New Spain census problem! Please help!

Question

I've been doing a lot of research for a long time now and come across a lot of censuses about New Spain where my ancestors were from but two things have me stumped about one census. One involved my 6x great-grandmother, Maria de la Cerda. In the 1793 census, it states that she was from "the demolished town of Trinidad". My first thought was the island, Trinidad, since most people from New Spain where from different countries originally and also because Spain had a port there in Trinidad. But it does say "town" making me think it was either somewhere in Louisiana or Texas but I'm not sure. Does anyone know of any towns called Trinidad anywhere in the U.S. during this time? Or is it Trinidad the island?

 

My second problem was on the same census, my 5x great-grandmother, Marie de la Concepcion Morin, was listed as being "entre salbo" as her race. I know a lot of the different Spanish words for races or "castes" as they called them but this one is unfamiliar to me and even Google Translate as been unhelpful lol.

Comments

This may not answer your question but are you aware of this project?

US Southern Colonies Spanish Nueva España

 

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I was not but thank you for bringing it to my attention!

Answer 1

For the second question, could the phrase be "en tres albo," which means three quarters white?

Answer 2

It was in Panama, I believe.

Trinidad in New Spain

The coordinates given there point to a place in central Panama but no town shows there currently.

Comments

Hmmm that sounds about right! Wow, Panama. I didn't think it was there at all lol. But that would make sense because her mother was supposedly Caddo Native American yet that never showed up in my DNA although Colombian did and Colombia is right beside Panama. That's most likely how her Spanish father met her NA mother!! That would also make sense that it's not listed there anymore because the town had been demolished! Ah thank you so much, this is so helpful to me!

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You're very welcome. Glad I could help. :)

Answer 3

Sharon,

It might be "the town of Trinidad" you are looking for is this one:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinidad,_Texas

It was a small Spanish villa called "Santísima Trinidad de Salcedo" AKA "Trinidad" for short.

https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hvs43

Even though there seems to be a difference of some 40 years between the date it is been said to be eventually destroyed with regard to the date you have, this place may well be the one you are looking for.

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With regard to the aforesaid caste. It is "tresalbo":

"Someone three parts Indian and one part Spanish"

I hope this information helps you in your resarch.

Comments

Hmm, well it could be but this town is still in existence - denoting the fact that it isn't demolished. And since it said "demolished town of Trinidad", I would think it wouldn't be a town anymore... But it always could be, I'm not really sure to be honest.

 

Ah thank you so much! Well I know they were all or mostly Mestizo but when I saw that, I had no idea what it meant. Actually that goes along with what she was because her father was reported to be half Native American and her mother was Native American. So that makes sense now, thank you!!

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Ah I see what you meant now! yes, that does look like the right place!  Thank you so much!

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You´re welcome Sharon.

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Ruben

I followed your link, and it certainly said what you reported. In a discussion on Nuestros Ranchos several years ago Bill Figueroa interpreted this phrase as being "tres" = three and "albo" = white, thus 3/4 white, hence my comment above.

I have only infrequently seen the term tresalbo. The term castiza  is more common.

A person who is 3/4 Indian and 1/4 Spanish, a child of a mestizo and an India, was called a "coyote." I have seen this term quite often in the Mexican Church records.

George

Answer 4

There is, or was, a Spanish settlement on the banks of the Trinity River about 4-5 miles east, or north, of the current town of Midway, Texas.  It's exact location is still unknown.  It was destroyed by Lt. Col. Ignacio Elizondo of the Royal Spanish Army on or about 6 September 1813.  There is a census of the town from about 1807 in the book "Lost Spanish towns:  Atascosito and Trinidad de Salcedo,"  Epperson, Jean L.  The date of 1793 doesn't match, but I have access to the census and will check it for her name.