by Karen Yvonne Hamilton, 2025

Francisco Rodriguez de Godoy was born in 1813 in La Habana, Cuba. His parents are unknown at this time.

He married Mercedes Martin. Mercedes Martin was born in 1811 in La Habana, Cuba. Beginning in the late 1830s and continuing into 1860, Francisco Rodriguez and his wife, Mercedes Martin would raise their family in Cuba and New Orleans.

  • Francisco Rodriguez was born in 1837. 
  • Antonio Rodriguez was born in 1848. 
  • Manuel Rodriguez was born in 1853. 
  • Flora G was born in 1860. 

NOTE: Francisco connects with my family line through his granddaughter, Maria Carmen Amparo Rodriguez who married Jose Garcia Bello. Maria’s father was Antonio Rodriguez.

In 1870, Francisco and Mercedes lived in the 4th Ward of New Orleans, Louisiana. Francisco ran a bread stand.

1870 U.S. Federal Census, 4th Ward New Orleans
Map showing the first 11 Wards of New Orleans, c. 1870 or before. Augustus Mitchell map.

Francisco lived in New Orleans in 1871.

1871 U.S. City Directories, New Orleans
The Times-Picayune. 8 Oct 1872 Francisco Rodriguez Godoy

*TRANSLATION OF ABOVE: Having come to the notice of the undersigned, the circulation of a printed sheet in which our names have been recorded, as we have not authorized any person, nor do we have the slightest news of such a document, we hereby deny the veracity of said signatures, and since this is a scandalous plagiarism of names, we reserve the right that now exists to prosecute the perpetrators of such a crime before the courts of justice.

  • His son Francisco Rodriguez passed away on December 23, 1875, in New Orleans, Louisiana, at the age of 38.
  • His son Antonio Rodriquez passed away in 1892 in Habana, Ciego de Avila, Cuba, at the age of 44.
  • His son Manuel Rodriguez passed away on June 16, 1908, in New Orleans, Louisiana, at the age of 55.

DEATH

Francisco’s date of death is unknown at this time. From the Times-Picayune article, we can assume that he was still living in late 1872.

SOURCES

Ancestry.com; 1870 United States Federal Census; 1871 U.S. City Directories