This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: steveroj1 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.caribbean.cuba.general/10708.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Very nice family tree. I thought I might pass on further information to you regarding Manuel Martinez and Eloise (maiden name Rojo). You can not get any real information from Spain. Spain has no central agency such as a courthouse, chamber of commerce, etc.. There is no central place for records. Records would be found at the local churches If you knew which church was there at the time of their birth, baptism, etc. you would have to have someone go to the church and search the records. You can not get this on the Internet with the churches as this does not exist. On finding a ship from Spain. Spanish ships could not sail to the US in the time frame you are looking for, as these were times of hostilities between Spain the US. These were the times, leading up to and after the Spanish American war. Revolution broke out in Cuba in 1895, leading to the Spanish American war in 1898. That's why these ships would have gone from Spain to Cuba (Cuba was owned by Spain). If you do not already know the name of the Ship your ancestors arrived on, you would need to search each ship that arrived in Cuba,or left Spain, by name of ship, one by one. However; many ships made stops along the way to pick up passengers. Therefore, the original departure could have stopped in France, England, or any other country on its way to Cuba. By the time it arrived, It would not be carrying Spanish immigrants, but immigrants of other nationalities as well. For this reason, the ship name may be from other countries different than where your ancestors were from. I personally have had others check various churchs, on the Rojo side of the family, to no avail, as there are many churches. Of further interest,I lived with Manuel and Eioise as a youth, when I was going to Jr. high school in Tampa, Florida. Manual was a supervisor in a cigar factory in Ybor city. This was in the 50s, and we were still trading with Cuba (before Castro). You had two photos of my father on your family tree, Estevan Rojo. One photo, he is in his uniform during world war 1. The other photo, is with his first wife Christina, who died in child birth. I also knew Rosendo and his wife as they would come to Tampa, from Georgia, several times a year to visit his parents. Rosendo was a lawyer and there should be much information on him. If there is any thing in particular I could tell you let me know. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.