He was born in Valle de Salinas. His father was Fernando Cantu, and his mother was Maria de Villarreal.
In 1730, he requested a dispensation to marry Ana Maria de la Garza. It was her second marriage. Dispensation source: Guerra, et. al., Index to the Marriage Investigations of the Diocese of Guadalajara, p.91.
In 1751, he requested a dispensation to marry Maria Ignacia de Treviño. It was his second marriage. Dispensation source: Guerra, et. al., Index to the Marriage Investigations of the Diocese of Guadalajara, p.141.