Cast of Characters

You’ve already been introduced to the patriarch and matriarch of the Maryland Prats Clan: Benito and Mariana, U.S. Generation One.  Let’s list them and the rest of Generation One first, and then work the list back in time to show the full names and relationships of many of the characters you’ll meet in the stories in this blog.

GENERATION ONE

·         Benito Prats Respall (1918–2013), a medical doctor, born in Camaguey, died in Maryland.

·         Olga Prats Respall (1924–2021),his sister,  a school teacher for many years in the town of Hatuey. Born in Camaguey, resides in Miami Beach.  She had two children.

§  José Luis Martínez (1917–2007), her husband, a businessman and photographer.  He was born in Santa Clara, Cuba, and died in Camaguey. They were married in 1952,

·         Bertha Respall Adan (1919–2010), his “prima hermana” (cousin-sister), his first cousin who grew up with him and Olga in his parents’ household and who he considered a sister. Her life’s job was to take care of her widowed grandmother Rufina Pereira, who lived a long life. She did not marry. Born and died in Camaguey.

·         Mariana Martínez Rodríguez (1926–2014), a secretary, office manager and homemaker, born in Camaguey, died in Maryland.

·         Elia Maria Martínez Rodríguez (1930–2022), her sister, a homemaker and clerk with Montgomery County government. Born in Camaguey, she died in Rockville Maryland.

§  Manuel López, her husband, a civil engineer born in Palma Soriano, Oriente, died in Rockville.

·         Ofelia Martínez Rodriguez (1931–2015), her sister, a homemaker and boutique store clerk. Born in Camaguey, died in Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico.

§  Alejandro Mestas (?–2014), her husband, a draftsman and entrepreneur, born in Camaguey and died in Trujillo Alto.

·         Joaquín Ventura Martínez Rodríguez (1934–2021), her brother. Born in Camaguey, died in The Woodlands, Texas.

§  Rosario La Faye, his wife, born in La Paz, Bolivia. They married in the United States.

·         Juan Antonio Martínez Rodríguez (1943–2000), her brother, born in Camaguey, died in Atlanta. He did not marry.

·         Natalia Martínez Rodríguez (1944– ), her sister, a social worker now retired. Born in Camaguey, resides in Chicago.

§  Luis Mario Salces, her husband, born in Mayari, Oriente, resides in Chicago. They married in the United States.

GENERATION ZERO

·         José Prats Amat (1893–1962), a shopkeeper, born in Capillades, Catalonia, Spain, died in Camaguey. Father of Benito Prats Respall. Married Eduvigis Respall.

·         Francisco Prats Amat, his brother

·         Juan Prats Amat, his brother

·         Josefa Prats Amat, his sister

·         Magdalena Prats Amat, his sister

·         Amadeo Prats Amat, his brother

·         Primitiva Prats Amat, his sister

·         Eduvigis Respall Pereira (1895–1989), a teacher, homemaker and shopkeeper, born and died in Camaguey. Mother of Benito Prats Respall. Married José Prats Amat.

·         Porfirio Respall Pereira, her brother; a surgeon. Father of Bertha Respall. Born in Camaguey, he spent some time in Mexico City. He was shot to death in Las Tunas, Cuba, on August 2, 1933, after a dispute and his assailant was not prosecuted.
·         Ramona Suarez, her foster sister. Her mother Rufina took her in when Ramona's mother died.
·         Gertrudis Pereira, her cousin, niece of her mother Rufina.
·         Elfidia Pereira, her cousin, niece of her mother Rufina.
·         Alberto Sanchez, her cousin, nephew of her mother Rufina.
·         José Respall, a cousin who lived in Havana, nephew of her father Casimirio.

·         Joaquín Ventura Martínez y Martínez (1898–1987), a cattle rancher, lawyer, notary and magistrate, born in Havana, died in Bethesda. Father of Mariana Martínez Rodríguez. Married Elia Rodríguez.

·         Antonio Ricardo Martínez y Martínez (1905–1982), his brother; lawyer, psychologist, college professor and Renaissance man.  He did not marry. Born in Havana, died in Bethesda.

Elia Rodríguez de las Casas, in yellow, next to her
husband Joaquín Ventura Martínez y Martínez
and all their children and grandchildren
in 1971 in Maryland at the Prats’ Ewing Drive home 

·         Elia del Rosario Rodríguez de las Casas (1904–1982), a homemaker, cattle rancher, and couture seamstress. Mother of Mariana Martínez Rodríguez.

·         Concepción Rodríguez de las Casas (1887–1960) “Conchita”, her sister, married Ramon Peralta. No children. Born and died in Camagüey.

·         Rafael Rodríguez de las Casas (1885–1960), her brother. Born and died in Camaguey.

·         Gaspar Rodríguez de las Casas (1888–1890), her brother who died in infancy.

·         Gaspar Rodríguez de las Casas (1892–1961), her brother. Born in Camaguey, Married Providencia Manzini of Santi Espiritu, Santa Clara, Cuba. Died in Camaguey.

·         Araceli Rodríguez de las Casas (1890–1960), “Celita”, her sister. Born and died in Camaguey.

·         Maria Luisa Rodríguez de las Casas (1894–1980), “Male”, her sister. Born in Camaguey. Married Federico Salvador, 7 children. Died in Miami, Florida.

·         Angela Rodríguez de las Casas (1889–1974), her sister. Born in Camaguey. Married Federico Castellanos, no children. Died in Bethesda, Maryland.

·         Margarita Rodríguez de las Casas (1897–1984), her sister. Married Javier Calderon. One child, José. Born in Camaguey, died in Rockville, Maryland.

GENERATION MINUS ONE

·         Enrique Prats Ventura, born in Spain, father of José Prats Amat

·         Paula Amat Roig, born in Spain, mother of José Prats Amat

·         José Amat Roig, her brother born in Spain

·         Mariano Amat Roig, her brother born in Spain

·         Tranquilina Amat Roig, her sister born in Spain

·         Casimirio Respall Rodriguez (?–1921), a shopkeeper,  father of Eduvigis Respall Pereira, born in Spain, died in Camaguey

·         Pablo Respall Rodriguez, his brother, married to Aurora Hidalgo Rodriguez. Their son is Raul Respall Hidalgo, a doctor who practiced gastroenterology in Camaguey.

·         Rufina Aurelia Pereira Ortega (1874–1969) “Paita”, homemaker and property owner, mother of Eduvigis Respall Pereira, born and died in Camaguey
·         Manuel Hernandez, her cousin, nephew of her mother Christina Ortega.

·         Joaquín Buenaventura Martínez Diaz (1863–1918), a lawyer and notary, father of Ventura Martínez. Born in Jaruco, Havana Province, died in Camaguey. Father of Ventura Martínez.  First cousin to his wife Mariana Martínez Seijas.

·         Mercedes Martínez Diaz (1865–1965) “Mimi”, his sister. Born in Jaruco, died in Camaguey. She lived in the Martínez household in Camaguey.

·         Mariana Martínez Seijas (1865-1914), her place of birth in Cuba is not known, died in Camaguey. First cousin to her husband Joaquín Buenaventura Martínez. Mother of Ventura Martínez.

·         Carolina Martínez Seijas, her sister. She became a nun

·         Mariana Antonia Martínez Seijas (1865–1914), her sister. She married Luis Felipe Bolaño and widowed young. She lived in the Martínez household in Camaguey.

·         Magdalena Martínez Seijas, her sister. She Maried Emilio Martínez and widowed young. She lived in the Martínez household in Camaguey.

·         Amalia Martínez Seijas (1871–1936), her sister. She did not marry. She lived in the Martínez household in Camaguey.

·         Francisca Martínez Seijas (1875–1964) “Panchita”, her sister; her place of birth is Cuba is not known. She did not marry. Lived in the Martínez household in Camaguey. She died in Camaguey.

·         Natalia Martínez Seijas (1877–1941), her sister. Her place of birth in Cuba is not known. She married Juan Guzman, no children. She lived in the Martínez household in Camaguey. She died in Camaguey.

·         Antonio Martínez Seijas, “Tototo”, her brother.  He married Consuelo Sanabria.

·         Gaspar Rodríguez Porro, born in Camaguey, Father of Elia Rodríguez.

·         Araceli de las Casas y Villanueva, mother of Elia Rodríguez. She died in Camaguey.

GENERATION MINUS TWO

·         Juan Amat Robert, born in Spain, father of Paula Amat Roig

·         Magdalena Roig Orpí, mother of Paula Amat Roig

·         Cristina Ortega, mother of Rufina Pereira

·         Joaquin Martínez Elizaran, father of Joaquín Buenaventura Martínez Diaz

          •   Antonio Martínez Elizaran, Joaquin’s brother, and father of Mariana Martínez Seijas.

·         Mercedes Diaz Bosque, mother of Joaquin Buenaventura Martínez Diaz.

·         Amalia Seijas Martínez, born in Havana, mother of Mariana Martínez Seijas.

·         Rafael Rodriguez, born in Camaguey, father of Gaspar Rodriguez Porro.

·         Concepcion Porro, born in Camaguey, mother of Gaspar Rodriguez Porro.

·         Mariano de las Casas Villafaña, born in Camaguey, father of Araceli de las Casas.

·         Mariana Villanueva Hildago, born in Camaguey, mother of Araceli de las Casas.

GENERATION MINUS THREE

·         Justino Roig, born in Spain, father of Magdalena Roig Orpí.

·         Maria Orpí, mother of Magdalena Roig Orpí

·         José Respall, father of Casimirio Respall

·         Joaquín Ventura Martínez Montero, born in Guines, Havana Province, father of Joaquin and Antonio Martínez Elizaran.

·         Mariana Elizaran López, born in Havana, mother of of Joaquin and Antonio Martínez Elizaran. 

GENERATION MINUS FOUR

·         José Martínez, born in Guines, Havana Province, father of Joaquín Ventura Martínez Montero.
·         Juan Antonio Elizaran, father of Mariana Elizaran López.

·         Mariana López Oliva, mother of Mariana Elizaran López. 

EARLIER GENERATIONS

It is probable, Said Antonio Martínez y Martínez, (Generation Zero) before he died in 1982, that the Martínez came to Cuba from Seville, Spain, between 1500 and 1600.

Five of the Seven Martínez Seijas Sisters
 Magdalena, Mariana (1865–1914), Francisca (1875–1964),
Natalia (1877–1941) and Maria Antonia.
Gen:(–1)

Generations Zero and Minus One
 Left, top to bottom: Joaquín B. Martínez Díaz,
his son Joaquín V. Martínez y Martínez,
his sister-in-law Natalia Martínez Seijas,
and his son Antonio R. Martínez y Martínez.
The others pictured are not known. Circa 1910.

Generations Zero and Minus Two
Joaquín Martínez Elizaran
with his grandson Joaquín Martínez y Martínez.
This picture was taken in 1898.

Generation Minus Two
Cristina Ortega in 1924
at 83 years old

Generation Minus One
Rufina Pereira Ortega

Generation Minus Three
Mariana Elizaran Lopez

Generation Minus Three
Joaquin Martínez Montero

The two images above are miniature oil paintings of husband and wife. Portraits of the Martinez family were on the walls at the Martínez home at No. 208 Republica Street in Camaguey until Antonio Martinez sent them to Dulce Maria Martinez Alvarez, Mariana Martínez’ cousin who was living in California. His was painted in 1830 and hers likely at the same time. 

Generation Zero
Magdalena Prats Amat in 1969
Photographed in Barcelona

Generation Two
Mercedes Díaz Bosque