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I have been researching the Gallegos family since 1982. I started looking at census records in the Federal archives at Laguna Niguel, Ca. Then I started reading many historical books regarding the early settlers of what is now the state of New Mexico. I orderered some topography maps from the US Geological Department in Denver, CO. In 1984 I was able to travel via automobile and found the ruins of what was once the settlement of Chaperito, NM by following these topography maps. Several of the paternal sides of the Gallegos family were born and buried in Chaperito, NM. According to family records, both oral and research, it appears that the Gallegos family is from Galicia, Spain and migrated to what is now the state of New Mexico. They come from a long line of sheepherders and farmers.
Prior to Chaperito, the paternal side of the family came from La Aguila, San Miguel County, NM. The latest data indicates that in 1590, Luis Gallegos de Terrazas was born in Durango, Mexico. I have connected Luis Gallegos de Terrezas( a freighter) to my youngest son, Anthony Ricky Gallegos who is 13 years old, and lives in Clovis, CA (407 years).
The paternal Gallegos migrated to Rocky Ford, Otero Co, Colorado in the late 1920's. I was born in Rocky Ford, CO. June 7th and 8th of this year another paternal Gallegos reunion was held in the same town. Approximately 200 Gallegos'es and their families were present, although there are hundreds more that could not attend because of travel limitations.
In the early 1960's my father Jacobo "Jake" Gallegos relocated the family to Fresno, Fresno Co, California, where most of us still reside in 2003. On September 6th and 7th of this year, we held our first Gallegos reunion in Sequoia National Forest with about 25 family members attending. This will become a yearly reunion.
The maternal side of the Gallegos family was also surnamed "Gallegos". These Gallegos are traced back to Mora Territory (now Mora County) in New Mexico. These Gallegos also migrated to the Arkansaw Valley (Newdale, Otero County, Colorado) in the mid 1920's. These Gallegos lated moved to Las Animas, (Bent County), Colorado where many reside today. Data on the maternal side is limited so far. Research has indicated that it has only been traced back to around 1857 to my great-grandfather Cosme Gallegos in New Mexico. Tracing the maternal side even further is my next major project.
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