TURNS OUT that mi abuela DID have some Irish in her. It was PROBABLY an Irishman fleeing a potato famine, ALL the way to California...thus the turned up nose on that grand dame from Spanish California.
That's not at all far-fetched. One of my g-g-g-grandfathers immigrated from Ireland due to the potato famine. He came in through New Orleans, married a cajun woman, and then settled in western Louisiana. One of his sons (my g-g-g uncle) went to California during the gold rush and never returned. I would imagine that the gold rush brought in people from all kinds of backgrounds.
I haven't had my DNA done and don't know what lurks there, but nothing would surprise me.
Thanks. You KNOW it HAD to be true as NO ONE could make that up.
You really should have it done. It ain't cheap but it IS easy and ... you NEVER know what you may find!
My mother found a long ago Bohemian cousin who came to the USA to avoid going into THEIR military: 19th century draft dodger!
Hah, I had to look up "Bohemia" because I wasn't sure EXACTLY where it was.