Asturian-American Migration Forum

Hello fellow Asturian descendants!

I've just recently received additional information about my family history. I'd love to learn more and get closer to my roots.

My great grandfather's name was David Rene Martinez and he lived in San Martin de Laspra, Asturias. I hear that he had a brother named Eloy Martinez.

His parents names were Manuel Martinez and Peregrina Fernandez. I do not have confirmation if they were all from that area.

In any case David Rene Martinez emigrated to Cuba at some point. I have the history from them on. But I'd like to get more details on the Asturian side of the family. Any ideas on how to proceed? I've been searching the internet to no avail.

Thank you so much for any information the group can provide!

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The following is a machine translation/la siguiente es una traducción automática:


Hola compañeros asturianos descendientes!

Recientemente he recibido información adicional sobre la historia de mi familia. Me encantaría aprender más y estar más cerca de mis raíces.

El nombre de mi bisabuelo era David René Martínez y vivía en San Martín de Laspra, Asturias. He oído decir que él tenía un hermano llamado Eloy Martínez.

Sus nombres de los padres fueron Manuel Martínez y Peregrina Fernández. Yo no tengo la confirmación de si todos fueran de esa zona.

En cualquier caso, David René Martínez emigró a Cuba en algún momento. Tengo la historia de ellos sucesivamente. Pero me gustaría tener más detalles sobre el lado asturiano de la familia. ¿Alguna idea sobre cómo proceder? He estado buscando en internet sin ningún resultado.

Muchas gracias por cualquier información que el grupo puede proporcionar!

My family is from Salinas (Martinez and Artime(z)) and Samartn de Laspra (Fernandez and Inclan), but I don't recognize and of the names you posted as ancestors or relatives of mine. Martinez, in particular, is an extremely common name. My grandfather had two brother (Emilio, who went to Venezuela, and Manuel, who lived in the US for while, returned to Spain, and eventually settled in Mexico City) and three sisters (Obdulia, Virginia and Laura, all of whom stayed in Asturias)

If you travel there, you can look at the names on grave in the cementerio de Samartin de Laspra, right next to the church. The woman who has the keys to the church knows everyone and their history (at least back in 1999, when I visited), but tends to be closed mouthed with people she doesn't know. You can write to the pastor there. The Diocese of Oviedo should be able to give you his name. The pastor of the Catholic church in Salinas is very friendly, but that church was founded in 1954, and he has no records that would be helpful.

If you locate tne gravesite, you may not find your ancestor''s bones. After so many years the graves (essentially rentals) are opened and the bones moved to a common ossuary, although some of the graves do appear to be permanent.

Thank you soooo much for the information!

I will definitely contact them for my trip.

Interestingly, there are quite a few Emilios on that side of my family and I do know that we had family that went to Venezuela (in fact, they were the ones to help my parents get out of Cuba) -- most of them are now in Miami.

Let me ask my father and perhaps he can get in touch with that side... see what else we can dig up.

Thanks so much Bob for the super-prompt reply! Perhaps we're even related!

I forgot to mention that my dad's cousin, Maria Suarez, lived in Piedras Blancas, just west of Samartin de Laspra, and that we met her there in 1999. I still have a book that she gave me, and a wonderful photo taken right after we left the restaurant (El Congreso) of my dad and Maria walking close together, into the sun away from the camera.

To give you an idea how closed mouthed some of the aldeanos can be, the woman at the church who we told that we were looking for Maria passed word to her but said nothing to us. After two days a looking for her, when we finally located her she was a bit annoyed. She had been waiting for for us, all dressed up for dinner, for two whole days. We had to explain what had happened.

Maria died a few years later, but she has a niece and nephew who travels to Puerto Rico every year for the horserace season (he is a farrier), and returns to Piedras Blancas for the rest of the year. I can't remember his name.

Hola,yo vivo en Piedras-Blancas a 1km de San Martin de Laspra,intentaré buscar algo.Has intentado ponerte en contacto con el juzgado de paz de CASTRILLON asturias (internet).

quizas te pueda servir este enlace

si existe acta de nacimiento te la envían, ten en cuenta que muchas no existen, el juzgado data de 1873,creo

[Art: Quité el correo. No se permite pegar un correo en el foro.]