Angel

Fray Angélico Chávez commented that the Ángel family surname occurred infrequently and could not be traced effectively (ONMF: 126). Here is some information to begin to help outline the genealogy of this colonial New Mexico family.

The only Ángel family listed in the 1750 census of Santa Fe was that of Xavier Ángel and María Ramírez. The following individuals, apparently their children and a daughter-in-law, resided with this couple: Laurencio, María Jiménez, Gregorio, Miguel, Inés, Juana, and one unnamed child (Olmsted, Spanish and Mexican Censuses of New Mexico, 10).

Laurencio Ángel was married with María Antonia Jiménez by 1748 and had these known children, all baptized in Santa Fe (Parroquia de San Francisco de Asís): Juana Francisca Ángel, baptized 26 June 1749.; Lucía Ángel, baptized 18 December 1755; María Bárbara Ángel, baptized 30 April 1758; José Francisco Ángel, baptized 20 April 1761; Juan Miguel Ángel, baptized 24 April 1763; and, Rosa Rafaela Ángel, baptized 21 August 1765.

Gregorio Ángel and his wife, María Gertrudis Rodríguez had four children baptized in Santa Fe (Parroquia de San Francisco de Asís): Francisco Ygnacio Ángel, baptized 16 July 1765; María Rosa de Jesús Ángel, baptized 16 January 1773; José de Jesús Ángel, baptized 19 November 1775; and María Josefa Ángel, born 12 March 1785, baptized 14 March 1785.

The 1790 census of Santa Fe lists a Gregorio Ángel, age fifty-eight (born circa 1732). His racial designation was recorded as color quebrado (broken color), similar to the designation of other Ángel people of Santa Fe. His wife's name has been transcribed as Antonia Domínguez, age thirty-six (born circa 1754). In their household were two sons, ages twenty and seventeen, and four daughters, ages eighteen, sixteen, nine and seven.

Miguel Ángel was married with María Rosalía Urioste by 1761, and they had these known children who were all baptized at Santa Fe (Parroquia de San Francisco de Asís): María Silveria Ángel, baptized 22 June 1761; Gaspar Ángel, baptized 6 January 1764; María Polonia Ángel, baptized 10 February 1766 (padrinos: Manuel Paulín Rael and Juana Catarina Ángel); José Julián Ángel, baptized 23 February 1768; Juan Bartolomé Ángel, baptized 24 August 1772.; and, José Tomás Ángel, baptized 28 September 1775.

Miguel Ángel was deceased by 1790 when his widow and their eight children were enumerated in the 1790 census of Santa Fe as follows: "Rosalía Urioste, española, 52, widow; four sons: 19, 17, 15, 12, 3; three daughters: 16, 11, 9."

Inés Ángel was still single in 1790 when her age was given as fifty-nine (born about 1731), and she was described with the term color quebrado (broken color), a euphemism usually referring to some mixture of African, Indian and Spanish ancestry. Inés was listed immediately before the household of Paulín Rael and Juana Catarina Ángel, and just two households from Rosalía Urioste, the widow of Miguel Ángel. In her household was one son, age twenty.

Juana Catarina Ángel appears to be the same individual listed as Juana in the household of Xavier Ángel and María Ramírez. She was married with Manuel Paulín Rael. The 1790 census of Santa Fe lists this couple immediately after Ynés Ángel. Paulín Rael was identified as español, age sixty-one (born circa 1729). Juana Catarina was identified as color quebrado, age fifty-seven (born circa 1733). In their household were three sons, ages nineteen, sixteen, thirteen, one daughter, age seven, and one niece, age fifteen.

This couple had these twelve known children baptized in Santa Fe (Parroquia de San Francisco de Asís): María Rael, baptized 16 May 1755; José Julián Rael, baptized 11 February 1759; Felipe de Jesús Francisco Rael, baptized 9 February 1761; María Magdalena Rael, baptized 25 July 1763; Agustín Rafael Rael, baptized 1 September 1765 (padrinos: José Rael y Juliana Antonia Rodríguez); José Francisco Rael, baptized 20 November 1767; Gaspar Antonio Rael, baptized 7 January 1770; José Mariano Rael, baptized 24 February 1772; Ana María Rael, baptized 24 April 1774; Miguel Ramón Rael, baptized 12 May 1776 (padrinos: José López and Teresa Rael); José Julián Rael, español, baptized 22 January 1781; and, María Candelaria Rael, baptized 11 February 1783.

It appears that Xavier Ángel and María Ramírez were the progenitors of one Ángel family group of eighteenth century New Mexico.

Researcher: José Antonio Esquibel

Sources: Archives of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, Roll 15, Baptisms, Santa Fe; Virginia L. Olmsted, New Mexico Spanish and Mexican Colonial Censuses, 1790, 1823, 1845, Albuquerque, New Mexico Genealogical Society, 62, 68, 69.