The Two Women Named Maria Eulalia Gallegos

Image is San Jose, San Miguel County, New Mexico by Walt Gonske
 

There were two women named Maria Eulalia Gallegos with the same parents born on different dates and married to different men on different dates. Why and how come?

The first Maria Eulalia Gallegos was born on the 4th of November 1858 the daughter of Antonio Gallego and Maria Luisa Ulibarri who at the time were living in Entranosa, San Miguel County New Mexico. Her godparents were Ramon Leyba and Tomasa Montoya.

This (the first) Eulalia married Casimiro Dimas, the son of Aparacio Dimas and Maria Dominga Olguin at San Miguel del Bado, New Mexico on the 11th of October of 1875. The marriage padrinos were Manuel Urioste and his wife. Manuel's wife is not named and there were several Manuel Urioste's around the area in the same time period. The church at San Miguel was, and is, the parish church, as compared to one of the many missions associated with it.

They went on to have at least six children;

1. Maria del Pilar born October 9, 1884,
2. Maria Ruperta born March 27, 1886, 
3. Maria Domitilia born September 6, 1892,
4. Maria Josefa born June 14, 1895,
5. Maria de la Cruz born May 2, 1899.
6. Samuel born march 28, 1907.

The second Maria Eulalia Gallegos was born 10th of February of 1861 also the daughter of Antonio Gallego and Maria Luisa Ulibarri who were still living in Entranosa, San Miguel County New Mexico. Her godparents were Miguel Antonio Ribera and Maria Caterina Lucero.

This (the second) Eulalia married Jose Gregorio Sanchez, the son of Nazario Sanchez and Ursula Bustamente on the 1st of December 1876 at San Miguel del Bado. The marriage padrinos were Francisco Griego and Celestina Sanchez.

They went on to have at least 3 children;

1. Rafael born on Oct 23, 1877,
2. Candelaria born on Feb 1, 1879,
3. Lucindo born on September 22, 1880.

That makes one wonder why parents would have 2 daughters born just a little over 2 years apart and give them exactly the same names? It is my guess that the first one got sick as an infant and the parents promised God to name their next daughter after the one that was ill and not expected to live. The first Eulalia survived but a promise was a promise, especially to God. So when the next baby was born a girl, she was named the same as the first one to fulfil a promise.

In Catholic Hispano New Mexican households it was not uncommon to make promises and deals with God himself or the saints. The promises and deals were for various and diverse reasons.