city of Antequera, Málaga, which was located about 46 miles away from the city of Ecija, Seville, the birthplace of Melchor de los Reyes de Ecija¹⁶-¹⁷,²⁶.

Don Bernardino de Reyes, was an Alderman of the city of Málaga (one of the oldest cities in the