The author researched this five-hundred-year family history extensively and took five years to write the book—and it was worth the wait. During a time when our neighbors from the South are often disparaged and misunderstood, this story helps establish the role people from Mexico and Native Americans had in settling the areas on both sides of our southern border.
Bernadette Inclan is the ideal person to tell this story: “My family has deep roots in the Americas. I am a descendant of the Conquistadors of New Spain, New Mexico, and Louisiana. In 2016, I received my certificate as an honoree of the First Families of Bexar County, Descendants of Joseph de Urrutia, Juana de Dios de Urrutia, and Ignacio Gonzalez Ynclan/Inclan. In 2021, the Order of the Descendants of El Cid was verified by lineal descent from José Miguel Sanchez Diaz, a gateway ancestor with noble descent from Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, El Cid.”
This first Cavazos family history memoir is based on real people and events. The narrative has mystery, romance, and fascinating characters with trailblazers, cattle barons, and descendants of the conquistadors, José Narciso Cavazos, his first wife, Maria Ignacia, and his scandalous relationship with his first cousin, Guadalupe. It asks questions about Narciso, who disappeared from history, and about the fate of El Agostadero De San Juan de Carricitos today.
The story leads the reader to El Templo de la Immaculata Concepción, searching for Auntie’s baptismal document. The narrator, Barbara, brings realism and humor to the interlacing stories of real-life issues for those raised and familiar with the Mexican American culture in Texas and anyone who has lived amongst Mexican American families.
The story begins when “Auntie” Eloisa Cavazos Diaz, invites her eighteen-year-old niece, Barbara Esquivel, on a road trip to Tampico, Mexico, in search of her baptismal certificate. During the twelve-hour drive through south Texas and into Mexico, Auntie tells Barbara the story about an overlooked ancestor, José Narciso Cavazos, to whom the King of Spain awarded 600,000 acres of Texas land, El Agostadero De San Juan de Carricitos, which skirt the Texas counties of El Agostadero.
Auntie brings to life how, in 1793, Narciso abandoned the aristocratic comforts of the established La Hacienda De Los Cavazos in Nuevo Leon, Mexico, to start something new, challenging, and full of obstacles in a barren landscape known to both Spain and Mexico as no man’s land. Auntie chronicles Narciso’s passion to not only slog through the wild pasture of Texas, but also to appease the Indians who saw their territory dwindling because of land grants the Mexican government freely gave away.
During the journey, the two come across historic plaques that paint a picture of the family’s legacy:”…Texas is the birthplace of the Cavazos name, the longhorn cattle, the vaquero cowboy, and, along with other grantees given Texas land by the king of Spain, gave rise to the Tejanos of Today.”
The authenticity of the story is confirmed by extensive “endnotes,” which, the author explains as, “I’m hoping that my extensive bibliography may someday encourage further scholarship in one of many Spanish ancestors who, beginning with the conquistadors in 1598, and along with the Spanish and Mexican people, changed Texas in numerous ways to make it the Texas of today.”
The cover is visually attractive and draws an emotional connection between Narisco in 1793 and Barbara in 1967, embarking on her grand adventure in their GTO. The Texas plains are shown without mountains, as is the case in southern Texas, and a palette of pastel colors brings out the Indian sunset.
I totally concur with one of the book’s reviewers: “I thoroughly enjoyed the story and how the author intertwined her family history into it. It was filled with humor and anticipation. I love the book cover. Looking forward to the next adventure.” Perhaps in the form of a movie?
About the Author:
Bernadette Inclan has deep family roots in the Americas as a descendant of the Conquistadors of New Spain, New Mexico, and Louisiana. Her memberships include the First Families of Bexar County, Joseph de Urrutia, Juana de Dios de Urrutia, and Ignacio Gonzalez Ynclan/Inclan, and a verified lineal descent from José Miguel Sanchez Diaz, a gateway ancestor with noble descent from Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, El Cid.
Bernadette’s 45-year career as a Medical Laboratory Professional shifted to creative writing in retirement. Her articles have been published in Somos Primos, the online genealogical magazine. A Time To Say Goodbye appeared in Inkslingers Anthology, Volume 5: Many Worlds Many Stories. Her published Family History Memoir, The Perils of Beginnings, won first prize in the Phoenix Writers Club Uta Behrens Contest.
Born and raised in Galveston, Texas, Bernadette graduated from Ursuline Academy. She first attended Incarnate Word College in San Antonio and earned a degree at the University of Texas at San Antonio. She received her training and Board Certification in Cytotechnology at the University of Texas Medical School in San Antonio. Graduate studies at Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University) were interrupted when she was promoted to Regional Cytology Manager of the West Division. She moved first to San Diego, CA, then Phoenix, AZ, where she now resides with her husband, Joseph. Bernadette has two sons, Stephen and Brian Coindreau, grandchildren Jamie and Dalton Essick, a great-granddaughter, Salem, and a new great-grandson, Alistair.
The Reviewer
Mark Walker was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Guatemala and spent over forty years helping disadvantaged people in the developing world. Walker’s three books are Different Latitudes: My Life in the Peace Corps and Beyond, My Saddest Pleasures: 50 Years on the Road, named Best Travel Book, and The Guatemala Reader: Extraordinary Lives and Amazing Stories. He’s written 80 book reviews, and of his 30 published essays, two were recognized by the Solas Awards for Best Travel Writing. He’s a contributing writer for “The Wanderlust Journal” and “Literary Traveler.” His column, “The Million Mile Walker Review: What We’re Reading and Why,” is part of the Arizona Authors Association newsletter. His honors include the “Service Above Self” award from Rotary International. He’s a Board member of SEEDS for a Future, Advance Guatemala, and the Arizona Authors Association. His wife and three children were born in Guatemala. You can learn more at www.MillionMileWalker.com