Asturian-American Migration Forum

Dear AsturianUS,

I've been long searching for my ancestors from Asturias.
Recently, I got my DNA genotyped in 23andme and much
to my surprise they identified a strong DNA match (likely
probability to be a 3rd-4th cousin) with a US-born male
named "Robert Carlsen" with Northern European ancestry
(this is all the information they can provide to me). I have
all other genealogical branches pretty much worked out,
some down to 26 generations, and there are no Carlsen
in any of them. So, if this is a true positive match, this
could be a welcome lead to my unkonwn branch.

I've been trying to contact this Robert Carlsen without
success. And then I found your genealogy forum.

I'd be very much indebted to any of you, for sure much
used to work with genealogy sources in the US, that could
search for a "Carlsen" who ever married a lady from Asturias
(or Spain) or from Asturian parents, or whose mother was from
Asturias (or Spain).

If he is indeed a 3rd cousin of mine that means we should
go 5 generations back and thus an estimated year range to
look for could be between 1850 and 1900 (to be generous).

Very much looking forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards,

Jordi Mestres

Dear All,

In the meantime, I've been able to identify a possible CARLSEN that could have married a lady with Spanish ancestry:

- Robert Dudley CARLSEN (1925-2008) married Lydia Jiménez Vásquez (-2011)

- Lydia's mother was Guadalupe Vásquez (1889-1987), from Tlalcosahua, México

- Guadalupe's parents were Cipriano Vásquez and Calista Velásquez, both born in México

- Guadalupe's paternal grandparents were Francisco Vásquez and Josefa Torres, and maternal grandparents were Cirilo Velásquez and Juliana Rondán,
all of them born in México

Conclusions:

- Guadalupe Vásquez married three times; one of them, she married to a man who's surname was Jiménez, Lydia's father; I've not been able to identify this person yet; since Guadalupe's close ancestry is all from México, any potential link to Spain should come from Lydia's father

- I've not been able to confirm that Robert D. Carlsen and Lydia actually had any children and/or grandchildren; the Robert Carlsen that appears genetically linked to me in 23andme should be the grandson, or at least the son, of this couple

Any assistance on solving these two aspects would be highly appreciated.

Cheers, Jordi

Dear All,

I found another Robert Carlsen who married Katherine Rivera. They are from Florida, so chances are this "Rivera" may come from Cuba. And in Cuba there were many "Rivera" from Asturias that immigrated at the end of the 19th century.

Again, anyone with the possibility to dig deeper into it and provide me with confirmation of a genealogical connection to Asturias, would just be great.

Good weekend to all.

Cheers, Jordi