de Varona Family Genealogy

Ignacio M. de Varona y Agüero's Ancestors and Siblings

1. Francisco de Varona born after 1512 in Spain.

Francisco de Varona nacido despues 1512 en España.[Hilda B. Pomares GEDCOM database]

2. Francisco Varona Rodriguez de Rebolledo born circa 1541 in Seville, Spain.

Francisco Varona Rodriguez de Rebolledo nacido circa 1541 en Sevilla, España.[Hilda B. Pomares GEDCOM database]

3. Francisco Varona y Saravia, native of Spain, moved to the island of Santo Domingo, married Ana de Anaya. Their son was: Francisco Varona Saravia y Anaya.

Francisco Varona y Saravia, natural de España, pasó a la isla de Santo Domingo, casó doña Ana de Anaya. Tuvieron por hijo: Francisco Varona Saravia y Anaya. [Hilda B. Pomares GEDCOM database; Jaruco, vol 4, pag 349]

4. Captain Francisco Varona Saravia y Anaya a native of Santo Domingo married María Isabel Vázquez Valdés de Coronado y Miranda, daughter of Captain Pedro Vázquez Valdés de Coronado y Duque de Estrada, Lieutenant Governor and a Judge of the villa of San Salvador del Bayamo, and Mariana de Miranda y Martín de Frutos. [Ed. Note: Francisco de Varona died on 25 Feb 1679 defending Pto. Príncipe from pirates according to pag 29 of Revista vol 12 Jan 2003 num 1.] Their daughter was: María Varona y Vázquez Valdés de Coronado y Miranda.

El Capitán Francisco Varona Saravia y Anaya natural de Santo Domingo casó doña María Isabel Vázquez Valdés de Coronado y Miranda, hija del Capitán Pedro Vázquez Valdés de Coronado y Duque de Estrada, Teniente de Gobernador y Alcalde ordinario de la villa de San Salvador del Bayamo, y de doña Mariana de Miranda y Martín de Frutos. Tuvieron por hija: María Varona y Vázquez Valdés de Coronado y Miranda. [Jaruco, vol 4, pag 349]

5. María Varona y Vázquez Valdés de Coronado, also known as the "German", left a last will and testament in the villa of Pto. Principe dated 3 Jul 1666. She married Captain Estéban de Miranda Agüelles y Manuel de Figueroa, native of the villa of Bayamo, a Judge of Pto. Principe, and son of Captain Julían de Miranda y Argüelles, and Juana Manuel de Figueroa. Their children were: María, and Francisco Varona y Miranda; and Isabel María, Félix, and Juan de Miranda y Varona.

Doña María Varona y Vázquez Valdés de Coronado, conocida por la "Alemán", que testó en la villa de Puerto Príncipe el 3 de julio de 1666. Casó con el Capitán Estéban de Miranda Agüelles y Manuel de Figueroa, natural de la villa de Bayamo, Alcalde ordinario de la de Puerto Príncipe, hijo del Capitán Julían de Miranda y Argüelles, y doña Juana Manuel de Figueroa. Tuvieron por hijos: a María, y Francisco Varona y Miranda; y Isabel María, a Félix, a Juan de Miranda y Varona. [Jaruco, vol 4, pag 349]

6. Captain Francisco Varona y Miranda, swapped his maternal surname with his paternal surname in order to perpetuate the VARONA surname of his mother (who was an only child). He married Catalina Pinto y de la Torre, daughter of Lieutenant Francisco Pinto Tovar y Fogoso, native of the kingdom of Portugal, and lady Mauricia de la Torre y Cabrera. Their children were: Margarita Mauricia, Francisco, José, Estéban, and Diego Varona y Pinto.

Capitán Francisco Varona y Miranda, antepuso el apellido materno al paterno con el objeto de perpetuar este apellido. Casó con doña Catalina Pinto y de la Torre, hija del Alférez Francisco Pinto Tovar y Fogoso, natural del Reino de Portugal, y de doña Mauricia de la Torre y Cabrera. Tuvieron por hijos: a Margarita Mauricia, a Francisco, a José, a Estéban, y a Diego Varona y Pinto. [Jaruco, vol 4, pag 350]

7. Captain Diego de Varona y Pinto (mentioned earlier as the son of Francisco Varona y Miranda and Catalina Pinto y de la Torre), was a Deputy or police agent of the Holy Office of the Inquisition in the city of Cartagena and a Judge of the villa of Pto. Principe in the years 1702, 1717, 1718 and 1730. He left a last will and testament dated 24 Nov 1734. He married in the Cathedral of the previously referred to villa 20 Jul 1679, with Catalina Barreda y Zayas-Bazán, daughter of Captain Fernando Barreda y Guevara, and the lady María de Zayas-Bazán y Roxas. Their children were: María Rufina, Ana, Juana, Francisco, Fernando, and Diego Varona y Barreda.

Capitán Diego de Varona y Pinto (anteriormente mencionado como hijo de don Francisco Varona y Miranda, y doña Catalina Pinto y de la Torre), fué Familiar del Santo Oficio de la Inquisición de la ciudad de Cartagena y Alcalde ordinario de la villa de Puerto Príncipe los años 1702, 1717, 1718 y 1730. Testó el 24 de noviembre de 1734. Casó en la Catedral de la referida villa el 20 de julio de 1679, con doña Catalina Barreda y Zayas-Bazán, hija del Capitán Fernando Barreda y Guevara, y de doña María de Zayas-Bazán y Roxas. Tuvieron por hijos: a María Rufina, a Ana, a Juana, a Francisco, a Fernando, y a Diego Varona y Barreda. [Jaruco, vol 4, pag 358]

8. Don Diego Varona y Barreda (mentioned earler as the son of don Diego Varona y Pinto, and doña Catalina Barreda y Zayas-Bazán), was the lead City Councilman, the Royal Standard Bearer, and a Judge of the villa of Puerto Príncipe. He married, in the Cathedral of the previously referred to villa on 20 Sep 1699, with lady Ana de la Torre y Recio, daughter of Lieutenant Pedro de la Torre y Cabrera, and lady Isabel Recio y Zayas-Bazán. Their children were: Diego, Ignacio, Juan José, Gregorio, Joaquín, and Antonio Varona y de la Torre.

Don Diego Varona y Barreda (mencionado anteriormente como hijo de don Diego Varona y Pinto, y de doña Catalina Barreda y Zayas-Bazán), fué Regidor Alférez Real y Alcalde ordinario de la Villa de Puerto Príncipe. Casó en la Catedral de la referida villa el 20 de septiembre de 1699, con doña Ana de la Torre y Recio, hija de Alférez Pedro de la Torre y Cabrera, y de doña Isabel Recio y Zayas-Bazán. Tuvieron por hijos: a Diego, a Ignacio, a Juan José, a Gregorio, a Joaquín, y a Antonio Varona y de la Torre. [Jaruco, vol 4, pag 363]

9. Captain Antonio Varona y de la Torre (mentioned earlier as the son of don Diego Varona y Barreda, and the lady Ana de la Torre y Recio), was City Councilman, Town Sheriff and the Chief Political and Military Officer of the province of the villa of Puerto Príncipe. His last will and testament was dated 9 Mar 1778. He married in the Cathedral of Pto. Príncipe on 3 Aug 1733, with the lady Rosa Varona y Agüero, daughter of don Agustín Varona y de la Torre, Sargeant major, City Councilman, Town Sheriff, and the Chief Political and Military Officer of the province, and the lady Juana Agüero y Proenza. Their children are: María del Rosario; Brígada; Rosa; María Mercedes; Ana Antonia; Juana; Agustín; Pablo; Ignacio, and Francisco Xavier Varona y Varona.

Capitán Antonio Varona y de la Torre (mencionado anteriormente como hijo de don Diego Varona y Barreda, y de doña Ana de la Torre y Recio), fué Regidor Alguacil Mayor y Alcalde Provincial de la villa de Puerto Príncipe. Testó el de 9 marzo de 1778. Casó en la Catedral de la referida villa el 3 de agosto de 1733, con doña Rosa Varona y Agüero, hija de don Agustín Varona y de la Torre, Sargento Mayor, Regidor Alcalde Mayor Provincial, y de doña Juana Agüero y Proenza. Tuvieron por hijos: a María del Rosario; a Brígada; a Rosa; a María Mercedes; a Ana Antonia; a Juana; a Agustín; a Pablo; a Ignacio, y a Francisco Xavier Varona y Varona. [Jaruco, vol 4, pag 372]

10. Don Ignacio de Varona y Varona, was an Army Colonel. His last will and testament is dated 15 Sep 1821. He married in Puerto Príncipe (Camagüey), in the parish of Soledad, 23 Oct 1775, the lady Rosalía Teodemira Guerra y Quesada, daughter of Captain Pedro Pascasio Guerra y Agüero, and lady Prudenciana de Torres Quesada y Agüero. Their children were: María Belén, Josefa Cupertina, and Ignacio Varona y Guerra.

Don Ignacio de Varona y Varona, fué Coronel de Ejército. Testó el 15 septiembre de 1821. Casó en Puerto Príncipe(Camagüey), en la parroquia de la Soledad, el 23 de octubre de 1775, con doña Rosalía Teodemira Guerra y Quesada, hija del Capitán Pedro Pascasio Guerra y Agüero, y de doña Prudenciana de Torres Quesada y Agüero. Tuvieron por hijos: a María Belén, a Josefa Cupertina, y a Ignacio Varona y Guerra. [Jaruco, vol 4, pag 373]

11. Don Ignacio de Varona y Guerra was born in Puerto Príncipe (Camagüey), Cuba. He married doña María Trinidad de la Torre y Cisneros 26 July 1806 in the Cathedral of Puerto Príncipe (Camagüey), Cuba, daughter of Bernabé de la Torre y Arteaga and María Trinidad Cisneros y Cisneros.

More About Ignacio de Varona y Guerra:

Fué Teniente Coronel de Milicias de la villa de Puerto Príncipe, y Regidor de su Ayuntamiento en 1813. Hizo información de nobleza en la referida villa el 7 de octubre de 1837, ante José Rafael Castellanos. [Jaruco, vol 4, pag 373]

Children of Ignacio de Varona y Guerra and Trinidad de la Torre y Cisneros are:

Tuvieron por hijos:

Ana Felicitas de Varona y de la Torre
María de la Luz de Varona y de la Torre
Josefa Cupertina de Varona y de la Torre
María Trinidad de Varona y de la Torre
Bernabé de Varona y de la Torre
José de Varona y de la Torre
Antonio de Varona y de la Torre
Lola de Varona y de la Torre [in VERACRUZ story, not in Jaruco; María Dolores?]
Ignacio María de Varona y de la Torre, bap. 26 Sep 1819.

13.1.2.1. Bertha L. de Varona was born 16 Jun 1875-76. She graduated from Normal College (now the Hunter campus of CUNY) in NYC on 23 June 1893 according to the NY Times. From census data it looks like Bertha stayed in Ignacio's household up until Ignacio had died. After that she is listed on several passenger ship manifests (possibly spending her inheritance) cruising to Europe and the Caribbean (just as did both her sister's Amy B. and Marian). Still Living Sullivan remembers that his grand-aunt Bertha was a Spanish Teacher ("back when that was something to be proud of"). Both Flora's second husband Al Miller and Bertha were sick and dying at nearly the same time -- so, Flora took care of both Al and Bertha in Bertha's apartment in Manhattan until both of them had passed away -- then Flora moved back to Maysville to be near her daughter Luisa (as per the memories of Jack's first wife, Still Living Mrs. Miller(i)).

13.1.2.2. Dora Ang. de Varona was born circa 1875-77. Dora graduated from Normal College (which was more-or-less equivalent to a modern high school or a teacher's college depending on who you believe) on 22 Jun 1894 according to the NY Times -- one year after Bertha which leads us to believe that she was one year younger than Bertha. However, there is some confusion in the references where she is found as to whether she was one year older or younger than Bertha. In the 1880 US Federal Census Bertha Barona is listed as only 5 months old, followed by Dora listed as 4 years old, then Emma, then Edwin. The order that the children are listed in US Federal Censuses for this same family are usually top-down oldest to the youngest so we believe this was an error on Bertha's age and that she was 5 years old, and about one year older than Dora. We believe that Dora might have been either twins with a C_____? who died early; or that Dora followed a-one-year-after-Bertha C_____? about two years after Bertha; or Bertha and C_____? were the twins and Dora came one year after; or else C_____? was a miscarriage in-between Bertha and Dora. The early daughters had first initials that followed an alphabetical pattern: A=Angela, B=Bertha, C=C_____?, D=Dora, E=Emma (Amy B.), F=Flora. We had noticed this peculiarity, and it was also mentioned by a Still Living Chenault whose father had once told her the same thing. Likely female names that begin with the letter 'C' found in these families are: Catalina, Ciriaca, Cupertina, Carmen, and Caridad. Dora died in her late teens on 09 Mar 1895 [as per her death certificate]. The last daughter Mary was given Dora as her middle name -- perhaps in memorium [re: email discussions with José de Herrera y Vilató about the missing C_____? daughter.]

13.1.2.3. (Emma) Amy Belén de Varona (aka Emma Barona) was born 14 Jun 1879. It seems that early on Amy was known as Emma Barona [1880 US Federal Census]. But later references have her as Amy B. [several NY Times articles and 1910, 1920 US Federal Censuses]. According to the NY Times she was an excellent singer. Not much else is known about her, except that like Bertha she was a public school teacher and that she remained in Ignacio's household until he passed on, then she spent her inheritance traveling about on cruise ships. Spanish naming conventions vary over the centuries, but one thing that is common is more than two names before the combination surnames (or last names). For example, Amy B.'s first, second, and third names may actually be: Emma Amy Belén. We suspect that one of her father's names was: Diego. In at least one place he was also referred to as: Antonio. We believe that his full name might have been something like Ignacio María Antonio Diego de Varona y Agüero -- Antonio, from his GG grandfather, and Diego from his GGG and GGGG grandfathers. Diego is a Spanish form of the English name James -- thus the James Barona used in the 1880 census. Or Diego could be in reference to Santiago, St. Iago, St. James the Great, a patron saint saint of Spain [re: Santiago de Compostela], the root of Diego. Often times one or more of the nombres (names) are the names of saints such as St. María (Mary), San Diego (James), San Juan (John), San José (Joseph), San Pedro (Peter), St. Pablo (Paul), &c. But often some names may be those of ancestors. Of course, in Amy's case, it is also possible that Emma and Amy are more or less treated as equivalent names -- the later maybe more Anglo-Americanized than the former (or visa versa?). [re: email discussions with Sylvia Easton and José de Herrera about the Emma vs Amy name issue.]

13.1.2.4. Edwin Ignacio de Varona (aka Eddie) was born 21 May 1880 in Manhattan, NY, NY. His occupation was a Court Stenographer/Clerk. He married three times. Edwin and his first wife Bessie Berlyle Buck married 14 Sep 1902 in Manhattan, NY, NY, and both I.M. and Louise Betancourt were witnesses on his marriage certificate. His second wife was T(h)eresa (aka Tess) Ruane born 21 Dec 1881 in Scranton, PA. With Tess, Edwin had two daughters: Catherine Theresa born 03 Sep 1910 in Los Angeles, CA, and Leona Josephin born 13 Jan 1913, possibly in Scranton, PA, since Tess Ruane died 23 Jan 1913 in Scranton, PA -- only just about 10 days after the birth of Leona. Catherine Theresa died 31 Dec 1988 in Stanford Hospital, Palo Alto, CA. Leona Josephin died in 1981 in Los Angeles, CA. By 1918 when Edwin registered for the WWI Draft in Milwaukie, Wisconsin, he was married to Vivien ?_____?. But, by the 1920 US Federal Census Edwin is listed as a single boarder in Milwaukie, Wisconsin, and his daughters are listed as living in the Ruane father-in-law's household in Pennsylvania probably in the care of two or three of Edwin's sister's-in-law also living in the same household. Edwin died in 1945 in St. Petersburg, Florida according to the Ruane family genealogy site [ http://trees.ancestry.com/owt/person.aspx?pid=135791665 (you must have an Ancestry.com login account to access this site); http://genforum.genealogy.com/ruane/ (public forum); http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=waltonsullivan&id=I26309 (public tree)].

13.1.2.5. Joseph Cruz de Varona (aka Crussie) was born 18 Mar 1883. In Spanish Joseph's full name probably was: José de la Cruz de Varona y Betancourt. He appears to have been named after I.M.'s brother: José de la Cruz de Varona y Agüero, also known as Dr. Joseph C. de Varona. He might have been designated by Conde de Jaruco as a later day "Rama Primera" or "Rama A" branch of the family tree below Ignacio if Jaruco were still alive and spinning his genealogical marvels about the Spanish-Cuban nobility. We say this because it appears that the only remaining males below Ignacio with de Varona as their surnames descend from Ignacio's son Joseph. Crussie is found married to Elizabeth Thomas by the time of the 1910 US Federal Census living in Michigan with their young son David (C.) Thomas de Varona born in 1908 in Detroit, MI. Note that there is an issue with David's middle name(s). In the 1910 US Federal Census in Michigan he is listed as: David C. de Varona. In Spanish his paternal and maternal surname would have been: David C. de Varona y Thomas. Later documentation shows him only as: David Thomas de Varona. It is possible that his full Spanish name was: David de la Cruz de Varona y Thomas. Sometime after Elizabeth Thomas died Crussie married Lenore Cooper. The "Still Living" de Varona branch of I.M.'s family descends from Crussie and his son David (aka Dave) de Varona. Lenore Cooper was the only grandmother (from this side of their family) that Dave's children ever knew [according to email from one of Dave's Still Living daughters].

13.1.2.6. Flora María de Varona (aka Pinky) was born circa 1886. When elder sister Bertha first saw Flora it is said that she exclaimed, "She's as tiny as my little pinky!", and that is how Flora obtained the nickname: Pinky. Pictures verify that Flora was a rather short lady. Flora married two times. Her first marriage was to Frank Sullivan(i). They had two children: Frank Sullivan(ii) (nicknamed Spike), and Luisa Sullivan (Chenault). Sometime after Frank died, Flora married her second husband John Alfred (aka Al) Miller(ii). They also had two children: John (aka Jack) Alfred Miller(iii) born in 1922, and Devarona (aka Dev) Miller. Flora died 06 Aug 1972 in Maysville, Mason Co., Kentucky. She is buried there in the Chenault family crypt with her daughter Mrs. Luisa Chenault. The "Still Living" Sullivan, Chenault, and Miller branches of the family descend from Pinky.

13.1.3. Mary Josephine (aka Minnie) Culhane was Ignacio de Varona y Agüero's third wife. Minnie, the daughter of Thomas G. Culhane and Bridget Sheahan, was probably born in Glin, Limerick, Ireland, although in some US Federal Censuses her children and/or step-children report that she was born in England. Minnie and Ignacio were married 02 Mar 1897 in Manhattan, NY, NY. Not much is known to "Still Living" relatives about Minnie. But, apparently, she did not much like the land that Ignacio had purchased at Sand Lake, Michigan because it appears that his wife "not liking it around the lake ... sold all the land he owned" there just as soon as he died...

"The first cottage on the North Shore was the 'Silver Cottage' which is now the home of Mr. & Mrs. Mike Horton. On the beautiful wooded north shore of Sand Lake, is a cottage of which the land was taken up be Wm. Lyster from the United States Government May 30, 1837. It was sold several times, and was laid out in Killarney Park Sub-Division. On Sept. 20, 1921, Alice Angel bought a lot of Ignacio M. DeVarona, a Spaniard. She built a small cottage.

The Spaniard was taken sick and died and his wife not liking it around the lake, would have nothing to do with it, sold all the land he owned."

[re: http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~keller/museum/work/histsand.html]

The problem is this: Minnie is not listed with the family in the 1920 US Federal Census and Ignacio is listed as a Widow which indicates that she died before the date this census was taken in 1920 and before Ignacio did in 1922. So it actually may have been Bertha not Minnie who sold the land at Sand Lake in Michigan if she was the executor for the estate...

1920 United States Federal Census
_________________________________

Name: Ignacia M Le Varona [Ignacio M Le Varona]
Home in 1920: Manhattan Assembly District 32, New York, New York
Age: 77 years
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1843
Birthplace: Cuba
Relation to Head of House: Head
Father's Birth Place: Cuba
Mother's Birth Place: Cuba
Marital Status: Widow
Race: White
Sex: Male
Home owned: Rent
Year of Immigration: 1859
Able to Read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Image: 1055
Household Members:
Age      Name
77    Ignacia M Le Varona
43    Bertha L Le Varona
40    Amy B Le Varona
21    Marian D Le Varona
18    Ignace M Le Varona

[re: Ancestry.com 1920 US CENSUS RECORDS; search name: Ignacia Le Varona]

13.1.3.1. Mary Dora de Varona (aka Marian, Marion) was born 04 Jan 1898 in Manhattan, NY, NY. As mentioned above, Marian lived in Ignacio's household until he died, then seemed to spend her inheritance on several cruises. One of Flora's grand-daughters, a Still Living Chenault, thinks that Marian married someone and had at least one child -- although this has yet to be confirmed. So, for now Marian is somewhat of a mystery. Her middle name, Dora, may be an in memorium gesture to the daughter Dora Ang. who had passed away earlier in her late teen age years, as we mentioned above.

13.1.3.2. (Basil) Ignatius Marcel de Varona was born circa 1901 in Manhattan, NY, NY. Master Ignace died in 1930, apparently after the date the 1930 US Federal Census was taken, and he is buried in the Notre Dame Cemetery in Malone, Franklin County, upstate New York with his wife Kathryn M. (1895-1988) and their daughter Dolores M. de Varona (1924-1949). Their footstones can be found at the cemetery located on Andrus Street, .3 miles south of the intersection with Route 11 in Malone as per this data link ...

We are still trying to determine what Kathryn's surname is -- and what their "M..." middle names are. According to the 1930 census Ignace's wife was named Katherine A., she was 32 in 1930, and born in Massachusetts. Her father was born in Maine, and her mother was born in New York. Both of their daughters appear to have been born in New York -- Dolores was 5 years old and Leslie was 4 months old at the time the 1930 census was taken.

NOTE: Several branches of this de Varona lineage are traceable farther back in time in España.

Click here to view supplemental data and errata in a separate window or tab from cousin José de Herrera y Vilató about the Varona and Vásquez Valdés de Coronado family ties that pertain to numbers 4, 5, and 6 in the section immediately above.

Ignacio de Varona's PORCALLO MANUEL DE FIGUEROA Lineage

Descendencia del Adelantado Vasco Porcallo Manuel de Figueroa
Conquistador y Poblador de la isla de Cuba,
miembro de la Casa de los Duques de Feria...

Gutierre Porcallo de Sotomayor
El Conquistador Vasco Porcallo Manuel de Figueroa
María Manuel de Figueroa (Juan de Argote's wife, daughter of the conquistador)
Juana Manuel de Figueroa y Argote
Capitán Estebán de Miranda Argüelles y Manuel de Figueroa
Capitán Francisco de Varona y Miranda
Capitán Diego de Varona y Pinto
Diego de Varona y Barreda
Antonio de Varona y de la Torre
Ignacio de Varona y Varona
Ignacio de Varona y Guerra
Ignacio de Varona y de la Torre
Ignacio de Varona y Agüero

NOTE: This lineage is traceable farther back in time in España and one branch of it goes at least as far back as the Anglo-Norman king William the Conqueror as shown in the next section below.

REFERENCES:
Capitán Vasco Porcallo Manuel de Figueroa (Original in Spanish)
Capitán Vasco Porcallo Manuel de Figueroa (English Translation)

Ignacio de Varona y Agüero's WILLIAM the Conqueror Lineage

Both Vasco Porcallo Manuel de Figueroa
And Our Ignacio María de Varona y Agüero
May Be Descendents of William the Conqueror

William I of Normandy invaded England and defeated Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
William married, in 1053, Matilda of Flanders, a descendent of the Anglo-Saxon King, Alfred the Great.

Guillermo I, de ancestros vikingos y más conocido como Guillermo, El Conquistador, reinó en Inglaterra desde el 1066 hasta el 1087. Había nacido en el 1028, coronado en Westminster y sepultado en Caen, Francia. Aún cuando se tiene mucha información sobre los ancestros de este monarca inglés, lo consideraremos PRIMERA GENERACIÓN para fines del desarrollo de una de sus líneas de descendencia. Guillermo I, casó con Matilde de Flandes, hija de Balduino V, Conde de Flandes y procrearon nueve hijos. Uno de ellos, Rufus, nacido en el 1056, sucedió en la corona a su padre convirtiéndose en Guillermo II.

SEGUNDA GENERACIÓN: Guillermo II, fue rey desde el 1087 hasta el 1100. Este monarca murió de un accidental y cuestionable flechazo en una cacería. Fue sucedido por su hermano más pequeño, nacido en el 1070, quien se convertiría en Enrique I. Este reinó desde 1100 hasta 1135, año en el cual murió.

TERCERA GENERACIÓN: Enrique I, casó el 6 de agosto de 1100, en Westminster, con Edith Matilde, princesa escocesa, nacida en el 1080, en Dunfermline. Hija de Malcolm III Canmore, rey de Escocia y Santa Margarita. Procrearon dos hijos, El Príncipe Guillermo y Matilde de Inglaterra. Sin embargo, la corona pasó a otro descendiente colateral de Guillermo, El Conquistador, quien la retuvo por 19 años. No obstante el matrimonio de Matilde de Inglaterra, da paso a que la corona regrese de nuevo a esta línea de descendencia.

CUARTA GENERACIÓN: Matilde de Inglaterra, la hija de Enrique I, nacida en Londres, en el 1102, casó en segundas nupcias el 22 de mayo del 1127, con Godofredo V Plantagenet (1113-1151), Conde de Anjou. Procrearon tres hijos, uno de los cuales, se convertiría en Enrique II, retomando de nuevo la línea sucesoral del trono de Inglaterra. Este sobresaliente monarca reinó desde 1154 hasta 1189.

QUINTA GENERACIÓN: Enrique II (1133-1189), casó el 18 de mayo de 1152, con Leonor de Aquitania, hija de Guillermo X, Duque de Aquitania. Los hijos de esta pareja se mezclaron con todas las casas reales europeas de la época. Procrearon siete hijos, siendo uno de ellos el sucesor de la corona Ricardo I, más conocido como Ricardo Corazón de León. Sin embargo dejaremos la línea de sucesión al trono y seguiremos con otra de sus hijas, Leonor de Plantagenet.

SEXTA GENERACIÓN: Leonor de Plantagenet (1156-1214), la hija del Monarca inglés Enrique II, casó en el 1177, en Burgos, España, con Alfonso VIII, Rey de Castilla (1155-1214). Este monarca castellano era hijo de Sancho III, Rey de Castilla y Blanca de Navarra. Procrearon seis hijos, entre ellos a Berenguela, Infanta de Castilla, descendencia que seguiremos.

SÉPTIMA GENERACIÓN: Berenguela, Infanta de Castilla (1180-1246), casó en diciembre de 1197, en Valladolid, con Alfonso IX, Rey de León (1171-1230). Procrearon tres hijos, siendo uno de estos Fernando III, conocido también como Fernando, El Santo.

OCTAVA GENERACIÓN: Fernando III, Rey de Castilla y León (1201-1252), casó el 30 de noviembre de 1219, en Burgos, Francia, con Beatriz Elizabeth Von Hohenstaufen de Suabia, quien a su vez era hija de Felipe de Suabia. Este monarca unificó para siempre Castilla y León. Además jugó un papel preponderante en la reconquista de España en manos de los moros. Procrearon tres hijos, entre ellos, quien mantendría la corona, Alfonso X, más conocido como Alfonso, El Sabio.

NOVENA GENERACIÓN: Alfonso X, nació el 23 de noviembre de 1221, en Toledo y falleció en 1284, en Sevilla, España. Tuvo varios matrimonios, llevándose a cabo uno de ellos el 26 de noviembre de 1248, con Violante de Aragón, hija de Jaime I de Aragón y de Violante de Hungría. Ella había nacido en 1236, en Zaragoza y falleció en 1301, en Roscesvalles, Navarra, España. Procrearon once hijos, siendo uno de estos Fernando de la Cerda, Infante de Castilla.

DÉCIMA GENERACIÓN: Fernando de la Cerda, Infante de Castilla, nació el 23 de octubre de 1255, en Valladolid y falleció el 25 de julio de 1275, en Ciudad Real. Casó el 30 de noviembre del 1269, en Burgos, con Blanca Capeto de Francia (1252-1320), quien era hija del rey de Francia Luis IX. Tuvieron dos hijos, siendo uno de ellos Alfonso de la Cerda Infante de Castilla.

DÉCIMA PRIMERA GENERACIÓN: Alfonso de la Cerda, Infante de Castilla (1270-1334), también conocido como El Príncipe de las Islas Canarias, casó con Mahalda Brienne-EU y procrearon a Luís de la Cerda, Infante de Castilla.

DÉCIMA SEGUNDA GENERACIÓN: Luís de la Cerda, Infante de Castilla, nació en el 1291, en Francia. Casó con Leonor de Guzmán en el 1306, en Sevilla. Procrearon a Juan de la Cerda, quien nació en Sevilla. Luís de la Cerda, falleció el 5 de julio de 1348, en La Motte-Sur-Rhone, Francia.

DÉCIMA TERCERA GENERACIÓN: Juan de la Cerda (1327-1357), c.c. Sol Martínez y procrearon a Martín González de la Cerda.

DÉCIMA CUARTA GENERACIÓN: Martín González de la Cerda, casó en el 1366, con Violante Alvarez Pereyra y procrearon a Mahalda de la Cerda.

DÉCIMA QUINTA GENERACIÓN: Mahalda de la Cerda, nacida en el 1370, casó con Fernán Gutiérrez de Valverde y procrearon a María Gutiérrez de Valverde de la Cerda.

DÉCIMO SEXTA GENERACIÓN: María Gutiérrez de Valverde de la Cerda, casó con Gonzalo Porcallo Morán y procrearon a Vasco Porcallo de la Cerda.

DÉCIMO SÉPTIMA GENERACIÓN: Vasco Porcallo de la Cerda, casó con Teresa de Sotomayor y procrearon a Gutierre Porcallo de Sotomayor.

DÉCIMO OCTAVA GENERACIÓN: Gutierre Porcallo de Sotomayor, casó con María Aldonza Manuel de Figueroa y procrearon a Vasco Porcallo Manuel de Figueroa.

DÉCIMA NOVENA GENERACIÓN: Vasco Porcallo Manuel de Figueroa, nació en 1484, en Cáceres, España. Este eslabón de la cadena generacional cambia el rumbo de su descendencia ya que decide emigrar a Cuba. Casó con Elvira Tínima de Mendoza, en Cuba. Procrearon a María de Figueroa. Vasco Porcallo Manuel de Figueroa, falleció en el 1550, en Puerto Príncipe, Cuba.

VIGÉSIMA GENERACIÓN: María de Figueroa, casó en Salvador, Bayamo, Cuba, con el capitán Juan Argote. Procrearon a Juana Manuel de Figueroa y Argote.

VIGÉSIMA PRIMERA GENERACIÓN: Juana Manuel de Figueroa y Argote, casó con un inmigrante asturiano, Julián de Miranda y Argüelles. Procrearon a Esteban Miranda Argüelles Manuel de Figueroa.

VIGÉSIMA SEGUNDA GENERACIÓN: Esteban Miranda Argüelles Manuel de Figueroa, nacido por el á0, en Bayamo, Cuba, casó con María Varona y Vásquez Valdés de Coronado. Procrearon al Capitán Francisco Varona y Miranda .

VIGÉSIMA TERCERA GENERACIÓN: Francisco Varona y Miranda, nacido en Puerto Príncipe, Cuba, casó con Catalina Pinto y de la Torre, quien había nacido en Puerto Príncipe, Cuba. Era hija del Alferéz Francisco Pinto Tovar y Fogoso y Mauricia de la Torre y Cabrera. Procrearon a Diego Varona y Pinto.

VIGÉSIMA CUARTA GENERACIÓN: Diego de Varona y Pinto, quien nació en Puerto Príncipe, Cuba, casó con Catalina Barreda y Zayas-Bazán 20 Jul 1679, testó en 1734. Procrearon a Diego de Varona y Barreda.

VIGÉSIMA QUINTA GENERACIÓN: Diego de Varona y Barreda, quien nació en Puerto Príncipe, Cuba, casó con Ana de la Torre y Recio 20 Sep 1699, fué Regidor Alférez Real y Alcalde ordinario en la referida villa. Procrearon a Antonio de Varona y de la Torre.

VIGÉSIMA SEXTA GENERACIÓN: Antonio de Varona y de la Torre, quien nació en Puerto Príncipe, Cuba, casó con Rosa Varona y Agüero 3 Aug 1733, testó en 1778. Procrearon Ignacio de Varona y Varona.

VIGÉSIMA SÉPTIMA GENERACIÓN: Ignacio de Varona y Varona, quien nació en Puerto Príncipe, Cuba, casó con Rosalia Teodemira Guerra y Quesada 23 Oct 1775, testó en 1821. Procrearon a Ignacio de Varona y Guerra.

VIGÉSIMA OCTAVA GENERACIÓN: Ignacio de Varona y Guerra, quien nació en Puerto Príncipe, Cuba, casó con Maria Trinidad de la Torre y Cisneros 26 Jul 1806, fué Teniente Coronel de Milicias de la villa de Puerto Príncipe, y Regidor de su Ayuntamiento en 1813. Hizo información de nobleza en la referida villa el 7 Oct 1837, ante José Rafael Castellanos. Procrearon a Ignacio de Varona y de la Torre.

VIGÉSIMA NOVENA GENERACIÓN: Ignacio de Varona y de la Torre, quien nació en Puerto Príncipe, Cuba, casó con Angela Mariana Agüero y Varona 23 Feb 1840, nacido en 1819. Procrearon a Ignacio de Varona y Agüero.

TRIGÉSIMA GENERACIÓN: Ignacio de Varona y Agüero, quien nació en Puerto Príncipe, Cuba, casó con María Manuela Aróstegui y Betancourt 26 Jun 1865, nacido en 1842.

Modified from VIGÉSIMA SEGUNDA GENERACIÓN and below
to show the lineage for de Varona where it branches from Loynaz.
This lineage may be traceable farther back in time to
the Anglo-Saxon King Alfred the Great.
Source: FAMILIA DOMINICA CON ANCESTROS REALES: LOS LOINAZ Preparado por Julío Amable González Hernández
http://www.idg.org.do/capsulas/diciembre2006/diciembre20062.htm
http://www.idg.org.do/capsulas/diciembre2006/diciembre20069.htm
http://www.idg.org.do/capsulas/diciembre2006/diciembre200616.htm
Instituto Dominicano de Genealogia, Inc.

ERRATA (de la Cerda)

Click here to view supplemental data and errata in a separate window or tab about the de la Cerda family that pertain to the NOVENA, DÉCIMA, and DÉCIMA PRIMERA GENERACIÓN sections immediately above.

Ignacio M. de Varona y Agüero's CAMAGÜEBÄX Lineage

Descendents of the native West Indian cacique Camagüebäx

Camagüebäx Cacique (a Taíno chieftan)
Elvira Tínima de Mendoza (princess Tínima, wife of Vasco Porcallo Manuel de Figueroa)
María Manuel de Figueroa (wife of Capítan Juan Argote)
Juana Manuel de Figueroa y Argote
Capitán Estebán de Miranda Argüelles y Manuel de Figueroa
Capitán Francisco de Varona y Miranda
Capitán Diego de Varona y Pinto
Diego de Varona y Barreda
Antonio de Varona y de la Torre
Ignacio de Varona y Varona
Ignacio de Varona y Guerra
Ignacio María de Varona y de la Torre
Ignacio María de Varona y Agüero

NOTE: There are at least two lines that resolve back up to Camagüebäx. The one shown here is the main paternal de Varona line. It is doubtful that this lineage will ever be able to be traced farther back in time beyond what is shown here.

VERACRUZ Crucifix Found Drifting At Sea

NOTE: the Google translation from Spanish to English of this wonderful article by Roberto Méndez Martínez, poet, essayist, art critic and narrator was pathetic to say the least. So until we can do a decent translation you will have to crack out your Spanish dictionary and have a go at it in its beautiful native tongue. The poem was written by Ignacio M. de Varona y Aguero and is dedicated to his aunt Lola (aka María Dolores?) who is undocumented by our main source Conde de Jaruco. We chose to copy this article into our web site for several reasons instead of linking to it: (1) it is slow to load into our web browser probably because it is actually in Cuba; (2) their toolkit seems to conflict with our version of Dojo and Dijit and so it does not display correctly; and (3) we can control the formatting of it a little easier.

EL CRISTO DE LA VERACRUZ Y EL MÉDICO CHINO

Hay momentos en la historia de Puerto Príncipe en que se mezclan hechos reales y legendarios de tal modo, que no hay manera de desligarlos, como si lo maravilloso formara parte de la vida cotidiana del territorio, hasta el punto de que una visión demasiado racionalista del acontecer sería incapaz de comprender la íntima urdimbre de los acontecimientos. Así sucede con dos elementos que van a superponerse en la memoria del ya lejano siglo XIX camagüeyano: el misterioso Cristo de la Veracruz y el no menos enigmático Médico Chino.

Unos sencillos hombres de Nuevitas encontraron en el mar, mientras pescaban, una gran caja de madera, con una sola inscripción: VERACRUZ. Al abrirla encontraron en su interior una gran imagen de Cristo crucificado. ¿Aludía la inscripción exterior al destino de la talla, quizá encargada para uno de los tantos templos de la mexicana Villa Rica de Veracruz?, ¿se refería quizá a que se trataba de una de esas imágenes del Crucificado, muy veneradas en Europa, que en alguna parte de ella atesoraba una reliquia consistente en astillas de la "vera Cruz" o sea, el leño que sirvió de tormento a Jesucristo, encontrado por la madre del Emperador Constantino en Jerusalén, conservado en la iglesia romana de la Santa Cruz y de la que se extraían mínimas porciones para obsequiar a reyes y prelados? Ni siquiera podían aquellos pescadores hacerse esas conjeturas, simplemente dieron el hecho por milagroso y llevaron el hallazgo a tierra.

Tampoco los ilustrados de Puerto Príncipe sabían del asunto, quizá la mayoría prefirió pensar que esta había caído de un barco o había sido arrojada al agua durante una tormenta, como era tradición que hacían algunos marinos desde muy antiguo para aplacar la furia de los elementos. Llamativamente la pieza no fue llevada a un templo, sino sacada a la venta pública. Fue adquirida por un matrimonio acomodado, de rancia estirpe principeña: Don Ignacio María de Varona y Doña Trinidad de la Torre Cisneros, quienes la instalaron en su casona de la calle Mayor esquina a San Clemente.[1]

Pronto la imagen ganó fama popular de milagrosa. Cada año el matrimonio la llevaba durante la Semana Santa a la vecina Parroquial Mayor, de donde salía el Viernes Santo en procesión por las calles, para volver a ser guardada en su domicilio. En una ocasión, cuando la ciudad estaba azotada por una gran sequía, la cruz fue sacada en procesión extraordinaria para suplicar que lloviera e instantes después de concluir esta, formóse una gran tempestad y pocos minutos después se derramó un gran aguacero, lo que llenó de júbilo y admiración a todos, en un territorio donde ricos y pobres dependían de los productos de la agricultura.

Es interesante apuntar que en esa casona de la calle Mayor nació Ignacio María de Varona y Agüero, nieto del citado matrimonio, quien andado los años se convertiría en un ingeniero relevante, que llegó a ser Jefe del Departamento de Agua, Gas y Electricidad de New York, ciudad en la que contribuyó a la instalación del tranvía urbano y para la que diseñó los famosos "elevados" neoyorkinos. Tanto en la contienda de 1868 como en la de 1895 colaboró con los insurrectos y ayudó a recabar fondos para enviar expediciones a la Isla. Este científico era también poeta aficionado de cierta calidad y lo llamativo es que la única pieza salida de su pluma que conocemos es un soneto al Crucificado que dedicó a su tía Lola de Varona, muy probablemente inspirado en la imagen que desde su infancia se veneró en su casa:

Yo, vivo; y vos, muriendo dueño amado;

Yo, en gloria; y vos en penas mi querido;

Yo, sano; y vos, mi bien, tan mal herido;

Yo, con soberbia; y vos tan humillado;

Yo, con honor; y vos tan afrentado;

Yo, celebrando; y vos escarnecido;

Yo, contento; y vos tan ofendido;

Yo, confortado; y vos crucificado.

No, Señor, no es razón siendo mi esposo

Que yo no muera a fuerza de mi llanto,

Muriendo vos tan triste y abatido.

Muramos ambos, Dueño Sacrosanto:

Vos de amor que me tenéis piadoso;

Yo, de dolor, de haber pecado tanto.[2]

El 14 de marzo de marzo de 1848 llegó a Puerto Príncipe una figura que inmediatamente despertó la curiosidad de los vecinos, se trataba de un médico natural de Pekín, al que se comenzó a conocer como "el chino Siam". Hombre ceremonioso y cortés, pronto ganó prestigio con las curaciones que realizaba, a pesar del temor y la ignorancia de muchos principeños que al principio lo consideraban como un hechicero y de los comprensibles celos de muchos galenos locales a los que iba sustrayéndoles clientela. Un suceso inesperado lo cambiaría todo.

Un Viernes Santo, muy probablemente el de 1850, mientras la procesión de la Veracruz recorría las céntricas calles principeñas, apareció súbitamente Siam, ataviado con ricas vestiduras orientales y ,solemnemente, se arrodilló en medio de la vía, delante de la imagen, en gesto de oración. La sorpresa fue general: el misterioso brujo se había convertido al cristianismo. Cuenta la leyenda que al día siguiente, visitó a los esposos Varona de la Torre y les expresó su deseo de recibir el bautismo. ¿Era sincero el personaje o había encontrado esta vía para alejar de sí los malignos rumores e incorporarse mejor a la sociedad en la que iba a residir y ejercer su profesión? No es posible discernirlo.

Según consta en el Archivo de la Parroquial Mayor, el "chino Siam" recibió allí el bautismo el 25 de abril de 1850 y adoptó el nombre de Juan de Dios Siam Zaldívar. Pronto ganó prestigio en la ciudad y algunos aseguran que amasó una gran fortuna con el ejercicio de su profesión. Su silueta se hizo familiar en la ciudad, acostumbraba a desplazarse en un lujoso carruaje y vestía, ya al modo occidental, con traje negro, cruzado por una leontina de oro con un sonajero.[3] Pasó el resto de su existencia en Puerto Príncipe: en 1879 vivía en la calle Jesús María no.23[4] y en el Padrón de Vecinos se le consigna como de 68 años de edad, casado y médico[5]. Falleció el 23 de marzo de 1885[6]. Dos días después de su muerte apareció una gacetilla en la sección "Flores y Espinas" del diario El Camagüey, que recoge su deceso : "El lunes por la tarde se dio sepultura al cadáver de D. Juan de Dios Siam, hijo del celeste imperio, que había ejercido entre nosotros con buen éxito la ciencia de Galeno."[7]

La imagen de la Veracruz se ha perdido sin dejar rastros de ella, en cuanto al "chino Siam" ha quedado en el habla popular, a través de la expresión coloquial, extendida por todo el país, "eso no lo arregla ni el médico chino".

[1] Hoy Cisneros esquina a Raúl Lamar.

[2] El Camagüey Legendario, p.107.

[3] Enrique de la Torre y Rojas : Memorias camagüeyanas de Enrique José Varona. Ejemplar mecanografiado. Archivo personal de Gustavo Sed Nieves.

[4] También conocida como Calle del Teatro, luego Padre Valencia.

[5] Padrón de vecinos de 1879. Archivo personal de Gustavo Sed Nieves.

[6] Registro de la Propiedad : Tomo 74 f.115.

[7] El Camagüey, 25 de marzo de 1885, p.3.

The National Cyclopedia of American Biography

Volume X

1909

DE VARONA, Ignatius M., Civil Engineer, was born in Puerto Principe, Cuba, Feb. 4, 1842, son of Ignatius M. de Varona y de la Torre and Angela M. Agüero y Varona. Both parents belonged to the oldest and most distinguished families in Cuba. He was admitted to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), Troy, N.Y., in 1860, and was graduated with the degree of C.E. in 1863, subsequently completing his education in Europe. After some miscellanous work, he was engaged for the extension of the Nuevitas and Puerto Principe railroad, Cuba, which was planned and built under his direction, and was chief engineer of that railroad when the ten year's revolution (1868-78) broke out in Cuba, in which he took a prominent part from its inception, his professional knowledge, influence and untiring energy rendering his services particularly valuable. He perfected and at great personal risk carried out a plan which gave the patriots control of the above important railroad line; and charged with the protection of the landing of the Galvanic expedition, erected at Guanaja the trenches under cover of which the Spanish attack was repulsed and the entire cargo of arms and ammunition successfully landed and delivered to the Cuban forces. Sent abroad by the revolutionary committee, he ran the Spanish blockade, safely reaching Nassau, then the site of an important revolutionary centre, and from there went to the United States, where his labors for the advancement of the Cuban cause, and especially to forward arms and ammunition to the Cuban patriots, were as constant as efficient. In this patriotic task he visited many of the Antilles and South America twice, having the second time full charge of the ill-fated Virginius, then on its first and successful expedition. Later he went to Europe in the interests of the Cuban cause. In 1877 he acted as consulting engineer, and later as government inspector on contracts for some docks and bridges for the West Indies. At the end of the Ten Years' War he went to Cuba to settle the family estate, and was placed in charge of the Nuevitas and Puerto Principe railroad, which had been seized as practically wrecked by the government during the war. He was engaged in the reconstruction of this road for nearly three years. In 1882, under Mayor Seth Low's administration, Mr. de Varona received an appointment in the engineering bureau of the Brooklyn department of city works, being assigned to take charge of the surveys for and study the extension of the water works east of Rockville Centre. The energy and thoroughness displayed in the conduct of this work early secured him the absolute confidence of the Brooklyn municipal authorities -- a confidence which is unimpaired in spite of the frequent political changes that have taken place. In 1894 he was appointed by Commr. A. T. White, engineer of water supply, a position which he still holds. Among his reports and documents are: "Report on Future Extension of Water Supply for the City of Brooklyn" (1896) and "History and Description of the Brooklyn Water Works" (1896), the latter being exhaustive in its treatment and unexcelled by any similar work. The value and extent of his labors long ago secured Mr. de Varona a prominent place among leading hydraulic engineers. Although mainly engaged in Brooklyn, he has also done considerable professional work as consulting engineer for Albany, Newport News, Jersey City and elsewhere, as well as for private firms and corporations. He is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers; of the Brooklyn Club; the Democratic Club; and of other organizations. He has been married twice, and has six children.

VARONA

This work was submitted to the
ACADEMIA CUBANA DE CIENCIAS GENEALOGICAS
by Hector Recio y de la Torre

Translated by Jorge Flores

First printed in Revista
vol 8 July 1995 num 3 pp. 2-9
Permission to reprint courtesy of
editor Mayra F. Sanchez-Johnson

[Editor notes, corrections and comments
within brackets added by Cal Crowley]

Without any doubt, one of the most illustrious families in Cuba was de VARONA family, whose founder was the Captain Francisco de Varona y Saravia, Lieutenant General and Auditor of War. Unfortunately, even after many efforts, we have not been able to find his ancestors or any other documentation before his death [Ed. Note: this article was first printed in 1995 in Revista, since that date more is known about the ancestors of this family].

He was married in the Villa of Santa María del Puerto del Príncipe (today the city of Camagüey) to Isabel Vázquez Valdés de Coronado y Miranda, daughter of Captain Pedro Vásquez Valdés de Coronado y Duque de Estrada, the Lieutenant Governor, and Mayor of the Villa de San Salvador de Bayamo, and Mariana de Miranda y Martín de Frutos.

From this marriage they had only one child, María de Varona y Vásquez Valdés de Coronado (La Alemán) who married Captain Estéban de Miranda Argüelles y Manuel de Figueroa, from the Villa of San Salvador de Bayamo and mayor of Santa María del Puerto del Príncipe. He was the grandson of the illustrious Conqueror and founder, Captain Vasco Porcallo de Figueroa. María left her last will and testament on July 3, 1666, in Santa María del Puerto del Príncipe, but unfortunately she did not mention any paternal ancestry.

Her two children, María and Francisco selected to use their mothers' surname in order to perpetuate the VARONA surname [Ed. Note: only two of her five children chose to swap their surnames, the other three remained Miranda y Varona, however, the important thing to realize today is that all five lines descending from this couple in terms of male Y-DNA would be from the father's Miranda side not the VARONA].

Reviewing some genealogical records from Cuban history, we found that this family continued its noble quality by marrying other noble families from Puerto Príncipe. For centuries they held the highest positions in Government, such as Mayor, and Alderman. In the military, they held the ranks of Colonels of the Army and Militia. Others held ranks in the Marine of War and a few held the Holy Office of the Inquisition. [Ed. Note: due to the Spanish laws of the day -- none of these positions could be had unless you were from the noble or royal classes.]

At the beginning of the Cuban independence movement, and later during the war that ended in the liberation of the island, the Varonas were the first to unite the efforts for the cause of freedom, sacrificing land and even their lives for the Independence of Cuba. If we study a list of all the freedom fighters that died in the Ten Years War compiled by Jorge Juárez Cano in his book Apuntes de Camagüey, page 172, we will notice the names of 23 members of these families that were victims of decease [sic], hunger, assassinations, etc. between the years of 1868 and 1878 only. If we consider long family history, and heroism and sacrifice as a mark of nobility, the Varona's certainly meet the mark.

One of the heroes of this family, was General Bernabé de Varona y Borrero, known also by the nick name of "Bembeta". He organized the [second] expedition of the "Virginius" that later was captured and taken to Santiago de Cuba. He was executed in front of a firing squad on November 4, 1873. [Ed. Note: Ignacio María de Varona y Agüero was an organizer and integral part of the first and successful "Virginius" expedition.]

As the most prominent member of this family we had among us, until his death in 1933, a survivor of [the] old revolutionary movement, the mentor of the 1930's generation, the patriot, poet, and writer, Enrique José de Varona y de la Pera.

Curious to know if the Spanish branch of the Varona family had as many illustrious members as the Cuban branch enjoyed, we made contact with Rodrigo de Varona y Guinea, XXVI Lord and present possessor of the Manor and Tower of Varona in Villanañe, Province of Álava, Spain. Taking advantage of a trip taken around the Americas by [a] close relative of his, priest Vidal Fernández de Palomares, he provided us with copies of genealogical trees that were taken from the oldest archives that were maintained at his palace. He also provided a copy of the work by Eleutario de la Inmaculada, a priest, entitled Historia del Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Agosto y del Valle de Godea de la Muy Noble y Muy Leal Provincia de Álava.

This book, in it's entirety was based on information taken directly from the Varona archive of Villanañe, explains in great detail the origin of this lineage, including all its participation in the history of Spain from approxiamately the year 680 of the Christian Age.

We will present the family tree as they were found in the house of his ancestors:

1. Great Admiral Ruy Pérez, born in Helvecia who arrived at Santoña in 680. He was born in 642. He was the father of:

2. Ruy Pérez, born in 664; who was the father of:

3. Estrabón Pérez, born in 686. He died in the battle of Guadalete on November 11 of 711. He was the father of:

4. Rodrigo Pérez who died in 788; the father of:

5. Ruy Pérez, named "El defensor" (The defender), who died in 810; and was the father of:

6. Pelayo Pérez, born around 731. Married to Paula de Cárcamo, daughter of "Cuchillo de Moros y Judíos" (knife of Moors and Jews). Pelayo died in 830; he was the father of:

7. Martin Pérez, founder of Cárcamo and the father of:

8. Rodrigo o Sancho Pérez, born around 839; the father of:

9. Sancho Pérez. Died at the age of 87 in 970, so probably was born around 893. His son lived to be 70 years old.

10. Gómez Pérez, died in 1040. Married to Elvira González, blood related niece of Count Fernán González. They were the parents of:

11. María Pérez "La Varona", who is believed to have been born between 1028-1031, sister of Fernán, Gómez, Alvar, Gonzalo, and Ana. She married Infante Vela, son out of wedlock, of the King Ramiro I of Aragon.

         (If we were to continue the ancestry of the VARONA
         by the maternal ancestral branch of "La Varona",
         Elvira González, niece of Count Fernán González, we
         would find two illustrious ancestral branches).

Maria Pérez, "La Varona", and the Infante Vela, were the parents of:

12. Rodrigo Varona, I Lord of the House of Varona in Villanañe, married in 1100 to María Munguia. (This Rodrigo, is the twenty third grandfather, and twentieth of the previous mentioned Lord of Villanañe, Rodrigo de Varona y Guinea). They were the parents of:

13. Rodrigo de Varona, II Lord of the House of Varona in Villanañe, who was the founder of Arroyo in Valdivieso. He was married to Emilia o Elvira de Velasco, and they were the founders of the House of Varona, and first Lords of Arroyo.

                                                      ______________________

From information extracted from the family trees it was found that the Varonas of Villanañe and the Varona of Arroyo maintained strong ties by successive marriages. Both branches were distinguished for the determination and courage their men applied in their jobs next to the Kings, specially in the military, and were married with the most notorious noble houses in Spain.

Genealogical information was found to prove the link of Francisco de Varona y Saravia, founder of this lineage, to Cuba. In the XVI century, there were in existence various noblemen with the same name and surname with similar quality, whose fundamental circumstances we analyze here:

Francisco de Varona y Saravia, the grandson of the I Lord [Ed. Note: just 'I' seems wrong here date-wise, shouldn't it be 'VIII', 'IX' or 'XI'?] of Villanañe. It is not known whether or not he had any descendence. It is known that one of his sisters, Magdalena, was married to her cousin Rodrigo de Varona, XII Lord of the House of Villanañe, having as offsprings:

1. Gonzalo de Varona y de Varona, Captain of the Tercios of Naples.

2. Miguel de Varona y de Varona, Caballero [knight] de Alcántara y Grand Master of the Army of Lombardy.

3. Juan de Varona y de Varona, Regent in Italy, Chancellor in Milán and knight of the Order of Santiago.

Francisco de Varona y Saravia, the son of Francisco de Varona XIII Lord of the House of Arroyo, Inspector of the Royal Army. He earned the title of noble in Granada, and his testament was found in Seville, dated August 29, 1591, given before Melchor Fernández, and Urbana de Saravia de Rueda. He had two brothers; Juan Varona de Saravia, XVI Lord of the House of Arroyo, and Gabriel de Varona y Saravia.

Francisco de Varona y Saravia, son of XIII Lord of the House of Arroyo, as per information furnished by the emminent genealogist Juan de Rújula y Vaca, "A single man that came from the mountains, went by Seville, and from there embarked to the Indies in 1568, residing in the Island of Santo Domingo where he married Inés de Anaya, from Salamanca, having a son Agustín, born in Santo Domingo. Agustín married Francisca Zurbano and they had one son, Pedro who also had one son, Nicolás.

Francisco de Varona y Saravia. The Conde de Jaruco, in his work Historias de Familias Cubanas, mentions "Captain Francisco de Varona y Saravia, born in Spain, went to Cuba, and became Lieutenant General, and Auditor of War. He died defending the Villa of Puerto Príncipe".

There are different circumstances that make us believe that the Captain Francisco de Varona y Saravia that travelled to the Indies in 1568, residing in Santo Domingo, was in fact the same person that started the VARONA lineage in Cuba [Ed. Note: however, today there are many who dispute this, and who believe that Cpt. Francisco had a son Francisco with Ana de Anaya in Santo Domingo, and that it was in fact his son Francisco who actually first emigrated to Cuba].

1st. If there is documentation that proves that Inés de Anaya married Captain Varona, and that his son and grandson of Agustín were born in Santo Domingo, then how come, the proof of the death of Captain Francisco de Varona y Saravia was not found in Santo Domingo?

2nd. There are coincidences of name, surnames and dates.

3rd. There are coincidences of category and quality of person.

4th. There is chronological proximity with the time in which a majority of families relocating to the Indies were living previously in Santo Domingo.

All of above are facts that make us believe that Captain Francisco de Varona y Saravia, when he became a widowed [sic] in Santo Domingo, occupied high ranking positions on the Island of Cuba and also remarried there.

We will treat now María Pérez, the originator of the Varona surname.

The distinguished Francisco Bernardo de Varona, knight of the Order of Santiago, Artillery General, wrote a memorial to King Carlos II, in 1686, presenting all the merits of his ancestors in relation with his origin. Such memorial reads as follows:

"The origin of the VARONA surname, was due to María Pérez, ophan, single, maid, and beautiful with two brothers; Alvar and Gómez, both noblemen and expert captains at the militia, who were called by King Alfonso VI of Castille to serve in the war that he had established against his step-father King Alonso of Aragon. Having the responsibility to care for their sister, they argued as to what to do to keep her in a safe and honorable state. She was very determined and decided that for her, the most acceptable and honorable way was to accompany her brothers, dressing in the same manner as them, so that she also would go to war."

"Her brothers relented and took her with them, all dressed up in combat gear and riding her horse like her brothers and the rest of the army. When the war began between the Aragoneses and Castilians, a great confusion arose in the battle as both armies were engaged in a very bloody campaign. She was separated from her brothers, and during the night they were not able to find each other. María, in her wanderings, came to see herself face to face with Alonso de Aragon who was also separated from his army. A very close fight developed."

"María, even thought [sic] she had broken her sword, yet was able to subdue the King, making him her prisoner. She brought him to King Alonso of Castille, where he was encamped in his military quarters. He received her with veneration for her great courage and valor. The King told her: "You have not performed as a weak woman, but as a brave man, for which you will have the honor to be called VARONA and all your descendants will bear that name in memory of such great heroism. You will bear the arms of Aragon, which are four bloody bars with a gold background". These arms have been used in the shields from such remote times by all knights descending from the Varona lineage. The place where the battle took place was near the Paredes de Atienza, and it was known from then on as the field of Varona, in memory of this event."

Another reference to María Pérez, "La Varona", is from Carlos José de Varona y Saravia dated 1715. The author while on a vacation trip to Villanañe, wrote a very extensive manuscript named Memorias de la Infanzona Torre y Casa Fuerte de Villanañe, Solar de Varona. It begins treating the progenitors of the Varonas:

"In some nobility books and memorials that have the linage of Varona descending from the Infante Don Vela, Count and Lord of Ayala and María Pérez, his wife, named La Varona by King Alonso VI who conquered Toledo, they do not show the ancestry of Don Vela of [sic] his wife, mentioning only that she was related to Count Fernán González de Castilla."

"But, having researched the archives of the House of Villanañe, made available to me by Rodrigo Melchor Varona, quoting some authentic documents that were found and other papers, here is what they say:"

"In first place, the old memorials mention María Pérez del Val de Gobea named "La Varona" descended from Andeca, Count of Cantabria, who died in 714 in the battle of Guadalete".

When it mentions "La Varona" is says: "María's parents died, and her two brothers became her legal guardians at a very young age. Beauty, valor and wealth were attributes of the Lady of Villanañe, who inherited Bachicabo, Espejo, Villanueva, Gurendes, Quejo, Valluerca, Quintanilla and Osma, where she was patroness of the [what?] with all the rights of the manors and had jurisdiction over which included the entire Valley, together with her brothers and relatives, at the Villarcayo and Villacanes, Siguenza and Quintanilla de Siguenza. She also had the inheritance in the high mountains of Burgos, part of Cantabria, as a descendant of the previous Lords; she was also Lady of Cárcamo, and inherited Lacozmonte from her mother". Also in this memorial it is mentioned that María, with great effort fought with the moors and was the "La Varona", that captured King Pedro of Aragon, in the year 1119".

Carlos Varona Saravia also mentions the same story as Francisco Bernardo Varona, the battle of Atienza. In the following page it is mentioned that the victory of Dueñas that was obtained by this brave woman with her army, in that campaign against the moors, caused the King to name her "mirror of valiant knights". This new noble title, is the reason for the shield to have eight round reflections with a golden background.

SEE ALSO: item 6 in the BIBLIOGRAPHY section below.

English DEFINITIONS for Some Spanish Terms Used On This Site

Adelantado = advanced one
Ancestros = ancestors
caballero = knight; the basic rank of the aristocratic system
cacique = indiginous chief or chieftan
Camagüey = pron. [like gamma] camma-way, formerly the Villa of Santa María del Puerto del Príncipe
casa = house
ciudad = city
conde = like an English earl or a continental European count; step below marqués; assigned by the king/queen
Conquistador = conqueror
de = of (in English), le (in French)
Descendencia = descendents
don = lord; respectable prefix said before his name like the English "milord"
doña = lady; respectable prefix said before her name like the English "milady"
Duque(s) = duke(s) (step above count(s), assigned by the king/queen)
Escudo de Armas = Coat (Shield) of Arms
España = Spain
Español = Spanish
Esposas = spouses
fidalgo = a minor Portuguese aristocrat (from filho d'algo = filho d'alguém = son of someone [important])
Generación = generation
hidalgo, hijos-dalgo = child(ren) of a noble; king/queen cannot assign this, you are born with it (see: fidalgo)
hijos, hijo, hija = children, son, daughter
isla = island
linaje = lineage
LINEA PRIMERA = top-level primary lineage or line
LINEA SEGUNDA = top-level secondary lineage or line
miembro = member
nobleza = the nobility (nobles)
Poblador = settler
Preparado por = prepared by
procrearon = they procreated
Pto. = abbreviation of the spanish Puerto, or Port in english, as in Pto. Príncipe
Rama A = the A or first sub-sub-branch
Rama B = the B or second sub-sub-branch
Rama C = the C or third sub-sub-branch
Rama Primera = primary sub-branch
Rama Segunda = secondary sub-branch
Rama Tercera = tertiary sub-branch
villa = a town that enjoyed certain peculiar privileges, including a magestry
y, e = and (use e instead of y if next letter is I or H as in "e Hidalgo")

SEE ALSO: Colonial Spanish Terms and Phrases, ...
Yahoo!Babelfish

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. The main source for the de Varona family data prior to I.M. emigrating to the U.S.A is Conde de Jaruco. Specific volume and page references to Conde de Jaruco's work are embedded in-line in the text above within a pair of brackets of the form: [Jaruco, vol x, pag y]. So far, Conde de Jaruco's work are contained within this nine volume set...

Historia de Familias Cubanas por Francisco Xavier de Santa Cruz y Mallén, Conde de San Juan de Jaruco;
La Habana, "Editorial Hercules", 1940-1988

Search Jaruco Index (english)...
http://www.cubagen.org/jaruco.htm

Search Jaruco Index (español)...
http://www.cubagen.org/e-jaruco.htm

2. A primary source for de Varona ancestors prior to Francisco emigrating to Santo Domingo in the Carribean is the gigantic GEDCOM database of Hilda B. Pomares. Hilda is related to this family via the sister of our Catalina Barreda y Zayas-Bazan (if not via others as well). Start here...

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=hpomares&id=I01314

3. Ancestry.com and its affiliates are another main source of genealogical data, especially the US Federal Censuses, unfortunately, you will need to purchase an account there to access much of it...

http://www.ancestry.com/

4. The Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints (LDS) is another main source of genealogical data, unfortunately, to make corrections when someone else has submitted bogus data about your family you must be a church member, and to date, there has been some misinformation submitted about I.M. and some of his ancestors, and about Luisa Betancourt, as well, ...

http://www.familysearch.org/

5. Google has been scanning documents like mad, especially those where the copyrights have expired. I.M.'s Biography used above came from one of these documents found on-line...

THE NATIONAL CYCLCOPEDIA OF AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY edited by Distinguished Biographers, Selected From Each State, Revised and Approved by the Most Emminent Historians, Scholars, and Statesmen of the Day, Volume X; New York, James T White and Company, 1909

6. Here are some links to supplement the VARONA section above. First, more about the legendary Varona, the eponymous ancestor María Pérez. The initial three are in Spanish and are awaiting English translations. In the mean time you could copy&paste them into the Google or Yahoo (Altavista) babelfish online translators ...

La Varona de Castilla
The Varona Legend: María Villanañe Barahona
La Varona de Castilla: de Barahona (Soria) a Villanañe (Álava)

For the intellectually curious a further treatise has been published analyzing the play "La varona castellana" by Lope de Vega which can be found here along with an excerpt in English ...

Political and gender transgressions in Lope de Vega's La varona castellana

Finally, if you are curious about and/or would like to travel to the ancestral homelands of the House of Varona at Villanañe and the House of Arroyo at Villante(Villadiego) here are some links to get you started. You should of course google further yourself using phrases like "Torre de los Varona -verona", "Castle tower de Varona -verona", "House of Varona Alava -verona", "ruina Arroyo Villante Villadiego", &c ...

The Varona Castle
VARONA FAMILY PALACE
tagzaniapaste
Castillo Torre de Varona
Ruins of the Varona House of Arroyo in Villante (Villadiego)
Brandon's 'El origin de apellido Arroyo'

Public Bulletin Boards and List Services

* Our post(s) to the Cuba.General bulletin board:

http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.caribbean.cuba.general/10855.1/mb.ashx

* Note: this is an equivalent site since posts to rootsweb are cross-posted to ancestry.com (and visa versa):

http://boards.ancestry.com/localities.caribbean.cuba.general/10855.1/mb.ashx

* Our post(s) to MessageBoards.Surnames.Varona:

http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.varona/3/mb.ashx

* Our post(s) to MessageBoards.Surnames.Betancourt:

http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.betancourt/199/mb.ashx

Heráldica y Genealogía Hispana

* Biblioteca Heráldica (Barahona):

http://heraldicahispana.com/ApA/banyuls-barbo.htm#Barahona

* Heralderia - Heráldica y Genealogía Hispana:

http://www.heraldaria.com

* SEPHARDIM.COM -- Sephardic Names Translated:

http://www.sephardim.com/html/translated_names.html

* SEPHARDIM.COM -- A Research Tool for Sephardic Genealogy:

http://www.sephardim.com/index.html

* Sephardim - Conversos - Marranos -- Historical Overview:

http://www.jewishgen.org/infofiles/sefard5.htm

* Marranos, Conversos, and New Christians:

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/Marranos.html

Researchers Of This Family

Cal Crowley 31 Jan 2008
Patti Miller-Crowley 31 Jan 2008

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Date Last Modified: 03 Aug 2009 (cal)

Ignacio de Varona y Agüero's WILLIAM the Conqueror Lineage

Both Vasco Porcallo Manuel de Figueroa
And Our Ignacio María de Varona y Agüero
May Be Descendents of William the Conqueror

ERRATA (de la Cerda)

Ignacio M. de Varona y Agüero's CAMAGÜEBÄX Lineage

Descendents of the native West Indian cacique Camagüebäx

VERACRUZ Crucifix Found Drifting At Sea

The National Cyclopedia of American Biography

Volume X

1909

VARONA

This work was submitted to the
ACADEMIA CUBANA DE CIENCIAS GENEALOGICAS
by Hector Recio y de la Torre

Translated by Jorge Flores

First printed in Revista
vol 8 July 1995 num 3 pp. 2-9
Permission to reprint courtesy of
editor Mayra F. Sanchez-Johnson

[Editor notes, corrections and comments
within brackets added by Cal Crowley]

English DEFINITIONS for Some Spanish Terms Used On This Site

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Public Bulletin Boards and List Services

Heráldica y Genealogía Hispana

Researchers Of This Family

Resizing Your Browser For Optimum Use Of This Site

Copyright Notice

de Varona

Coat of Arms -- Escudo de Armas

Ignacio María de Varona y Agüero, C.E.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

Ignacio María de Varona y Agüero's Descendancy Report

Ignacio M. de Varona y Agüero's Ancestors and Siblings

Ignacio María de Varona y Agüero's Esposas and Hijos

Ignacio María de Varona y Agüero's Siblings

ERRATA (Vásquez Valdés de Coronado)

Ignacio M. de Varona y Agüero's DE VARONA Lineage

Ignacio M. de Varona y Agüero's MIRANDA Lineage

Ignacio M. de Varona y Agüero's DE LA TORRE Lineage

Ignacio de Varona's PORCALLO MANUEL DE FIGUEROA Lineage

Descendencia del Adelantado Vasco Porcallo Manuel de Figueroa
Conquistador y Poblador de la isla de Cuba,
miembro de la Casa de los Duques de Feria...

de Varona

Coat of Arms -- Escudo de Armas

Ignacio María de Varona y Agüero, C.E.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

Ignacio María de Varona y Agüero's Descendancy Report

Ignacio M. de Varona y Agüero's Ancestors and Siblings

Ignacio María de Varona y Agüero's Esposas and Hijos

Ignacio María de Varona y Agüero's Siblings

ERRATA (Vásquez Valdés de Coronado)

Ignacio M. de Varona y Agüero's DE VARONA Lineage

Ignacio M. de Varona y Agüero's MIRANDA Lineage

Ignacio M. de Varona y Agüero's DE LA TORRE Lineage

Ignacio de Varona's PORCALLO MANUEL DE FIGUEROA Lineage

Descendencia del Adelantado Vasco Porcallo Manuel de Figueroa Conquistador y Poblador de la isla de Cuba, miembro de la Casa de los Duques de Feria...

Ignacio de Varona y Agüero's WILLIAM the Conqueror Lineage

Both Vasco Porcallo Manuel de Figueroa And Our Ignacio María de Varona y Agüero May Be Descendents of William the Conqueror

ERRATA (de la Cerda)

Ignacio M. de Varona y Agüero's CAMAGÜEBÄX Lineage

Descendents of the native West Indian cacique Camagüebäx

VERACRUZ Crucifix Found Drifting At Sea

The National Cyclopedia of American Biography

Volume X

1909

VARONA

This work was submitted to the ACADEMIA CUBANA DE CIENCIAS GENEALOGICAS by Hector Recio y de la Torre Translated by Jorge Flores

First printed in Revista vol 8 July 1995 num 3 pp. 2-9 Permission to reprint courtesy of editor Mayra F. Sanchez-Johnson [Editor notes, corrections and comments within brackets added by Cal Crowley]

English DEFINITIONS for Some Spanish Terms Used On This Site

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Public Bulletin Boards and List Services

Heráldica y Genealogía Hispana

Researchers Of This Family

Resizing Your Browser For Optimum Use Of This Site

Copyright Notice

Descendencia del Adelantado Vasco Porcallo Manuel de Figueroa
Conquistador y Poblador de la isla de Cuba,
miembro de la Casa de los Duques de Feria...

Both Vasco Porcallo Manuel de Figueroa
And Our Ignacio María de Varona y Agüero
May Be Descendents of William the Conqueror

This work was submitted to the
ACADEMIA CUBANA DE CIENCIAS GENEALOGICAS
by Hector Recio y de la Torre

Translated by Jorge Flores

First printed in Revista
vol 8 July 1995 num 3 pp. 2-9
Permission to reprint courtesy of
editor Mayra F. Sanchez-Johnson

[Editor notes, corrections and comments
within brackets added by Cal Crowley]