Welcome to The Past Lane.

Fair Warning: Forever, I have had a strong desire to be connected with my ancestors. My forbears are all pioneer stock who either came through Nauvoo, Illinois or immigrated shortly after settlement started in Utah. My husband's lines are the same. I began research when there were no census indexes, computers, or other aids like those available now. Because I copied my older family member's information by hand, their names and relationships became imbedded in my memory. As my own family grew, time was more limited, but there has always been an attraction to conferences and classes to help learn more. In the late 1980's, I was able to earn a one year BYU Certificate with emphasis in British research and a bit of German. In the 1990's I worked for Ancestry.com long enough to polish my skills in US Research. Now, in 2010, I bask in the opportunity to learn more - either enough to earn accreditation, a degree, or both.

So, Why the Blog? Well, to start with, it is an assignment :-). and, a focus is necessary. With experiences in research to record and share, I have chosen a focus on research tidbits. Unfortunately, most are exciting at the time, but quickly forgotten.



Sunday, March 21, 2010

What Now?

Since Brihuega was losing occupants to the new world, their textile business was slipping. The immigrants sailing across the Atlantic to new homes were settling in. Most of their business was in Wool fabrics with a small percentage of linen. Then the Puebla in New Spain (Mexico in 1821) brought in more immigrants for an experiment in Silk production. Each family was given a house with vineyards, irrigated orchards with mulberry trees as well as land for fig trees and other crops. The inhabitants of Puebla found it difficult to change to the different method of making cloth and the cultivation required for raising silk worms. The silk industry slipped into the background and the inhabitants of Puebla were occupied with the creating and governing of a town as well as making their livings in the business of making cloth.
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Thursday, March 4, 2010

Success in New Spain

The Brihuega area was known for making excellent cloth and textiles, and many artisans left their homes in Spain and went to New Mexico to live. It was a long journey to go by ship from Spain to Mexico City, and even longer to travel by foot from Mexico City to Santa Fe, New Spain, aka New Mexico.

They became very successful and were furnishing cloth to all parts of the world. They even had a system for borrowing seed money to start up their businesses. A very successful weaving family would produce 4 or 5 bolts of cloth a year. If they were just getting by, they would produce 2 or 3.
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Wednesday, March 3, 2010

AHA moment

After the Pueblo Revolt, the Spanish left the Indians alone for about 20 years, and then they sent more settlers in for what they called the "Recolonization". The family I am working on has ancestors in that group.

Thanks to the HBLL, I was able to borrow a book Transatlantic ties in the Spanish empire : Brihuega, Spain, & Puebla, Mexico, 1560-1620.

The AHA moment told me immediately the suspected error in spelling has been resolved!

It seems the Brihuega area in Spain specialized in weaving and cloth making. They brought all they needed to set up shop in the Santa Fe area of New Mexico. You probably already know Santa Fe was one of the earliest settlements in the United States.
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