"El Sagrado Corazon de Jesus"

"El Sagrado Corazón de Jesús" by Gilbert Din[2]

The sixth ship with Isleños, El Sagrado Corazón de Jesús, reached Havana on July 25, 1779, about the same time that news came of Spain's declaration of war on England.  The captain general of Cuba, Diego Jose Navarro, decided to detain the passengers until he heard from Governor Galvez in New Orleans.  Only recently Galvez had written to him about the growth of British troops in West Florida.  Now, with hostilities declared, Louisiana did not appear to be the plan to send immigrants since Galvez expected fighting there. 

He removed the Isleños from the ship and housed them in Oquendo, adjacent to the Sanuario de Nuestra Senora de Regla.  He assigned Sub lieutenant Francisco Varela to look after them. Noting that seventeen of the recruits were bachelors and without obligation to continue to Louisiana, he offered them the opportunity to enlist in the Havana dragoons.  Eight of them accepted.

Navarro planned to send an additional four recruits to Louisiana at the first opportunity as part of the reinforcements to assist Galvez.  Five other recruits from the ship deserted in Havana within two weeks after arriving.  Many never completed the journey to Louisiana.

Despite the incomplete accounts, the records reveal in gross measure the fate of many of the Canary Islanders in Cuba.  Disease and death came all too often, especially to the young.  A few accounts closed when all the members of the family perished or the surviving members acquired a new status.  IN several instances, the father of the family succumbed, the mother remarried, and the children, if they were of age, either married or joined the army.

Over half of the family desertions occurred shortly before the ships sailed for Louisiana in 1783. A third group of Isleños who remained in Cuba received official permission to do so.  The authorities also granted Isleño girls who married Cubans permission to stay behind, although several Cuban husbands accompanied their wives to Louisiana as colonists.  

A major reduction in the number of Canary Islanders going to Louisiana occurred in early 1782, when 36 families from El Sagrado Corazón de Jesús departed to settle in Pensacola.  The Isleños took over abandoned English houses, where they lived for the next three years. In 1783, Commandant Arturo O'Neill of Pensacola recommended to Intendant Martin Navarro of New Orleans to settle the families on the Escambia River, where they could raise livestock and dairy cows.  In time, he reasoned, they could provide the Pensacola garrison with fresh meat and become completely self-sufficient. 

The government, however, ignored O'Neill's advice and left the families idle in town, consuming rations and burdening the royal treasury.  The Isleños also suffered because they received assistance irregularly. In 1785, weary of their plight, the families petitioned the commandant for authorization to settle in Cuba.  Before the end of the year, they returned to the island.  it does not appear that this group of Canary Island immigrants ever went to Louisiana.

-------------------------------------------------------

Relative to the recruits in garrison who were married or single, destined for Havana so as to embark for the Port of New Orleans on the Spanish frigate named, "El Sagrado Corazón de Jesús" - Capitan Don Manuel Mongioty.1

PC = Left for Pensacola in 1782 and remained there.

NO = Left for New Orleans in between 1779 and 1783 and remained there.

PC, HV = Left for Pensacola in 1782 and possibly returned to Havana in 1785.

NO-TAB = Left for New Orleans between 1779 and 1783 and settled in Terre-Aux-Boeuf.

NO-BAR = Left for New Orleans between 1779 and 1783 and settled in Barataria.

HV = Remained in Havana with no record of arriving in PC or NO.

1 - Don Joaquim de Vera

2 - Salvador Guerra [PC]
Josefa Mera, wife
Salvador, son
Josef, son
Catalina, daughter
Ignacia, daughter
Maria, daughter
Ysabel, daughter
Maria Josefa, daughter

3 - Augustin de Sejus

4 - Manuel Ramon
Maria Santana, wife
Maria, daughter
Juan, son
Josef, son

5 - Domingo Martin [PC]
Francesca de Acosta, wife

6 - Andres de Acosta [PC,HV?]
Maria Francesca Frallo, wife
Josefa de Acosta, sister

7 - Antonio Francisco del Castillo [PC,HV?]
Juana Maria Hernandez, wife
Juan del Castillo, son
Ysabel del Castillo, daughter
Maria del Castillo, daughter

8 - Juan Francisco del Castillo [PC, HV?]
Josefa Maria Negron, wife

9 - Manuel Hernandez [PC,HV?]
Josefa Benitez, wife
Juan
Diego
Catalina, sister
Antonia Benitez, sister-in-law

10 - Juan Antonio de la Roja
Maria Francesca Dorta, wife
Francisco de la Roja, son
Antonio de la Roja, son
Josefa de la Roja, son

11 - Pietro Pio (Pedro Gia) [NO]
Geronima Francesca, wife

12 - Miguel Quintana [PC,HV?]
Miguel, son
Juan, son

13 - Lazaro Botello [PC,HV?]
Francesca Ojeda, wife
Josef, son

14 - Tomas Meneses [NO]
Josefa Antonia Morales, wife
Antonio Ramon, son
Barbara Antonia, daughter
Manual Antonio, son

15 - Antonio Valentin Rodriguez [NO-TAB]
Larencia Maria Ramos, wife
Maria Josefa, widow of the recruit, Francisco Ventura Montesinos
Juana Montesinos, sister of deceased

16 - Francisco Hernandez Palmes [PC]
Maria de Jesus, wife
Diego, son
Maria Josefa, daughter
Gregoria, daughter
Francesca, daughter

17 - Francisco Luis Hernandez [NO]
Josefa del Rosario, wife [HV]
Josef, son
Augustina, daughter
Domingo, son

18 - Josef Medina [PC,HV?]

19 - Josef de Rojas [PC,HV?]
Antonia Bina, wife
Josefa, daughter
Melchor, son
Francisco, son
Manuel Andres, son

20 - Miguel Montesdoca
Maria Fasenda, wife
Brigida, daughter

21 - Josef Antonio Rubio [PC,HV?]
Petronila de la Concepcion, wife
Maria, daughter
Marcial Francisco, son
Lorensa, daughter
Maria de la Ciudad, mother-in-law

22 - Josef Gomez
Josefa Antonia, wife
Antonio, son

23 - Nicolas de Estrada [NO]
Josefa Antonia, wife
Rocque, son

24 - Josef Marrero [NO-TAB]
Lorenza Coruna, wife
Juan, son
Francesca, daughter

25 - Juan de Aguilar [PC]
Melchoria Ramos, wife
Antonio Clemente, son
Thomas, son
Barbara, daughter
Francesca, daughter
Catalina, daughter

26 - Ntal (Cristobal) Luis Molero [NO-TAB]
Josefa Nicolosa Bermeja, wife
Ntal, son
Bartholeme, son
Manuel, son
Antonia, daughter
Augustina, daughter
Theresa, daughter
Maria de Gracias, daughter
Cathalina, daughter

[NAMES OF PEOPLE MISSING FROM VILLERE LIST]

[INSERTED HERE FOR HISTORICAL ACCURACY]

X1 - Diego Rodriguez Beltran [NO]

Maria del Carmen, wife

X2 - Antonio Suarez Vera [PC,HV?]

Paula Maria de la Paz, wife

Francisco Vicente, son

Juan Antonio, son

Antonio, son

Vicente Antonio, son

X3 - Josef Pablo Morales [PC]

Cristobal, son

Francisco, son

Antonia, daughter

Josef, son

X4 - Lorenzo Antonio Montesino [PC,HV?]

Jacobina de la Paz, wife

Maria de la Mercedes, daughter

X5 - Juan Alonso de Mora [PC,HV?]

Bernarda Herrera, wife

Alonso, son

Josef, son

Maria, daughter

Antonia, daughter

Barbaia[?], daughter

X6 - Juan Lorenzo Gonzales [NO]

Maria Aleman, wife

Maria, daughter

X7 - Mathias Cabral [PC,HV?]

Sebastiana Espino, wife

X8 - Juan Ramirez

Juana Lopez, wife

Josefa, daughter

X9 - Julian Romero [PC,HV?]

Maria Gonzales, wife

Josef, son

Maria, daughter

X10 - Antonio Machado [PC]

Maria Ramirez, wife

Sebastian, son

Maria, daughter

Josefa, daughter

Andrea[?], daughter

[END OF MISSING NAMES]

27 - Nicolas Alonso Colino [PC,HV?]
Maria Cardenas, wife
Augustin, son

28 - Miguel Gil [PC]
Francesca de Sosa, wife
Rafaela, daughter

29 - Bernardo Gonzales [PC,HV?]
Maria Betancourt, wife
Juan, son
Josef, son
Miguel, son

30 - Juan Alonzo Morales (Gonzales) [NO]
Antonia Suarez, wife

31 - Pedro Suarez [PC,MOB]
Andrea Gonzales, wife
Francesca, daughter
Miguel, son
Juan, son
Maria, daughter
Maria del Pino, daughter

32 - Francisco Ventura
Ana Ruino, wife
Maria Suarez

33 - Pedro Socorro
Maria Herrera, wife
Manuel, son

34 - Manuel Sardina [PC, HV?]
Catalina Perez, wife
Josef, son
Maria, daughter
Josef, son
Angela, daughter

36 - Natal Rodriguez

Maria Rodriguz, wife
Josef, son
Tomasa, daughter
Vicente, son
Pedro, son
Sebastien, son
Juan, son

36 - Antonio Suarez
Antonia Rodriguez, wife
Diego, son
Josef, son
Maria, daughter

37 - Pedro Acosta [PC, HV?]
Cecelia Sardina, wife
Josefa, daughter
Maria, daughter

38 - Josef Antonio Coruna [PC, HV?]
Antonio, son
Juan, son
Lucia, daughter

39 - Estevan de Vega [PC, HV?]
Cathalina Suarez, wife
Juan, son
Francesca, daughter
Antonia, daughter

40 - Antonio Miguel Suarez
Maria Antonia Suarez, wife
Josefa, daughter
Margarita, daughter

41 - Juan Ramirez
Maria Perera, wife
Josef Ramirez, son
Francisco, son
Bernardo, son
Maria, daughter
Ana, daughter

42 - Juan Suarez [PC,HV?]
Juana Suarez, wife
Bartholome, son
Gregoria, daughter
Josef, son

43 - Juan Rodriguez Espino
Rosalia Espino, wife
Pedro, brother
Maria, sister
Josefa, sister

44 - Francisco Quintana
Margarita Rodriguez, wife

45 - Manuel Gonzales
Josefa Ortega, mother
Josefa, sister
Maria, sister

46 - Manuel de la Caridad [NO]
Maria Antonia Suarez, wife

47 - Josef Antonio Dumpierrer (Dupierrez) [NO-TAB]
Cathalina Medino, wife
Juan, son

48 - Antonio Rosales
Maria Ysabel, wife

49 - Josef Aleman [NO-TAB]
Antonia Espino, wife
Juan, son
Mathias, son
Ysabel, daughter

50 - Domingo Gonzales [NO]
Ana Quintero, wife
Juan, son
Miguel, son
Bartholome, son
Juan Andre, son
Maria, daughter

51 - Manuel Sanchez [PC,HV?]
Ana Ojeda, wife
Maria, daughter

52 - Josef Lorenzo Suarez [PC,HV?]
Maria Gonzalez, wife [NO]
Antonio, son
Juan, son
Miguel, son
Francisco, son
Josef, son
Francesca, daughter
Juana, daughter
Maria, daughter

53 - Juan Alonso de la Fuente [NO-TAB]
Beatriz Sosa, wife
Francisco, son
Maria Lorenza, daughter
Francesca, daughter
Antonia, daughter

54 - Manuel de la Nuez
Francesca Xavier, wife

55 - Manuel del Pino Quintana [PC,HV?]
Josefa Suarez, sife
Juan, son
Rosalia, daughter
Francisco, son

56 - Josef Monzon
Ysabel Martin, wife
Juan, son

57 - Josef Perez Lopez [NO]
Thomasa, mother
Juana, sister

58 - Luis Quintana
Ysabel Lorenza
Agnes Maria del Pino

59 - Francisco Domingo Zupa (Zerpa) [NO-TAB]
Ana Suarez, wife

60 - Gaspar Zerpa [NO-TAB]

61 - Francisco Garcia [PC,HV?]
Maria Mexias, wife
Maria de los Dolores, daughter

62 - Juan Quintana [NO]
Ysabel Monzon, wife
Maria, daughter

63 - Bartholome Perez [HV]
Ana Suarez, wife [NO]
Josef, son
Natal, son
Francisco, son
Bartholome, son
Maria, daughter

64 - Francisco Guttierrez Betancourt
Maria Rodroguez, wife

65 - Sebastien Rivera

66 - Sebastien Cazorla de Vega [NO-TAB]
Ysabel Suarez, wife
Bartholomew, son
Angela, daughter

67 - Lorenzo de Armas [PC,HV?]
Sebastianan Maria, sister
Rosa Francesca de la Pena, sister, widow of the recruit Pedro Lorenzo
Antonio, son

68 - Josef Ruiz de Armas [PC,HV?]
Francesca de Vera, wife
Domingo, son
Francisco, son
Josephe, daughter
Rosa, daughter
Maria, daughter

69 - Geronimo Cuebelo [Curbelo] [NO]
Eugenia Maria, wife
Maria Antonia, sister-in-law

70 - Salvador de la Cruz Cabrera

71 - Santiago Hernandez Molina [NO]
Margarita Betancourt, wife
Maria, daughter
Josefa Maria, daughter

72 - Augustin Garcia

73 - Natal del Rosario
Antonia Maria de la Concepcion, wife
Natal, son
Joachim, son

74 - Antonio Josef Esteves [NO]
Elena Maria de Jesu, wife

75 - Augustin Gil

76 - Juan Alonso Mathias

77 - Antonio Josef Suarez [PC]
Dorotea Rodriguez, wife
Josef, son
Juan, son
Antonia, daughter
Lucas, son
Augustin, son
Maria Ventura, daughter

78 - Josef Mesa [NO-TAB]
Josefa Francisco Perez, wife
Maria, daughter
Theresa, daughter

79 - Juan Antonio Martin

80 - Domingo Quintana

81 - Josef Antonio de la Pena

82 - Matheo Cabrera

83 - Antonio Flores [NO]
Cathalina de Ziepa, wife
Margarita de Mesa, mother-in-law

84 - Patricio Gonzales
Thomasa Borjas, wife
Luis Ciriaco Gonzales, son

85 - Josef Lorenzo Perez

86 - Juan Suarez Falcon [PC]
Ysabel Navarro, wife
Christoval, son
Josefa, daughter
Cathalina, daughter
Maria, daughter

87 - Francisco Hernandez Truxillo [NO-TAB?]
Beatriz Heranandez, wife
Josefa, daughter
Francesca, daughter

88 - Josef Augustin Martin (Martinez) [NO]
Maria de Regla, wife
Sebastian, son
Ana, daughter

89 - Francisco Garcia Oramas [NO]
Francesca Acebeda, wife
Nicolosa, daughter
Josef, son
Maria, daughter
Augustin, son

90 - Domingo Machado [NO]
Antonia de Leon, wife
Antonia, daughter
Antonio, son
Josef, son
Francisco, son

91 - Bartholome Caraballo [NO-BAR]

92 - Marcos de Rojas
Lucia Ramos, wife
Marcos, son
Maria, daughter

93 - Alexandro de Rojas
Maria de la Encarnacion, sife
Juan, son
Antonio, son
Maria, daughter

94 - Salvador Josef Peneda (Penida)

95 - Josef Gonzales Llanos

96 - Dona Francesca Olives y Espinosa, wife of the distinguished soldier, Don Josef Herrera, who embarked on Dec 9, 1778.

97 - Dona Theresa del Jesus Espinosa, aunt of Dona Francesca, whose passage will be paid by the said nice, and the same for her sister-in-law, Elena Wood.

98 - Juana Perez, wife of the recruit, Salvador Ramirez, who embarked on Oct 22, 1778, who ran away from the scene of the embarkation.

References

1. Sidney Louis Villere, The Canary Islands Migration to Louisiana, 1778-1783. the History and Passenger Lists of the Islenos Volunteer Recruits and Their Families.
2. Gilbert C. Din, The Canary Islanders of Louisiana, Louisiana State University Press. p23-25