The Molinar Family Story
The Molinar family who lived in the greater Big Bend area of Texas in the first half of the twentieth century has its origins in Gordexola in Vizcaya, País Vasco [Basque Country], España. We have traced the ancestry of the Terlingua area Molinar family to Venito Sáez de Molinar. As of June 2025 we do not know anything about Venito's parents, so we count Venito as the earliest known ancestor of the Molinar family of Terlingua.
The little village where Venito was born and died is called Gordexola in Euskara the Basque language and called Gordejuela in Castilian. There are several languages spoken in Spain, and Castilian is the one we call Spanish. So, interestingly, it is extremely likely that the ancestors of the Terlingua Molinar family in Spain did not originally speak Spanish as you might expect; but rather, they most likely spoke Basque.
About two years before Columbus sailed his first time across the Atlantic, circa 1490, Venito (Benito) Sáez de Molinar was born in the village of Gordejuela. Venito [Benito] married Mari Sáez, and in 1521 they gave life to Andrés Molinar Sáez in Gordexola. In his turn Andrés married a woman we only know by her first name Luisa. Luisa was seven years younger than Andrês. Records indicate that she gave birth at the age of 52 (if her birth year of 1528 is correct) to Domingo Molinar in 1580 in Gordexola. So we know three generations of Molinares were born and lived in Gordexola in the Basque Country before coming to the Americas.
Gordexola is in the northern part of Spain located about 11 miles southwest of the present day city of Bilbao. Domingo Molinar was baptized on 8 SEP 1580 in the Gordejuela parish church, San Juan de Molinar, which is located on the north side of Molinar Plaza at the heart of Gordejuela. His exact birth day is not recorded; but, according to custom, it was probably not too long before Sept 8th. Domingo Molinar married Maria de Biniegra who was born in 1582. But their son, Cosme Molinar, was born in Allende, in what was then the province of Nueva Vizcaya in the vice royalty of Nueva España and which since October 12, 1842 is the state of Chihuahua in the Republic of México.
The little village where Venito was born and died is called Gordexola in Euskara the Basque language and called Gordejuela in Castilian. There are several languages spoken in Spain, and Castilian is the one we call Spanish. So, interestingly, it is extremely likely that the ancestors of the Terlingua Molinar family in Spain did not originally speak Spanish as you might expect; but rather, they most likely spoke Basque.
About two years before Columbus sailed his first time across the Atlantic, circa 1490, Venito (Benito) Sáez de Molinar was born in the village of Gordejuela. Venito [Benito] married Mari Sáez, and in 1521 they gave life to Andrés Molinar Sáez in Gordexola. In his turn Andrés married a woman we only know by her first name Luisa. Luisa was seven years younger than Andrês. Records indicate that she gave birth at the age of 52 (if her birth year of 1528 is correct) to Domingo Molinar in 1580 in Gordexola. So we know three generations of Molinares were born and lived in Gordexola in the Basque Country before coming to the Americas.
Gordexola is in the northern part of Spain located about 11 miles southwest of the present day city of Bilbao. Domingo Molinar was baptized on 8 SEP 1580 in the Gordejuela parish church, San Juan de Molinar, which is located on the north side of Molinar Plaza at the heart of Gordejuela. His exact birth day is not recorded; but, according to custom, it was probably not too long before Sept 8th. Domingo Molinar married Maria de Biniegra who was born in 1582. But their son, Cosme Molinar, was born in Allende, in what was then the province of Nueva Vizcaya in the vice royalty of Nueva España and which since October 12, 1842 is the state of Chihuahua in the Republic of México.
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Molinar Family Highlights
1. Family Tree of Basque ancestors 2. Molinar Family's Portuguese Roots 3. Molinar Family in Nueva Vizcaya 4. Molinar Family in the Big Bend area of Texas |
Timeline:
1490 Earliest known Basque ancestor
1490 Venito [Benito] Sáez de Molinar was born in Gordejuela, Vizcaya, País Vasco, Spain.
Benito is 8th great grandfather of Alberto Molinar, Paz Molinar, and Antonio Molinar Franco
all of whom lived next to Terlingua Creek just north of Rattlesnake Mountain.
1492 Christopher Columbus crossed the Atlantic for the first time.
1562 Nueva Vizcaya was established as a province of Nueva España [New Spain].
It encompassed vast territory including the Big Bend area of present day Texas.
1580 Earliest known Portuguese ancestors
Antonio González and his wife Catalina Juárez were both born in Portugal about 1580.
By 1600 their son Gonzalo González Juárez was born in Hidalgo del Parral, Chihuahua.
So sometime between 1580 and 1600 Antonio and Catalina moved from Portugal to
Nueva Vizcaya. Gonzalo married Yumar Ramírez Vera
1598 Nuevo Mexico was founded as a Spanish province in 1598 by Juan de Oñate.
The first capitol of Nuevo Mexico was in Española about 25 miles north of Santa Fe.
1610 Cosme Molinar is born in Allende, Nueva Vizcaya [present day Chihuahua state.]
1620 The pilgrims land at Plymouth Rock.
1623 María González Ramírez was born to Gonzalo and Yumar González.
1634 Cosme Molinar married María González Ramírez in Allende, Chihuahua, México
So María connects their descendants to Portugal through her
grandparents Antonio González and Catalina Juárez who were from Portugal.
As you might expect, all the Molinar families of Old Terlingua descend from Cosme and
María. But so do several families with other surnames. As of April, 2025 we have identified
fifteen other surnames of Old Terlingua, besides "Molinar," who also descend from
Cosme and María, and so, also have Basque and Portuguese ancestors.
1821 Mexico gained its independence from Spain in 1821
1824 The Mexican state of Chihuahua was created October 12, 1824
from part of Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva España.
1490 Earliest known Basque ancestor
1490 Venito [Benito] Sáez de Molinar was born in Gordejuela, Vizcaya, País Vasco, Spain.
Benito is 8th great grandfather of Alberto Molinar, Paz Molinar, and Antonio Molinar Franco
all of whom lived next to Terlingua Creek just north of Rattlesnake Mountain.
1492 Christopher Columbus crossed the Atlantic for the first time.
1562 Nueva Vizcaya was established as a province of Nueva España [New Spain].
It encompassed vast territory including the Big Bend area of present day Texas.
1580 Earliest known Portuguese ancestors
Antonio González and his wife Catalina Juárez were both born in Portugal about 1580.
By 1600 their son Gonzalo González Juárez was born in Hidalgo del Parral, Chihuahua.
So sometime between 1580 and 1600 Antonio and Catalina moved from Portugal to
Nueva Vizcaya. Gonzalo married Yumar Ramírez Vera
1598 Nuevo Mexico was founded as a Spanish province in 1598 by Juan de Oñate.
The first capitol of Nuevo Mexico was in Española about 25 miles north of Santa Fe.
1610 Cosme Molinar is born in Allende, Nueva Vizcaya [present day Chihuahua state.]
1620 The pilgrims land at Plymouth Rock.
1623 María González Ramírez was born to Gonzalo and Yumar González.
1634 Cosme Molinar married María González Ramírez in Allende, Chihuahua, México
So María connects their descendants to Portugal through her
grandparents Antonio González and Catalina Juárez who were from Portugal.
As you might expect, all the Molinar families of Old Terlingua descend from Cosme and
María. But so do several families with other surnames. As of April, 2025 we have identified
fifteen other surnames of Old Terlingua, besides "Molinar," who also descend from
Cosme and María, and so, also have Basque and Portuguese ancestors.
1821 Mexico gained its independence from Spain in 1821
1824 The Mexican state of Chihuahua was created October 12, 1824
from part of Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva España.
1. Basque Origins
Click on the image below to enlarge it.
2. Molinar Family's Portuguese Roots
Cosme Molinar's wife, María González Ramírez, connects the Molinar family to Portugal. Her paternal grandparents were born in Portugal around 1580. There is no record of where they were born in Portugal, but hints from written notes suggest one possibility might be Óbidos, Portugal, which is about 40 miles from Lisbon and is known as "villa de las reinas" because King Dinis gave Óbidos to his wife, Saint Isabel of Aragon. After that the following kings gave Óbidos to their wives by custom. There is no clear evidence where in Portugal they were from. This needs more research.
Click the image below to see an enlarged image of the Portuguese roots for the Molinar family of Terlingua.
Click the image below to see an enlarged image of the Portuguese roots for the Molinar family of Terlingua.
3. Molinar Family in Nueva Vizcaya
In 1562 Nueva Vizcaya was established as a province of Nueva España [New Spain]. It encompassed a vast territory including the Big Bend area of present day Texas. Some time after that, Domingo Molinar and his wife María de Biniegra moved from Gordejuela to Nueva Viscaya (the present-day Mexican state of Chihuahua). Then about 1610 their son Cosme Molinar was born in Allende, Nueva Vizcaya (now the Mexican state of Chihuahua). Cosme is the first Molinar ancestor of Terlingua families who was born in the new world. Cosme is ancestor to the Molinar families of the Terlingua area, but also ancestor to many other families of the area. As of April 2025 we have identified the fifteen other Old Terlingua family names that descend from Cosme and Maria.
4. Molinar Family in the Big Bend Area
9. Dolores Carrasco Molinar Mesa 1838 in Ojinaga
9. Mariano Carrasco Molinar 1849 y Inés Valles 1864
10. Miguel Valles Molinar 1887-1976 • LK5H-N5F
10. Conrado Molinar 1889-1990 • LKP9-FKJ
10. Patricio Vallez Molinar 1891–1980 • LK5H-FVV
10. Manuel Molinar, b. 1892? • LK5H-F1K
10. María Sofía Valles Molinar, b. 1895? • GM8H-GQY
10. Petra Molinar, b. Dec 1896 in Texas • GMPV-KFG
10. Mariano Vallez Molinar 1904-1993 • LK5H-NWF
10. Cruz Valles Molinar 1905-1987 • LK5H-NCL
9. Victoriano Carrasco Molinar 1849 was married three times
Victoriano married first wife Remedios Contreras:
no known children
Victoriano married second wife Jesús Baeza:
10. Alberto Baeza Molinar 1877
8. José Molinar
10. Juan Baeza Molinar
10. Paz Baeza Molinar y María Burgess
Through María their descendants
ascend to Cayetano Lujan
11. Jesús Molinar daughter*
11. Jesús Molinar son*
11. Agripina born June 22, 1909
11. María Molinar born March 22, 1911
11. Tomás Molinar born April 29, 1918
11. Alfredo Molinar born
11. Daniel Molinar born
11. Guillermo Molinar born circa 1922
11. Alfonso Molinar born September 10, 1924
11.Rogelio Molinar born October 25, 1926
11. Alejandro Molinar born February 9, 1929
11. Ernestina Molinar born March 19 1932
*could Jesús be one person?
10. Benigna Baeza Molinar
10. José Baeza Molinar y Isabel Chavez [1930 Census]
11. Manuel
11. Elisa
11. Esperanza
11. Carlos
11. Adolfo
11. Adolfo
11. José
10. María Baeza Molinar
10. Vicente Baeza Molinar y Candelaria Armendariz
[1930 census]
11. Ramón
11. Victoriano
11. Luz
11.Amparo
10. Victoriano Baeza Molinar
10. Valente Baeza Molinar
10. Cruz Baeza Molinar
10. Andres Baeza Molinar
Victoriano married third wife Jesús Baeza
10. Eduardo Baeza Molinar (?)
9. Juan Carrasco Molinar 1853
9. Atilano Carrasco Molinar 1856
10. Atilano Quiroz Molinar II
9. Silverio Carrasco Molinar 1861
9. Juana Carrasco Molinar Franco1863
9. Carmen Carrasco Molinar 1864
9. Esteban Carrasco Molinar
9. Petra Carrasco Molinar
9. Mariano Carrasco Molinar 1849 y Inés Valles 1864
10. Miguel Valles Molinar 1887-1976 • LK5H-N5F
10. Conrado Molinar 1889-1990 • LKP9-FKJ
10. Patricio Vallez Molinar 1891–1980 • LK5H-FVV
10. Manuel Molinar, b. 1892? • LK5H-F1K
10. María Sofía Valles Molinar, b. 1895? • GM8H-GQY
10. Petra Molinar, b. Dec 1896 in Texas • GMPV-KFG
10. Mariano Vallez Molinar 1904-1993 • LK5H-NWF
10. Cruz Valles Molinar 1905-1987 • LK5H-NCL
9. Victoriano Carrasco Molinar 1849 was married three times
Victoriano married first wife Remedios Contreras:
no known children
Victoriano married second wife Jesús Baeza:
10. Alberto Baeza Molinar 1877
8. José Molinar
10. Juan Baeza Molinar
10. Paz Baeza Molinar y María Burgess
Through María their descendants
ascend to Cayetano Lujan
11. Jesús Molinar daughter*
11. Jesús Molinar son*
11. Agripina born June 22, 1909
11. María Molinar born March 22, 1911
11. Tomás Molinar born April 29, 1918
11. Alfredo Molinar born
11. Daniel Molinar born
11. Guillermo Molinar born circa 1922
11. Alfonso Molinar born September 10, 1924
11.Rogelio Molinar born October 25, 1926
11. Alejandro Molinar born February 9, 1929
11. Ernestina Molinar born March 19 1932
*could Jesús be one person?
10. Benigna Baeza Molinar
10. José Baeza Molinar y Isabel Chavez [1930 Census]
11. Manuel
11. Elisa
11. Esperanza
11. Carlos
11. Adolfo
11. Adolfo
11. José
10. María Baeza Molinar
10. Vicente Baeza Molinar y Candelaria Armendariz
[1930 census]
11. Ramón
11. Victoriano
11. Luz
11.Amparo
10. Victoriano Baeza Molinar
10. Valente Baeza Molinar
10. Cruz Baeza Molinar
10. Andres Baeza Molinar
Victoriano married third wife Jesús Baeza
10. Eduardo Baeza Molinar (?)
9. Juan Carrasco Molinar 1853
9. Atilano Carrasco Molinar 1856
10. Atilano Quiroz Molinar II
9. Silverio Carrasco Molinar 1861
9. Juana Carrasco Molinar Franco1863
9. Carmen Carrasco Molinar 1864
9. Esteban Carrasco Molinar
9. Petra Carrasco Molinar
Cosme Molinar family tree shows ancestors for many people from the Terlingua area who descend from the Molinar, Franco, and Sandate families of the area. It is my vision that many of you, whether a Terlingua descendant or not, will add to the family trees in the Family Search website. Who knows what surprising results may come from that? No money to pay, just your time and effort.
Access to the FamilySearch.com site is open to anyone and free of charge. We all owe a great debt of gratitude to them and also to individuals who have voluntarily converted written records to digital information as well as the many who have spent hours adding records of their families or resolving duplicate records. By merging duplicate records all of a sudden your small family tree can become huge - even all the way to centuries ago. I encourage you to sign up for a free account if you don't already have one and to add your family information and merge duplicate records.
Access to the FamilySearch.com site is open to anyone and free of charge. We all owe a great debt of gratitude to them and also to individuals who have voluntarily converted written records to digital information as well as the many who have spent hours adding records of their families or resolving duplicate records. By merging duplicate records all of a sudden your small family tree can become huge - even all the way to centuries ago. I encourage you to sign up for a free account if you don't already have one and to add your family information and merge duplicate records.
Juan Dominguez y Mendoza Spanish Explorer
Research Notes:
From: Courtland "Court" Edward Goetz. Saturday Feb 20, 2021 9:01 PM
Hi Antonio,
I found your website several months ago and ran across the Molinar family tree. I have been working off and on on this family genealogy project and wanted to know if I'm linked to this huge tree. Well, I am. Cosme Molinar is my first cousin 10 times removed. Wow!
By the way, I have some info for you.
Father is Domingo de Molinar, born 1580 in Vizcaya, Pais Vasco, Spain and
Mother is Maria de Biniegra, born 1582 also from Vasco, Spain.
Grandfather (my 10th great grandfather) is Andres Molinar Saez, born 1 Dec. 1521, Vasco,Spain. Grandmother Louisa Molinar, born about 1528.
Great grandfather (my 11th ggf) is Venito Saez de Molinar, born 1490, Vasco, Spain and
G.G.M. is Mari Saez Saez, born about 1490, maybe from Vasco, Spain?
Thanks for the great info,
Courtland E. Goetz Molinar
Hi Antonio,
I found your website several months ago and ran across the Molinar family tree. I have been working off and on on this family genealogy project and wanted to know if I'm linked to this huge tree. Well, I am. Cosme Molinar is my first cousin 10 times removed. Wow!
By the way, I have some info for you.
Father is Domingo de Molinar, born 1580 in Vizcaya, Pais Vasco, Spain and
Mother is Maria de Biniegra, born 1582 also from Vasco, Spain.
Grandfather (my 10th great grandfather) is Andres Molinar Saez, born 1 Dec. 1521, Vasco,Spain. Grandmother Louisa Molinar, born about 1528.
Great grandfather (my 11th ggf) is Venito Saez de Molinar, born 1490, Vasco, Spain and
G.G.M. is Mari Saez Saez, born about 1490, maybe from Vasco, Spain?
Thanks for the great info,
Courtland E. Goetz Molinar
Nina Lawson to FdT on Facebook
Apr 7, 2022, 11:12 AM
Good Morning!! This is so exciting. My name is Nina Lawson and I am a descendant of the Molinar (Terlingua) / Rodriguez (Presidio) Families!!! All of the information you and Bob have uncovered is fascinating. I am trying to date back to when our family settled in Texas? I see a lot of 1870"s. I was trying to see if we were here in the 1840's. I was trying to apply to the daughters of the republic of texas but don't know if my family was here in the 1840's. how do I go about finding that out? Any help would be greatly appreciated! thank you for all you do.
Apr 7, 2022, 11:12 AM
Good Morning!! This is so exciting. My name is Nina Lawson and I am a descendant of the Molinar (Terlingua) / Rodriguez (Presidio) Families!!! All of the information you and Bob have uncovered is fascinating. I am trying to date back to when our family settled in Texas? I see a lot of 1870"s. I was trying to see if we were here in the 1840's. I was trying to apply to the daughters of the republic of texas but don't know if my family was here in the 1840's. how do I go about finding that out? Any help would be greatly appreciated! thank you for all you do.
This page was updated October 27, 2024 and more updating is being worked on.
This page was updated March 22, 2022 with the connection to Spanish Explorer Juan Domingues y Mendoza.
This page was updated December 13, 2020. This page was updated October 2, 2018.
This page was created May 20, 2018 by Antonio Franco largely from information from the Family Search website.
This page was updated March 22, 2022 with the connection to Spanish Explorer Juan Domingues y Mendoza.
This page was updated December 13, 2020. This page was updated October 2, 2018.
This page was created May 20, 2018 by Antonio Franco largely from information from the Family Search website.
