Another ancestral village -- Villamor de los Escuderos

The same day we left Villaescusa behind, we followed the map back toward Fuentesaúco and the road beyond to the west.  Six miles from Fuentesaúco  we found the village that was small, poor and a little decrepit but welcoming nevertheless.   We saw some stone and cement buildings that were very small, very old and falling down around themselves.  And so many 'se vende' (for sale) signs above the doors and windows as we drove slowly through the town.  It was obvious the unemployment disaster made its mark in this village and we could feel the heaviness around those pathetic signs.

We were intrigued by a half-cement wall painted with pictures and words that told us it was a town filled with young people though and that made us smile. 

The church steeple could be seen from the main road so Steven guided the car toward the spire and an old stone church rose above us.   

The population was 469 last year, so it wasn't surprising to learn there was only one church and cemetery in the village.

The stones were golden colored and were obviously very old like so many others we had seen.  Close behind the church sat the cemetery…and another locked gate.  Shaking it a bit, I was happy to see it rattled open for us… Steven followed, shaking his head as I’d burst through another gate.

Our goal was to find a gravestone for Miguel Hernández Hernández, the father of Agustina Hernández Martin, mother to Victorino, Juan Francisco (our abuelo) and Cristencia --- the Silvan immigrant families who later became Souza, Medeiros and Gonzales.  

We knew Agustina had been born in this village so it seemed logical her parents were undoubtedly buried somewhere in the soil that spread around us in every direction.  Walking through the graveyard gave us a prickle family but we found no family stones within the old stone walls.  They were either too poor or the etchings dissolved over time.  We had a few spiritual moments, took some photos and prepared for the main village --- Fuentesaúco, where the Silvan family began their journey to Hawaii.