Eight years before the Mexican Revolution, Francisco I. Madero and Sara Pérez Romero got married in Mexico City, where she was residing. After six years of courtship they would finally have an official civil wedding ceremony.
Familia Madero, señorita Arizmendi y miembros de la Cruz Blanca (1911) by AnonymousArchivo General de la Nación - Mexico
Sara Perez never imagined that by marrying the Coahuilense, she would bear witness to the start of the revolution. She would accompany him across the whole country in his presidential campaign up to the moment of his capture in 1913. She was the one who asked the ambassador to the United States in Mexico, Henry Lane Wilson, to protect the life of Madero, as well as other government figures who were captured by Victorian Huerta. She lived through what was later known as the "Tragic Dozen," a bitter event that would give her the name of the "First Lady of the Revolution."
Acta de matrimonio de Francisco Ignacio Madero y Sara Pérez (1903) by Registro Civil del Distrito FederalArchivo General de la Nación - Mexico
The certificate that attests to the legality of the marriage was issued in the Civil Registry of the Federal District within the book 307, page 25 (next page), dated January 26, 1903, and drafted by the judge of the Civil Statusm Wenceslao Briceño.
Coming from a well established and rich family, the document describes Madero as a professional farmer aged 29 and stated Mexico City as his temporary residence, while Sara Perez was 31 years old and Mexico City was her permanent home.
Acta de matrimonio de Francisco Ignacio Madero y Sara Pérez (1903) by Registro Civil del Distrito FederalArchivo General de la Nación - Mexico
Thus, by virtue of what was said before the Judge, and being willing to join in matrimony, the following declaration was made solemnly and formally: “On behalf of Society, I declare the citizen Francisco Ignacio Madero united in perfect, legitimate and indissoluble marriage to Miss Sara Pérez."
Witnesses to the nuptial act were the citizen Agustín Verdugo, Sara's brother, Manuel Perez, Madero's parents, as well as his brothers; José Gabriel Madero and Gustavo A. Madero, the latter became his companion during the Revolution.
After Madero's death, Sara received political asylum from the Cuban government. Months later she moved to the United States, where she lived for some time in New York City, until her return to Mexico in 1921, where she died in her home at the age of 82 on July 31, 1952.
References:
26 de enero de 1903
México
AGN, Tribunal Superior de Justicia del Distrito Federal, box 1228, exp. 215534, leaves 16 y 16v.
Anonymous
México
AGN, Collection INEHRM, box 7.4, exp. 886/5, photography 2/8.
Anonymous
1911
México
AGN, Collection INEHRM, box 7.3, exp. 886/2, photography 3/15.
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