IDTG

While looking for some genealogy books I need for my research, I came upon an amazingly valuable resource for anyone doing research in Chile that’s absolutely free!

It appears that the government of Chile has created a website that contains hundreds, if not thousands, of scanned images, articles, books, etc. from sources from the early 1900′s and older.  It is a veritable treasure trove for anyone doing research.

In my case, I had been unable to find many books that I had leads that may contain information on my family and had resigned to the fact that I had to plan a trip to Washington, DC to visit the Library of Congress as that was the only place I could find them. On the rare occassion that I did find a book for sale, its price would range from the mid $100′s (USD) all the way to close to $1,000!

The name of the site is called Memoria Chilena and is located at this address: http://www.memoriachilena.cl/

It has a very powerful search engine that can search by either title, author, publisher or any other keyword. The results returned will include, perhaps, an information page a list of books, articles and photographs.

All books or articles are available in Adobe Acrobat PDF format to be read electronically on your computer, PDA, etc.

One of my favorite features is the e-Libros section whereby there is a list of recommended resources for researchers and enthusiasts alike. What’s great about the list is that it changes monthly which means that you may find a gem there that you never knew existed.

Any researcher of genealogy or history will be well served to use this most excellent resource.

Just be aware that you will not be able to find any of the books or articles published after around the 1930′s. This means that one of the books I’m looking for “El linaje de Vial” by Raúl Díaz Vial, published in 1960 is still to be found by me outside of the Library of Congress… If anyone knows where to find it, please let me know!

On June 3, 2001, a new branch of the Center for Research of Orthodox Monarchism (CROM) was established: the Board for Heraldic and Genealogical Studies (BHGS).

As the name implies, the CROM dedicates itself to the research of any topics that pertain to the monarchies of those countries that espouse the Orthodox Christian faith. By extension, topics related to the families of the former or current nobility, royalty of the Orthodox faith are also covered by its charter. The Center also has a close relationship with ecclesiasts of of the various Orthodox churches of the world.

Arms of the Rev. Fr. Deacon Nenad Jovanovich

Furthermore, the CROM (and naturally the BHGS) has operated since November of 2005 under the High Patronage of HRH Prince Aleksandar Pavlov Karageorgevich of Yugoslavia. The BHGS currently being led by the Reverend Father Deacon Nenand M. Jovanovich, an Orthodox clergyman with extensive heraldic knowledge and a passion for his work.

Arms of HRH Prince Aleksander Pavlov Karađorđević

The CROM over the years has had the opportunity to design and/or emblazon the arms of many distinguished personages such as the Royal House of Karađorđević of Serbia, the Royal House of Bagration-Muchraneli of Georgia, the Royal House of Braganza of Portugal, etc.

Marital arms of Bagration-Mukhrani and Bagration-Gruzinsky

The Board was most recently asked to create the marital arms for the wedding of Prince David Bagration-Mukhrani with Princess Anna Bagration-Gruzinsky, that will result in uniting the two principle claimant lines to the throne of Georgia. These marital arms are displayed above.

Specifically though, the charter of the BHGS states the following:

• The popularization of heraldry in the Orthodox countries.
• To create new or enhance existing relationships with other similar organizations worldwide. An emphasis, of course, given to those extant organizations in the countries of interest. Also, to assist those few individuals in those countries who have a passion or knowledge in the subject matter to promote the topic.
• To organize and participate in related congresses, conventions, lectures, panels, etc. where heraldic and genealogical topics are presented. Presentations of subjects that are well researched and contribute to furthering the body of knowledge.
• To publish research findings and to appear in the media (printed, audio, visual or electronic). The objective, of course, to make the subjects of genealogy and heraldry more approachable to general population. Most people either aren’t aware of the art and science behind these areas or have an incorrect notion of what is involved. Through media exposure, it is hoped that more people will come to know what is genealogy and heraldry, and perhaps take a personal interest.
• Publication of a periodical in print and electronically where various topics researched are presented. Additionally, emblazonments of the armorial achievements of various armigerous persons or familes, such as royal dynasties or historical nobility.
• In addition to the periodical, the creation and maintenance of a website to have an online presence is sought to enhance the communication with the general public.
• An emphasis is also put on keeping up to date in the technological arena so as to make sure that the message is always delivered without hindrance.
• The Board is to also give its attention to the education of those who are interested in the disciplines of genealogy and heraldy. Through the education efforts it is expected to set the foundations for the next generations of experts in the field.
• Finally, the study, rendition, design and certification of existing or new ecclesiastical, civic, corporate and personal arms and symbols are to be central.

Naturally, all of the above can only be achieved by making sure that experts and talented artists are brought together to make sure that the outcome is of the highest quality.

The Right Reverend Protopresbyter Father Srboljub M. Miletich

The associates of the CROM-BHGS are highly talented and very much devoted to the cause of genealogy and heraldry. The artists, especially, are at a level that very few world-wide can even come close to in talent and attention to detail.

Arms of HRH Duke Dom Duarte Pio of Braganza

The art shown in this post are from the heraldic gallery of the CROM-BHGS located (in English) at www.czipm.org/heraldika-08.html

The website is predominantly in Serbian with certain areas in English and Russian. It is located at www.czipm.org while the direct link to the BHGS section is at http://www.czipm.org/heraldika.html

In my attempts to find more information on the family of the Martínez de Vergara line in Spain, prior to Juan’s move to Chile, I ran across an article written by a genealogist named Angel Custodio Rebollo Barroso of Huelva, Spain.

I contacted him and he immediately offered his assistance to find more information about my ancestor. Over the course of several email messages between us, I asked him for recommendations on relevant societies in Spain that I may join. He suggested I join the same society he is a member of: Asociación de Genealogía Hispana (or Hispagen).

I had heard of this organization before while doing my research on the Martínez de Vergara line but had not gone forward with looking into joining them. To be honest, I wasn’t interested in joining any societies at the time.

This time, things were different. I went ahead and filled out the online application form and thought that it would take a couple of days before I get approved. Though it did take a couple of days for it to be processed, it was not a blind approval. I had a number of email exchanges with a representative of the association’s board where I had to expound upon my reasons for joining, my intended areas of research and also attach a photograph.

I was excited to find out that I was eventually approved to join and added to the mailing lists. In the email announcing my admission to the general membership, I was asked to introduce myself. At first I didn’t feel like doing so but then, I thought of being on the other side and wanting to know who this “new guy” is.

In my introduction email, I spoke about myself and my hispanic ancestry. I also spoke about the difficulties in finding information on the Martínez de Vergara family prior to the mid 1500′s. I share some other information I had about what I had already found and in general expounded upon my interests in the field of genealogy and specifically in hispanic genealogy.

I was amazed with the response I received from the membership. Within 24 hours I had several email messages with pointers to where to look for the information I have been looking for and also on other lineages that I haven’t yet researched in depth.

I highly recommend Hispagen and publicly thank the members there and especially Mr Angel Custodio Rebollo Barroso.

As a segue from the previous entry on my maternal arms of the Martínez de Vergara line and a departure from heraldry, I decided to spend some time discussing my genealogical research.

In the hispanic world, people are known by two surnames, that of the father and that of the mother. In the rest of the western world, only the father’s surname is used. Therefore, my surname would be “Andreou Vergara”.

Additionally, in the hispanic world, people are also known by their four surnames. The father’s surname, the mother’s, the paternal grandmother’s and the maternal grandmother’s. This is a boon to genealogists as they can get more information on a given individual and open up new avenues.

My four surnames are: Andreou, Vergara, Giakoumelos and Edwards.
My mother’s four surnames are: Vergara, Edwards, Ortúzar and Hurtado.
Unfortunately, I don’t have the same information, yet, for my father as the multiple surname custom is not part of Greek culture.
I’ll start with my mother’s side of the family. My mother’s surname is Vergara Edwards and follows the hispanic tradition of using the father’s paternal name and the mother’s paternal name. My maternal grandmother’s name was Edwards Hurtado and my maternal grandfather’s name was Vergara Ortúzar.

I’ll focus on the “Vergara” side. My mother’s paternal line is specifically, Martínez de Vergara” descending from the founder of the line in Chile named Juan Martínez de Vergara who travelled to Chile from Spain to participate in the Arauco War against the Mapuche indians.

He was born in Gibraleón, Huelva to Juan Martínez de Vergara and Isabel Alonso Márquez. The senior Juan Martínez de Vergara was a hidalgo originally from Guipúzcoa.

He married Magdalena de Leiva Sepúlveda in 1634 and had 4 children: Mariana Vergara Leiva Sepúlveda, Francisca Vergara Leiva Sepúlveda, Isabel Vergara Leiva Sepúlveda and Juan Martínez de Vergara Leiva Sepúlveda.

This is the quote from the book “Nobleza Colonial de Chile” by Juan Mujica, pages 444-445:

Partió a las Indias destinado a la guerra de Chile en los campos de Arauco en 1601. Vino enrolado en la tropa que acompaño al gobernador Alonso de Ribera, considerado el organizador del ejército reino de Chile. Formo en la compañía que mandaba el capitán Gines de Lillo y asistió con sus armas en los fuertes de Santa Fe y Talcahuano. En 1628 ya figuraba en grado de capitán.

Establecido en Chillan, donde fue maestre de campo y alcalde en 1640, fundo su hogar y perteneció a la cofradía de Nuestra Señora de los Remedios. Realizada la destrucción de esa urbe por los rebeldes araucanos, tuvo que abandonarla junto con su familia. Su esposa aporto al matrimonio una caudalosa dote con casa solar en la ciudad citada y una estancia de feraces tierras. Vergara con su mujer e hijos busco refugio en zona más segura y obtuvo rica merced de tierras en Colchagua. Se le cuenta entre los benefactores del convento que los mercedarios tenían en Chimbarongo. Consta que en 1658 realizo un viaje al Perú, otorgando antes su testamento en Valparaíso. Cuatro anos mas tarde volvió a disponer otro testamento en su estancia de Chimbarongo y fundo una capellania de misas. Por sus servicios militares obtuvo encomienda de indios en Colchagua y murió en 1672. El sabio Medina anota que la Real Audiencia le recomendó al rey como persona ilustre y benemérita en 1626.

Translation:

He left for the Indies with a destination of the war in Chile on the fields of Arauco in 1601. He arrived enrolled in the troop that accomanied the governor Alonso de Ribera, considered the organizer of the royal army in Chile. He was part of the company under the leadership of Captain Gines de Lillo and assisted in the battles of Santa Fe and Tlcahuano. By 1628, he had already attained the rank of Captain.

Settling in Chillan, where he was Field Marshal and Mayor in 1640, he created his home and was part of the cofraternity of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios. He had to abandon the town with his family after its destruction of the town by the rebel Araucos. His wife contributed to the marriage with a significant dowry including an estate and land. Vergara, with his wife and children, sought refuge in a safer area and obtained a rich portion of land in Colchagua. He was one of the benefactors of the convent of the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy in Chimbarongo. In 1658 he traveled to Peru after completing his will in Valparaiso. Four years later, he authored another will at his estate in Chimbarongo and founded a chapel there. For his military service he received an encomienda of indians in Colchagua and died in 1672. Media notes that the Real Audiencia recommended he be recognized by the king in 1626.

Source: rodovid.org from data entered by me