José Antonio Nicolás [Ortega] y López was born at Santa Bárbara, Alta California, New Spain, where he was baptized in the Presidio Chapel December 10, 1796 (BP Baptism 00151). He was the 'hijo natural' of Vicente Ortega y Carrillo and María Rosa Monreal López y Sánchez de Ruíz, widow of 67246200 Efigenio Ruíz. (The padre wrote: "viuda de Efigenio Ruíz, y según confesión de ella, de Vicente Ortega, soltero.") Nicolás assumed the surname Ruíz. Nicolás was incorrectly identified as the son of Efigenio Ruíz in his marriage (1) to María Antonia de la Encarnación Pico y Sinova (BP Baptism 00224) at Mission San Buenaventura on June 21, 1818 (SBV Marriage 00892). After Encarnación's death in 1841 Nicolás married (2) María de la Concepción Canuta Romero y Alanís (BP Baptism 00717) at the Santa Bárbara Presidio Chapel on August 19, 1842 (BP Marriage 00251).
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Children:
(with Pico)
- Benito María (bap. Apr. 6, 1819 [SBV Baptism 03482]-Apr. 6, bur. 7, 1819 [SBV Death 02248])
- Maria Antonia (btwn Feb. 1820-Jan. 1821 [SBV Baptism not found]-bur. Jul. 17, 1821 [SBV Death 02429])
- Juan de la Cruz (bap. Nov. 24, 1821 [SBV Baptism 03578]-1891)
- José Antonio de la Presentación (bap. Jul. 2, 1823 [BP Baptism 00642])
- María Antonia (bap. Dec. 17, 1826 [BP Baptism 00748])
- Clemente Ramón (Nov. 20, bap. 23, 1828 [LA Baptism 00135])
- Visitación Antonio (Jul 2, bap. 4, 1830 [BP Baptism 00876])
- María Candelaria (bap. Feb. 8, 1832 BP [Baptism 01039]-18??; m. Valenzuela)
- María Manuela de Jesús (bap. Dec. 26, 1833 [BP Baptism 01022])
- Simona (bap. Oct. 28, 1835 [BP Baptism 01124])
- Juan Bautista (Sep., bap. Oct. 1, 1837 [BP Baptism 01244])
- Gervacio (bap. Jun. 19, 1839 [BP Baptism 01328])

(with Romero)
- José Andrés (bap. Jul. 11, 1843 [BP Baptism 01559])
- José de la Cruz (May 3, bap. 5, 1846 [BP Baptism 01738])
- José Alfredo (Mar. 23, bap. 26, 1848 LA Baptism 01841)