Jose Antonio de la Guerra and Maria Antonia Carrillo were blessed with a wonderful daughter. When she reached 14 years of age, "Anita" de la Guerra, daughter of the locally prominent de la Guerra family of Santa Barbara, Alta California, wed Jose Maria Alfredo de Robinson (Alfred Robinson). The marriage took place January 24, 1836 in the Mission Santa Barbara, California. The wedding and fiesta were so extraordinary, they were immortalized in Richard Henry Dana Jr.'s classic 1840 book "Two Years Before the Mast."
They had eight children, the first being Elena in Santa Barbara, after which Alfred took Anita to Boston in 1838. Elena was left in Santa Barbara rather than endure a trip around Cape Horn, and the next child, a son, James Alexander "Santiago Alejandro" Robinson (June 28, 1838, Boston, Massachusetts - March 7, 1855, U.S. Military Academy, West Point, New York) was born in Boston. Elena did not see her mother for four years, and Anita was dutifully stranded in Boston and New York for 13 years. Upon her return, she only spent about three years in her beloved Santa Barbara, before an untimely death. After her loss, Alfred never married again.
A film was also produced: "Two Years Before the Mast" (1946) Paramount Pictures. Directed by John Farrow. With Alan Ladd, Brian Donlevy, William Bendix, Barry Fitzgerald.

(Many references quote an 1855 year of death, but the posted date is directly from Mission Santa Barbara Crypt Cemetery Records and "Laypeoples" stone.)

Please bear with us as your faithful maintainer gathers this work in progress:

Santa Barbara Mission Archives-Library
SBMAL-de_la_Guerra-Docs.pdf

May 16, 1834. Los Angeles.
Robinson to María Antonia sending a silk rebozo for Anita through the administrator, Angel Ramírez. Spanish. 1 p

Jan. 15, 1836. Santa Barbara.
Alfred Robinson to Fray Narciso Durán, O.F.M., requesting a dispensation for omitting the publication of two banns in order to hasten his marriage to Ana María de la Guerra. Durán's dispensation is given, Santa Barbara, Jan. 18, 1836. The document is signed with Robinson's baptismal name, José María Alfredo Robinson. Spanish. 3 pp

June 10, 1838. Boston.
Alfred Robinson to José de la Guerra announcing his intention of returning to California, "the country I idolize;" giving a description of his voyage after leaving Santa Barbara, which lasted 150 days; his trip to Boston and New York; mentions Anita and acquaintances.
Spanish. 5 pp.

June 11, 1838. Boston.
Ana María (de la Guerra) Robinson to José de la Guerra, her father, and to María Antonia (Carrillo), her mother, sending love and regards. Alfred Robinson adds a few lines. Spanish. 1 p.

Nov. 15, 1838. Boston.
Robinson to de la Guerra apologizing for his imperfect Spanish; the birth of a child to him and Anita on June 28, to whom the name, Santiago Alejandro, was given; Anita's progress in English slow; recalls his delights in California; asks about [Antonio José] Cot and [José Antonio] Aguirre; Anita's presence in New York. Spanish. 4 pp.

Febr. 26, 1839. New York.
Robinson to de la Guerra his desire to hear news from California; Anita to continue her studies under his niece who is well educated and who knows Spanish; he and Anita remain faithful in attending worship in Catholic churches in New York; the latest news from Spain is bad; does not know when he will return to California. Spanish. 4 pp

Febr. 27, 1839. New York.
Ana María to José de la Guerra on awaiting ship; asks about various persons; her husband, Alfred Robinson, is coming to California alone. Lettering very small. Spanish. 2 pp.

c. 1839.
Robinson to María Antonia that he has received from Anita, who is in New York. Spanish. 2 pp

Apr. 15, 1839. New York. Sent by way of the Sandwich Islands.
Ana María to de la Guerra announcing that Alfred was in Boston; her intention to study English. Robinson adds a few lines after his return from Boston. Spanish. 3 pp.

Sept. 7, 1839. Boston.
Robinson to de la Guerra on receiving the latest letter from California; mentioned Anita now speaks English very well but lacks confidence in mastering it; Robinson's thinking on the fine weather of California with the approach of winter in the east; newspaper articles in the east speak in favor of California becoming a part of the United States; Robinson's article on California published; he and Elena have been living in New York since the prior October; is planning another voyage to California. Spanish. 6 pp.

Jan. 10, 1840. Bridgeport, Conn.
Ana María to de la Guerra and his wife telling them not to be surprised that she did not sail with her husband; is studying at an academy. Spanish. 2 pp.

Sept. [30?], 1840.
Ana María to her parents concerning Alfred Robinson, her husband, and other members of the family. Almost illegible. Spanish. 4 pp.

Apr. 8, 1841. Cádiz.
Lorenzo de Oreña to José de la Guerra recalling a letter from the latter from Santa Barbara, Sept. 27, 1838, and forwarded by Alfred Robinson from New York; on the death of de la Guerra's father; his son is coming to California to see him. Spanish. 3 pp

Aug. 11, 1843. Boston.
Ana María Robinson to Pablo de la Guerra, her brother, excusing herself for not writing more; she feels her painful separation from home and family. English. 1 p.

Sept. 20, 1846. New York.
Alfred Robinson to Pablo de la Guerra on his and Anita's return from Boston, where they stayed with his sister; four frigates with a corvette of war are going to California filled with munitions and food for the military destined to occupy California; the soldiers to become colonizers after the war the majority being artisans and workingmen, the officers in general being from good families and graduates of West Point, several of whom have letters of introduction to de la Guerra; Robinson expects to be in California within a year which he considers his "adopted country;" de la Guerra is not to be disheartened over the change of flags for California, will begin to exist in a "civilized manner," while "work and ambition" will flourish; his cousin Manuela, gave birth to a girl and was given the name, Anna, he and Anita being the godparents. Spanish. 4 pp.

[Nov.?] 22, 1846. New York.
Robinson to de la Guerra sending a letter through Francisco Mellus, who embarked on a ship destined for San Francisco with provisions and munitions for the military expedition to undertake the occupation of California, has since heard about the squadron under Sloat; the beginning of the Mexican war; troops under General Taylor; a war which Robinson calls unjust; states that the purchase of land in California would be good speculation. Anita adds a few lines to her father at end. Spanish. 2 pp.

Oct. 21, 1847. New York.
Robinson to de la Guerra on the bad actions of Americans including Fremont in California; opines that the United States has claimed all the land of California to the Cape of San Lucas [the lower tip of Baja California], but probably will get no more than the Monterey and San
Francisco areas; urges de la Guerra to obtain land in that area especially Angel island; Robinson's presence at the cathedral to witness the consecration of a new bishop. Spanish. 4 pp.

Nov. 7, 1849. San Francisco.
Robinson to de la Guerra sending a letter from Anita.
Spanish. 1 p.

Dec. 13, 1849. New York.
Elena Robinson, daughter of Alfred and Ana María de la Guerra, to Pablo de la Guerra, stating that she is writing to him instead of to his father, Jose, because she did not know enough Spanish; she has two brothers and a sister whose
daguerrotypes she is sending; will be in school for five more years; enjoys the east but would to be in the de la Guerra house. English. 3 pp.

June 13, 1850. New York.
Larkin asks de la Guerra to write to him in English at least monthly; Anita de la Guerra Robinson and family are
staying at the Irving House; a visit by the Jimeno brothers; his leaving Boston the day before with [Juan] Cooper and his two eldest sons; a deed and mortgage for San Jose orchard which Andrés Pico is to sign. English. 3 pp

Apr. 25, 1851. New York.
Robinson to de la Guerra on a photograph of Pablo; Elena, María Antonia and Santiago are spending the Easter holidays with them; Elena and Santiago soon to received their first Communion; Anita has spent Holy Week in church; cessation of colera in the country; does not know when he can return to California. Spanish. 4 pp.

Oct. 10, 1851. New York.
Robinson to de la Guerra on intends to make another voyage to California, mentions Angustias de la Guerra's sons, Antonio and Porfirio; Robinson's daughter, Elena and María Antonia are at the sisters' convent at Manhattanville. Spanish. 3 pp.

Jan. 12, 1852. New York.
Robinson to de la Guerra on Pablo's usefulness in the California senate in behalf of native Californians; Anita is about to give birth to a child. Spanish. 3 pp.

July 1, 1852. Monterey.
Manuel Jimeno Casarín to José Antonio and Porfirio Jimeno on having received their letter; [Alfred] Robinson and his wife not yet arrived in San Francisco. Spanish. 4 pp.

Jan. 20, 1854. Santa Barbara.
Oreña to de la Guerra concerning his home; on Tomás Díaz telling him that he handed 1,000 pesos to Hallee [Halleck?]; the funeral of a child of [Alfred] Robinson. Spanish. 1 p.

Apr. 5, 1854. Boston.
Robinson to de la Guerra on the death of Manuel Jimeno in Mexico, and of [William] Hartnell in Monterey; Antonio and Porfirio Jimeno are in Robinson's charge; he placed them in a school together with his son, Santiago, having taken them out of Georgetown, and said he would never send another son to a Jesuit College; expects to come to California in June; Elena desires to return to California with Robinson;
Santiago is preparing for the military academy at [West Point]. Spanish. 3 pp.

May 3, 1854. New York.
Robinson to de la Guerra on leaving "the boys" in charge of Mrs. Meade and his intention to take them to Georgetown; his presence in Boston for three weeks; the death of Robinson's son. Spanish. 4 pp.

May 20, 1854. New York.
Robinson to de la Guerra on the effect of Jimeno's death on his sons, Antonio and Porfirio. Spanish. 2 pp.

Oct. 21, 1854. San Francisco.
Pablo to Antonio María asking him to obtain information for Angustias de la Guerra about travel to Mexico; his efforts to place Santiago Robinson at West Point. Spanish. 3 pp

May 10, 1855. Mexico.
De la Guerra Jimeno to de la Guerra on her confusion about dates relative to Pablo's letter dated from San Francisco sends condolence to [Alfred] Robinson and his wife Anita [de la Guerra] on the loss of their son, Santiago; mentions her father, José de la Guerra. Spanish. 2 pp.

Sept. 4, 1855. Los Angeles.
Robinson to de la Guerra but signed as "Argüello," on a money matter; on Anita's becoming instructed by reading Prescott; asks de la Guerra to leave the "maldita" company of the democrats. Spanish. 1 p.

May 31, 1856. George Washington College, D. C.
B. A. Maguire to Alfred Robinson concerning the unpaid college bills for José de la Guerra and Queremón Carrillo. English. 2 pp

Jan. 21, 1856.
A. M. de la Guerra to Pablo on Anita [Robinson's] sepulchre. Spanish. 1 p

Nov. 20, 1859. San Francisco.
Pablo de la Guerra to Elena Robinson on her return to health; envies her being in Los Angeles while he is on the "pestilential streets" of San Francisco. Spanish. 2 pp

Dec. 18, 1859. Santa Barbara.
De la Guerra to Elena Robinson on her recovery from illness; his trip to San Francisco; his stopover at Monterey. Spanish. 4 pp.

Febr. 21, 1860. Santa Barbara.
González Rubio to de la Guerra consoling him on the death of the child, Elena, daughter of Alfred Robinson. Permission is given for the child to be buried with her mother. Spanish. 2 pp. (Name is not engraved on "LAYPEOPLE" marker...)

Febr. 23, 1860. Santa Barbara.
A. M. de la Guerra to Pablo on the death of Elena [Robinson], her remains to be buried with those of her mother if Father González Rubio, O.F.M., permits; asking for a copy of José de la Guerra's testament.
Spanish. 4 pp

Febr. 23, 1860.
Francisco de la Guerra and others to Alfred Robinson on the death of Elena Robinson. Spanish. 1 p

March 2, 1860. Sacramento.
Pablo de la Guerra to Fray González Rubio, O.F.M., concerning the transfer of the remains of Elena Robinson. Spanish. 3 pp.

Nov. 12, 1860. New York.
Robinson to de la Guerra on his arrival in New York; the election of Abraham Lincoln. Andrés Pico for one "has been on the right side of the fence;" is a Republican; Robinson has placed Alfredo in the military academy where his now deceased Santiago was; mentions María Antonia and Gaspar; will return to California. Spanish. 3 pp.



CMD 3413a
Monterey. 5/4/1833.
Baptismal certificate of Alfred Robinson who received the name José María. San Carlos Mission
Baptismal Register, Number 3839. Photocopy. Spanish. 1 p.

Combined public family trees from Ancestry.com:

Based on Gunder-Robinson Family Tree - Dclaire77

Lena "Anna Maria" Robinson (1937/1838, Santa Barbara, California – 1860, San Francisco, California)
Miguel Robinson
James Alexander "Santiago Alejandro" Robinson (June 27, 1838, Boston, Massachusetts – 1855, West Point, New York)
Antonia Robinson 1839 –
Alfredo Wesley Robinson (1842/1844 – November 12, 1909, Santa Barbara County, California (death index 66 yrs)) Possibly Find A Grave Memorial# 72206285
Paulina Robinson (1843, Santa Barbara, California – ) (Anita in California?)
Paulina Robinson (1851, New York State - )
James Alexander "Santiago" Robinson (1854, California – AFT July 1900)

Robinson Family Tree - drobinson163

Maria Antonia Robinson 1838 – 1860

Aguilar Family Tree - susanaguilar146

Paulina Robinson 1844 –
Alfredo Robinson 1854 – 1910

In some sources, Jose Antonio de la Guerra is also known as Jose Antonio de la Guerra y Noriega