PART I:
THE SURVIVORS (continued)
4. Description of the
Survivors
Following, in alphabetical order by their first
surnames, is the information gathered about each of the survivors of the
Florida expedition. Since Buckingham Smith's Narratives of the Career
of Hernando de Soto in the Conquest of Florida, and Solar and
Rújula's El adelantado Hernando de Soto are frequently
cited, they have been abbreviated to Smith and SR respectively. These
abbreviations are followed by a dash and a number which corresponds to
the page in which the quotation is found. This expedient saves more than
300 notes.
Acuña, Lope de. Son of Anton Ruiz de
Contreras and Leonor de Acuña, citizens of Illescas, SR-327.
Survivor from Illescas according to Smith-295. Acuña, however,
declared in Mexico where he resided after Florida, that he was born in
Toledo, which is near Illescas. He added that he had married Elvira de
Hermosillo, one of the first eight female settlers of New Spain. [14]
Agostin. From Castilla la Vieja,
Smith-297.
Agostin. From Vizcaya, Smith-298.
Aguilar, Gaspar de. From Castilla la Vieja,
Smith-297.
Aguilar, Juan de. Son of Juan Gonzalez and
Catalina Sanchez, citizens of Valencia de la Torre, SR-292. Since this
Valencia is within the Extremadura region, it is probable that this man
is the same Aguillar de Villanueva listed in Smith-293.
Algalin. Shoemaker from Sevilla,
Smith-292.
Almendron. Brother of Father Pozo; survivor
from Segura, Smith-294. There is one Alonso Hernández Almendro,
son of Bartolome Hernández Almendro and Catalina Martin, citizens
of Segura, SR-284.
Alonso, Alvaro. Son of Juan Vazquez Perenton
and Catalina Alvarez, citizen of Valverde in the lands of Badajoz,
SR-282. Considering that this area is near Portugal, it seems likely
that her people preferred to declare themselves as being Spanish in
order to secure an unencumbered passage to the Indies. If so, this
conqueror may be the same Alvaro Alfonso from Portugal, survivor of the
expedition according to Smith-298.
Alonso, Francisco. Son of Anton Alonso and
Francisca Ruiz, citizens of Pedrosa, SR-330. This is likely the same
Alonso from Sevilla, survivor listed in Smith-292.
Alonso, Gonzalo. This survivor, from Jerez or
Villanueva, Smith-293, may be either one of the following: a) the son of
Alonso Garcia and Ines Gonzalez, citizens of Badajoz, SR-288, or b) the
son of Gonzalo Gómez and Mari Nuñez, citizens of Usagre,
SR-313.
Alonso, Pedro. Son of Juan Macias and Elvira
Garcia, citizens of Azauchal or Azanchal, SR-303. This seems to be the
same Pedro Alonso del Azuchal from Zafra, Almendralejo or Segura,
survivor listed in Smith-294.
Alonso, Rodrigo. Son of Andres Caro and Ines
Alonso, citizens of Badajoz, SR-283. The same man is listed as survivor
in Smith-293.
Alrianes, Martin. Survivor from Vizcaya,
Smith-297.
Alvañez. Survivor from Castilla la
Vieja, Smith-296.
Alvarado, Juan de. Son of Alonso
Hernández de Diosdado and Isabel de Alvarado, citizens of Zafra,
SR-329. Judging from the names of his parents, he is Luis de Moscoso's
brother, referred to in Smith-294.
Alvarez, Juan. Son of Alonso Yañez and
Leonor Fernández, citizens of Badajoz, SR-316. This or the
following person may be the survivor listed in Smith-298, as being from
Portugal, the border of which is quite near Badajoz or Valverde.
Alvarez, Juan. Son of Simon Alvarez and Maria
Alvarez, citizens of Valverde, SR-282.
Alvarez, Rodrigo. Son of Andres Vasquez and
Leonor Rodriguez, citizens of Zafra, SR-307. This man seems to be the
same Rodrigo from Jerez listed as a surviving brother of Alonso Vazquez
in Smith-293. Zafra and Jerez are not more than twenty-five miles apart.
Amarilla, Juan de. Son of Juan de Amarilla and
Maria Gonzalez, citizens of Medellín, SR-304. Listed as survivor
in Smith-295.
Añasco, Juan de. Distinguished
conqueror of Florida, born in Sevilla right at the beginning of the
sixteenth century. The King named him contador of the army that would
accompany de Soto in the exploration of Florida. By a royal
cédula dated the fourth of May 1537, he was permitted to trade
with the natives of that province as long as there were no duties on
imports there. [15] With those two privileges
Añasco embarked from Sevilla for Cuba where he remained for a
while. Later, he was commissioned to take a caravelle to the coast of
Florida to discover and select a good port and to bring back to Havana
some natives that could later serve as guides to the Christians. Upon
his successful completion of that mission, he embarked from Havana for
Florida with two male slaves, one female, and many pigs. Añasco
was quite active during the expedition, especially after it reached the
land of Apalache. After the death of Commander de Soto, he managed to
construct a compass from an old clock, which proved indispensable in
finding the Pánuco River in Mexico. In the city of Puebla de los
Angeles in that country, Añasco made his probanza in May 1544.
[16] By this document, which in essence is a
list of the services rendered by any individual to the Crown and usually
made with the purpose of requesting a royal grant or favor, we learn the
most about Anasco. The rest is taken from Anasco's own declarations
found in two other documents. [17] In
addition, Anasco is mentioned often by the chroniclers of the Florida
expedition. Añasco continued from Puebla to Peru and after
running the Guadalcanal mines for some time, he died. His wife Isabel de
Anasco, later declared, in Peru, that her husband began serving his
majesty in Italy and in Vienna, prior to rendering his services in the
Indies. She added, too, that their son Juan de Cardenas y Añasco,
served the King well in the Chilean wars. Smith-292 confirmed that
Anasco was a survivor and native of Sevilla.
Andirrela, Miguel de. Foreigner and survivor,
Smith-299.
Antonio. Survivor from Galicia, Smith-299.
Arevalo Brizeño, Pedro de. Son of Pedro
de Arevalo and Ana Calderon; enlisted in the armada of de Soto in
Sevilla, on February 15th 1538, SR-299. His name does not appear in the
list of survivors made by Luis Hernandez de Biedma and transcribed by
Buckingham Smith yet, judging by the following, he survived the
expedition. Arevalo made his probanza in Peru between 1558 and 1559,
stating that he sailed from Sevilla for Cuba with Hernando de Soto. From
that island he accompanied the same and 650 men to Florida, of whom 350
survived. After de Soto's death, those still alive were guided to Mexico
by the new governor, Luis de Moscoso. From that Viceroyalty he went to
serve the King against the rebellious natives in Guatemala, where he
fought until they came in peace to serve the Christians. Thereafter he
went to Peru where he fought with viceroy Blasco Nuñez Vela
against the rebel Gonzalo Pizarro. Sometime in 1560 the acting viceroy
of Peru sent him to Spain after Arevalo was involved in a fight with
another Spaniard. He was in Panama in 1562 and, one year later, he
appeared before a court in Madrid, Spain. Arevalo's signature appears in
some of the documents mentioned. [18]
Argote, Alonso de. Son of Francisco Gonzalez
de Argote and Florencia Morana, citizens of Astorga, SR-331. According
to Smith-297 he survived the expedition and indeed he did, for he is
found in Mexico in 1557 acting as a witness. There he declared he had
been born more than 35 years previous in the city of Astorga, Spain.
There he enrolled with de Soto and went to Cuba and Florida, serving in
the latter for five years and particularly in the war against the
natives of Mobila. Argote did not add much about his activities in
Mexico and signed his declaration. [19]
Arias. Ailing man from Galicia who arrived in
Pánuco, Smith-298.
Arias Davila, Gómez. This survivor is
not listed by Hernandez de Biedma nor is there a record of his
registering in Sevilla to sail to the Indies. He is, however, mentioned
repeatedly by Garcilaso and at least once in Rangel's chronicle,
described as being from Segovia. [20]
According to his own account given in Lima, Peru, in 1561, he made the
trip from Sevilla to Cuba and from there to Florida in the armada
organized by de Soto. After nearly five years of hardship, he went with
others to discover the sea and their way to New Spain. After Mexico he
went to Peru where he witnessed some of the services rendered by Juan
Cordero, another of de Soto's men. He signed his deposition adding, in
the year 1561, that he was 47 years old. [21]
Arias was to become one of the most successful men to survive the
Florida expedition. After Mexico, he went to Nicaragua where he was
selected by the royal Audiencia to lead the group of men it was sending
to Peru to reinforce the Viceroy's troops that were to oppose Gonzalo
Pizarro's uprising. For all the services he rendered to the crown, Arias
was rewarded the right to collect tribute from the Chupacho Indians in
Peru, and later, he became the governor of the Guánuco province.
He married Maria Castellon y de Lara and had a son, Juan, who was born a
few years before his death in 1563.
Arias de Canedo, Pedro. Another survivor not
mentioned in the list of Hernandez de Biedma who may be the son of Diego
Arias and Isabel Sedano, citizens of Astorga, SR-298. Arias made his
probanza in Lima, Peru, in the year 1563 where he resided in the city of
León de Guánuco. In that document he asserted he came to
the Indies from Spain twenty-five years previous as part of the army
brought by the Adelantado de Soto to conquer and explore Florida. After
several years of hardship he and others left Florida for Mexico and, in
1544, he continued to Peru where he had lived since. In Peru he served
the King, first against Gonzalo Pizarro's insurrections, and then
against Sebastian de Castilla and Francisco Hernández Giron.
After listing these and other services he rendered in Peru, he stated he
was very much in need, married to Isabel de Garay, and with children to
support. [22]
Aroca, Pedro de. Survivor from Vizcaya,
Smith-297.
Atanasio. Survivor from Badajoz according to
Smith-293. Garcilaso de la Vega called him Hernando Atanasio and
indicated Badajoz as his place of provenance. [23]
Avedi, Juanes de. Survivor seaman from
Vizcaya, according to Smith-297. Garcilaso mentioned a Juanes de Abadia
who may be the same man.
Azeituno, Antonio. Another survivor not
mentioned in the list of Hernandez de Biedma. Twenty-four years after
sailing from Sevilla to Florida via the island of Cuba, Azeituno was a
resident of the city of Zamora in Peru where he declared he had been a
member of the Florida expedition in which he spent five years. He signed
his testimony in 1561 at 38 years of age. [24] According to SR-283, Aceituno was the son of
Pedro de Aceituna and Lucia Lopez, citizens of Jaen.
Bacan. Survivor from Jerez, Smith-293.
Baeza. There is one Baeza survivor from
Castilla la Vieja, Smith-296. It seems probable that either of the
following soldiers is that person, however, not from Castilla la Vieja:
a) Bartolome de Baeza, son of Juan Ruiz of Baeza and Juana Martinez,
citizens from Jaen which is near Baeza, SR-281; or b) Diego de Baeza,
son of Juan de Aranda and Catalina Gómez, citizens of Pedroneras
del Marquesado, SR-280.
Bautista. Brother of the one described below,
who also survived Florida and was from Castilla la Vieja according to
Smith-296. He was more likely from Castilla la Nueva as was his brother
Juan, who follows.
Bautista, Juan. Son of Diego Alonso and Isabel
de Castilla, citizens of Toledo, SR-291. This person may be the same
survivor called Bautista, from Castilla la Vieja according to Smith-296.
However, if Bautista is from Toledo, then he is from Castilla la Nueva.
Bernaldo. A caulker, survivor from Vizcaya,
Smith-298. The passenger register in Sevilla states that he was a free
colored servant of Captain Pedro Calderon and had presented proof of
freedom before Iñigo Lopez, a public scribe and notary of
Sevilla. [25] Part of this record is
contained in SR-320.
Blasco, Alonso. Survivor who was brother of
Gonzalo Vasquez from Villanueva according to Smith-293. If so, he was
the son of Gonzalo Vazquez and Catalina Vazquez, citizens of Villanueva
de Barcarrota, SR-332.
Bolaños, Juan de. Son of Francisco
Lozano and Elvira Cambran, citizens of Fuente el Maestre, SR-302. This
may be the same Bolaños from Burguillos who survived the Florida
expedition according to Smith-294. Both Fuente el Maestre and Burguillos
are located some sixty miles south-east of Badajoz.
Bonifacio. Survivor from Valladolid,
Smith-296.
Botello, Alonso de. Son of Diego Gill and
Isabel Votella, citizens of Villanueva de Barcarrota, SR-332. This
Botello is likely the same Alonso Botellon from Villanueva, survivor
according to Smith-293. Botello testified in New Spain that he had been
in Florida with Hernando de Soto, that he was a son of Diego Gil and
Isabel Botella, and that he was an hijodalgo married to a daughter of
Diego Yañez. [26]
Botello, Juan. Not listed by Hernández
de Biedma, yet his existence appears well documented. In the year 1560
he was a witness to the probanza made by Alonso Vazquez in Jerez, Spain
and declared that he was one of de Soto's soldiers, a citizen of
Villanueva de Valcarrota (sic), and 47 or 48 years of age. He added that
he was in the armada and on the same ship with Alonso Vazquez and that
the Adelantado disembarked with his men at Santiago de Cuba and
proceeded to Havana. In sum, they stayed on that island several months
while readying the armada. After reaching Florida, Botello testified
that Captain Juan Ruiz Lobilla placed thirty to forty men under Alonso
Vazquez's command, later increased to eighty. He saw when Vazquez was
struck in the ankle by an arrow during a battle with the natives at the
savannah in Chicaza. Botello added that so great were the toils
experienced in Florida that no man could find words to describe them nor
memory to recite them. After so much hunger and fatigue, Juan Botello
and others were able to reach the port of Pánuco and later the
city of Mexico. He lived several years there and in 1550 declared that
in the same city he had seen Luis de Moscoso, another of de Soto's men,
living with the former's cousin. Botello was able to sign his testimony.
[27] Previously, Botello had declared, in
Sevilla on March 11, 1538, that he was a son of Rodrigo Botello and
Marina Rodriguez, citizens of Villanueva de Barcarrota, SR-331.
Bravo, Luis. Son of Baltasar Bravo and
Leónor Rodriguez, citizens of Badajoz, SR-277. This should be the
same survivor listed in Smith-293 as the son of Baltasar Bravo from
Badajoz.
Bustillo, Pedro de. Witness called to testify
in lengthy lawsuit between Isabel de Bobadilla, widow of de Soto, and
Hernando Ponce de León. [28] Bustillo
declared in Sevilla, Spain in 1546, he had known de Soto from 1535 until
his death in 1542, and that he was 35 years of age and from Valladolid.
He knew about the de Soto expedition to Florida because he was part of
it, having gone from Sevilla to Cuba with many others. From Havana he
sailed in May, 1539, for Florida where he suffered much travail and
shortages of food. He saw de Soto fall sick in May 1542, and witnessed
his death in a port called Guachoya. Bustillo and the other survivors
then decided to abandon Florida and arrived in Mexico in September,
1543. Bustillo signed his deposition. This conqueror should be the same
Gutierre de Bustillo, son of Rodrigo Coaca and Maria Cavallos, citizens
of Villasedil, a clear misspelling of Valladolid, SR-325.
Hernández de Biedma listed him as one of the survivors, simply
giving his last name as Bustillon, and his origin as Castilla la Vieja,
Smith-296.
Caldera. Survivor from Alburquerque,
Smith-295.
Calderon, Pedro. Survivor from Badajoz,
Smith-293. We know he endured the hardships of the Florida expedition
because he appeared as a witness twice in Mexico in 1547, and once in
Badajoz, Spain, in 1558. In Mexico he declared he knew de Soto in
Sevilla in 1537 and that de Soto sent Juan de Añasco to Florida
to discover a suitable port and to obtain some guides. Anasco came back
after two months, having done both. He found a secure port and brought
back to Havana two Florida natives who asserted that many riches and
gold were to be found there. When the de Soto expedition reached the
port, which they named Espiritu Santo, many left to explore inland,
while Calderon remained behind as captain of the men that safeguarded
the ships. It was there that he received a message from Isabel de
Bobadilla for her husband, de Soto, by a captain who brought it from
Havana. [29] When Calderon testified in
Badajoz in 1558 in the probanza of Gonzalo Silvestre, another of de
Soto's men, he asserted he was around 60 years old and a native of that
city. He had known Silvestre since 1538 when both were among the
soldiers going from Sevilla to Cuba and on to Florida. In the Florida
expedition he was one of de Soto's captains for nearly five years. After
de Soto's death and finding they could not maintain themselves,
Silvestre and Calderon constructed several brigantines. With them they
were able to reach New Spain. Silvestre later departed for Peru while
Calderon stayed in Mexico, after which he returned to Badajoz where we
find him in 1558. Calderon signed his depositions. [30] Pedro Calderon is mentioned often by the
chroniclers Rangel, Elvas, and Garcilaso de la Vega. [31] He was the son of Rodrigo Calderon and
Beatriz de Hoces, citizens of Badajoz, SR-276. There is a discrepancy
here that should be noted. While Solar and Rújula indicated that
Calderon registered for the Indies with his sons Rodrigo Calderon and
Gregorio de Hoces and his wife Isabel Sayaga, Cristóbal
Bermúdez Plata mentioned Isabel as his daughter, not his wife.
[32]
Calderon, Rodrigo. Son of Pedro Calderon,
survivor from Badajoz, Smith-292. This conqueror should be the son of
Captain Pedro Calderon mentioned above and listed in SR-277.
Calle, Juan de la. Son of Andres Miguel and
Leónor Cazurra, citizens of Sanfronte, suburb of Zamora, SR-324.
Calle was a shoemaker from Castilla la Vieja who survived the de Soto
expedition according to Smith-297.
Calvarrasa, Toribio de. Son of Bartolome de
San Martin and Francisca Sanchez, citizens of Salamanca, SR-327. Calva
Rasa from Castilla la Vieja was one of the survivors appearing in
Smith-296.
Calvera, Diego de. He declared in Mexico in
1561 that he was a resident of that city, 35 years old, and a survivor
of the Florida adventure. During that lengthy exploration he witnessed
the death of Francisco de Osorio, a brother of Garcia Osorio who was
also present. Calvera signed his testimony. [33] His name is not included in the lists made
by Solar and Rújula or Hernandez de Biedma. However, the latter
included a Caldera from Alburquerque already mentioned above, Smith-295,
who could be the same person.
Calzada, Juan de. Son of Anton de Calzada and
Maria Santiago, citizens of Una. Smith-294 lists a survivor called
Calzada from Zafra, Almendralejo, or Segura. No Una is known to be in
that vicinity.
Cañete, Garcia de. Son of Pedro de
Cañete and Elvira de Avila, citizens of Illescas, SR-283.
Smith-296 includes a survivor called Cañete from Ubeda or Baeza.
This could be fray Sebastian de Cañete, author of the so-called
Cañete Fragment, who may have been another witness and chronicler
of the de Soto expedition and whose complete writings are yet to be
found. [34]
Cardenas, Lorenzo de. In February 1545 he
rendered testimony in Tenochtitlan (Mexico), New Spain at the request of
Baltasar de Gallegos, one of de Soto's companions. At that time Cardenas
declared he had known Gallegos in 1537 when they were making the
necessary preparations in Sevilla to depart for the Indies. Later, they
sailed to the province of Florida where Cardenas saw Gallegos
participate in several explorations and wars against the natives. After
de Soto's death the survivors decided to leave that land and, covered
with animal skins, they reached New Spain. Cardenas was living in the
capital in 1545 when he declared he was 25 years old and signed his
declaration. [35] This conqueror is not
mentioned by Hernandez de Biedma, nor by Solar and Rújula.
Carmona, Alonso de. This survivor was residing
in Cuzco, Peru, in the year 1556, when he testified in the probanza of
Pedro de Arevalo. He stated that he had gone with Arevalo in de Soto's
expedition to Florida by way of Sevilla and Havana and finally
disembarking in the port of Espiritu Santo. After several years of
discoveries and de Soto's death, he followed Luis de Moscoso to Mexico.
Shortly after, he proceeded to Peru where he made this signed
deposition. [36] Carmona was not included in
Luis Hernandez de Biedma's list of survivors, yet this citizen of Priego
was an important source of information for Garcilaso de la Vega who
cited his two written peregrinaciones. [37]
According to Garcilaso, Carmona wrote his peregrinations after returning
from Peru to live in Spain. From there he sent them to Vega. [38]
Caro, Alonso. Son of Hernan Caro and Elvira
Lopez, citizens of Valencia de la Torre, SR-308. According to Smith-294,
there was a survivor with this name from Almendralejo which is a town
near this Valencia.
Carrion, Juan. Son of Juan Esteban and Isabel
Fernández, citizens of Badajoz, SR-299. According to Smith-293,
there was one survivor of the same name, a tailor from Badajoz.
Caro, Alonso. Another soldier with the same
name, this was the son of Juan Garcia Caro and Maria Hernández,
citizens of Medellín, SR-297. His name appears among the
survivors as being from Medellín, Smith-294.
Carranza, Luis de. One survivor of the
expedition is listed as Carrance, Smith-292, while Garcilaso de la Vega
mentioned one Juan de Carranza from Sevilla. However, the most likely
name of this conqueror is Luis, as he signed and called himself in 1545.
[39] In that year Luis de Carranza declared
in Mexico that he was from Sevilla, now a resident of the city of
Mexico, and 23 years old. He had known Baltasar de Gallegos, one of de
Soto's men and in whose probanza he was witnessing for eight years. He
saw Gallegos making the necessary preparations in Sevilla to depart for
Florida, including the purchasing of goods and the acquisition of
several black slaves and horses. Both Gallegos and the witness finally
reached Florida in the de Soto armada, where they remained exploring the
land for several years. After the death of the governor, they decided to
leave the land and, dressed as they were in animal skins, they reached
Mexico. Carranza asserted that Gallegos always behaved like a noble. He
signed his deposition.
Carrasco, Juan. Son of Martin Hernández
and Leónor Diez, citizens of Oliva. According to Smith-293, there
was one survivor of the same name who was a tailor from Jerez or
Villanueva. There is an Oliva quite close to Jerez and Villanueva, all
in Extremadura province, where many of de Soto's men were born.
Carrauz. A survivor from Torrejon,
Smith-295.
Carrion. Another survivor, this one from Ubeda
or Baeza, Smith-296.
Carrion, Pedro. Conqueror born in Carrion in
the kingdom of Castilla around the year 1509, according to his
declaration as a witness in the suit between Hernando Ponce de
León and Isabel de Bobadilla. [40] He
deposed that he had known de Soto in Nicaragua circa 1529, and saw him
depart for Peru. Years later he accompanied him to Florida, where he saw
him use a fine Peruvian tent made of wool and cotton from the Andes. He
also witnessed the good land that they had found during that expedition.
He signed his testimony. This man may be the same Carrion, native of
Carrion de los Condes, listed among the survivors, Smith-297.
Cartuyo, Gonzalo. Surviving sailor from
Sevilla, Smith-292.
Carvajal, Lorenzo de. Soldier whose name does
not appear in the list of survivors made by Hernandez de Biedma, nor in
the list of persons registered in Sevilla for de Soto's expedition. The
last is not surprising, for it seems that Carvajal was already in Cuba
when de Soto's armada arrived from Spain. This is deduced from his own
testimonies rendered in Mexico in the years 1554, 1557, and 1569. In the
first instance he deposed, in Rodrigo Vasquez's probanza, that he was a
citizen of the city of Mexico and 35 years of age. He added that he
witnessed Vazquez serving in Florida and helping his wounded brother
Alonso, whom he cared for all the way to Mexico. He signed his
testimony. [41] Later, in 1557, Carvajal
testified in the probanza of Hernan Suarez de Maruelas, another of de
Soto's men. He confirmed that he went to Florida with Suarez and de
Soto, without adding more about his own life. [42] Twelve years later, in 1569, he witnessed
the probanza of Sebastian de Villegas Prieto, another of de Soto's
soldiers. He asserted that he knew Villegas in Cuba some 30 years
earlier and went with him to Florida and then to Mexico, where Villegas
settled in the vicinity of the Guanajuato mines, where he was still
residing in 1569. [43]
Castejon, Francisco de. The existence of a
Florida survivor with this name is well documented, for he testified in
Mexico on two occasions, one in 1547, and another in 1560. In the first
he asserted he was born in Soria around 1510. From both declarations it
is clear that he participated in the expedition and discovery of Florida
led by Hernando de Soto, whose death he witnessed, after which he left
with the other survivors for New Spain. Both in 1547 and in 1560,
Castejon declared he lived in Mexico and he signed his testimony. [44] Francisco de Castrejon, with an added "r",
is listed as the son of Antonio de Castrejon and Francisca de Licardo,
citizens of Soria, SR-317. There is a survivor of de Soto's expedition
named Castrejon but from Astorga, listed in Smith-297. It appears he
preferred to sign Castejon, if the scribe who wrote the mentioned
documents spelled his name correctly.
Castro, Juan de. Son of Pedro de Castro and
Isabel de Turrenco, citizen of Benavente, SR-303. This soldier may be
the same Castro from Castilla la Vieja, cited among the survivors of the
expedition, Smith-296.
Castro, Castro del. Survivor from Garciamunoz,
Smith-295.
Coles, Juan. Son of Juan Coles and Luisa
Rodriguez, citizen of Zafra, SR-323. Smith-294 adds that this survivor
of the expedition was a tailor from Zafra. His Relación was one
of the most important sources of written information for Garcilaso de la
Vega, who, in The Inca's preface, mentioned how it was saved from
destruction at the shop of a printer in Córdoba. In Mexico, Coles
wrote that "a citizen of Mexico named Xaramillo, took into his house
eighteen men, all from Extremadura, and he clothed them with the fine
broadcloth of Segovia, and that to each one he gave a bed with
mattresses, sheets, and blankets and pillows, a comb and brush, and
everything else needful for a soldier, and that all the city had been
greatly pained to see them come clothed in deerskins and cow [buffalo]
hides, and that they did them this honour and kindness for the many
labors they knew they had undergone in Florida." [45]
Cordero, Juan. Son of Alvaro Cordero and
Leónor Carcelas, citizens of Badajoz, SR-287. Hernandez de Biedma
listed him as one of the survivors of the expedition, originally from
Portugal, Smith-298. Here again there is an example of a Portuguese
listing himself as being from just the other side of the Spanish border,
namely Badajoz. Garcilaso mentions a Joam Cordeiro, clearly a Portuguese
name, native of Yelves, or Elvas, and most likely the same person listed
here. [46] He made his probanza in Jaen,
Peru, in 1561 where he was living then. He declared he came from Mexico
to Peru where he served the King fighting in the battle of Xaquixaguana
against the rebel Gonzalo Pizarro, who was defeated. He was one of the
founders of the city of Jaen for he had accompanied Captain Diego
Palomino in its conquest. He added he did not have enough income to
support his wife and family.
Coria. Survivor from Sevilla, Smith-292.
Cornejo, Alonso. Son of Francisco Cornejo and
Leónor Gonzalez, from Valencia de la Torre, SR-292. Among the
survivors of the Florida expedition there is a Cornejo from Zafra,
Almendralejo or Segura, who may be this same soldier, Smith-294.
However, there was another Alonso Cornejo who enlisted in Sevilla for
Florida, a son of Anton Cornejo and Isabel Guerra, citizen of Castro
Calbon, SR-330. Castro Calbon was located in the kingdom of León.
The last Cornejo cited here may have lost his life in the exploration of
Florida, while the first is likely a survivor.
Corona, Rodrigo. Son of Pedro de Olias and
Juana Lopez, citizens of Torrejon de Velasco, SR-311. Among the
survivors appears a man by the same name who played the trumpet,
credited as a native of Toledo, Smith-295.
Cortes, Diego. He testified in the city of
Puebla la los Angeles in Mexico, that he was born in Medellín and
that his parents were Pero Gutierrez and Catalina Cortes. He added that
he took part in de Soto's expedition to Florida and that at the time he
was residing in Puebla with his wife, a daughter of Alonso de Buiza. [47] Cortes is a survivor from Almendralejo,
according to Smith-294. Medellín and Almendralejo are both in
Extremadura.
Cuadrado, Gonzalo. Son of Gonzalo Cuadrado and
Maria Gonzalez, citizens of Zafra, SR-305. Smith-294 lists a survivor of
the same name and origin. The existence of Gonzalo Cuadrado is well
documented, for he was a witness in Mexico in 1547, called to declare in
the suit of Hernando Ponce de León against Isabel de Bobadilla,
de Soto's widow. He stated he was a native of Zafra in Spain, a resident
of Mexico and more than 35 years of age. He had known de Soto since 1537
and had accompanied him in the exploration of Florida. He signed his
declaration. [48] Cuadrado was often
mentioned by Garcilaso de la Vega, especially when describing the
arrival of the Christians at Pánuco. [49]
Custreros. A survivor from Astorga, Smith-297.
Daza, Luis. This man prepared his departure
for the Indies with special care. First, in 1537, he obtained from the
local authorities of Valladolid, where he was born, a certificate that
he was a man of noble lineage and descended from a line of honorable
persons. Second, he successfully petitioned the Crown to issue a royal
mandate naming him a regidor, or member of the city council where the
governor of Florida chose to reside. [50]
With these documents secured, he departed Sevilla for Cuba and then to
Florida as part of de Soto's armada. In that new land he remained for
some four years and witnessed many of the hardships, explorations, and
wars with natives. These are described in the probanzas of Rodrigo
Vasquez and Garcia Osorio, both his companions and de Soto's, while in
the exploration of Florida. After abandoning that land for New Spain, he
settled in Mexico City where he was in 1547, 1554, and 1560, declaring
in those years that he had been born shortly before 1520, and signing
his testimonies. [51] One of the survivors of
the Florida adventure described as coming from Castilla la Vieja, is
named Daze, a misspelling for Daza, Smith-296. In another instance, Daza
declared in Mexico that he was the legitimate son of Alvaro Daza and
Leónor Osorio, and that he had married a daughter of Diego
Valadez. [52]
Diaz, Juan. One of the survivors listed by
Hernandez de Biedma as being from San Lucar de Barrameda, Smith-292.
Garcilaso de la Vega described him however, as being from Granada. [53]
Duarte, Juan. A survivor from Castilla la
Vieja, Smith-297.
Enriquez, Diego. Son of Pedro Lopez de
Calatayud and Maria Enriquez, citizens of Valladolid, SR-314. Smith-298
lists an Enriquez from Astorga, left ailing at Pánuco.
Espindola, Cristóbal. Survivor listed
as a native of Sevilla, Smith-292. He is mentioned by Elvas, Ranjel and
Garcilaso de la Vega. His existence is better documented for having
testified in the probanza of Baltasar de Gallegos. [54] In this document, dated in Mexico in 1545,
Espindola declared he was alguacil mayor of the Inquisition in New
Spain, a native of Sevilla, and a resident of Mexico City. He had known
Gallegos since around 1515, and he was born before 1505. He witnessed
Gallegos' sale of all his properties in order to go to Florida, and with
the latter and others, he embarked in de Soto's armada. He arrived in
Florida where he made explorations and saw battles for several years
until the survivors decided to abandon that land. Dressed in animal
skins, he reached Mexico, where he then lived, and where he signed his
declaration in the year 1545. Three years later he declared in Mexico
that he was an hijodalgo, married to Doña Francisca
Castaño, with whom he had three children. [55] Espindola was not listed as one of the
survivors, nor does his name appear in the list of passengers registered
in Sevilla for Florida.
Fernández, Alvaro. A conqueror not
mentioned by Hernandez de Biedma nor Solar and Rújula. He
declared under oath in Puebla de los Angeles, New Spain in 1544, that he
had been with de Soto in the Florida expedition. He indicated that he
had seen Juan de Añasco bring back from Florida three natives
after he discovered the landing port for the expedition. He added, in
his answers given in Juan de Anasco's probanza, that he had witnessed
most of what Añasco asserted. He, as had all the rest of the
survivors, went to Mexico where he remained at least until the year
1544, when he was 34 years old. Fernández signed his deposition.
[56]
Fernández, Juan. Son of Francisco
Pérez Pentiero and Catalina Martin, citizens of Alburquerque,
SR-278. A survivor with the same name and from the same place is listed
in Smith-295.
Figueroa, Pedro de. A survivor from Zafra,
Almendralejo, or Segura, Smith-294.
Fraile. Luis Hernandez de Biedma listed three
surviving friars without giving their names, Smith-298. Two have been
identified in this monograph as Juan Gallegos and Fray Francisco de
Tones. Therefore, one is still unidentified and is referred to as
Fraile.
Fuentes, Luis de. Son of Garcia de Fuentes and
Beatriz Escobar, citizens of Sevilla, SR-296. This may be the same
Fuentes from Sevilla, survivor of the de Soto expedition according to
Smith-292.
Gaitan, Juan. Surviving treasurer of the army,
native of Talavera de la Reina, Smith-295. The royal officials of the
expedition were Gaitan, the treasurer, Hernandez de Biedma, the factor
or administrator of the royal coffers, and Añasco, the contador.
From Havana they sent a letter to the King dated May 8, 1539, recounting
how de Soto's armada was about ready to sail for the Florida port
already selected by Añasco and located 75 to 80 leagues from
Havana. They mentioned that the total ships ready was nine and that the
army contained 513 men, composed of 313 footmen and 200 horsemen, the
latter taking a total of 237 horses. [57]
Gaitan declared in Mexico that he was a son of Joan Gaitan and
Doña Catalina de Ribera from Talavera de la Reina, married to
Catalina de Zarate, and in charge of the natives of the town of
Tlaculpo. He added that prior to the de Soto venture he had served the
King in Tunis, and later went to Peru to help in its pacification. [58]
Gallego, Diego. Survivor from Castilla la
Vieja, Smith-297. This soldier may or may not be the same Alonso
Gallego, son of Francisco Dominguez and Elvira Garcia, citizens of
Alconera, SR-305. This locality is in Badajoz, Extremadura.
Gallegos, Juan. He was a brother of Baltasar
de Gallegos and thus possibly from Sevilla, and one of the three
surviving priests, Smith-298. There is one person with the same name
listed as son of Juan Martin Bermejo and Beatriz Belazquez, citizens of
Oliva, SR-323. This may be the same priest mentioned by Garcilaso de la
Vega, who wrote that he was from Sevilla. [59]
Gallegos, Baltasar de. Survivor from Sevilla,
Smith-292, who made his probanza in Tenochtitlan, New Spain, in 1545. He
started it by indicating that he was from Sevilla in Spain and a
resident of Mexico where he had arrived around 1526. Later, he
accompanied Baltasar de Osorio in the conquest and colonization of
Tabasco where the former was wounded and where he chose to settle after
receiving an encomienda there. After profiting from the labor and
tribute of his encomendados for three or four years, he asked the Royal
Audiencia for permission to return to Spain to marry. He travelled to
his homeland and, after marrying Maria de Guzman, he learned that
Francisco de Montejo had taken away his encomienda, for which reason he
decided to join Hernando de Soto. De Soto named Gallegos his Field
Marshal, and encouraged him to travel to Cuba with his wife and
household. He did so, taking along several servants, horses, and slaves
at an expense of more than 4,000 ducats. Once Gallegos arrived in
Florida he engaged in many conquests, wars, and expeditions that took
place in the following years. In the process he lost several of his
horses and slaves. He also suffered the death of his brother who had
participated in the expedition and who was a priest of the Dominican
order. After the survivors found they could not support themselves, they
travelled to New Spain, dressed as they were in animal skins, arriving
first at the port of Pánuco and then Mexico City. Finally,
Gallegos asked his witnesses to testify on the above and to declare if
he was indeed a noble man of well reputed parents. [60] Gallegos was one of the members of the
Florida expedition most frequently mentioned by Elvas, Rangel and
Garcilaso de la Vega. [61]
Gallegos, Rodrigo de. Son of Juan de Escobar
and Beatriz Gallegos, citizens of Sevilla, SR-328. The same person is
listed among the survivors, Smith-292.
Galvan, Fernan. Son of Francisco Galvan and
Maria Esteban, citizens of Valverde, SR-310. Galvan is listed as a
survivor, from Zafra, Almendralejo, or Segura, Smith-294. There are two
Valverdes located not far from the axis Almendralejo-Zafra-Segura, all
in Extremadura.
Gamez, Juan de. Son of Hernando de Gamez and
Isabel de Pancorvo, SR-276. Survivor not listed by Hernandez de Biedma,
yet he was living in Mexico City by 1561. There, in the month of
January, he was asked to testify in the probanza of Garcia Osorio,
another of de Soto's soldiers. Gamez stated that he knew Garcia and his
brother Francisco in the expedition to Florida, the latter having died
in that conquest. Afterwards, he and many others, including Garcia, went
to Mexico. He added that he was 35 years of age and signed his
deposition. [62]
Garcia, Diego. Son of Juan Hernández
and Maria Alonso, citizens of Fuente del Maestre, SR-333. A man with the
same name is listed among the survivors as a native of Jerez or
Villanueva, Smith-293. All the localities mentioned here are in the same
corner of Extremadura.
Garcia de León, Juan. Another survivor
not mentioned by Hernandez de Biedma, yet he was in Puebla de los
Angeles, Mexico, in 1544, where he declared in Juan de Anasco's probanza
that he had witnessed much of what this companion had experienced in the
Florida expedition. He signed this deposition stating he was 37 years
old. [63] There was a conqueror who enlisted
with de Soto in Sevilla named Andres Garcia, citizen of León, son
of Pedro Garcia and Mari Garcia, SR-294.
Garcia Pechuda, Juan. Son of Pedro or Gonzalo
Garcia Pechudo and Maria Rodriguez "la Pechuda." He is listed among a
group of men from Alburquerque, SR-278. Hernandez de Biedma changed his
second last name to Pechuga, while listing him among the survivors of
the Florida expedition, Smith-295.
Garcia Rueda, Juan. Son of Francisco Garcia
and Maria Sanchez, citizens of Badajoz, SR-317. A man with the same name
from Valverde de Badajoz is listed among the survivors, Smith-293.
Garcia, Rui. A survivor, native of San Lucar
de Barrameda, Smith-292.
Gen, Baltasar. Surviving notary from Badajoz,
Smith-293.
Gin. Survivor from Castilla la Vieja,
Smith-296.
Giraldo. Survivor from Astorga, Smith-297.
Godoy, Garcia de. Son of Hernando de Jerez and
Elvira Godoy, citizens of Medellín, SR-297. Survivor of the
Florida expedition according to Smith-295. Witness called to testify in
the probanza of Juan de Añasco in Puebla de los Angeles, Mexico,
in 1544. There he declared that he was with Añasco in the Florida
expedition, from which they came out via the Pánuco River. He
added that he was 25 years old, and signed his name as Garcia de Godoy,
though it appears at the beginning of the document as Hernando de Godoy.
[64]
Gómez, Alonso. Son of Alonso
Gómez and Marina Alonso, citizens of Villanueva de la Serena,
SR-304. Survivor from Jerez or Villanueva, according to Smith-293.
Gonzalez, Alonso. Survivor from Astorga,
Smith-297.
Gonzalez de Alor, Juan. Son of Alonso Vazquez
de Alor and Catalina Alvarez, citizens of Villanueva de Barcarrota,
SR-331. Survivor from Jerez, Smith-293. Jerez and Villanueva are located
in the same region.
Gonzalo or Gregorio. Survivor from Galicia,
Smith-299.
Gutierrez, Alonso. Survivor from
Medellín, Smith-295.
Gutierrez, Alonso. Survivor from Portugal,
Smith-298.
Gutierrez, Alonso. Son of Fernan Gutierrez and
Isabel Garcia, citizens of Albuquerque, SR-279. Survivor, Smith-295.
This soldier, or either of the two who precede, may be the same Alonso
Gutierrez de Cardona, of whom more information is available because he
testified in the probanza of Gonzalo Silvestre. By his own declarations
in Badajoz in 1558, we know that he was living there in his forty-fourth
year. He states he was a captain in the Florida expedition and, along
with the survivors, he continued to Mexico. There he remained for some
time, where he saw Silvestre depart for Peru. He signed his declaration.
[65]
Gutierrez de Córdoba, Alonso. After
Hernando Ponce de León studied the background of witnesses
presented by Isabel de Bobadilla in their law suit, he vetoed the
testimony of this conquistador from Badajoz. He believed that Gutierrez
was partial to Isabel because he had been a part of her deceased
husband's expedition to Florida. [66] The
possibility exists that this Gutierrez de Córdoba could be the
same Alonso Gutierrez listed immediately above.
Gutierrez Guino, Francisco. Not mentioned by
Hernando de Biedma unless this is the man he calls Gin who is listed
above. There is one Francisco Guini who registered in Sevilla to go to
Florida, son of Francisco Guini and Mari Gutierrez, SR-334. Gutierrez
Guino deposed in the probanza of Hernan Suarez, made in Mexico City in
1557. He testified that he was 38 years old, knew Suarez since 1539 and
went with him to Florida, as part of the de Soto expedition, of which
about 300 men survived. His statements proved his familiarity with the
events of the expedition referred to by Suarez. He signed his
declaration. [67]
Gutierrez, Juan. Son of Francisco Gómez
Montero and Isabel Gutierrez, citizens of Usagre, SR-292. Survivor from
Badajoz according to Smith-293. Usagre is about 70 miles southeast of
Badajoz.
Guzman, Francisco de. In 1558 in Lima, Peru,
this survivor testified as follows. He went from Sevilla to Cuba with
those enlisted by de Soto. In Cuba he and about 650 soldiers embarked
for Florida arriving at the port of Espíritu Santo. After several
years of discoveries de Soto died and was succeeded by Luis de Moscoso,
who led the 350 survivors to Mexico. [68]
Hernandez de Biedma listed a Guzman from Toledo among the survivors,
Smith-295. This conqueror may be either the son of Benito Rodriguez and
Francisca Hernández, citizens of Sevilla, SR-289, or the son of
Diego Lopez de Guzman and Teresa Alvarez, citizens of Toledo, SR-320.
Nowhere in Guzman's testimony does it say whether he was from Toledo or
Sevilla. However, Garcilaso de la Vega stated that the one from Sevilla
was called Diego. This strengthens the possibility that the one listed
here is the Francisco from Toledo.
Hernández, Alonso. Son of Diego
Hernández Bejarano and Joana Fernández, citizens of
Luciana, in Castilla la Nueva, SR-293. A man with the same name is
listed among the survivors as a native of Castilla la Vieja,
Smith-296.
Hernandez de Biedma, Luis. Famous chronicler
of the de Soto expedition and possible author of the list of survivors
so many times mentioned in this work. He took with him a free colored
man named Luis Moreno, SR-295. Hernandez de Biedma as factor was one of
the three royal officials of the expedition. He is listed among the
survivors from Ubeda and Baeza, Smith-295.
Hernández de Ribera, Pedro. Son of
Pedro de Ribera and Teresa Rodriguez, citizens of Mondoñedo,
SR-294. Smith-298 lists a Pedro de Ribera from Galicia, who may be the
same, since Mondonedo is within this province.
Hernández, Sebastian de. Son of Simon
Hernández and Isabel Alonso, citizens from Badajoz, SR-282. He
testified in Mexico that he was from Badajoz and a legitimate son of
Simon Hernández. He added that he had been in the conquest of
Florida with de Soto, after which he had arrived in Pánuco where
he married a native woman, widow of conqueror Diego Hernández.
[69]
Herrera. Survivor from Toledo, Smith-295. This
may be Pedro Diaz de Herrera, son of Juan Diaz de Herrera and Martina
Garcia, citizens of Ocana. [70]
Hoces, Gregorio. Son of Pedro Calderon and
Isabel Sayaga, citizens of Badajoz, SR-277. There is a survivor by this
name, listed as the son of Pedro Calderon, from Badajoz, Smith-292.
Inostrosa, Luis de. Son of Juan
Fernández de Inostrosa and Guiomar de Torres, citizens of
Sevilla, SR-318. One of the survivors is listed as Inestrosa, from the
same city, Smith-292.
Jacome. Surviving foreigner, Smith-299.
Juan, Maestre. Survivor from Astorga,
Smith-297.
Landero, Domingo. Brother of Captain Juan
Nieto and a survivor of the Florida expedition, native of Alburquerque
according to Smith-295. He was the son of Pedro Martin Nieto and Mari
Sanchez de Torrejana, citizens of Alburquerque, SR-278.
Lera, Francisco de. Surviving tailor from
Ubeda or Baeza, Smith-296. SR-333 lists a Francisco de Lerena, son of
Pedro de Lerena and Maria Gonzalez, citizens of Arcos. However, there is
no Arcos near Ubeda.
Lopez. A survivor, brother of Gavian Lopez,
from Portugal, Smith-298.
Lopez, Abian. Son of Pedro Lopez and Catalina
Lopez, citizens of Badajoz, SR-287. One of the survivors is listed as
Gavian Lopez from across the border in Portugal, Smith-298.
Lopez, Juan. Survivor from the Florida
expedition, native of Ubeda or Baeza, Smith-296.
Lopez Cacho, Juan. Isabel de Bobadilla,
Hernando de Soto's widow, was sued by Hernan Ponce de León, his
surviving partner, over some assets left by the deceased. During that
lengthy judicial process, Juan Lopez Cacho was called in 1546 in Madrid
to testify on certain matters. Among other things, he indicated that the
following was true. He had known de Soto since 1537 or 1538 and been
selected, along with five to six hundred other men, for the Florida
exploration. They left Sevilla for Cuba, and then sailed from Havana, in
June 1539, in one of the nine ships of the de Soto armada, destined to
carry 700 men to a pre-selected port in Florida. In this new land, Lopez
was de Soto's aide until his master's death, which he witnessed. He
signed his deposition, indicating that he was 27 years old and a
resident of Sevilla in the district of Santa Maria. [71] Fifteen years later Juan reappeared in
Mexico to testify again, this time in the probanza of Garcia Osorio.
Then he stated he was 44 years old, a survivor of the Florida expedition
and a temporary resident of that city. [72]
Hernández de Biedma listed him as a survivor from Sevilla,
Smith-292.
Lopez de Salto, Juan. Judging by the numerous
instances found in the probanzas mentioned here and many other documents
inspected by the present author, hearsay was acceptable legal evidence
in the Spanish Empire, at least during the sixteenth century. Thus one
witness testified in Mexico in 1562, that he had heard from Juan Lopez
del Salto that Francisco Gutierrez had been in Florida with de Soto. [73] From this assertion we believe that Lopez
was in Florida with Adelantado. This individual may be the same listed
as son of Tomas Lopez Cimarron and Maria del Salto, citizens of Jaen,
SR-276, particularly considering the mother's last name. Also, he may be
the same survivor listed by Smith-296 as Juan Lopez Zaharron, from Ubeda
or Baeza. Cimarron and Zaharron appear to be different spellings of the
same name.
Madrigal. Survivor from Zafra, Almendralejo,
or Segura, Smith-294. There is one Alonso de Madrigal, son of Juan de
Madrigal and Maria Gorda, citizens of Molezuelas, SR-316. Molezuelas was
located in the Kingdom of León, a good distance away from the
Almendralejo region.
Maldonado, Francisco. This survivor was called
by Isabel de Bobadilla, de Soto's widow, to testify in her legal contest
with Hernan Ponce de León. Maldonado indicated in April, 1546, in
Madrid, that he had met de Soto in 1537 or 1538. De Soto told Maldonado,
in Valladolid, that the King had granted him the exploration and
settlement of Florida. Maldonado accompanied him from that city to Cuba
and later sailed to Florida where he served for the duration. He signed
his testimony. [74] In the expedition he was
an infantry captain, frequently mentioned by Rangel, Hernandez de
Biedma, Elvas and Garcilaso de la Vega. [75]
Maldonado was a son of Rodrigo Maldonado and Beatriz Maldonado, citizens
from Salamanca, SR-333.
Marban, Bueso. Son of Garcia Marban and Maria
Benevides, citizens of Villanueva de Valdepeñas (?), SR-329.
Marban was a survivor from Astorga, Smith-297.
Marban, Esteban. Son of Juan Marban and Maria
Sanchez, citizens of Labaniz (?) or Baniz, SR-329. This may be the
surviving scribe or notary from Astorga, Smith-297.
Marin, Andres. Son of Alonso Gonzalez
Capillero and Catalina Marin, citizens of Tierra de Miranda, SR-291.
Survivor from Almendralejo, Smith-294.
Martin Galindo, Francisco. Son of Alonso
Sanchez Galindo and Leónor Martin, citizens of Bollullos, (not
Lolenllas which is a misreading) SR-328. A Galindo is listed as a
survivor from Sevilla, Smith-292. Bollullos is a small town between
Huelva and Sevilla.
Martin Sandoval, Francisco. Though his name
does not appear in the list of survivors of Hernandez de Biedma, this
Martin was in the Florida expedition led by de Soto, according to his
testimony given in Valladolid, Spain, in 1558. [76] We also learn that after Martin had been in
Florida and witnessed de Soto's death, he went to Peru where he lived
for some thirteen years. During that time he was active in supporting
the Crown and President de la Gasca against Gonzalo Pizarro's rebellion,
and later against the uprising of Francisco Hernández Giron. He
also stated that he was born in 1516 in Talavera and signed his
deposition. There is a Francisco Martin who appears to be the same
person listed here. He was a son of Alonso Martin and Catalina Sanchez,
citizens of Talavera de Badajoz, SR-281.
Martin, Gonzalo. Son of Tome Gonzalez and
Catalina Rodriguez, citizens of Medellín, SR-297. A survivor with
the same name and origin is listed in Smith-295.
Martin, Gonzalo. This is a different survivor
from the above. He was a witness in Tergueros, Spain, in 1547 and
indicated that he was a thirty-year-old shoemaker from Sevilla where he
lived in the district of Santa Maria. He went to the island (sic) of
Florida and saw de Soto using an elaborate tent, which was said to have
belonged to Hernando Ponce de León. He signed his testimony. [77] There is another person of this name, a son
of Sebastian Gonzalez and Teresa Sanchez, citizens of Azuaga, SR-313.
Azuaga is about 60 miles from Sevilla.
Martinez, Anton. Survivor from Portugal,
Smith-298. Elvas mentioned an Antonio Martinez Segurado, from Elvas. In
addition, there was an Antonio Martinez who served as a witness in
Puebla de los Angeles, Mexico, in 1544. There, at the request of Juan de
Añasco, he testified that he was transient in that locality and
over 30 years old. He added that he had been in the exploration of
Florida, giving some details about his participation. He signed his
deposition. [78]
Martinez, Francisco. Survivor from Zafra,
Almendralejo, or Segura, Smith-294. There was one person with this name
who registered in Sevilla for Florida, but he was said to be from
Salamanca. He was a son of Francisco Martin and Maria Martin,
SR-318.
Martinez, Vicente. Survivor who was left
ailing at Pánuco, Smith-298. He testified in Mexico that he was
born in Ciudad Real, a legitimate son of Joan Martinez de Malaguilla and
Mari Sanchez. He added that he had been in Florida with the Adelantado
de Soto for four years, after which he went to Pánuco. At the
time of his declaration he was living in Pánuco, poor and
married. [79]
Martucho. Survivor from Vizcaya,
Smith-298.
Mateos, Jorge. Survivor of foreign origin,
Smith-298.
Mendez, Ana. This woman's presence in Florida
during its exploration is well documented. She was a witness in the
probanza of Alonso Vazquez in Jerez de Badajoz, Spain, in the year 1560.
[80] She declared that she was a servant of
Doña Isabel de Bobadilla and about thirty-one years of age. To
the questions presented to her, she answered that Alonso Vazquez was in
Florida and that she was involved in all that took place at that time.
Specifically, when asked if it was true that after arriving at a marsh,
which took three days to cross while going without food, they arrived at
a province called Ocal, where food was found, she answered: That she
remembered crossing that swamp, there being much water in it...which
they went through with much labor in three days, but does not recall if
they passed the time without food. She continued assenting to most of
the questions, answering to one that she saw the Indians kill Don
Carlos, her master, and that Alfonso Vazquez was wounded by an arrow in
an ankle and was a long time lame. She also testified that they went
from Florida to Mexico, wearing skins. Lastly, she did not sign her
declarations for she stated she could not write.
Mendez de Sotomayor, Gonzalo. This conqueror
made his probanza in February of 1560, in the city of Tenochtitlan, New
Spain. He embarked in Sevilla in de Soto's armada carrying his arms and
horses on to Florida. There Mendez served for five years. In the
Apalache region, de Soto placed him in command of 30 men whose mission
was to reconnoiter a port about 100 leagues away. The task was
accomplished after many hardships. After Florida, Mendez went to Mexico
where he settled. In his probanza, Mendez asked the witnesses to verify
that he and his father, Cristóbal Mendez de Sotomayor, who had
been a justicia mayor in Mérida, were hijodalgos or of noble
origin. [81] One year later Mendez appeared
as a witness in the probanza of Garcia Osorio, another survivor who
stayed in Mexico. In it Mendez declared that he was a trader, a resident
of Mexico City, and 36 years of age. He added that he had known Osorio
before arriving in Florida. Both had remained several years, and there
he witnessed the natural death of Francisco, a brother of Osorio. He
signed his deposition. [82] Gonzalo Mendez
was a son of Cristóbal Mendez and Leónor Vazquez, citizens
of Villanueva de Barcarrota, SR-319. His name is included in the list of
survivors as from Villanueva, Smith-393.
Mesa, Juan de. Survivor from Sevilla,
Smith-292.
Miguel. Survivor from Vizcaya, Smith-297.
Miranda, Juan de. He was listed by
Hernández de Biedma, without his first name, as a survivor from
Soria, Smith-296. Juan declared in Mexico that he was an hijodalgo,
resident of Villarrica, Mexico, born in Soria, Spain, a son of Sancho de
Miranda and Catalina Gonzalez de Saravia. He added that he departed
Spain for Peru but ended up going with de Soto to Florida. He was, at
the time of his declaration, married to Francisca Mejia. [83]
Monzon, Gonzalo de. In 1562, while residing in
the City of the Kings of Peru, which is Lima, this survivor declared as
follows. He witnessed Hernando de Soto's departure from Peru for Spain
and was present when de Soto married Doña Isabel de Bobadilla,
legitimate daughter of Pedro Arias. At that time he knew that the King
had conceded to de Soto the conquest of Florida. Monzon went on that
conquest where he remained several years and where he witnessed de
Soto's death. He signed his deposition and added that he was 40 years
old. [84] Monzon is not included in the list
of Hernandez de Biedma nor among those who registered in Sevilla to
travel to the Indies, as compiled by Solar and Rújula.
Morales. Survivor from Soria, Smith-297.
Morales, Bartolome de. Son of Marcos de
Morales and Catalina Pumaveda, citizens of Sevilla, SR-325. There was a
Morales from Sevilla listed by Hernandez de Biedma, Smith-292.
Moreno, Pedro. Son of Pedro Moreno and
Constanza Lopez de Miranda, citizens of Puentedeume, a small town in
Galicia, SR-290. Survivor from Galicia, Smith-298. In Mexico, he
declared that he was a legitimate son of Pedro and Constanza, already
mentioned, and that he left Spain for Florida, where he was in charge of
the harquebusiers. He was now living in Michoacán with his wife,
a legitimate daughter of Pedro Calero. [85]
Moscoso, Luis de. Perhaps the most experienced
survivor for he had taken part in the conquest of Peru prior to Florida.
On August 20, 1535, Moscoso was called to testify in a secret
investigation made in Lima, on the conduct of Francisco Pizarro and
several of his officers, regarding the managing of the royal treasury.
[86] Soon after he must have departed for
Spain, for he appears again. Moscoso was one of the highest ranking
individuals under de Soto, and was for some time, Maestre de Campo or
commanding officer, in charge of the administrative affairs of the army.
After de Soto's death, Moscoso was elected governor and then directed
the expedition out of Florida to Pánuco. From this port Moscoso
continued to Mexico City where, on October 17, 1543, he wrote to the
King, asking him the award of the encomienda of the Indians of
Xochimilco. [87] Later, in 1547, he claimed
in the same city, that he was a native of Zafra, Spain, the he had known
Hernando de Soto since 1525, and that he was forty-two years of age. [88] In Mexico, Moscoso was accused of living
illegally with his cousin Leónor de Alvarado, who had given him a
son. Moscoso figures prominently in the writings of Rangel, Garcilaso de
la Vega, Hernandez de Biedma, and Elvas, because of his rank and
activities. [89] He was a son of the
Comendador Alonso Hernández de Diosdado and Doña Isabel de
Alvarado, both from Zafra, SR-329. Hernandez de Biedma lists him as a
survivor, Smith-294. Two of Moscoso's brothers also outlived the Florida
experience; they were Juan de Alvarado and Cristóbal de Mosquera,
included here in their proper places.
Mosquera, Cristóbal de. Brother of Luis
de Moscoso, native of Zafra, survivor of the Florida expedition,
Smith-294. Son of Alonso Hernández de Diosdado and Isabel de
Alvarado, citizens of Zafra, SR-329.
Muñoz, Juan. Citizen of Villada in
Tierra de Medina de Ruiseco, a locality in Castilla, and a resident of
Mexico City in 1547, at which point he was 27 years old. There he
declared having known Hernando de Soto in 1538, whom he accompanied to
Florida. That had the Adelantado survived, he would have established
permanent communities in Florida, for it had excellent lands to
cultivate wheat and vineyards and to raise cattle. He signed his
deposition. [90] This Muñoz is
probably the son of Martin Muñoz and Maria Garcia, citizens of
Villacidaler, SR-316, a place quite near Medina de Ruiseco. Also, he
could be the same person mentioned by Garcilaso de la Vega as being from
Burgos which is not too far from Palencia, the province where
Villacidaler is located.
Nieto, Alvaro. Son of Pedro Martin Nieto and
Mari Sanchez de Torrejana, citizens of Alburquerque, SR-278. Survivor
originally from Alburquerque, Smith-295. In 1547, while living in
Mexico, he testified in the Bobadilla lawsuit that he was 35 years old
and had known de Soto since 1539. He further related having been at the
port of Espíritu Santo in Florida when a ship arrived with a
message from Isabel de Bobadilla for her husband. Also, according to
Nieto, de Soto had a very fine tent made of quality Peruvian woolens
and, had the latter not died, he would have established cities in
Florida, for its lands were very rich. Nieto signed his testimony. [91] Once again, in Mexico in 1554, Nieto was
called as a witness by Rodrigo Vazquez, another of de Soto's soldiers.
No further details about his participation in the Florida expedition
were given except that he was very active there. [92] He is mentioned several times by Garcilaso
who indicates Nieto was a captain in the army. [93]
Nieto, Juan. Brother of Alvaro Nieto and son
of Pedro Martin Nieto and Mari Sanchez de Torrejana, SR-278. This Nieto
was from Alburquerque as well and a survivor of the Florida expedition,
Smith-295.
Nuñez de Prado, Pedro. Son of Juan
Nuñez de Prado and Maria de Solis, citizens of Fuente de Arco,
SR-301. Survivor from Llerena, Smith-293. Fuente de Arco is about 10
miles from Llerena.
Nuñez de Vargas, Vasco. He appears to
be a brother of Juan de Vargas, since his parents are listed as Hernando
de Vargas and Ines Alvarez de Balboa, citizens of Burguillos, SR-296.
This should be one of the two survivors listed by Hernandez de Biedma as
Vargas from Burguillos, Smith-294. The other should be Juan de Vargas
listed below.
Oliva, Diego de. Survivor from Castilla la
Vieja, Smith-297. Garcilaso indicated he was a native of Cuba. [94]
Olivas, Val de. Another survivor from Castilla
la Vieja, Smith-296. There is a small town called Valdeolivas some 70
miles east of Madrid, thus in Castilla la Nueva. The conqueror referred
to here may have been one of its citizens. It is possible as well, that
he could be Cristóbal de las Olivas; if so, he could be the son
of Francisco Dominguez and Francisca Hernández from
Córdoba, SR-314, a city not in Castilla la Nueva, however.
Ortiz, Bernabe. Son of Diego Rangel and Elvira
Ortiz, citizen of Almendralejo, SR-321. Smith-294 lists him as Ortiz,
adding that he was a brother of Rodrigo Rangel, a survivor from the
Florida adventure.
Ortiz, Francisco. Son of Pedro Ortiz and Maria
de Lazcano, citizens of Segovia, SR-324. Ortiz was a survivor from
Castilla la Vieja listed in Smith-296.
Ortuño, Juan de. Son of Pedro Ortuno
and Joana Arauzana, `r SR-291. One of the survivors is listed as
Hortuno, from Portugal, Smith-298.
Osorio, Antonio. Survivor and brother of the
Marquis of Astorga, Smith-297. He was a son of the Marquis and Isabel
Pérez, native of Astorga, SR-326. He is mentioned by chroniclers
Rodrigo Rangel and Elvas. [95]
Osorio, Garcia. In his probanza of services he
rendered to the Crown, he began by stating that he was married to Isabel
Marmolejo, daughter of a well known conqueror of Mexico, Francisco
Marmolejo. From this document, dated 1560 and 1561 in Mexico, we know
that he married her in that city. He continued, asserting that he sold
all his properties in Valladolid to pay to accompany his brother
Francisco on the Florida expedition. During this adventure, which lasted
for a total of five years, his brother died, yet Garcia was able to make
his way to Mexico. Prior to his life in the Indies, Garcia had served
the King in Italy, Tunis, France and other parts of Europe. He also
stated that he was of noble origin and an hidalgo. [96] The witnesses called in the probanza were in
agreement with Osorio's statement. In 1546, Osorio was called to testify
in the suit between Isabel de Bobadilla and Hernando Ponce de
León. Besides stating that he was in Florida, he added that he
was born in the town of Mestajes, Kingdom of León, around 1510.
He signed his declaration. [97] This
distinguished Osorio, who was captain of the harquebusiers, is mentioned
more than once by Garcilaso de la Vega and by Elvas. [98] He is listed as a survivor from Astorga,
Smith-297, which is in the Kingdom of León.
Otazo, Juan de. Son of Cristóbal de
Gamarra and (part of the document is missing) Rivera, citizens of
Pedrosa, SR-329. Survivor from Astorga, Smith-297. This Pedrosa could be
the one near Astorga.
Paris, Dionisio de. French cleric mentioned by
Garcilaso de la Vega who indicated that he died. [99] However, Father Paris appears in the list of
survivors, Smith-298.
Parra, Alonso de la. A cleric, son of
Bartolome de la Parra and Catalina Pérez, citizens of Villanueva
de Barcarrota, SR-331. He is listed from Jerez or Villanueva in
Smith-293, which are towns located in the same province of Extremadura.
Pegado, Esteban. Son of Hernan Pegado and
Lucia Lopez, from Badajoz, SR-287. Survivor from Portugal, Smith-298. It
should be remembered that the proximity of Badajoz to Portugal may have
encouraged those born in the latter to state that they were from Spain
in order to avoid inconveniences in their passage to the Indies.
Garcilaso de la Vega mentions Estevan Pegado of Yelves, for Elvas, in
Portugal. [100]
Pegado, Fernan. Son of Esteban Pegado and a
survivor from Portugal, listed only as Pegado in Smith-298. Elvas,
however, stated that he was named Fernan. [101]
Peloso, Bernaldo. He testified in Mexico that
he was a resident of Pánuco, originally from Genova, and a
legitimate son of Joan Peloso and Catalina Sancardo. He added that he
had served the King in the conquest of Cartagena, from which he went
with de Soto to Florida. He married a daughter of Lucas Ginoves in
Pánuco. [102] Peloso sailed from
Spain for Cartagena in 1532, landing there on January 14, 1533. [103] He may have been one of the founders of
that city, which later became part of the New Kingdom of Granada.
Pérez, Andres. Son of Juan
Hernández Carretero and Mari Fernández, from La Morera,
SR-305. Survivor from Burguillos, Smith-294. Burguillos and Morera are
not more than ten miles apart.
Pérez, Bartolome. Son of Alonso
Añez and Teresa Fernández, citizens of Segura de
León, SR-284. One survivor is listed only as Pérez, an
ironsmith from Segura, Smith-294.
Pérez, Francisco. Survivor from
Burguillos, Smith-294. This may be the son of Diego Pérez and
Maria Hernández from Villanueva de Barcarrota, SR-314. There was
however, another conqueror of Florida with the same name, son of Juan
Pérez and Mari Sanchez, from Horcajo de la Rivera, SR-297.
Pérez, Juan. A survivor from Vizcaya,
Smith-297.
Pérez, Simon. A survivor from Badajoz,
Smith-293.
Peria. A survivor from Vizcaya, Smith-298.
There is a possibility that this is Andres de Pernia, a conqueror who
testified that he made the passage to the Indies in 1537 or 1538 and
engaged in the exploration of Florida. He appeared in the New Kingdom of
Granada around 1547, where he was active in the founding of Pamplona,
the city in which he made his probanza in 1557. [104]
Porras. A survivor from Sevilla, Smith-292.
There was a Luis de Porras, son of Juan de Porras and Ana de Salcedo,
resident of Sevilla, who embarked from that port on March 13, 1538 for
Santo Domingo. He could have proceeded to Florida the next year. [105]
Porras, Juan de. Son of Rodrigo Darce and
Maria de Rosales, from Medina de Pomar, SR-327 and 328. This Medina is
in the province of Burgos. Porras was living in Mexico in 1554 when he
was over 30 years old. He testified in the probanza of Rodrigo Vazquez,
one of de Soto's soldiers, in 1554. There he declared he had known
Vazquez since 1539. He asserted that he was involved in the conquest of
Florida for almost five years, after arriving there from Spain via Cuba
in the armada of de Soto. From Florida he went to Mexico, where he was
well established by 1554. He signed his testimony. [106] Either Hernandez de Biedma missed this
conqueror in his list of survivors, or he confused his provenance of
Medina del Pomar with Sevilla.
Portillo. Brother of Pérez, the
ironsmith from Segura listed above, Smith-294.
Pozo, Father. Surviving priest from Segura,
Smith-294. There was a Bartolome Pozo, son of Ferran Alonso Pozo and
Isabel Macias, from Segura de León, SR-285. Garcilaso de la Vega
mentions a priest called Francisco del Poso, from Córdoba. [107] This Segura is in Extremadura while
Córdoba is in Andalucia.
Pozo, Pedro del. In the city of Cuzco in Peru,
Pozo testified in Pedro de Arevalo's probanza, another of de Soto's men.
This document, made in 1556, contains his short answers to the
interrogatory presented to him. From them we learn that Pozo knew
Arevalo since 1537, more or less, and that he witnessed some of the
events related to the Florida expedition. He signed his deposition
without indicating his age. [108] Pedro del
Pozo was a son of Alonso del Pozo and Maria del Pozo, citizens of
Salmeron, SR-328. He is likely the same survivor listed as Pozo Salmeron
from Castilla la Vieja, Smith-296. Salmeron is a town in Castilla;
however, not in la Vieja, but in la Nueva.
Rangel, Rodrigo. This name has survived the
ages because, as secretary to de Soto, he kept a diary of the
expedition, later used by the well-known royal chronicler, Gonzalo
Fernández de Oviedo. On May 13, 1539, Rangel recorded the will
made by de Soto in Havana and, on December 6, 1543, he witnessed, in
Santo Domingo, the intent of Isabel de Bobadilla to make an inventory of
assets left by her deceased husband. [109]
Rangel was a witness in the probanza made by Gonzalo Mendez de Sotomayor
in the city of Mexico in 1560. From this document we know that Rangel
was born before 1510 and that he had known Mendez's family for a long
time since they lived in Extremadura where Rangel was born. He declared
that he went from Spain to Florida in the de Soto armada and explored
this land for several years. Rangel proceeded from Florida to New Spain
with the other survivors and from there, to Santo Domingo to visit the
widow Bobadilla. Later, he returned to Mexico where he settled and where
he was at the time of this deposition. [110] Rodrigo Rangel was a son of Diego Rangel
and Elvira Ortiz from Almendralejo, SR-321. He is listed simply as
Rangel by Hernández de Biedma, Smith-294.
Raya, Alonso de. Son of Juan de Raya and
Catalina Cazorla, citizens of Ubeda, SR-291. Survivor from Ubeda,
Smith-296.
Redondo, Francisco. In the probanza of
Sebastian Villegas, made in New Spain in 1569, Redondo testified that he
knew this companion of de Soto not only in Cuba but also during the
Florida expedition, where he suffered many hardships and hunger. He
added that he was born before 1508, and declined to sign his declaration
because he could not write. [111] Francisco
was the son of Juan Redondo and Isabel Carmona, citizens of
Medellín, SR-301. He is listed as a survivor from the Florida
experience, Smith-295.
Reinoso, Francisco de. As a witness in Juan de
Anasco's probanza made in Puebla de los Angeles, Mexico in 1544, he
declared he had known Añasco since 1537. Reinoso added that he
was born in 1511. He went from Sevilla to Florida in de Soto's armada
and saw Añasco with three or four horses and several slaves. He
was in Florida a long time and witnessed some of the actions described
by Anasco. [112] This Francisco seems to
have been the son of Gonzalo Reinoso and Isabel Escobar, citizens of
Bobadilla or Bovadilla, SR-327. Hernandez de Biedma listed one Reinoso
as a survivor from Astorga, Smith-297. No Bobadilla is near Astorga.
Rodriguez, Bartolome. In Mexico he declared
that he was a son of Bartolome Rodriguez and Maria Rodriguez, born in
Valencia de la Torre, and at the time of his declaration, a resident of
Pánuco. In this city he married a daughter of conquistador Alonso
Caballero. [113] He is listed as son of the
parents mentioned above and from Valencia, SR-308.
Rodriguez, Fabian. Ironsmith established in
the city of Puebla de los Angeles in New Spain in 1544. There he
testified in the probanza of Juan de Añasco. He stated that he
was born around 1514, and that he was present in the expedition to
Florida directed by Hernando de Soto. He signed his declaration. [114] Fabian appears as the son of Alvar Garcia,
citizen of Yeba Hernando (?), SR-319. In addition, he was included in
the list of Hernandez de Biedma as a survivor from Medellín,
Smith-295.
Rodriguez, Salvador. In 1556 in Cuzco, Peru,
Rodriguez testified in the probanza of Pedro de Arevalo, one of the
companions of de Soto. Rodriguez indicated that he had known Arevalo
since 1536 and that the former was born around 1515. He stated that he
had been in Florida where he saw many of the actions mentioned by
Arevalo, including their arrival in Mexico under the leadership of Luis
de Moscoso. At an unknown later date he proceeded to Peru, where he
signed his testimony. [115] Salvador was a
son of Alonso Rodriguez and Juana Rodriguez, citizens of Trujillo,
SR-315.
Romo, Alonso. Son of Gutierrez Garcia
Cardenosa and Maria Romo, citizens from Badajoz, SR-281. He was a
brother of Arias Tinoco and survived the Florida exploration, Smith-293.
In Mexico he testified that he was from Badajoz and the son of the same
parents mentioned above. He added that he had been with de Soto in
Florida and that he had sailed for Pánuco as captain of one of
the brigantines they had constructed. Romo is often mentioned by
Hernández de Biedma, Rangel, Elvas and Garcilaso de la Vega, as a
captain of cavalry. [116]
Ruiz, Bartolome. Stocking-maker from Sevilla
who survived the Florida expedition, Smith-292. There was a Bartolome
Ruiz, son of Francisco Ruiz Barragan and Elvira Jimenez, from Andujar,
Smith-318, which is a town east of Córdoba, Andalucia, a province
in which Sevilla is also located.
Ruiz, Juan. Son of Pedro Ruiz and Barbara
Martinez, citizens of Arroyuelo, SR-322. This may be the same carpenter
and survivor from Badajoz, Smith-293.
Ruiz, Juan. Survivor from Sevilla, one of the
four ailing persons left at Pánuco, Smith-298.
Ruiz Lobillo, Juan. An experienced soldier who
had taken part in the conquest of Cuzco in Peru prior to Florida.
Between May and July 1535, Ruiz had a large quantity of gold appraised
in Cuzco, for paying the corresponding taxes to the Crown. [117] He went from Peru to Spain to enroll in
the army that would go to Florida. In two different instances, Ruiz
Lobillo testified that he had been in Florida with Hernando de Soto. The
first was in Mexico in 1547, when he indicated that he was born around
1520 (?) in Setenil. He added that when he was in the conquest of
Florida he noticed the good quality of the land. [118] His second testimony was in Jerez, Spain,
in 1560, where he reaffirmed his participation in the exploration of
Florida. [119] In both cases Ruiz signed his
testimonies. Ruiz may be the same conquistador listed by Hernandez de
Biedma as Juan Rodriguez Lobillo, Smith-296.
Ruis de Llanos, Juan. This survivor testified
in Lima, Peru in 1558, in the probanza of Pedro de Arevalo. [120] Juan indicated that he had known Arevalo
since 1538 when both had gone to Florida under de Soto and where he
witnessed much of what Arevalo indicated in his probanza. He signed his
testimony. This soldier was not mentioned by Hernandez de Biedma, nor by
Solar and Rújula.
Sagredo, Bartolome de. Son of Alonso de
Sagredo and Francisca Serrato, SR-308. Listed as Sagrado, a survivor
from Medellín appears in Smith-295. Garcilaso de la Vega
mentioned him as Francisco Sagredo from Medellín. [121]
Salamanca, Cosme de. Son of Pedro de Pascua
and Ursula Martinez, citizens of Salamanca, SR-290. This may be the same
Salamanca, a tailor from Castilla la Vieja, listed as a survivor,
Smith-196.
Salazar, Francisco de. Son of Diego de Salazar
and Maria de la Cruz, citizens of Burgos, SR-303. Among the survivors of
the Florida expedition a Salazar is listed as being from Castilla la
Vieja, Smith-296.
Salazar, Sin Ventura. Survivor from the
Mountains, which could also mean from the Kingdom of Aragon, Smith-298.
San Jorge, Alvaro de. This survivor testified
in Mexico, in 1547, that he was born in Galicia, Spain around 1502. He
had known de Soto since the year 1537, and had gone to Florida. There he
saw de Soto using a very good tent made of fine Peruvian cotton and
wool. He witnessed the existence of the rich region of the chief
Tigualta who had 17 provinces under his jurisdiction. From Florida he
continued with the rest of the soldiers to Mexico, where he remained.
[122] Garcilaso de la Vega has him as
Sanjurge and makes him participant of an expedition to Mexico. [123] Hernandez de Biedma listed a San Jorge as
one of the survivors from Galicia, Smith-298.
San Vicente, Juan de. He was a resident of
Mexico in 1569, when he stated he was over 58 years of age. He became
active in the preparation of the Florida expedition of de Soto in 1537,
with whom he left Spain. He explored Florida for several years and, with
the survivors, arrived in Mexico. He signed his testimony. [124] Neither Hernandez de Biedma, nor Solar and
Rújula, acknowledged the existence of San Vicente.
Sanabria, Diego de. Son of Juan de Sanabria
and Cecilia Vazquez, citizens of Medellín, SR-301. Sanabria is
listed as one of the survivors from Medellín, Smith-295.
Sanchez, Andres. Brother of Francisco Sanchez,
from Badajoz, Smith-293. If so, Andres should be the son of Pedro
Sanchez and Leónor Martin, citizens of Badajoz, SR-286. There is
another Andres Sanchez however, listed as son of Martin Sanchez Salvador
and Catalina Garcia, citizens of Badajoz de Talavera, SR-286.
Sanchez, Atanasio. In 1561 he was a resident
of Lima, Peru. There he testified, in the probanza of Juan Cordero, that
he had known Cordero since 1537 when both left with Hernando de Soto for
Florida. In this new land he witnessed Cordero's good service with arms
and horses, and his command, for some time, of a group of men. He was in
Florida for five years, after which he went to Mexico and then to Peru.
In the latter he served the King with President de la Gasca against the
rebel Gonzalo Pizarro, who was vanquished in the battle of Xaquixaguana.
He signed his testimony and declared himself to be more than 40 years
old. [125] Atanasio Sanchez was the son of
Vasco Fernández and Juana Martin, citizens of Badajoz, SR-281.
Sanchez Rendon, Bartolome. Son of Bartolome
Sanchez Rendon and Ana Martin, citizens of Algaba, SR-315. Among the
survivors, Hernandez de Biedma lists a sword smith called Rodon, from
Sevilla, Smith-292, who may be the same. Algaba is just outside Sevilla
and Rodon could be a misspelling of Rendon.
Sanchez, Diego. Son of Juan Lorenzo and
Leónor Sanchez, residents of Alburquerque, SR-279. He is listed
as a survivor in Smith-295.
Sanchez, Francisco. Son of Pedro Sanchez and
Leónor Martin, citizens of Badajoz, SR-286. Survivor listed in
Smith-293.
Sanchez Mancera, Hernan. Son of Juan Mancera
and Maria Sanchez, citizens of Talavera de Badajoz, SR-283. A survivor
called Hernan Mancera is listed from Badajoz in Smith-293.
Sardina, Domingo. Son of Bartolome Vazquez and
Isabel Rodriguez, SR-289. Hernandez de Biedma lists a tailor from
Portugal called Domingo Sardina who probably is the same person,
Smith-298.
Sayago, Juan. Son of Alonso Martin and Juana
Sayaga, citizens of Zafra, SR-313. Among the survivors of the Florida
expedition, Hernandez de Biedma listed a Sayago as tailor from Zafra,
Smith-294. A tailor from Zafra called Juan Sayago testified in Mexico in
1547. On that occasion he declared himself to be 26 years of age. He was
one of the explorers of Florida with Hernando de Soto whom he saw using
a very good Peruvian tent. While he was in Florida, he also noticed how
good the land was and that had de Soto lived, they would have settled
that province. Sayago did not sign his deposition because he indicated
that he did not know how to write. [126]
Sedeños, Juan. A foreigner who survived
the Florida expedition, Smith-299. There was one Antonio Sedeño,
son of Francisco Sedeño and Maria Alonso, citizens of Valladolid,
who embarked for Florida, SR-330.
Silvera, Diego de. Twice Silvera testified in
Mexico City, the first in 1554 and the second in 1561, that he took part
in the Florida expedition organized and led by Hernando de Soto, having
embarked in Sevilla for Cuba where they remained almost one year.
Afterwards, all the armada sailed for Florida. In this new land he
engaged in several discoveries and expeditions over a period of five
years until he abandoned it and left for Pánuco and Mexico, the
latter being his place of residence in the years of his declarations. On
both occasions he signed his testimonies, adding that he was born around
1514. [127] Garcilaso de la Vega mentions a
Silvera from Galicia, calling him in one instance Francisco and in
another Hernando. [128] Hernandez de Biedma
lists a Silvera, Galician, among the survivors, Smith-298. On a third
occasion, Silvera testified he was the son of Rui de Silvera and Teresa
Rodriguez de Sejas, residents of San Payo (?) which is in Galicia. He
added he went from Spain to Cuba with Bishop Diego Sarmiento, from which
he continued with Hernando de Soto to Florida. [129]
Silvestre, Gonzalo. In 1558, Silvestre
requested permission from the authorities of Valladolid, Spain, to make
a probanza of the services he rendered to the Crown in Peru, New Spain
and Florida. Once obtained, he presented an interrogatory to the
witnesses that he gathered in Valladolid, Badajoz, and Ciudad Rodrigo.
In essence, he indicated that he was a citizen of Villa de Herrera, and
that he went to Florida with Hernando de Soto in 1538, well equipped
with arms and horses, where he remained for several years. Afterwards he
reached New Spain and in 1544 he departed for Peru. In this province he
took part, under Captain Diego Centeno, in the battle against the rebel
Gonzalo Pizarro as well as in the final battle of Xaquixaguana where
Pizarro was defeated and killed. Finally, he took part, with Gonzalo de
Alvarado, in opposing and vanquishing the forces of the rebel Francisco
Hernández Giron. [130] Gonzalo was
the son of Gonzalo Silvestre and Isabel Morena, citizens of
Alcántara, SR-319. He was mentioned so many times by Garcilaso de
la Vega that he is believed to be the person who supplied this
chronicler with most of his information. [131]
Soria, Pedro de. Son of Juan de Soria and Ana,
residents of Oropesa, SR-296. He is listed as a survivor from Castilla
la Vieja by Hernandez de Biedma, Smith-296.
Suarez de Figueroa, Gómez. Though not
mentioned by Hernandez de Biedma nor Solar and Rújula, his name
is contributed by chronicler Garcilaso de la Vega. Garcilaso wrote that
after the survivors were able to reach Pánuco and the city of
Mexico, Gómez Suarez returned to the house and estate of his
father, Vasco Porcallo de Figueroa. [132]
Suarez, Juan. Son of Pedro de Santa Maria and
Juana Suarez, citizens of Caceres, SR-277. He is listed as a friend of
Luis Bravo who also survived the Florida expedition, Smith-293.
Suarez de Maruelas, Hernan. After surviving
Florida, Suarez became so well known in Mexico that his son-in-law,
Pedro Pérez de Zamora, used him as a reference when requesting a
royal favor in 1582. Attached to this document there is a probanza made
by Suarez in Mexico in 1572. There he requested witnesses to testify if
they knew him, including his father and mother, Hernan Suarez de
Maruelas and Ines de Valgrande, citizens of Villanueva de la Serena in
the kingdom of Castilla. Also, whether the witnesses knew that in 1537
he had gone to Florida with Hernando de Soto, a venture which lasted
five years and ended in New Spain. In this viceroyalty he served well in
the pacification of the natives of Oaxaca. In 1552, Suarez took part in
some military actions in Yucatán and Golfo Dulce, in the latter
as Lieutenant-Governor. While imprisoned in Honduras, up to 80 of his
men rebelled and took the Royal Treasury. Finally, in 1553, he returned
to Mexico, where he was well received by Viceroy Velasco, who provided
for him. In 1554, after other services in New Spain and to the Audiencia
of Confines, he married Ursula de Grijalva, daughter of one of the
conquerors of Mexico, Sebastian de Grijalva. It should be noted that
this document contains interesting descriptions of some of the actions
that took place in Florida during the de Soto expedition, especially
around Mobila, Chicasa and Tascalusa. [133]
Suarez was listed by his second last name as the son of Hernando
Mazuelas and Ines de Valgrando, citizens of Villanueva de la Serena,
SR-302. There is a Mazuelas in the list of survivors of Hernández
de Biedma, who may be the same person, Smith-294.
Tapia. A survivor who appears to be different
from the Francisco de Tapia who follows since this one is listed as
being from Castilla la Vieja, Smith-296. This conqueror could be Diego
de Tapia, of whom Garcilaso de la Vega wrote. Shortly after the Florida
survivors arrived in Mexico from Pánuco, "A soldier named Diego
de Tapia (whom I knew afterward in Peru where he served His Majesty well
in the wars against Gonzalo Pizarro, Don Sebastian de Castilla and
Francisco Hernández Giron), while having clothes made for him,
walked through the city of Mexico dressed in nothing but skins." [134]
Tapia Maraver, Francisco de. Witness in the
probanza of Pedro Arevalo in 1558 in Cuzco, Peru, where Tapia then
resided. This survivor went to Florida via Cuba with Hernando de Soto
where they disembarked at the port of Espíritu Santo. After de
Soto died, Luis de Moscoso took command of the army and led them to
Mexico. No indication is given as to when Tapia moved to Peru. He
declared himself to be 35 years old and signed his testimony. [135] This man seems to be the son of Alonso
Malaver and Ines de Tapia, citizens of Zafra, SR-310. Hernández
de Biedma lists, among the survivors, a Francisco de Tapia, from Zafra,
who appears to be the same person, Smith-294.
Tiedra, Miguel de. In Puebla de los Angeles,
Mexico, Tiedra was called to testify in the probanza of Juan de
Añasco, treasurer of the de Soto expedition. In 1544 in that
city, Tiedra declared he lived there and that he was born in 1517. He
added that he had known Añasco since 1539 and that he was
familiar with the lands of Florida. He answered positively all the
questions posed by Añasco, several referring to his actions in
Florida. Tiedra signed his declaration. [136] He is listed as the son of Gabriel de
Tiedra and Ana Martin, citizens from Salamanca, SR-319. One of the
survivors was a Tiedra from Salamanca, Smith-296.
Tinoco, Arias. Another conqueror who lived in
Mexico after the Florida adventure. There he testified in the probanza
of Juan de Añasco in 1544. He was born before 1504 and had known
Añasco since 1537. He had followed him to Florida, disembarking
in the port previously selected by Añasco. He witnessed many of
Anasco's services during that expedition, especially on an occasion when
Añasco saved the army from hunger by finding the town of Aymay
which contained large stores of grain. He witnessed, as well, the
diligence and effective participation of Añasco in the
construction of the ships that were to take the Florida survivors to
Pánuco in New Spain. He was in one of the five ships which sailed
upriver to reach that port. He saw too, that the only possession that
Añasco was able to save from the Florida experience was one
slave. He signed his deposition. [137]
Tinoco was a son of Gutierre Garcia Cardenosa and Maria Romo, citizens
of Badajoz, SR-281. He is listed among the survivors of Florida, as son
of Cardenosa, from Badajoz, Smith-293. It should be noted that the
complete name of the Adelantado of Florida was Hernando Mendez de Soto y
Gutierrez Cardenosa. Tinoco's parents last names suggest a kinship with
the Adelantado. Arias Tinoco, who was a captain of cavalry, was
accompanied by two brothers who survived the expedition as well, Alonso
Romo and Diego Tinoco, considered here in their proper order.
Tinoco, Diego. Son of Gutierre Garcia
Cardenosa and Maria Romo, citizens of Badajoz, SR-281. He was a brother
of Arias Tinoco and survived the Florida expedition, Smith-293.
Tolosa. A survivor from Vizcaya,
Smith-297.
Torre, Alvaro de la. On October 25th, 1559,
Mexican Viceroy Luis de Velasco wrote to Florida explorer, Tristan de
Luna y Arellano. He informed Luna that he was sending a memoir written
by Alvaro de la Torre, "the cleric who was with de Soto in Florida." [138] It is clear from the content of this
message that the Viceroy was writing about someone he and Luna knew
well. Alvaro de la Torre could be the sixth chronicler of the de Soto
expedition after the Gentleman of Elvas, Rodrigo Rangel, Luis Hernandez
de Biedma, Garcilaso de la Vega, and Cañete. This cleric appears
distinct from Fray Francisco de la Torre described later. While Alvaro
gave his memoir to the Viceroy, most likely in Mexico, Francisco may
have stayed in Spain, where he went after the Florida expedition.
Torres, Alonso de. A survivor from Ubeda or
Baeza, Smith-296.
Torres, Fray Francisco de. Priest from the
Order of the Holy Trinity, who met de Soto in 1538 and who was born
around 1515. He testified in Madrid in 1546 that he accompanied de Soto
to Florida and that the latter died on the 21st day of May 1542, in the
province of Guachoya, near the Espíritu Santo River. He signed
his deposition. [139] He is probably one of
the three surviving priests listed in Smith-298.
Torres, Manuel. Son of Francisco de Torres and
Catalina Garcia, citizens of Badajoz, SR-301. A survivor from Portugal,
Smith-298.
Torres, Pedro de. Son of Alonso Martin and
Elvira de Torres, citizens of Medina del Campo, SR-296. Listed as a
survivor, Smith-296.
Torres, Sancho de. Son of Sancho Martinez de
Torres and Elvira Sanchez Guerra, residents of Quintanilla de Pienzo,
SR-300. Survivor from Castilla la Vieja, Smith-297.
Tristan. From Sevilla, an individual who
survived the Florida expedition, Smith-292.
Trujillo, Baltasar de. Son of Miguel de
Trujillo and Maria de Villalobos, from Sevilla, SR-317. This man may be
the same Trujillo from Sevilla listed as a survivor in Smith-292.
Valderas. A survivor from León,
Smith-297.
Valdivieso, Luis de. This survivor testified,
in Mexico, that he was originally from Salamanca and presently was a
resident of Pánuco. He was the legitimate son of Joan Velazquez
and Maria Valdivieso, servants of the Catholic Kings and went to Florida
with de Soto. He married a daughter of Pedro Carranza, a conqueror from
New Spain. [140]
Valtierra, Pedro de. Son of Pedro Martinez and
Catalina de Valtierra, citizens of León, SR-301. Valtierra is
listed as a survivor from Castilla la Vieja, Smith-297.
Vargas, Juan de. Son of Hernando de Vargas and
Ines Alvarez de Balboa, citizens of Burguillos, SR-296. Vargas from
Burguillos is one of two survivors listed with this last name in
Smith-294.
Vazquez, Alonso. A native of the city of Jerez
who made his probanza in nearby Badajoz on June 12, 1560. From the
interrogatory he presented, the following information has been obtained.
[141] In 1538 Vazquez left Spain for the
discovery and conquest of Florida in the armada of Hernando de Soto.
Also, that the Adelantado debarked at Santiago de Cuba and there, and in
Havana, spent a year in preparation. Further, that Vazquez went to
Florida as a captain and, after debarking, was given command of up to 80
men. After twelve days in the port he went with Captain Baltasar
Gallegos on the first entry made in the country while de Soto and most
of the army remained behind. Later, they went to the province of
Paracuxi which they found inhabited, and heard that it was a country
abundant in food. But, to the contrary, all men, among them Alonso and
his brother Rodrigo Vazquez, suffered great hunger for a month and lived
on nothing but the green stalks of maize. Marching through that country
they arrived at a marsh that took three days, without food, to cross,
finally arriving at the province of Ocal. De Soto, intent on
reconnoitering the country, left Luis de Moscoso in command of the camp
and, with Vazquez, explored the area. In Mauvila the formerly peaceful
Indians killed 15 or 20 men and wounded 150. In breaking down the
palisade, where they were in strength, Vazquez was wounded in an ankle
making him lame for a year. At Tula, he and two other soldiers held off
attacking Indians until a Captain Vasconcelos and the calvary arrived.
In Chicazuela, in another affray on a savanna, he served courageously.
After he came with the survivors to Mexico, dressed in skins, he and his
brother Rodrigo made preparations to go to the aid of President de la
Gasca in Peru. He was in the conquest of Florida from the beginning to
the end. Alonso Vazquez, a brother of Rodrigo Alvarez, was a survivor
according to Smith-293. If true, Alonso was a son of Andres Vazquez and
Leónor Rodriguez, citizens of Zafra. Jerez and Zafra are not more
than 25 miles apart. Hernandez de Biedma, however, may be in error when
he stated that Alonso was a brother of Rodrigo Alvarez, confusing him
with Rodrigo Vazquez. Remember that this same Alonso Vazquez said that
his brother was Rodrigo Vazquez, not Alvarez. See Rodrigo Vazquez's
biography for more information.
Vazquez, Francisco. Son of Alonso Vazquez
Caballero and Catalina Botello, citizens of Villanueva de Barcarrota,
SR-332. He was a survivor from Jerez or Villanueva, Smith-293.
Vazquez, Francisco. Son of Anton Vazquez and
Maria Vazquez, from Villanueva de Barcarrota, SR-295. Another survivor
different from the preceding, according to Smith-293.
Vazquez, Gonzalo. A resident of Jerez de
Badajoz, Spain, and a dweller in the town of Matamoros, when, in June
1560, he testified in the probanza of Alonso Vazquez, and stated that
they were not related. Answering the questions presented to him, Gonzalo
testified that he was 54 years of age and had known Alonso for about the
last twenty years. The former was in Santiago de Cuba and later in
Florida when all landed along with Hernando de Soto. He went with
Baltasar de Gallegos and with other soldiers to a country called
Paracoxi, in Florida. Alonso Vazquez was with them with his brother
Rodrigo. They all endured the lack of food and on one occasion, they ate
nothing but stalks of corn, boiled or uncooked. After leaving Florida,
they arrived in Mexico clothed in skins. When de la Gasca, President of
Peru, called for help, Gonzalo saw Alonso and Rodrigo enlist, after
having invested much money in their equipment. He signed his deposition.
[142] In 1547 Gonzalo testified in the suit
between Hernando Ponce de León and Isabel de Bobadilla. He
repeated that he was part of the Florida expedition and, at the time of
his declaration, a resident of Villanueva de Barcarrota. [143] This conqueror seems to be the same son of
Gonzalo Vazquez and Catalina Vazquez, residents of Villanueva de
Barcarrota, SR-332. He is listed as well in Smith-293.
Vazquez, Hernan. This survivor declared, in
the city of Mexico in 1557, that he was 35 years old and had been in the
Florida expedition led by de Soto. He signed his testimony. [144] Twelve years later Hernan was still living
in Mexico, where he reiterated having explored Florida and, after de
Soto's death, having gone to Mexico under the leadership of Luis de
Moscoso. [145] He appears to be the son of
Mateo Garcia and Juana Rodriguez, citizens of Badajoz, SR-285.
Vazquez, Rodrigo. Contrary to what was stated
in the probanza of Alonso Vazquez that after Florida he went to Mexico
and Peru, it appears that Rodrigo stayed in Mexico. This would be more
accurate, unless Rodrigo was not Vazquez but Alvarez, as stated by
Hernandez de Biedma, who seems to be in error. Rodrigo made his probanza
in Mexico in 1554. He asked the witnesses to declare if the following
was true. That he and his brother Alonso Vazquez were born in the city
of Jerez near Badajoz. That he came to the Indies in the armada of de
Soto, which sailed from the port of San Lucar de Barrameda, and arrived
at Santiago de Cuba in 1538. That he and the other soldiers of the
expedition stayed on that island for a year prior to leaving for
Florida, where Rodrigo served for five years. That his brother Alonso
was a leader of soldiers under Juan Ruiz Lobillo until wounded in an
ankle, at which time Rodrigo took command of his brother's troops. That
the witness knew that around 1542 he, Rodrigo, went to Mexico. Finally,
Vazquez asked the witnesses to affirm that he was an hidalgo of good
repute and honor. [146] As has been noted
in their respective probanzas, Rodrigo Vazquez and Alonso Vazquez both
declared that they were brothers and survivors of the Florida
expedition. On the other hand, Hernandez de Biedma and Solar and
Rújula, agree on the existence of a Rodrigo Alvarez, son of
Andres Vasquez and Leónor Rodriguez. No Rodrigo Vazquez is
mentioned by these last two sources. It may be that Rodrigo Vazquez and
Rodrigo Alvarez are the same person. If this is the case, I have made a
duplicate entry here.
Vega, Andres de. When Gonzalo Silvestre, one
of de Soto's soldiers, made his probanza in Valladolid, Spain, in 1558,
he asked Andres de Vega to testify in his behalf. Vega did so, first
stating that he was 42 years old and had known Silvestre since 1538. He
continued that he went from Spain to Florida in de Soto's armada and
that they explored that land for several years. After having lost more
than 300 men and 150 horses, the survivors built seven brigantines in
which they reached Pánuco. From there he continued to the city of
Mexico and then to Peru. In the latter he served for several years,
especially with Captain Diego Centeno against the rebel Gonzalo Pizarro.
Later, he took part in the battle of Xaquixaguana where that rebel was
vanquished and killed. From Peru he returned to Spain where he remained.
He signed his testimony. [147] Andres de
Vega is listed as a son of Juan de Vega and Isabel Gutierre, citizens of
Caceres, SR-325.
Vega, Hernando de. Son of Juan de Vega and
Catalina Pinel, from Jerez near Badajoz, SR-300. A survivor from
Badajoz, listed by Smith-293.
Vega, Juan de. This survivor arrived in Havana
with de Soto. When they were together in Florida he saw de Soto's very
good Peruvian tent. He made and signed a declaration in 1547 in Mexico
City and added that he had been born in Badajoz around 1515. [148] Juan de Vega was a son of Gonzalo Tellez
de Vega and Juana Tellez, citizens of Badajoz, SR-300. He is listed in
Smith-293.
Velasco. A survivor from Castilla la Vieja,
Smith-296.
Velazquez, Antonio. Son of Juan Velazquez de
Robledo and Maria Espes, citizens of Valladolid, SR-316. Antonio
Velazquez is listed as a survivor from the mountains, or a foreigner,
Smith-298. In Mexico City he testified that he was an hijodalgo born in
Cuellar, the son of Joan Velazquez and Marina Corral. He added that he
had served the King in Italy for ten years before going to Florida. He
was married and intended to remain in Mexico. [149] In spite of the differences between the
first and the third Antonio Velazquez mentioned here, they appear to be
the same person. Both are sons of a Juan Velazquez and a Maria or Marina
and both are from the Valladolid area, since Cuellar is quite near that
city. The differences in the names of Velazquez's mother could be due in
part to an inaccurate transcription or to the not uncommon sixteenth
century practice of calling a person by their first or second last
names. Thus, Maria or Marina could be Espes Corral or Corral Espes. The
remaining doubt is if the Velazquez listed by Hernandez de Biedma as
from the mountains or a foreigner, is indeed the same person as the
Velazquez from Valladolid.
Velazquez, Diego. A son of Fernando Velazquez
and Mari Alonso, citizens of Oropesa, SR-326. A survivor from Castilla
la Vieja, Smith-296. This Oropesa could be the one in the vicinity of
Talavera.
Verdejon. A survivor from Toledo,
Smith-295.
Verdugo, Pedro. Son of Alvaro Verdugo and
Catalina Alvarez, citizens of Camisal, or Cañizal, SR-316.
Verdugo is listed as a survivor from Castilla la Vieja, in which
district Canizal is located, Smith-296.
Villagarcia. A survivor from La Mancha,
Smith-295.
Villalobos. A survivor from Badajoz, different
from the one that follows, Smith-293.
Villalobos, Alonso de. This survivor testified
in the probanza of Baltasar de Gallegos, the well-known field marshall
of de Soto's army. He stated that he was born in Córdoba in 1519,
and was a temporary resident of Tenochtitlan, New Spain. He answered the
questions presented to him by stating that he was in Spain when Gallegos
embarked for the Indies with de Soto. He saw Gallegos arrive in Florida
with several horses, servants and slaves, and observed his valuable
service in the many wars and conquests that took place. He also declared
that they remained for several years in the conquest, and that many
losses were incurred by Gallegos. These included that of a brother who
was a friar. After the Florida exploration they arrived in Mexico,
dressed in animal skins. Villalobos signed his deposition. [150] He is listed as a son of Francisco de
Villalobos and Catalina de Peñalosa, citizens of Jaen, SR-291.
Hernández de Biedma lists him a survivor, called only Villalobos
from Sevilla, Smith-292. Jaen, Córdoba, and Sevilla, are cities
within the limits of Andalucia.
Villaroel. A survivor from Castilla la Vieja,
Smith-296.
Villegas, Gonzalo de. Son of Juan de Villegas
and Beatriz de la Cueva, citizens of Palencia, SR-300. A Villegas from
Plasencia is listed among the survivors, Smith-296. No relation exists
between those two cities, but a misspelling could have occurred.
Villegas, Juan. Son of Garcia Hernández
and Teresa Villegas, citizens of Valencia de la Torre, SR-292. A
survivor from Almendralejo, Smith-294.
Villegas Prieto, Sebastian de. This individual
made his probanza of services in the viceroyalty of New Spain in 1569.
From the testimonies of the witnesses called we have learned what
follows. This survivor was the legitimate son of Pedro Prieto and Maria
de Villegas and born in the city of Zamora. He came to the Indies, well
equipped with arms and horses, with Hernando de Soto. He remained in
Florida until de Soto's death and then followed the leadership of Luis
de Moscoso on the journey to Mexico. Half of the 700 soldiers who
started the conquest of Florida survived it. He was reputed to be of
noble origin and an acknowledged hijodalgo, married and with children,
58 years old, and much in need of assistance. Sebastian de Villegas is
not mentioned among the survivors by Hernandez de Biedma, nor by Solar
and Rújula. Yet he did register in Sevilla on March 25, 1538, to
embark for the Indies. [151]
Viota, Juan de. This individual had resided in
Peru for several years when, in 1561, he testified in the probanza of
Juan Cordero, one of de Soto's soldiers. He declared that he was born in
1518 and that he had known Cordero since 1537 when he saw the latter
embark in de Soto's armada. In Florida he saw Cordero performing many
valuable services with his arms and horses. He also saw Cordero in Peru
when the latter enrolled in support of President de la Gasca against the
rebel, Gonzalo Pizarro, who was finally killed. Viota signed his
testimony. [152] Hernandez de Biedma lists
him by his last name only, as one of the survivors, but adds that he was
from Aragon, Smith-298. Garcilaso de la Vega, on the other hand, affirms
that he was from Zamora and was de Soto's page. [153]
Zalduendo, Pedro de. Son of Juan Ochoa de
Salduendo and Sancha de Ocadiz, from Zalduendo, SR-311. Hernández
de Biedma lists a Zalduendo from Castilla la Vieja, Smith-296. There is
a small village called Zalduendo, 15 miles from Vitoria in former
Castilla la Vieja.
Zambrano, Alvaro. On two different occasions
this conqueror testified in the city of Mexico, once in 1554 and again
in 1569. [154] From both of his testimonies,
we deduce that he was born before 1519, enrolled in Spain in the army
organized by de Soto and sailed for Florida where he served for several
years. When this expedition ended, he and the other survivors journeyed
to Mexico. Zambrano signed his declarations. A Zambrano, without a first
name, is listed as a survivor from Burguillos, Smith-294.
Those listed above are the survivors who saw the end
of the Florida expedition led by Hernando de Soto. There are two
additional persons who were active for a short period in Florida and who
returned to Cuba in 1539. They are:
Porcallo de Figueroa, Vasco. This person was
lieutenant governor of Florida for a brief period before he returned to
Havana in July, 1539. From then on, he became the supplier for de Soto's
army. Porcallo was a man of great experience in the Indies. He lived in
Puerto de Principe in Cuba in 1520, and participated in the dispute
between Governor Diego Velazquez and Hernan Cortes over the army that
was involved in the conquest of Mexico. Porcallo remained in Cuba but
moved to Trinidad where he was residing in 1522. In that year he
testified about his knowledge of the revolts that took place in
Espíritu Santo, Cuba. Through his answers it is known that he was
an encomendero in Cuba, born in Caceres, Spain around 1496, and that he
knew how to sign his name. In later years Porcallo took part in some of
the explorations of Mexico and his name appears in documents regarding
the accusations made against Cortes in Temistlán in 1529. Through
several surviving letters exchanged between the authorities in Santo
Domingo and Spain in 1539 and 1546, we learn the following particulars.
By 1539 Porcallo was the richest man in Cuba. He supported the
preparation of the ships that would take the men to the Florida port
already selected by Añasco in December, 1538. When de Soto
departed, Porcallo went along, but a few months later he returned to
Cuba where he wrote to the King in 1540, announcing the discovery of a
gold mine and blue stones or ores that yielded silver. By 1542, Porcallo
arranged marriage for his two mestizo daughters to distinguished persons
of the region. The following year he went to Hispañola to console
Isabel de Bobadilla over the loss of her husband. [155] Porcallo was mentioned often by Rangel,
Elvas, and Garcilaso de la Vega.
Tovar, Diego de. Tovar survived the
expedition, but for a different reason than the others, as he pointed
out in making a declaration in Madrid in 1546. He claimed to be 25 years
old and the son of Rodrigo de Tovar, Alguacil in Marchena. He stated
that he went to Florida with de Soto and joined the initial explorations
but soon fell sick and was taken back to Havana. He signed his
declaration. [156] He appears to be the son
of Rodrigo de Tovar and Beatriz de Segovia, citizens of Marchena,
SR-327.
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