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Steven ; to say you answered my question is an
understatement, I can't believe you included a map. You are a very
good writer and a great guy. I thank you very much.
Jose L. Macias
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, July 26, 2003 2:06
AM
Subject: [ranchos] Jamay, Jalisco
Hello everyone,
I thought I should take some time
to respond to some queries regarding whether or not Jamay, Jalisco, actually
exists or if it has been abandoned. Nothing could be further from the
truth. Jamay is a small but nice town overlooking Lake Chapala. It
is between Ocotlán and La Barca along the Carretera
Guadalajara-México,D.F. I have been there a few times. I remember
climbing the steps with my mom, dad, brothers, aunt, and my "Abuelita Lupe" up
to the church of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe on top of a hill when I was 8
years old. I pass by there all the time whenever I go visit my family in
Ocotlán. My mom was born in the town of Cuitzeo, just next door to
Ocotlán (on the other side of the river). My grandfather was born in "El
Xoconoxtle" northeast of Ocotlán. Both my mom and her dad were baptized
in the parish church in Ocotlán. My mom has many fond memories of
Ocotlán, Cuitzeo, Jamay, and La Barca where she and my grandparents visited
frequently, and sometimes lived. My dad and his parents, lived in
Ocotlán for quite some time also. That's where my mom and dad met and
were married through the Registro Civil. Both my paternal and maternal
grandfathers died there in Ocotlán. I still have much family living in
Ocotlán, and they frequently mention Jamay, go there, or pass by there on
their way to La Barca. In 1995, after my Ocotlán relatives had bought
some fish directly from some local fishermen on the shore of Lake Chapala, we
cleaned them and had a nice "fritanga" with the whole family at a reunion
picnic in a pavillion right by Jamay, on a hill overlooking Lake
Chapala. There are some really nice views out there. See the map
below or visit http://www.maps-of-mexico.com/jalisco-state-mexico/jalisco-state-mexico-map-c2.shtml
Here's a 360-degree panoramic view from the top of Cerro de
Jamay http://www.jamayjalisco.com/360.jpg
Regarding
Portezuelo, that is both a small town and a hill in the jurisdiction of La
Barca. Presently Portezuelo has a population of about 2,650.
Zona arqueológica “Las Calles”,
localizada en las faldas del cerro de Portezuelo; en donde se encuentran
vestigios de lo que pudo haber sido un centro ceremonial o una fortaleza. Las
piedras que forman la rudimentaria construcción no presentan ningún tipo de
argamasa o revestimiento; y su antigüedad se ha calculado de 2,000 a 2,500
años. http://www.e-local.gob.mx/enciclo/jalisco/mpios/14018a.htm
There
are many place names all over Jalisco named San Agustín, and even more all
over the rest of Mexico. In the region discussed, near Ocotlán and La
Barca, San Agustín could be a small town north of Ocotlán, near
Tototlán. It could also be a Rancho located on the border between the
municipios of Jesús María and Degollado (a little north of La Barca), near a
hill by that name. Or it could also be a reference to the old name of
the modern-day city of Ayotlán, which used to be called Ayo el Chico, and
which used to be called before that San Agustín de Ayo el
Chico.
Even though my ancestors came from further north, Los Altos,
I have done much resarch in Jesús María, Arandas (#1), Ayo el Chico (#2),
Ocotlán, and La Barca. I also know some fellow researchers who have done
extensive work in these, as well as Jamay and Zamora, Michoacán. Check
the Family History Library Catalog and you'll see that Ocotlán has records
going back to 1610, La Barca back to 1684, and Jamay has records going back to
1746. Pretty impressive for a town that does not even exist. These
records are not in Durango either. They are right where they are
supposed to be.
And about the "French Myth." This absurdity needs
to be done away with as soon as possible. Although there are documented
cases of French families in Mexico, in Jalisco it is even less likely.
It all stems from the fact that some families or individuals were
light-skinned or had colored eyes. Saying that so-and-so was French or
had French ancestry sounds a lot more exotic than just plain old Mexican, or
even worse Spanish. In my family because my grandfather had blue eyes,
brown hair, and fair skin (as did his father), family tradition and legend
said that he was of French descent, probably from some soldier of Maximilian's
troops. Besides, most of Maximilians troops were Austrian and not even
French. As I researched my grandfather's roots, which are López,
Salcido, Flores, and Aguirre, I quickly realized that the whole French thing
was bunk. I discovered that his ancestry was 100% Mexican, a mix of
Españoles, Indios, and Mestizos. Some of my most important Indian lines
come from my grandfather Agustín López Salcido's ancestry, who ironically
enough was white enough to be considered French. I've heard other
stories just like mine. If someone out there finds out that they REALLY
had French ancestors, I will be quite surprised. I'll even eat hat with
mustard on top, as they say.
Well then, if anybody has any questions or
comments...well, you know.
Au revoir mes amis.
Steven
Francisco Hernández López.
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