The first Romero that we can trace to is Francisco Xavier Romero, who came to New Mexico in 1693. He was a shoemaker and he practiced medicine. Two of his sons, Bernardo and Nicolas, had sons named Julian. One of the Julians died but parents weren't included in the burial record. Nicolas, Bernardo, and Julian (along with other Romero men) were part of the Truchas Land Grant of 1754. Julian Romero and Ana Teresa Montoya had a son named Salvador Manuel Romero. He married Maria Ramona Torres, and they had a son named Juan Antonio Romero. Juan Antonio Romero married Maria de La Luz Martinez, and they had a son named Jose Rumaldo Romero. At this point the Romero family had stayed in the Truchas area but sometime between 1860 and 1870, they moved to the Santa Barbara Land Grant that was near the Picuris Mission. Rumaldo Romero married Maria Dolores Fernandez and were the parents of Abel Romero (my grandfather) who was born about 1873. He married Bernardita Miera (his second marriage) and they were the parents of my mom, who is fondly remembered as "easy-going." I miss my Mom and Dad very much. They come from a very proud heritage and I hope I can bring honor to that heritage.
This month's family history lesson for the college stake is on military records. I have been able to locate WWII records for both my father and B's father. I have also found WWI records for both my grandfathers.
One of the most amazing military records is one I found for my 9th great-grandfather, Bernardo Miera y Pacheco. He was age 65 when he signed the military enlistment in 1779, and had recently returned home from the Dominguez-Escalante expedition of 1776-1777, having been the mapmaker. He was 5 feet 5 inches, with greying hair and eyebrows, blue eyes, with a grey beard, and a white rosy color. He was a member of the light dragoons -- his sons were members of the leatherjackets.
Because he was in the military in 1779, he is considered a New Mexico Patriot by the Daughters of the American Revolution. His maps were instrumental in the all of western US exploration. Lewis and Clark, John C. Fremont, even Brigham Young used the maps or had knowledge of them.
I'm sitting here by little D and I can say he's pretty "easy-going" except when he's hungry or has an uncomfortable diaper. He smiles at me.
