His father was Manuel Zarate, and his mother was Josefina Villarreal.
He married Gertrudis Ramirez, daughter of Jose Rafael Ramirez and Francisca de la Garza. Her father owned Rincon de Peñascal grant, Kenedy County, Camargo 86 grant.
Maria Francisca Zarate. She married Leandro Ramirez, son of Jesus Ramirez and Concepcion Sandoval.