My grandmother from Spain?

Question

I'm an American and Floridian, my family has roots in North Carolina but I have always longed to go to Spain. Well imagine my surprise when my mother told me that one of my ancestors was from Spain, I'm not sure if she was my great or great-great grandmother. Supposedly she was from Spain but I can't believe someone would leave a wonderful place like that (yeah, I know franco was bad but that was after her time? and the Spanish immigrants weren't as common in this country as Irish, Italian, etc.

I would love to know more about her, was she really from Spain, and why on earth she came here, what part of Spain she was from? All I know is her first (olivia) and last name (which must have been her married name, King, because that is English). I saw a picture of her and she looked more Mexican than anything (well if she was Mexican that's cool because I love Latin culture). I'm just dying of curiosity.

If you can help me, thanks.

Answer 1

I think it is absolutely wonderful that you want to find out more about your family and that you are absolutely amazed that a culture you feel close to may be part of your family tree.

But, I think you are making all kinds of assumptions.  The Latin culture is one thing and the history of an area another.  There are all kinds of reasons that people leave their home country and lots of reason throughout history that people left Spain.



Have you heard of the Spanish Inquisition?  I know I am talking the 15th century, but a huge group of people left Spain.  It is thought that some of the crew members of Columbus were Jewish and although the ship was scheduled to leave on the 3rd, Columbus insisted it leave on August 2nd 1492.  This happened to be the day that Ferdinand and Isabella had decreed that  all Jews of Spain had to depart the country.

As for North Carolina, we always think the grass is greener.  So, if you have lived your entire life there, you are wondering why anybody would have an interest in an area that you may not find so exciting.

I don't know why folks immigrated there, but suspect that there was lots of opportunity after the U.S. Civil War during the time of Reconstruction.  People with money might have gone there to invest.  Also, at some point I think that there were factories built, so, there most likely were jobs working in textile mills. You might want to read a bit on the beginning history of NC.  Spanish and French explored the area back in the day.

Wendy C.'s answer is on target.  Sometimes we get so excited and think that we can solve a family mystery immediately.  But, if you have patience and research in a meticulous way, you will find out more and your information will be accurate.

Answer 2

In order to find facts about Olivia. you'll need to separate "why" or assumptions from very very specific details.  The way to locate those details is based on working from the present, back.. and you always need to have documentation.  Example.. you descend from a child of Olivia's (not clear if male/female).  Say that this child is someone who died near you, or you know of locations. Obtaining records for THAT person will enable you to find records regarding his/her father or mother.  If he was born in 1928.. that will immediately confirm that she was living as late as that time. When you obtain a record of his birth (hopefully his birth certificate), it should include her maiden name. It also should be on her death certificate.

Persons in the US prior to 1930 will normally be findable on the 1930 census, which will give you more info.. ie not only her birth place, but that of her parents.  

Please, take my word for this (and the others here with experience).. you can try 'jumping' without the records, but it will bite you, and you'll have to back up to get them.  Once you reach those documents concerning Olivia, you will know which direction you need to go next.

I do hope you enjoy it.. it really can be addictive.

Answer 3

I don't want to be 'picky' really, but I would think that if your gt/grandmother was indeed Spanish, she could easily have lived in Spain during Franco's regime, and possibly also your gt.gt.grandmother. It obviously depends entirely upon when they were born !

Spain was not exactly the Utopia you imagine in the years preceding Franco either, I believe many people would have wanted to leave.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarchism_i...

General Franco was born in 1892. In October 1936, Franco was appointed generalissimo of Nationalist Spain and head of state. This had the support of all those various factions on the right. In November 1936, n**i Germany and Fascist Spain recognised Franco as the legitimate ruler of Spain. His government was recognised as legitimate by the French and the British in February 1939. In April 1939, America recognised Franco as head of Spain.

When he died in November 1975, the monarchy was restored when Prince Juan Carlos became head of state, as Franco had decreed.

http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/gen...

Possibilities concerning her married name of King, the Spanish have for many years sought employment in other countries of Europe, France, adjoining Spain would be the first stop over for many, England is then also very close, many English also worked in France and Spain.



Both during and after the First World War (1914-1918), France continued to actively recruit foreign workers for its munitions factories (during WWI, of course) and to help resolve its domestic labour shortage once the war had ended. Polish immigrants were particularly numerous and by 1931 represented half of all the foreign workers in the mining industry. Politics played an important role too with many political exiles entering France from Italy (after Mussolini's accession in 1922) and Spain (both during and after the Civil War of 1936-39).

http://seacoast.sunderland.ac.uk/~os0tmc...