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First Guam Citizens to Fly on Commercial Pan American Hawaiian Clipper

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Written by: Bernard Punzalan

Published: 26 February 2014

In January 1937, the Guam Recorder reported that Trinidad T[orres] Calvo and Julia M[illinchamp] Martinez had the honor of being the first Guam citizens to make a regular commercial flight aboard the Hawaiian Clipper from Guam to Manila that departed on January 22, 1937.

Dela Cruz-Anderson Lineage

Upon a further review of my family tree and records, I found out that I am related to both of them. Apparently, we are all descendants of Doña Josefa Dela Cruz and Don Juan (John) Anderson. Both Tun Da' and Tan Julia are descendants of Juan dela Cruz Anderson and I am a descendant of Jose (Che') dela Cruz Anderson.

Trinidad Torres Calvo (January 6, 1906 – September 18, 1948)

Julia Millinchamp Martinez (July 3, 1903 - February 15, 1985)

Historical Big Picture...research in progress

To some at first glance this may not seem like that big of a deal. But in my world there's a bigger historical picture tied to these families that are descendants of my Great-Great-Great Grandparents Josefa dela Cruz and John (Juan) Anderson that I hope to one day better synthesize. For those not familiar with some of my stories, I have bits and pieces that I have previously wrote about so those stories are available here on this project.

Mangåffan Matå'pang

In short, Don Juan Anderson is a Scottishman that arrived in the Mariana Islands in 1819 aboard the French Uranie ship, settled on Guam, and married Josefa dela Cruz. He became the Pilot of the harbor, port for incoming and outgoing ships. Through family lore, Josefa is allegedly a descendant of Måga'låhi Matå'pang.

Somehow Josefa, is related (sister, cousin or niece) to Don Justo Dela Cruz, Captain of the First Company of Spanish Infantry, Secretary to the Governor and the Administrator of the Royal College of St. Jean de Letran. Don Justo is recorded as being a descendant of Måga'låhi Matå'pang.

Through land records we have been able to establish that the Mangåffan Terrao (tied to the Dela Cruz/Cruz) are descendants of Don Justo Cruz. Hence, they are also descendants of Måga'låhi Matå'pang. Still yet, more research work on this effort remains a work in progress...sigh.

Trans-Pacific Trade/Whaling/Migration

Through the Anderson lineage and connection, are the Calvo, Tudela, Castro, Millinchamp, and many others whose names appear in historical documents with regards to key Spanish government positions, trans-Pacific business/trade transactions and events in the 1800's. They all appear to have frequented or were tied to trade and travel throughout the Philippines, Bonin Islands (today known as Ogasawara Islands), sometimes Hawaii/Polynesia and certainly throughout the Micronesian rim. Descendants of some of these family members may have migrated out (for sure in Bonin Island history). Also, there are bits and pieces these stories tied to whaling, Bully Hayes, and blackbirding. If you don't know about the history of the Bonin Islands, Hayes or blackbirding, Guampedia.com and Google are your friends that make for quite interesting reads.

It is so exciting and yet quite a challenge to piece all of this together. I have learned the hard way and through this project not to be so quick to discard what may seem to be initially irrelevant, but later a evolves into major and profound piece of information.

Guam Agricultural and Industrial Fair of 1934

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Written by: Bernard Punzalan

Published: 19 February 2014

While I am not too familiar with the history of the Guam Agricultural and Industrial Fair, I have found that it was an event that initially began in 1917. This initiative was part of an effort towards developing the agricultural resources on Guam through the Guam Agricultural Experiment Station. Part of the Fair included an elective Queen contest for the fair and also a host of representatives from certain villages.

In 1934, the election results for the Fair's Queen were:

• Queen Hannah Ann Flores Chance

• Amanda Pangelinan Guzman, runner up

• Dorothea Lujan Garrido, 2nd runner up

Queen Hannah I's attendants were:

• Miss Harriett Chance
• Miss Maria J. Ojeda
• Miss Maria C. Torres

The Princesses of the Villages were:

• Enriqueta T. Carbullido, Miss Agat
• Gloria B. Cruz, Miss Yona
• Maria D. Duenas, Miss Inarajan
• Rita C. Franquez, Miss Machanao
• Joaquina G. Gogue, Miss Merizo
• Amanda Pangelinan Guzman, Miss Agana
• Victoria C. Leon Guerrero, Miss Barrigada
• Regina C. Quan, Miss Sumay
• Maria S. Quinata, Miss Umatac
• Ceferina F. Sablan, Miss Dededo
• Regina B. Santos, Miss Asan
• Beatrice T. Torres, Miss Yigo
• Maria U. Torres, Miss Piti
• Maria C. Wolford, Miss Talofofo

Source: Guam Recorder, June 1934

Database Update 14 February 2014

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Written by: Bernard Punzalan

Published: 13 February 2014

The database has been updated and has grown from 309,745 to 310,462 names.

Dolores Diaz Cruz: Oldest Resident on Guam 1925

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Written by: Bernard Punzalan

Published: 12 February 2014

In the October 1925 Guam Recorder, Mrs. Dolores Diaz Cruz from Umatac was claimed to be the oldest living inhabitant of Guam. Although, there were no birth records available to support this claim, she was believed to have been 102 years old and therefore possibly born in the year 1823. Some facts reported in the Guam Recorder article about Tan Lole':

• She was born in Agana, but lived most of her life in Umatac
• Her father was Antonio Diaz, "an old resident of the Island."
• She got married at the age of 25.
• She had six children. At the time, one of her sons was living in Rota, one daughter living in Manila, and one son living in Agana.
• She recalled from her childhood that the village of Umatac was the most important city on Guam and port frequented by Spanish ships. Umatac also served as a summer residence for Spanish Governors.

From this article and checking my available records, I have not been quite successful in linking Tan Lole's family with the past and present. Given her age, my first potential earliest record of finding any information on her may be in the Spanish 1897 Census.

However, there were only two people listed with the name Dolores Diaz (given the time period, I must search on her maiden name). One was born about 1835 and married to Dionicio Charfauros and residing in Agat. So, I am wondering if Tan Lole' may have been married more than once.

The other Dolores Diaz recorded in the 1897 Census was born about 1842 and married to Don Justo [Sanchez] de Leon Guerrero and residing in Agana. But I have ruled her out since Don Justo was listed as a widower in the 1920 Census.

Perhaps the hottest clue I have also comes from the 1920 Census, where I think I found Tan Lole listed as Dolores D. Cruz, age 95, a widow, whose relationship is listed "Grandmother," to Juan T[aitano] Charfauros (head of household) and his family in Umatac.

Juan was married to Carlota/Carlina Guzman Cruz. The reason why I have Juan's wife listed with two names is because her name is recorded as Carlota in the 1897 Census while in her 1972 funeral announcement she is listed as Carlina Cruz Charfauros.

With Carlina's funeral announcement and other records I am able to determine that she is the daughter of Antonio Leon Guerrero Cruz and Josefa Cruz Guzman, whose families are linked to the Manggåfan Gutgoho (historically the spelling of this clan name varies).

So because Carlina's maiden name is Cruz, this also left me wondering if Tan Lole' is actually the grandmother of Carlina rather than her husband Juan Taitano Charfauros as recorded in the 1920 Census.

Anybody or family member out there willing to set the record straight and provide more information on the family of Dolores Diaz Cruz? I, for one, would certainly appreciate it.

Just another day in the life of a Chamorro genealogist...