Pedro Canonizado Magsaysay (1890 - 1931)

Born 18 Jan 1890 in San Antonio, Zambales, Philippines

Ancestors

Died 13 Nov 1931 at age 41 in San Quentin, Marin, California, United States

Biography

Pedro Magsaysay y Canonizado was born in San Antonio, Zambales on 18 January 1890, the son of Luis Magsaysay and Balbina Canonizado. He moved to the United States on 30 July 1913. He served as a wardroom steward for the United States Navy from 11 April 1917 until his discharge on 12 December 1919. Within a week of his discharge from the military, Pedro applied for citizenship of the United States, which was admitted. He was counted in the 1920 United States Census as a cook for Samuel P. Jones; between his discharge and the time of the census, he was living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Around 1929, Pedro was accused of murdering his foreman, Alejandro Pisigian, at the Ed Poulson ranch in Fresno, California. He claimed to have killed Alejandro in self-defense, but his plea was denied, and he was convicted of first-degree murder in a trial without recommendation. A motion for a new trial was made and denied; he was sentenced to death. Pedro received seven stays of execution on grounds that his act of murder was an act of self defense. At 10 a.m. on 13 November 1931, he was hanged at a prison in San Quentin, California; he was believed to be the first Filipino to be hanged for a crime in California. Despite this, he still received his honors for his service in the Navy with a gravestone at the San Francisco National Cemetery.

Sources

• "United States, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7YPY-SL2M : 23 October 2019), Pedro Canonisado Magsaysay, 12 Dec 1919; citing Military Service, NARA microfilm publication 76193916 (St. Louis: National Archives and Records Administration, 1985), various roll numbers.
• "Pennsylvania, Eastern District Petitions for Naturalization, 1795-1931," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP49-PBB3 : 16 September 2019), Pedro Magsaysay, 19 Dec 1919; citing Naturalization, United States, NARA microfilm publication M1522 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm .
• "Pennsylvania, Eastern District Petitions for Naturalization, 1795-1931," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP49-PBBS : 16 September 2019), Pedro Magsaysay, 15 Dec 1919; citing Naturalization, United States, NARA microfilm publication M1522 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm .
• "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MF1V-RCR : accessed 8 April 2020), Pedro Magsaysay in household of Samuel P Jones, Philadelphia Ward 39, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States; citing ED 1385, sheet 2B, line 71, family 28, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 1639; FHL microfilm 1,821,639.
• "California Death Index, 1905-1939," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKS9-42B6 : 8 November 2017), Pedro Magsaysay, 1931; citing 60501, Department of Health Services, Vital Statistics Department, Sacramento; FHL microfilm 1,686,049.
• "Hang Slayer of Fresno at San Quentin - Madera Tribune." California Digital Newspaper Collection. 13 Nov 1931. Accessed 7 Apr 2020.
• Find A Grave: Memorial #31997421