April 15, 1805 Burial of Maria Paja Yrinea

Today's ancestor is Maria Paja Yrinea. She was born about 1741 and died in 1805. She was buried at Mission San Gabriel on April 15, 1805.

Maria Paja Yrinea is my 7x Great Grandmother on my Mother's (Barbara Metcalf) side.

• Barbara (1939-2005), daughter of Robert George Metcalf and Henrietta Josefina Ceseña (Verdugo daughter);
• Henrietta (1921-1988), daughter of Henry (Henrique) Ceseña and Rosa Maria Cruz
• Rosa (1896-1977), daughter of Martin Cruz and Mauricia Verdugo
• Mauricia (1863-?), daughter of Jose Joaquin Juan Pedro Verdugo and Maria Basilia Perez
• Jose Joaquin Juan Pedro (1832-?), son of Jose Joaquin Verdugo and Maria Josefa Magdalena Vejar
• Jose Joaquin (1795-1832), son of Ygnacio Leonardo Maria Verdugo and Maria Josefa Vincenta Rubio
• Maria Josefa (1780-1830), daughter of Matheo Rubio and Maria Ursula Dominguez
• Maria Ursula Dominguez (abt. 1762-1802), illegitimate daughter of Juan Jose Dominguez and Maria Paja Yrinea

What do we know about Maria Paja Yrinea? Not alot! She was a neophyte at the early Spanish mission, Santa Gertrudis and the "wife" of the Spanish Soldado de Cuera, Juan Jose Dominguez; who was later granted the Rancho San Pedro in California. Paja, given the christian name Yrinea, was a Native Baja California Indian of the Cochimí tribe; presumably from a group living near the Mission Santa Gertrudis de Cadamacan in Central Baja California.

The Santa Gertrudis mission site was founded in 1750, although work at the site was begun before the formal founding of the mission. The mission was abandoned in 1822 and was extensively renovated in 1997, substantially altering its historical character.
 

 

The Cochimí Indians were hunter gatherers and inhabited a substantial section of the central Baja Peninsula, from north of Rosario to the vicinity of Loreto in east central Baja California. Like most of the Baja tribes, the Cochimí lived a subsistance lifestyle, surviving by fishing in coastal areas and through the gathering of fruits and seeds for sustenance in inland areas.

Paja Yrinea and Juan Jose Dominguez were never married nor is there any evidence or record that they lived as man and wife. Juan Jose's daughter, Ursula, married the soldier Matheo rubio at San Diego so it seems likely that Ursula was raised at San Diego by her mother, since Juan Jose duties would probably not permit him much family time. However, per Huntington.org Death Records, we find this record:

• Spanish Name, Yrinea; Native Name, [P]ajá. Ethnicity India. Spouse is stated as Juan Jose Dominguez. Yrinea was baptized Mission San Gabriel #01208. Officiant and Recorder is Jose de Miguel.

So, perhaps they were together...although this is the only reference I have found as to this possibility. The reference to her baptism is confusing as it states her age and birth origin quite differently:

• Yrinea Maria was baptized 03 June 1785 [Age 7-8 years old], origin Rancheria Jujuàbit, or Juyubit (a village was near the San Gabriel Mission and the San Gabriel River) ethnicity India. Parents unstated. Godparents Yldefonsa Maria. Officiant and Recorder is Miguel Sanchez. Yrinea was buried 04-15-1805 Mission San Gabriel #02388.

As far as I have been able to determine Paja Yrinea and Juan Jose Dominguez had one child:

• Maria Ursula Dominguez born about 1762 at the Mission Santa Gertrudis de Cadacaman, Baja CA. She married Mateo Rubio on April 28, 1779. Died March 29, 1802

One final detail about Paja Yrinea is found in Ursula and Mateo Rubio's marriage record:

• Matheo Rubio married Ursula Dominguez 28 April 1779 Mission San Diego #00176. Matheo's origin Cuidad de Yes Flandes, military status Soldado de dicho Presidio. Ursula's origin Mission Santa Gertudis , Baja California. Matheo's father stated as Matheo Rubio and mother is stated as Gertrudis Bermon. Ursula's father stated as Juan Joseph Dominguez and mother is unstated, origin Mission Santa Gertru dis, Baja California, ethnicity Yndia. Sacrament Witnesses are Raphael de Pedro y Gil and Joseph Maria Lopez. Offciant and Recorder is Fermin Francisco de Lausen.