Genealogy has been one of my lifelong pursuits. In these pages, I strive to document what I have found in my historical research and provide a repository where relatives can learn more about our shared roots. I welcome any information that can help me learn more about our shared past!
My parents named me Raymond, after my maternal grandfather. He was Lebanese, and it was he who inspired within me a love for genealogy. As a child, he often told me extravagant stories from his past, ranging from our alleged descent from royalty to his father’s dealings with the mafia during the Roaring Twenties. Thus, my grandfather was both my namesake and the reason my ancestors began to pique my interest.
| Dad’s Paternal Ancestors My paternal grandfather was Humberto Puentes. His male line originated in Galicia, Spain, and his other ancestors were a mix of Andalusian noblemen and vegueros (Canary Islanders who migrated to Cuba and farmed tobacco). | Dad’s Maternal Ancestors My paternal grandmother was Neida Santos. Most of her ancestors were also vegueros, some of whom were instrumental in the settlement of western Cuba. She was a distant relative of Tranquilino Sandalio de Noda. |
| Mom’s Paternal Ancestors My maternal grandfather was Raymond Gasson Sr. He descended from Melkite Christians of the village of Ferzol, Lebanon. Ferzol was among one of the first Christian settlements established in the Beqaa Valley. | Mom’s Maternal Ancestors My maternal grandmother was Inés Gasson (née Vera). She had a Cuban-Lebanese father and a French-Cuban mother. Through her father, she was a direct descendant of Vasco Porcallo de Figueroa. |
I also maintain public family trees where I gather my research. They can be found on Geneanet and Wikitree. More information on my ancestral lines can be found at the links below, which are separated by line of descent. [WIP]
- Dad’s Paternal Ancestors
- Dad’s Maternal Ancestors
- Mom’s Paternal Ancestors
- Mom’s Maternal Ancestors
- Vera y Galera
- Derivet y Belón
For blog posts that I have written about my own genealogy, feel free to take a look below!
La Vida de Pierre Bélon
Un misterioso bebé abandonado en una canasta en Saint-Boès se convierte en el poderoso cafetalero francés-cubano Pierre Bélon, cuyo legado aún marca la historia de Yateras casi dos siglos después. Huérfano de origen bearnés, adoptado por la familia Domecq y emigrado adolescente a Cuba, Pierre pasa de capataz a dueño de haciendas, forjando alianzas con familias francesas y una descendencia junto a la mujer liberta Magdalena Chibás. Su fortuna, sus tierras y las oportunidades que brindó a otros inmigrantes consolidaron un linaje que aún hoy mantiene viva su memoria.
¿Quién engendró a Marcos Puentes? Una historia de dos familias migrantes con raíces en Paderne
Basándose en registros parroquiales, una línea de tiempo reconstruida y ADN autosómico, este investigación concluye que Francisco Pena de Adragonte, un jornalero soltero de Paderne, probablemente fue el padre de Marcos Puentes (bautizado en 1865 en Ferreira). Un segmento largo compartido en el cromosoma 2 triangula entre los descendientes de Francisco y los bisnietos de Marcos. El hermano de Francisco, Lino, sigue siendo una alternativa lejana debido a su matrimonio en el momento de la concepción de Marcos.
Who fathered Marcos Puentes? A tale of two migrant families with roots in Paderne
Drawing on parish records, a reconstructed timeline, and autosomal DNA, this report concludes that Francisco Pena of Adragonte, an unmarried day laborer from Paderne, was most likely the father of Marcos Puentes (baptized 1865 in Ferreira). A long shared segment on chromosome 2 triangulates between descendants of Francisco and Marcos’ great-grandchildren. Francisco’s brother Lino remains a distant alternative due to his marriage at the time of Marcos’ conception.
José de Aguilar-Amat, Lieutenant Governor of Pinar del Río
José de Aguilar-Amat was a Spanish military officer and colonial administrator, best known for his extensive service in Pinar del Río. During his tenure, he was noted for defending the interests of local tobacco growers (vegueros) and establishing one of the first organized postal services in the region.
Raymond Puentes 