Digging in the dusty, dirty Archives

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Digging in the dusty, dirty Archives

• Petra Vela Kenedy
• Revealed

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Who was Petra Vela?

• Governors Daughter

• Bishops Niece

• Generals Wife

• Wealthy Widow

• Wife of Texas Richest Rancher

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Challenges
Access

• Writing

• Interpreting

Warloope

• Condition of materials

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Mier
Durango
Matamoros
Zacatecas
Guadalajara
San Luis Potosí
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Lt. Luis Vidal
2nd Posting 1837 - 1845
Dies 1850
Born 1800
Military School 1832 -1835
Retires 1845
1st Posting-1835
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The Rivals

• Manuela Andrade y Castellanos

Creole Elite from Chiapas

• Petra Vela

Mestiza Ranch girl from Mier
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Petra Vela Manuela Andrade

• Luis - b. 1837
• Vidal - b. 1838
• Juana b. 1839

• Alejandro b.1840 (April 25)

• Luisa - b. 1840 (April 15)

• Joaquín- b.1841 (August 22)

• Rosa - b. 1841 (September 24)

• Marriage 1842

• Adrian - b. 1845

• Deonicio-b.1844

• Vicenta- b. 1846

• Death - 1850

• Concepcion-1847

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Whats a girl to do?

• Brownsville in 1850

• Mifflin Kenedy

• Pennsylvania Quaker

• Steamboating for the Military

• Interest in Ranching

• Did he need a Housekeeper?

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Vidal Children Kenedy

• Luis, Vidal Juana - gone

• Tom b. 1852

• Marriage - 1854

• Luisa
• Rosa
• Adrian
• Vicenta
• Concepción

• James b. 1855

• John Gregorio 56

• Sarah b. 1857

• William b. 1859

• Phoebe b. 1860

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Civil War 1860-65

• Kenedy - from cotton sales
• Money invested in NY banks

• Petra gives to Catholic church

• Death of Phoebe - 1861

• Petra visits in-laws-Pennsylvania

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1865-1885

• Kenedy Ranches La Parra

• Deaths of Tom,James (Spike),
• Sarah, Willie, Phoebe

• Only John Gregory remains

Marries Marie Stella Turcotte Children -John,
Jr. and Sarita
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The Aftermath

• Move to Corpus Christi 1885

• Petra dies 1885 uterine cancer

• Kenedy buys out the Mexican children for
  5,000 each

• John Jr. Sarita die with no heirs Kenedy
  Trust, Kenedy Foundation

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Petras Legacy
Became the Grande Dame of Corpus Christi and
South Texas
Friend to the poor and humble, caring and kind
to all
United two cultures creating the ethnogenesis
of a new and stronger Texas people