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My name is John David Inclan. I was born and raised on Galveston Island off the Gulf coast of Texas. As a small child my mother, Viola Otilia, would often tell my sister, Bernadette, and me bedtime stories. Her narratives included tales of Generals and Spanish Land Grants. My father, Encarnacion Esquivel Inclan was born on his mother’s ranch, the Hacienda de los Cavazos, near Vallecillo, Nuevo Leon (N.L.), in Mexico. One year my father took the family to Sabinas Hidalgo, N.L., near Vallecillo, for a LARGE reunion. It was here that I got to meet the families from Laredo, Vallecillo, Boca de Leones (Villaldama), and Monterrey. The reunion impelled the family to speak of past history and genealogy. At this particular trip my father took me to his mother’s ranch. He declared that, "as far as your eyes can see, and beyond, used to belong to us!" He stated that the ranch held three days of water rights. My father’s words disturbed me. Around 1978, I began searching my family "Roots." Thinking of the many obstacles researching in Mexico and in Spanish, I ignored my father's side and concentrated on my mother’s family tree. My mother’s family, the Canales of Brownsville, the Cavazos of Reynosa, (Tamaulipas), Mexico, and the Sanchez’s of Laredo, would be easier, or so I thought. They were the original Tejanos. While reaching back to the Rio Grand Valley in the year 1850, I began to note similar last names in both parent’s family trees! Keeping this in mind, I began research on my father’s family with greater enthusiasm. During my spare time, I research at the local libraries, Counties Courthouses, and Church Archives. My search at the local branch of the Church of the Latter Day Saints (LDS) directed me to a windfall of information on my ancestors. To date, I have compiled an extensive
family tree. I continue to add to this tree as I come upon new
information. If any names are omitted, this is not intentional. You will
find variations on the spelling of my surname, Ynclan, Inclan, and Enclan.
They are one and the same. |
You will find my ancestors in the early history of New Spain. A few of these ancestral names follow: Don Alonso de Estrada, the natural born son of "el Rey Fernando, el Catolico". The Onate-Zaldivar family of Zacatecas and pioneer colonizer’s of New Mexico. Captain Pedro Botello de Morales. Conquistador of Nuevo Leon Don Juan Bautista Sanchez de la Barrera, brother to the founder of Laredo Texas. The Cavazos and their large land grants in Texas. Captain Joseph de Urrutia, the Commander of the Presidio of San Antonio de Bexar, Texas. The General Canales of Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. This Website is an example of my families’ ancestors. John D. Inclan |
