The Original Canary Islander Families

At eleven o'clock on the morning of March 9^th, 1731, sixteen families (56 people) from the Canary Islands arrived at the Presidio of San Antonio de Bejar in the Province of Texas. By royal decree of the King of Spain, they founded La Villa de San Fernando (now the city of San Antonio) and established the first civil government.
That was the beginning of this settlement in the heart of Texas. Commemorative dates celebrated were: February 2^nd, Feast of La Virgin de la Candelaria (patron saint), March 9^th, the arrival of the original sixteen families from the Canary Islands, and August 1^st, the establishment of the first civil government in Texas.

1.) Juan Leal GORAZ, age 54 years

Luisa Hernandez, wife, age 46 years

Jose Leal, son, age 22 years

Vicente Leal, son, age 18 years

Bernardo Leal, son, 13 years

Catarina Leal, daughter, age 16 years

 

2.) Juan CURBELO, age 50 years

Gracia Perdoma y Umpierres, wife, age 46 years

Jose Curbelo, son, age 20 years

Maria Ana Curbelo, daughter, age 18 years

Juana Curbelo, daughter, age 14 years

Maria Curbelo, daughter, age 13 years

Juan Francisco Curbelo, son, age 9 years

 

3.) Juan LEAL, Jr., age 30 years (eldest son of Juan Leal Goraz)

Gracia Acosta, age 30 years

Manuel Leal, son, age 12 years

Miguel Leal, son, age 10 years

Domingo Leal, son, age 7 years

Maria Leal, daughter, age 6 years

Pedro Leal, son, age 3 months

Jose Leal (son, died in Cuatitlan)

 

4.) Antonio DE LOS SANTOS, age 50 years

Isabel Rodriguez, wife, age 34 years

Miguel Santos, son, age 17 years

Ana Santos, daughter, age 15 years

Catarina Santos, daughter, age 12 years

Maria Santos, daughter, age 7 years

Josefa Santos, daughter, age 2 years

 

5.) Jose PADRON, age 22 years

Maria Francisca Sanaria or Zanabria, wife, age 20 years

 

6.) Manuel de NIZ, age 50 years

Sebastiana de la Pena, age 44 years

Josefa de Nis, daughter, age 19 years

 

7.) Salvador RODRIGUEZ, age 42 years

Maria Perez Cabrera, age 42 years

Patricio Rodriguez, son, age 15 years

8.) Juan CABRERA (died at Apa, on way to Cuatitlan)

Maria Rodriguez, widow, age 40 years

Jose Cabrera, son, age 15 years

Ana Cabrera, daughter, age 13 years

Marcos Cabrera, son, age 6 years

9.) Juan Rodriguez GRANADO (died in Veracruz)

Maria Robina Bethencourt Granado, widow, age 27 years

Pedro Rodriguez Granado, son, age 13 years

Josefa Rodriguez Granado, daughter, age 10 years

Paula Rodriguez Granado, daughter, age 8 years

Maria Rodriguez Granado, daughter, age 5 years

Manuel Francisco Rodriguez Granado, son, age 3 years

 

10.) Lucas DELGADO (died in Veracruz)

Maria Melian, widow, age 30 years

Juan Delgado, son, age 19 years

Francisco Delgado, son, age 16 years

Leonor Delgado, daughter, age 4 years

Domingo Delgado, son, age 2 years

Antonio Rodriguez, bachelor, age 18 years

Phelipe Perez, bachelor, age 20 years

Jose Perez, (brother to Phelipe)

Martin Lorenzo de Armas, bachelor, age 20 years

Ignacio Lorenzo de Armas (brother to Martin) age 24 years

At Cuautitlan the group was joined by two Canary Islanders who had independently come to the new world some time before seeking their fortune. They begged permission to marry Juana and Maria Curbelo, whom they had as sweethearts back in the Islands. Permission was granted and so Francisco Arocha and Vicente Alvarez joined the group on its way to Texas. Also while in Cuautitlan, Antonio Rodriguez, one of the bachelors, contracted to marry Josefa de Nis; Jose Leal, son Jual Leal Goraz, married Ana Santos, daughter of Antonio Santos; and Juan Delgado, son of Lucas Delgado, married Catrina Leal, the young daughter of Juan Leal Goraz.