An Over - view

Corchero / Sanchez, families. . . . . . . .Where they came from:

In the southwestern part of Europe lies the Iberian Peninsula, in the west central part of Spain about fifteen miles from the Portuguese border you will find a region and former province known as Estremadura, in the State of Caceres. There you will find a small town named Pozuelo de Zarzon. This is where our grandfathers Casto Corchero and Vitoriano Sanchez and their families came from.

On February 3, 1913 the Corchero and Sanchez and others started their emigration from Spain to Hawaii USA. Having missed the 1913 sailing, they were forced to wait in the vicinity of Gibraltar for the 1914 sailing. They sailed on a ship of English registry named Willesden. With a passenger count of 1,358 (491-men, 377- women, 490-children), 16 of the passengers belonged to the Corchero / Sanchez group. From Gibraltar the Willesden sailed 56 days down and around South America and up to Hawaii. They arrived on March 30, 1914.

But at a great loss because some of the children contracted measles mid trip and were buried at sea.The Corcheros lost their 14 year old son and the Sanchez family lost their 2 year old daughter. Other families had comparable losses.

The emigrants came to Hawaii to get work in the sugar plantations. Five year contracts were signed by the head of each family group and the plantation owners. Under age emigrants did not sign contracts and were free to go as they came of age. One by one they saved their money and as each came of age, emigrated to parts unknown.

Six members of the Corchero / Sanchez group left Hawaii between the years 1914 and 1916. They all came to California and settled in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area.

While living in Hawaii three children were born. One in 1915 a girl, Ramona (Corchero) Sanchez, also born was a grandson to the Sanchez family, Andres (Andrew) Gonzales, and a boy was born to the Corcheros, Zacaria (Carl) Corchero. Now there were 7 members in the Corchero family and 4 members in the Sanchez family that stayed on in Hawaii until their contracts lapsed.

In 1919 the last of the family left Hawaii after paying their own passage. They sailed to the port of entry in Seattle Washington and then the ship sailed down the coast to San Francisco California where they were to join the rest of the familys and then settle in that area as they located old acquaintances settled.

by Victorino Agustine Corchero Sanchez ... update July. 27, 2005