Benigno Escajeda (abt. 1831 - 1919)

Born about Feb 1831 in San Elizario, Province of Texas, Mexico

Ancestors

Husband of Petra Maria Micaela del Angelo (Salazar) Escajeda — married 4 Jul 1864 in San Elizario, El Paso, Texas, United States

Descendants

Died 27 Jun 1919 at about age 88 in San Elizario, El Paso, Texas, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Natalie Cotton [send private message]

Biography

Benigno Escajeda was born in Mexico.

Benigno was born about 1831 in San Elizario, Province of Texas, Mexico to his mother Antonia Escageda.^[1]

He married Petra Salazar on July 4, 1864 in Socorro, Texas, USA. ^[2]

He passed away on June 27, 1919 in San Elizario, Texas, USA at the age of 88. ^[3]

The El Paso Herald-Post's obituary for him read: "Manuel Escajeda Jr., custodian at the county court house, received word Friday morning of the death of his grandfather, Beningno Escajeda, at San Elizario, Friday morning at an early hour. The dead man was 88 years old. He was born and reared in San Elizario and was widely known in that district as an enterprising farmer." ^[4]

Research Notes

His paternity is uncertain. There have been no baptismal records found for Benigno, and the baptismal records of his children only cite their paternal grandmother, Antonia Escageda, with no grandfather mentioned.

However, the 1841 census by the District of El Paso of the Presidio of San Elizario finds his mother Antonia Escageda listed as 50 years old and "viuda" (widowed). Her sons Benigno, Encarnacion and Onofre (aged 7, 8 and 10), are all living with her, but their surnames are given as Olguin, hinting that their father's surname was also Olguin. ^[5]

Additionally, an 1821 baptismal record for a María Josefa Tranquilina (the daughter of Marcelo Escajeda, a soldier at the San Elizario presidio) cites her godparents as Juan Olguin and Antonia Escageda.^[6] If the Antonia listed is Benigno's mother, then Juan Olguin is likely Benigno's father.

Military rosters also list a "Don Juan de Olguin" as an alfarez (captain) at the San Elizario presidio in 1818.^[7] This is possibly the same Juan Olguin, as it would provide context for Juan knowing the Escajeda family, since Marcelo Escajeda (who shares a family name with Antonia), was a soldier at the presidio by at least 1821. However, his brother, Jose Franco de Paula Escajeda, is documented in El Paso del Norte as early as 1798. (Oddly, Marcelo doesn't seem to be listed any of the military rosters for the El Paso area at any point in time. The 1818 roster that listed Juan Olguin does, however, list a Jose Escageda as an officer in the calvary). ^[8]

Prior to 1798, there do not appear to have been any Escajedas residing in El Paso del Norte. ^[9]

Sources

1. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/113492216/benigno-escajeda: accessed 23 September 2022), memorial page for Benigno Escajeda (Feb 1831–27 Jun 1919), Find a Grave Memorial ID 113492216, citing San Elizario Cemetery, San Elizario, El Paso County, Texas, USA; Maintained by Ana Anaya (contributor 47860413) .
2. ↑ "Texas Marriages, 1837-1973", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2MN-X9F : 22 January 2020), Benigno Escageda, 1864.
3. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/113492216/benigno-escajeda: accessed 23 September 2022), memorial page for Benigno Escajeda (Feb 1831–27 Jun 1919), Find a Grave Memorial ID 113492216, citing San Elizario Cemetery, San Elizario, El Paso County, Texas, USA; Maintained by Ana Anaya (contributor 47860413) .
4. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/113492216/benigno-escajeda: accessed 23 September 2022), memorial page for Benigno Escajeda (Feb 1831–27 Jun 1919), Find a Grave Memorial ID 113492216, citing San Elizario Cemetery, San Elizario, El Paso County, Texas, USA; Maintained by Ana Anaya (contributor 47860413) .
5. ↑ San Elizario, Texas 1841 Census, compiled by Syl Fernandez Magdaleno, 2020. https://www.dropbox.com/s/ap2eyu2h66p58h2/San%20Elizario%201841%20Census%20Panes.pdf?dl=0.
6. ↑ "México, Chihuahua, registros parroquiales y diocesanos, 1632-1958," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6F7F-PG?cc=1521780&wc=3J1R-3TR%3A69036401%2C69036402%2C69036403 : 1 October 2020), San Lorenzo del Real > Misión de San Lorenzo del Real > Bautismos 1777-1847 > image 148 of 428; parroquias Católicas, Chihuahua (Catholic Church parishes, Chihuahua).
7. ↑ Military Enlistment Records of El Paso del Norte 1782-1818. Cuidad Juarez Municipal Archives, 513 pt. 2 roll # 11. https://aaron-magdaleno.site123.me/military-rosters
8. ↑ Military Enlistment Records of El Paso del Norte 1782-1818. Cuidad Juarez Municipal Archives, 513 pt. 2 roll # 11. https://aaron-magdaleno.site123.me/military-rosters
9. ↑ Archives Of the Ciudad Juarez Cathedral, Mexico Cuidad Juarez. MF 489 roll 14 Census of El Paso 1815-1817. University of Texas at El Paso. https://www.dropbox.com/s/8w170gyvlidw7jb/1816%20Paso%20Del%20Norte%20Census%20(2).docx?dl=0.