Page 9 - 2019 Winter Newsletter Baca Family Historical Project

Cristobal III: Possibly had the highest number of descendants with CCM1

Cristobal Baca III was the grandson of Cristobal the II, and uncommon in this family, Luis Maria named several of his
research indicates that he had CCM1. He was married to children Antonio after his father. There are eight known
Apolonia de la Vega y Coca (1701-1734) and Maria Manuela children of Prudencio. Research to date has identified at
Marquez. This Cristobal probably had the biggest impact on least one of his children that probably had CCM1. This child
families affected with CCM1 because of the sheer number was: Valentine C’de Baca (1861-1911) who married Elvira
of children that were born into his family. Cristobal III had Gallegos (1859-1938) and lived in Peña Blanca, NM.
fifteen known children with his two wives, and his grandson Valentine C’de and Elvira had fifteen known children.
Luis Maria Cabeza de Baca had twenty-three known Research to date has identified at least four of these
children with 3 wives. children that probably had CCM1.

Research to date has identified at least two children of I have only followed one of the lines which included the
Cristobal III that probably carried the CCM1 mutation. These three Cristobal Bacas. However, we know that there are
children were: many other lines descending from Cristobal Baca II and Ana
Moreno Lara (Trujillo) that have been affected by CCM1. As
• Maria Agustina Baca (Antonio Armenta) research continues, the validation team will continue to add
• Juan Antonio Baca (Maria Romero) more identified lineages.
Juan Antonio Baca married Maria Romero and they had ten
known children. Research to date indicates that at least five Some surnames today that research has identified as
of their sons probably had CCM1. They were: possible CCM1 carriers; genealogies going back to Cristobal
 Juan Maria Baca (1761-) II have been validated.
• Juan Miguel Baca (1765-) Apodaca Contreras Martin/Martinez
• Jose Manuel Baca (1767-1813) Aguirre Espinosa/Espinoza Mora
• Juan Esteban Baca (1768-) Aragon Garcia Ortiz
• Luis Maria Cabeza de Baca (1754-1827) Armijo Gonzales Padilla
Baca/C’de Baca Lopez Rivera
Luis Maria Cabeza de Baca was the grandson of Cristobal Campos Lucero Sais/Saiz
Baca III, and research indicates that Luis probably had Casaus/Casados Luna Silva
CCM1. Luis acquired several land grants, one of which was Chavez Mares/Marez Vigil
in Las Vegas, New Mexico. Some believe that he and his
family were descendants of the Spanish explorer Alvar *Founding Grandparent (Founder Effect): Everyone today
Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca. Although in time this theory was with CCM1 has the identical genetic mutation
proved incorrect, Luis Maria changed his and his children’s indicating that all of us with this illness descend from the
surnames to Cabeza de Baca. Luis had approximately 23 same grandparent.
known children with three wives. He was killed in 1827 ** Cerebral Cavernous Malformations: A raspberry shaped
when he was harboring a fur trapper. Most of the children abnormal blood vessel in the brain and/or
of Luis Maria went on to have their own large families that the spinal cord that could hemorrhage.
stayed in the Peña Blanca, La Cienega, or the Las Vegas, ***CCM1: One of three possible genes that, when mutated,
New Mexico areas. We know that CCM1 does not skip can cause the development of cavernous angiomas. A
generations and that each of Luis Maria 23 children had a mutation of the CCM1 gene is hereditary, usually causes
50% chance of inheriting it. If approximately half of Luis multiple lesions, and does not skip generations. Each child
Maria’s children inherited this illness, then the impact this of an affected parent has a 50% chance of inheriting the
family had on the CCM1 gene mutation would have been mutation.
huge. The grandchildren of Luis Maria and their
descendants abbreviated their surname from Cabeza de
Baca to C’de Baca. Therefore, we know that C’de Bacas
today in the southwest descend from Luis Maria Cabeza de
Baca. Much more research will need to be done on this
specific family line to identify more of Luis Maria’s affected
children. Research to date has identified at least two of Luis
Maria children that probably had CCM1. They were:
• Juan Antonio Cabeza de Baca (1783-1835)
• Prudencio Cabeza de Baca (1800- )

In the case of Prudencio Cabeza de Baca, he either married
twice or there are two men with the same name; this is not