Puerto Rico Ancestry has lead me on many adventures I never expected to take. Today’s story leads me to my father, Raul Resto Y Mijon, aunt Carlina Resto Y Lopez, and on the side of his father, Etanislao Resto Y Lopez.

I’ll start at the beginning. My uncle, Miguel Resto Y Mijon wrote about our Resto Y Mijon Family History which he completed August 2015. I keep in mind that his research required letter writing and visits to vital records in Puerto Rico. So his research was limited to what he had learned via oral history. You don’t know what you don’t know. I have used Tio Miguel’s research as my guide. If it weren’t for his accounts I’m not sure I would be as far in my Resto Y Mijon Family History, and for this reason I am thankful to Tio Miguel. I’m always hoping I make him proud.

Meet my Great Aunt, Carlina Resto Y Lopez

• Carlina Resto Y Lopez, Legitimate
• Baptism: 2 February 1883, Dulce Nombre de Jesus, Caguas, Puerto Rico
• Birth: 3 November 1882, Caguas, Puerto Rico
• Father: Eloy Resto
• Mother: Carmen Lopez
• Grandparents Father’s Side (GPF): Estanislao Resto, Petrona Marrero
• Grandparents Mother’s Side (GPM): Francisco Lopez, Antonia Casilla
• Godparents: Francisco Alvarado, Celedonia Marrero.

Caguas Puerto Rico had a Population Census in 1884 – 1890. It is there where I first find Carlina living with her parents and siblings in Canaboncito, Caguas, Puerto Rico. This Census lists your name, current town, age, the town you were born in, whether you are single, married, divorced or widowed, occupation, length of time in current town, whether you read and write, only read, or can’t read or write. I wasn’t surprised to find Carlina didn’t read. I was surprised to find no one in my family could read! I just can’t imagine life without reading. Just the thought of it made me sad. No wonder so many ages and birthdates vary in my family history documents.

Carlina Resto Y Lopez marries Rosa Torres Y Torres

• Rosario Torres Y Torres: Age 27
• Father: Juan Torres
• Mother: Camila Torres
• Marriage: 7 November 1908, Dulce Nombre de Jesus, Caguas, Puerto Rico
• Carlina Resto Y Lopez, Age 25
• Father: Eloy Resto
• Mother: Carmen Lopez
• Witnesses: Pedro Munoz Y Lopez and Rafael Jimenez

Carlina and her husband, Rosa welcomed a son, Rafael Torres Y Resto

• Rafael Torres Y Resto
• Baptism: 27 February 1910, Caguas, Puerto Rico
• Birth: 25 October 1909
• Father: Rosa Torres
• Mother: Carlina Resto
• GPF: Climaco Torres, Camila Torres
• GPM: Eloy Resto, Carmen Lopez
• Godparents: Jose Martinez, Mariana Lopez

Carlina and Rosario (Rosa) welcomed another son, Juan Torres Y Resto

• Juan Torres Y Resto
• Baptism: 29 December 1913, Dulce Nombre de Jesus, Caguas, Puerto Rico
• Birth: 12 July 1913
• Father: Rosa Torres
• Mother: Carlina Resto
• GPF: Juan Torres, Camila Torres
• GPM: Eloy Resto, Carmen Lopez
• Godparents: Emilio Torres, Antonia Montanez.

• Historical Note: On 2 March 1917, President Woodrow Wilson signed the Jones Act. This law gave Puerto Ricans United State Citizenship.

Carlina and Rosa welcomed twin girls, Maria Virginia, and Virginia, United States Citizens

• Maria Virgina Torres Y Resto,
• Baptism, 25 May 1918, Dulce Nombre de Jesus, Caguas, Puerto Rico, USA
• Birth: 21 May 1918
• Father: Rosa Torres
• Mother: Carlina Torres
• GPF: Juan Torres, Camila Torres
• GPM: Eloy Resto, Carmen Lopez
• Godparents: Jose Reyes, Regina Ramos

• Virginia Torres Y Resto
• Baptism, 25 May 1918, Caguas, Puerto Rico, USA
• Birth: 21 May 1918
• Father: Rosa Torres
• Mother: Carlina Torres
• GPF: Juan Torres, Camila Torres
• GPM: Eloy Resto, Carmen Lopez
• Godparents: Monserrate Torres, Maria Montanez

Sadly just as quickly both Maria Virginia and Virginia die due to Malnutrition.

• Maria Virginia Torres Y Resto
• Death: 10 June 1918, Caguas, Puerto Rico, USA
• Father: Rosa Torres
• Mother: Carlina Resto
• GPF: Juan Torres, Camila Torres
• GPM: Eloy Resto, Carmen Lopez

• Virginia Torres Y Resto
• Death: 29 June 1918, Caguas, Puerto Rico.
• Father: Rosa Torres
• Mother: Carlina Resto
• GPF: Juan Torres, Camila Torres
• GPM: Eloy Resto, Carmen Lopez

Historical Note: 11 October 1918, 1918 San Fermín earthquake, measuring 7.1, hits the Island of Mona off the west coast of Puerto Rico causing a Tsunami, the worst natural disaster in Puerto Rico to date.

I believe lack of education, poverty, food scarcity, epidemics of measles, typhoid, influenza, and meningitis had a direct effect on Carlina’s children.

I will pause for a moment to reflex on how beaten both parents must have been at this time in their lives. Carlina’s body exhausted, and most likely, emotionally a mess. How did she continue living? I can’t put myself in her place. It’s impossible.

• Juan Torres Y Resto Age 6
• Death: 20 Jan 1920, Caguas, Puerto Rico, USA
• Cause of Death: Meningitis
• Father: Rosa Torres Y Torres
• Mother: Carlina Resto Y Lopez
• GPF: Juan Torres, dead, Camila Torres, widow
• GPM: Eloy Resto, Carmen Lopez, both dead
• Declarant: Father/Rosa Torres

Carlina gives birth to twin boys on 3 May 1920

• Candelario and Estanislao Torres Y Resto
• Birth: 4 May 1920, Canaboncito, Caguas, Puerto Rico, USA
• Father: Rosa Torres
• Mother: Carlina Resto
• GPF: Juan Torres, Camila Torres
• GPM: Eloy Resto, Carmen Lopez

• Candelario Torres Y Resto, 40 days old
• Death: 13 June 1920, Caguas, Puerto Rico, USA
• Cause of Death: Enteritis, Inflammation of small intestine.

• Estanislao Torres Y Resto, 47 days old
• Death: 20 June 1920, Caguas, Puerto Rico, USA
• Cause of Death: Bronchitis

Carlina’s body never recovered after her last pregnancy. She dies 6 days after her son Estanislao dies.

• Carlina Resto Y Lopez
• Death: 26 June 1920, Caguas, Puerto Rico, USA
• Cause of Death: Nephritis, Inflamed kidneys
• Father: Eloy Resto
• Mother: Carmen Lopez
• Spouse: Rosa Torres

I can’t end this story on a sad note, because I’m a positive thinking person. Thanks to Ancestry DNA I have connected with a few of Carlina’s descendants through her son Rafael Torres Y Resto. Rafael marries Carmen Garcia Y Lopez and has 9 children of his own, 3 of which are still living today with families of their own. No one knew anything about Carlina until I introduced myself and told them. This story will be added to the revised Resto Y Mijon Family History. Carlina is no longer a long lost ancestor. Carlina will be remembered.

I hope Carlina Resto Y Lopez, my great aunt, knows her son, Rafael Torres Y Resto lived a long a happy life.

Hasta Luego Primos,

Lilly Resto Gunderman