Enjoy my latest draft from my next book coming out soon: A Tale of One Love, Many Worlds.

Beginning of Garcia’s

Love Story

Sadie: “Mami, what’s the farthest ancestor you know about on your Garcia side?”

Mami: “My 8^th GGfather Giovanni’s mother Geronima Batestina Batistina Bado Badi is the farthest relative I remember hearing about…She was born in Villa Arbisola, Genoa, Italy, in 1597 and died in 1647…Her son, your 9^th GG, would eventually leave for Spain, then Mexico, and that is how we came to be born, mija…We are direct descendants because of Papa Kiko,” she continued.

“Oh my, I remember reading about Genoa in school,” she excitedly tells her mom, “Christopher Columbus was from there, Mom…and I’ve also read that John the Baptist’s ashes arrived in that city in 1098! Wow!”

Upon studying the history of explorers and navigators before and during Giovanni’s era, Sadie understood her grandfather’s desire to depart from Genoa. Recognizing the achievements of Christopher Columbus, who hailed from the same region and discovered parts of America, it was evident that the Genoese people harbored ambitions as seafarers and merchants. Why wouldn’t he also want to explore the New World at a young age? Fortunately, he avoided the plague that decimated more than half of Genoa’s population when he left for Cadiz, Spain, in 1640 as a teenager.

Giovanni Battista Schiappapietra and Beatriz’s Love Story:

He was born Giovanni Battista Schiappapietra in a small Ligurian town near Genoa, Italy, in 1627. At thirteen, he sailed for Cadiz, Spain, aboard Il Cuore d’ Oro and emigrated to New Spain.   Several times during the crossing, they encountered treacherous seas, food shortages, and illness. 

“In truth, it was misery itself,” Chapa said. “The flota was a majestic sight from afar-twenty galleons in one powerful formation. But once I was on board and the ship began to heave in the open sea, it became a watery kind of hell. The vessel was so crowded that we had to take turns sleeping and resting in the center bow. The living quarters for the crew and passengers were cramped, airless, and full of stench far fouler than I had ever experienced-a putrid mix of vomit, urine, excrement, and something like spoiled milk. There were insects and rats everywhere-the more we threw overboard, the more seemed to spring from the bowels of the vessel-as if summoned by some witch’s incantation. Worse than anything, though, was the boredom; the days crept by so slowly that it drove many passengers a little mad.”

(The Enlightenment of Juan Bautista Chapa, by Anonymous, p. 132)

“I did not come for the riches or the women. Although I was then a poor man, I had continued to work in one of the Genovese trading houses of Cadiz, and I might have become a rich one. Richer, to be sure, than I am today. No, I journeyed because I felt a calling. God gave me intellect and ambition, and I dreamed of becoming something greater than a trader. I really don’t know what I was searching for. I just knew that there had to be something better and I strove to apply those gifts fully that God bestowed. I only hope with this Historia, at least I have achieved that goal of a larger purpose.” (p. 134)  

Once in New Spain, he traveled to the frontier region of Nuevo Leon and adopted the surname “Chapa” as was customary. Although he had aspired to be a priest, he instead built a long and distinguished career as the secretary and advisor to several Governors. He authored what became the first written history of Northeastern Mexico and Southeastern Texas from 1650 to 1690.

While researching her book, Sadie discovered a letter he wrote to his brother, Father Nicolo, residing in Cadiz, Andalucia. In the letter, he discussed his marriage to Beatriz.

        Today, I met the woman who will be my bride, Beatriz Treviño de Olivares, at her father’s invitation and in preparation for our upcoming marriage. She is eighteen years of age and, according to all reports, has a sweet and forthright nature. She is taller than I expected, and the good Lord has graced her with pretty features and a lively, intelligent gaze. 

I have anticipated our introduction for some time, but stammered and stuttered upon meeting her, scarcely able to say more than “At your service, señorita. I am honored to make your acquaintance.” She laughed at me a little, not unkindly, undoubtedly used to the awkward attention of hopeful suitors.

Don Alonso has been promoting the match with the girl’s father, General Juan the Olivares, for months, impressing on me the opportunity presented by marriage and praising my qualities as an administrator and confidant to the general. Don Alonso has come to rely on me immensely over the past three years; indeed, our relationship has grown to be rather friendly of late; it seems that he looks at me almost as a son, especially since his own is now so far away.

Don Juan de Olivares is descended from one of the earliest settlers in this Reino and has accumulated great wealth and esteem here. He has nearly 2000 head of cattle and almost 5000 sheep and goats. His hacienda of San Antonio de Pesqueria Chica has its flour mill, over 100 breeding mares, 12 fine war horses, and eight Negro slaves. He has a house in Monterey and one in Cadereyte, which he maintains at considerable expense. For a landless man to marry into such a wealthy and influential family is unusual. I can hardly believe my good fortune.

You must wonder, dear brother, why such a man would consider marrying his daughter to me, a landless foreigner without wealth or title of his own? I knew I was falling in love with her when I saved a year’s wages to buy her the most exquisite pendant I could find in my travels: heart-shaped sparkling glass pendant with angel wings adorned with amethyst, diamonds, rubies, jasper, sapphire, chalcedony, emerald, sardonyx, sardius, chrysolite, beryl, topaz, chrysopharus, jacinth, pearls and gold!

I cannot be an administrator here where they are scarce. Still, Don Juan could hire me for a price far less than his daughter’s, not to mention the dowry he would include on our wedding day.

To answer that query, I must confess to you (and you alone, dear brother) that there are persistent rumors (baseless, I’m sure) that the Trevinos are one of the several prominent families here in El Reino, along with the Garzas and the Benavides, who are whispered to be Judaizers. There are some, not many, who spread malicious stories and troublemakers who claim these families attend mass only to divert attention from their secret Jewish rituals. They chose to live in this remote frontier reino to be further away from the scrutiny of the Inquisition.

Of course, I gave these whispers no credence, but in a moment or two of weakness, they gave me pause. Would I want to live under a cloud of unfair suspicion, even if it is based only on jealous gossip? Would I want my sons (should God bless me with any) to grow and live under such a poisonous atmosphere?

I must also admit that I noticed strange behaviors at times at the House of Don Juan de Olivares last spring. During what I calculated to be one of the eight days of Jewish Passover, I was served corn tortillas but no flour or any bread. And this on a Hacienda with a flour mill? Was this a coincidence? Is my suspicious nature getting the better of me?

Troubled by these questions, I probed my beautiful Beatrice on this matter, making no reference to Jesus but only inquiring about her devotion to Christ, Mary, and the Church. She spoke of her prayer rapture and fervent love for the Virgin. So sincere was she that I saw her eyes shine in passionate reverence. How could I have doubted this beautiful girl? Nicolo, I tell you, I do not deserve her.

My wedding to this sweet creature will take place in three weeks. I regret deeply that neither you nor any of our beloved family will be able to attend. Know that all are in my mind and heart during this time, you not least of all. May God preserve your health and safety.

 Your devoted brother,

 Giovanni

July 3 MDCLIII

Marin, Nuevo Leon, Mexico-Nueva Espana

Copy July 4, 1653-GBS

(The Enlightenment of Juan Bautista Chapa by Anonymous)

On July 25, 1653, Beatriz and Juan Bautista married, and Sadie would become a direct descendant of that union on her maternal Garcia side.