Adventures In Paradise

Eliseo Morales, Nieves
Picture taken Dec. 2011 Puerto Rico
May 22, 1927 to March 8, 2015

The Morales Family

9th Generation

In Puerto Rico there are many who have Morales as their surname and I will be focusing on a particular branch of this lineage. This branch which I am referring to has as its head Don Pedro de Morales del Rio, approximate date of 1645, assumed born in Puerto Rico. It is from this gentleman that the count of nine generations is made because he is the one of whom we have corroborating documentation. Dr. Andrés R. Méndez, Muñoz wrote an article for Hereditas, a magazine published by Sociedad Puertorriqueña de Genealogía on October 2002. The title of the article is "Carta abierta  -  Eusebio Morales del Rio y Maria de la Rosa-Velázco: naturales del Partido de la Aguada". In said article the author provides the evidence that the father of Don Eusebio is Don Cristobal Morales del Rio and the grandfather being Don Pedro Morales del Rio. Of course we recognize that from Don Pedro going backwards to the colonization of the island there is a difference of 137 years which leaves room for two or three additional generations. But like I mentioned at the beginning we only have evidence taking us as far back as Don Pedro Morales del Rio, hence the nine generations.

Back row R to L: David, Noemi, Eliseo, Abuela Aurelia (Yeya),

Abuelo Manuel (Manolo), Rosa Maria y Manuel Jr; 

Bottom row R to L: Eva, Irma y Concepcion (Pura)

Eliseo Morales, Nieves born May 22, 1927 is the youngest of Don Manuel Morales, Morales and Doña Aurelia Nieves, Suarez and the last of the ninth generation of this Morales direct lineage to Don Pedro Morales del Rio. With tio Eliseo passing the ninth generation comes to a close. He had children with two of his wives; with Aury he had Eliseo Jr. and Roxanna and with Hilda he had Patricia, Robert, Carol and Nancy (the last two are twins). 

This ninth generation is formed by Manuel Morales, Morales and Aurelia Nieves, Suarez, my paternal grandparents. They had eight children in total. Here are the names of their children, the 9th generation:

  

David Morales, Nieves

Manuel Morales, Nieves

Rosa María Morales Nieves

Concepción Morales, Nieves 

Noemi Morales, Nieves

Eva Morales, Nieves

Eliseo Morales, Nieves

In my endeavor to know more of the history of my family and its origins, it was made plain by Spanish historians that the origin of the Morales surname dates back to the middle ages and some say it even goes as far back as the Visigoths. In Spain, the name took form with two or three brothers that settled in a county of the region of Santander and later became part of the families that founded the city of Sori in Castilla-Leon, Spain known as "La Casa Troncal de los 12 Linajes de Soria" of which two of the families are Morales. Below is the crest and coat of arms of the Morales of Soria:

L-R: Eliseo, Patricia, Chuck, Hilda,
Robert, Carol and Nancy (twins)

I have fond memories of tio Eliseo, "Seo". He frequently visited my parents during my growing up years even after his "Brother", as he would call my father, had passed away in August 1999. Eliseo and his family stayed at our house (1465 Ebano st., Caparra Heights) when he finished his tour of service in Europe. He taught my Dad the game of golf when he needed it most. Can you imagine learning the game of golf at the age of 65? Because of this I had enjoyable times with my father. Dad learned the game so well (among the amateur category) that he had two holes in one to his name. One at the Fort Brooks golf course at el Morro (no longer in existence) and the other at Fort Buchanan (presently operational), both in Puerto Rico. The golf community of Puerto Rico has suffered a great lose in the passing of Eliseo Morales; not only was he an avid player but also greatly promote the sport among the least fortunate youth of our island.

The last time I saw tio Eliseo was at the time of the picture that appears in this article, Dec. 2011. At that time we spoke and he shared with me what he knew of the Morales and Nieves ancestry.

My parents bestowed on me the privilege to carry on the names of the youngest from each side of our family, Kelvin which is my mother's youngest brother and Eliseo the youngest from my father's side of the family. And you guessed it, I am the youngest of my parents, Manuel and Josefina. I am proud to carry my uncle Eliseo's name as my middle name.

My love goes to all of Tio Eliseo's descendants Eliseo Jr., Roxanna, Patricia, Robert, Carol and Nancy and the rest of the Morales family.

Tio Eliseo we will always remember you

  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Mat 11:29

There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 

  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 

Heb.4:9-10