Ancestors of Juan Manuel Ruiz

Juan Manuel Ruiz was the father of Jose Francisco Ruiz, who signed the Texas Declaration of Independence.   Juan Manuel arrived in San Antonio sometime before 1760 from San Luis de la Paz, Queretaro (present-day Guanajuato, Mexico).    Juan Manuel was a tailor and private tutor by trade.  His siblings included Francisca Manuela Ruiz, Jose Felix Ruiz and Maria Gertrudis Ruiz.    Maria Gertrudis married Joseph Guadalupe Fernandes de Agreda in San Antonio in 1783.  Manuel's mother, Ana Maria de Cumplido was buried at San Fernando Church.

Juan Manuel Ruiz' parents were Agustin Ruiz and Ana Maria de Cumplido.  Agustin Ruiz was also born in San Luis de la Paz and is listed in the census there as a comerciente or merchant.  His siblings included Joseph Ruis de Mora, Maria Eugenia Ruiz and  Julian Ruiz.  Their parents were Manuel Ruiz and Augustina Servin.  

The Servin family name may come from the French word serve, i.e. “servant.”  A branch of Servin family reached Querétaro in the late sixteenth or early seventeenth century, mid-century and added to his surname de la Mora for unknown reasons.  Several Servin woman in the Queretaro records use the alternate surname of Touraine.  Touraine is a region in France south of Paris, where a family named Servin exists who for centuries have been known for growing grapes and making wine.

 
MANUEL RUIZ (M. BEFORE 1695) + AUGUSTINA SERVIN

  - Joseph Ruis de Mora (b. 1695)[2]

  - Maria Eugenia Ruiz (b. 1700)[3] 

  - Julian Ruiz (b. 1708)[4]

  - Agustín  Ruiz (b. 1708)[5] + Ana María de Cumplido (d. 1783, Béxar)

       - María Gertrudis Ruiz (m. 1776) + Joseph Guadalupe Fernandes de Agreda

       - Joseph Felix Ruiz (b. 1740)[6]

       - Francisca Manuela Ruiz (b. 1745)[7]

       - Juan Manuel Ruiz (m. before 1766) + Manuela de la Peña y Valdes

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[2] Santiago de Querétaro Baptisms, Feb 1695. Joseph Ruis De Mora, son of Manuel Ruis and Augustina Servin De Mora

[3] San Juan Bautista Church Baptisms, Apatzeo El Grande, Guanajuato, 21 May 1700.  Maria Efigenia Ruys Servin, daughter of Manuel Ruys and Augstina Servin.

[4] Santiago de Querétaro Baptisms, 21 Jun 1706. Julian Ruiz Servin, son of Manuel and Augustina Servin.

[5] Santiago de Querétaro Baptisms, 23 Jun 1708. Augustin Ruis, son of Manuel Ruis and Augustina Servin.

[6] Santiago de Querétaro Baptisms, 20 May 1740.  Jose Felix Ruis, born 20 May 1740, Santiago, Queretaro, son of Agustin Ruiz and Ana Maria Cumplido.

[7] Santiago de Querétaro Baptisms, 27 Jul 1745. Francisca Manuela Ruis, daughter of Agustin Ruis and Ana Maria Cumplido. 

Following the Battle of the Alamo Francisco Antonio Ruiz Took Personal Possession of the San Antonio Treasury

Following the Battle of the Alamo, Francisco Antonio Ruiz (FAR), took personal possession of the public treasury of the City. As late as November 1836, FAR was delivering funds to the army from the deposits in his possession.

Jose Francisco Ruiz advises Antonio Navarro to not serve in the Senate.

In April of 1835, a year before Texas Independence, Jose Antonio Navarro was offered a seat in the Mexican Senate being reformed under Santa Anna's centralist rule. It came with a hefty salary of 10,000 pesos a year. He wrote to his uncle Jose Francisco Ruiz for advice. This was his reply. “My nephew, you know me well enough to excuse any preambles on my part to the decision you wish me to make. I will give you my advice in a few words, remembering the favorite expression of your worthy father, Bread is Bread, Wine is Wine. The die is cast, and in a few months will begin the revolution that will forever separate Texas from the Republic of Mexico. I feel a lump in my throat when I say this. I spent the flower of my life and freely shed my blood for the Independence of Mexico, and I would willingly do so again, though I am now old, could I see any evidence that unfortunate Mexico was capable of governing herself, or upholding the honor of her flag and her nationality; but I have lost all hope of remedy, and see nothing in the future but her inevitable ruin and degradation. I have military honors (you know it well), and receive a pension from the Government of Mexico. I will lose it all rather than go to Mexico and unite myself to the ranks of that oppressive army. Do not go to the Senate of Mexico, for you will only go to assist in quenching the dying embers of Mexican liberty; let us rather stay in Texas, and throw in our lot with our native State."