Castro family

The Castro family was one of the two (the other being the Rodriguez family) largest and most influential groups of Californio immigrants/colonists to settle in Santa Cruz County (and elsewhere in California).

• Joaquin Isidro - Came to California as a soldado in the de Anza party of 1776, with his wife Martina Botiller and 8 children. After his death at Monterey in 1802, Martina moved to Santa Cruz.
  • Joaquin - age 7 in 1776. Following army service, Joaquin was granted a homesite in Branciforte as an invalido. Of the surviving children:
    • Rafaela (1799-1841) - married Francisco Rodriguez
    • Rafael (1803-1878) was grantee of Rancho Aptos, and is buried at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Aptos.
      • Maria Rafaela (1837-1857) married A. J. Eldon and died at age 20 - probably in childbirth.
    • Martina (1807-1890) - married 3 times: Simon Cota, Michael Lodge, and Louis Depeaux (Riptide CE23)
      • Carmelita Castro Lodge married Thomas Fallon
      • Louisa married France-born Jean Richard Fourcade (Rowland p.161)
      • Maria Antonia (1834-1915) married Henry Winegar Peck
      • Maria Elena (1836-1904) married Joseph Littlejohn
      • Maria Guadeloupe Castro Lodge married France-born Joseph Averon
      • Maria Josefa Castro Lodge married Lambert Clements
    • Candida married Josef Bolcoff
    • Maria de los Angeles married Joseph Majors
  • Carlos - born during the 1776 march. Mayor domo of Mission Santa Cruz in 1812.

Elsewhere in California:

• Juan B. Castro, (Castroville founder, cousin of Gen. Juan Castro, nephew of Pio Pico), profiled in: Memorial and Biographical History of the Coast Counties of Central California (1893), p433.