By 245luigi |

I need help figuring out a mystery that has been bothering me for quite some time. Im working on the Delgadillo's of mid - late 1600's Nochistlan. All events below occur in Nochistlan.

I descend from Melchora de los Reyes Moscoso y Sandoval Delgadillo (MSD) married to Pedro de Placencia 14 Jan 1668. Based on Hiltons book #893 we learn that Diego Sandoval and Maria Delgadillo are Melchora's parents. We also learn that Maria Delgadillo has a brother, Luis Delgadillo where both are children of Luis Delgadillo, el Viejo, and another Melchora de los Reyes.

Now knowing her parents we find the record of Melchora MSD's baptism on 1 December 1646 explicitly stating the correct parents. Using family search we find Pedro and Melchora had children in at least 1668, 1672, 1675, 1687. There are at least 4 other children when the exact births are not know.

Now looking at Hilton's #966 we find a Catalina Vargas marrying Salvador Gutierrez. Catalinas parents are Nicolas Vargas and Melchora Delgadillo. We learn that Melchora's mother is Maria Delgadillo. We also learn Maria has a brother named Luis Delgadillo where both are children of Luis Delgadillo, el Viejo.

Now looking up Melchora Delgadillo and Nicolas Vargas' marriage we see it probably occurred 16 April 1654 (on family search Nicolas' last name is unknown and I cannot locate the record in the collection film 226724; Melchoras mothers name is Maria Delgadillo). This would make Melchora 8 years old at marriage (?) Nicolas and Melchora has children at least in 1659, 1661, 1677, 1680, and 1683.

Now I dont know whats going on here. Is it just amazing coincidence that the Melchoras have family members of the same names? Are the Melchoras the same person? Did Melchora have two husbands? Both couples were having kids around the same time. Im stumped.

Look at the page number 144 of the film 226724, second from the top at the right page. (is indeed Nicolas de Bargas)

Based on just and only the information you just described above, I would think that there were two Melchora de los Reyes, the records of their kids that you had mention may provide more information, like the godparents (establishing a family/acquaintance circle) that may link the two as family only. The fact that their kids overlap in time is strong enough evidence to separate them, would be different if on one side the kids were "natural" acknowledging they were out of marriage (not likely at all in this case). Therefore, what about the brother, mother and father's names? To my humble opinion, they (the Melchoras) could be cousins (out of two sisters named both Maria Delgadillo), otherwise why the second Melchora's marriage did not mention her father, I would think very unlikely that they would "hide" or "forget" to address a "Moscoso y Sandoval" person, this can be further cleared with her kids records, I've would look for the name Melchora M y S besides Melchora Delgadillo for the one married with Nicolas de Vargas, You have a really interesting puzzle there, but again, unless explicitly said on a record that the second one is M y S, I can't think on those two ladies been the same. I would also consider them sisters (instead of cousins) too.

Thank you so much for locating the record! After thinking about this for a while and consulting with some others I am working with, I think it makes most sense that the Melchora's are different but share a mother thus maternal lineage. This seems to be in agreement with all of the records found. Now if a dispensa is found where paternal lineage is the same....well there comes back my headache!

Just try to rule out the impossibility, out of curiosity, Does the second Melchora"s (married with Nicolas de Vargas) records and or her kids/grandkids ever mention the Moscoso y Sandoval name? If not I would put my bet on they (the Melchoras) been cousins, but records would tell you better, hope you find the clues.

The Moscoso y Sandoval comes from Diego which is Melchora's (m Pedro Placencia) fathers surname. I have not found Melchora (m Nicolas Vargas) or her children using M y S yet. The dispensas so far provide info appearing that they are half sisters

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