In 1778, Loyalists from the settlement of Canewood in British West Florida relocated to the south bank of the Amite River after fleeing American Revolutionaries. In November of the same year, the first ship of several carrying Canary Islanders, or Isleños, would reach Louisiana to help defend the territory against a possible British invasion. Spanish Governor Bernardo de Gálvez traveled up the Mississippi River on November 12 or 13 with the recent Isleño arrivals in search of a proper location to establish a settlement. On November 22, Gálvez reached the point at which the Amite River and Bayou Manchac met and came across the fledgling Anglo-American settlement joined by French and German inhabitants. Gálvez granted asylum to those in the settlement under the requirement that the Isleños may be settled at the site as well as that a Spanish fort and garrison may be constructed. The inhabitants agreed and named their settlement "Villa de Gálvez" or "Galveztown" in honor of Governor Gálvez.
Almost from the very beginning, Galveztown was beset by tragedy. Diseases such as smallpox and scabies took the lives of various community members. Medical assistance was soon sent by Governor Gálvez but other diseases and maladies continued to beleaguer the community. Despite this, the militiamen of Galveztown managed to capture the British outpost of Amite along with 7 vessels and 125 soldiers and sailors in August, 1779. At the same time, Gálvez traveled up the Mississippi River and captured the British forts of Brute (Manchac), Baton Rouge, and Natchez. Following the capture of Mobile in 1780, Galveztown lost much of its strategic military importance.
Just as in the year prior, smallpox and other diseases continued to ravage the Galveztown. By the winter of 1780, over one-third of Isleños that arrived to the community were dead. On August 24, 1780, a powerful hurricane struck Louisiana which destroyed much of the community and its crops. Much of the community lived in poverty and lacked adequate food or clothing. It was not until the end of the American Revolutionary War that the community saw a small increase in its population.
By the beginning of 1786, more than half of the houses in Galveztown had been abandoned and fallen into disrepair. A number of residents petitioned Governor Miró for permission to leave the community with many wishing to go to the Isleño community of San Bernardo. In 1794, a series of hurricanes flooded and destroyed homes and spoiled crops. This was immediately followed by the flooding of the Amite River which affected every single family of Galveztown.
In the face of repeated flooding of the Amite River coupled with the destruction dealt by hurricanes, the residents continued to rebuild and eke out an existence. With the Louisiana Purchase, many of the Isleños chose to abandon the settlement. Many of them wished to remain within Spanish territory and so they fled primarily to Baton Rouge and established the neighborhood of Spanish Town. The last marriage to take place in Galveztown was in February, 1807. Other residents remained in the vicinity and eventually established the community of Gálvez on higher ground.
First Militia Company of Galveztown (June 16 to June 27, 1779)[1]
1 - Lt. Agustin Brounet
2 - 2nd Lt. Dn. Antonio Diaz
3 - Sergt. 1st. Class Dn. Francisco Monzon
Josefa de Castro, wife
Roque de Avila Bordon
Jose, son
Juan Antonio, son
4 - 2nd. Lt. Augustin Pinto de Lara
Maria Theresa Carsalla, wife
5 - 2nd. Lt. Jose Penina (Perera?)
Maria Ramirez, wife
Maria, daughter
Catalina, daughter
Josefa, daughter
Francisca, daughter
Luisa, daughter
Isabel, daughter
6 - Corp. 1st. Class Francisco Pena
7 - Corp. 1st. Class Luis Rivera
8 - Corp. 1st. Class Juan Medero
9 - Corp. 1st. Class Bartolome Hernandez
10 - Corp. 2nd. Class Bartolome Diaz
Josepha Perez Hidalgo, wife
(Francisca, daughter?)
Diego, son
Manuel, son
Juan, son
Jose, son
Francisco, son
Francisca, daughter
11 - Corp. 2nd. Class Ramon Lopez
(1st) Maria Verde, wife
Juan Bautista, son
(2nd) Ana Marie Suarez (2nd)
12 - Corp. 2nd. Class Juan Antonio Martin
13 - Corp. 2nd. Class Domingo Garcia
14 - Antonio Montesinos
15 - Jose Quintero
Ana Espino, wife
16 - Josef Morales (1)
Antonia Viera (1st)
Josefa Antonia, daughter
17 - Josef Rodriguez Fomes
18 - Jose Agustin Capitan
Isabel Garcia, wife
Pablo, son
19 - Domingo Acosta
20 - Francisco Toledo
21 - Jose Martin
Maria del (Cristo) Leon, wife
Ana Maria, daughter
22 - Ignacio Ramirez
23 - Juan Sanchez Melian
Francisca Margarita Masias, wife (1st)
Bartolome, son
Jose, son
Maria del Pino, daughter
Maria Juana de los Dolores, daughter
24 - Josef Perez
25 - Francisco Rodriguez
Ana Romero, wife (1st)
Manuel Josef, son
Augustina, daughter
27 - Diego Morales
28 - Cristobal Mesa
29 - Antonio Alonso
30 - Guillermo Gonzales Chocho
Maria Gil, wife
Sebastian, son
31 - Felipe Romero
32 - Francisco Herrera
33 - Mateo Rodriguez
Marie Antonia Del Carmen (Viera), wife
Antonia Maria, daughter
Maria del Susso, daughter
Mateo Francisco, son
Maria Antonia, daughter
34 - Mathias Martin (Martinez?)
Maria Magdalena Santos, wife
Juan Santos, son
Maria, daughter
Ferdinand Bernard, son
Fernando Antonio, son
Maria Antonia, daughter
28 - Juan (Jose?) Perera Sanchez
29 - Juan de Barrios
30 - Sebastian Perera
Maria(?), wife
Tomas Antonio, son
31 - Juan Suarez
32 - Miguel Martin
33 - Juan Medina
Manuela Gonzales, wife
Joseph(?)
Antonio Josef, son
34 - Juan Antonio Sanchez
Francisca Martel (Masias)
Maria, daughter
Jose, son
Bartolome, son
35 - Salvador Milan
Antonia Aleman, wife
Maria, daughter
Melchora, daughter
36 - Josef Espino
37 - Francisco Suarez
38 - Pedro Barrero
39 - Joseph Charnero
40 - Juan Hernandez
Petrolina Sanchez, wife
Antonio Ysidoro, son
41 - Alonso Cerdena
Francisca Ortega (Zevallos), wife (1st)
Juan, son
Francisco, son
Maria, daughter
Jose, son
Maria de los Reyes, daughter
Pedro Antonio, son
Maria Zavallos, mother-in-law
42 - Manuel Garcia
43 - Vicente Sardina
Rita Cabrera, wife
Maria, daughter
Jose, son
Manuel Antonio Josef
Jean Mipomucene
Antonio Paulino
(possibly) Rosalie
44 - Thomas Collado
Maria Aleman, wife
Josefa Francisca, daughter
Thomas Antonio, son
45 - Josef Morales (2)
46 - Jose Bermudez
Maria Ramirez, wife
Catharina Antonia, daughter
Maria del Pino, daughter
47 - (Jose?) Antonio Rodriguez
Maria Jorge, wife
Jose Antonio, son
Juan Andres, son
Jose, son
Maria, daughter
Francisca, daughter
Francsico, son?
48 - Josef Gonzales Llano(?)
Maria Jorge, wife
49 - Pedro Martin
50 - Nicolas Hernandez
51 - Sebastian De Niz (Denis)
Josefa Suarez, wife
52 - Jose Angel Quintana
Agustina Monzon, wife
Maria, daughter
Catalina, daughter
Manuel, son
Diego, son
53 - Cristobal Ventura
54 - Juan Tilano
(1st) Micaela (Petrolina) Reyes Padilla , wife
Juan, son
Jose, son
Gaspar, son
Agustin, son
Maria, daughter
(2nd) Ana Alegria, wife
(3rd) Maria Morales, wife
55 - Antonio Santos
Other Isleno Settlers and Spanish Land Owners
People documented as Islenos living in or around Galveztown as well as Spanish stationed at the fort and mentioned in church/civil records in 1779. Based on church records, land records and tax records.
56 - Jose Basilio
Ana Ysabel Riguen, wife
Rosalia Catharina, daughter
57 - Pedro Ramirez
Josepfa Pabalona (Josepha Padrona?)
58 - Luis Masias
Tomasa de Borges, wife
Miguel, son
Francisco, son
Jose, son
Francisca, daughter
59 - Tomas Mayor (possible)
Gregoria Sanchez, wife
Cristobal, son
Jose, son
Pedro, son
Catalina, daughter
Leonor, daughter
Maria Candelaria, daughter
60 - George Alonso (Mrs. Maria Jorge Llano?)
61 - Jose del Pino
(1st) Rita Monzon, wife
(2nd) Francisca Margarita Masias, wife
(3rd) Andrea Hortiz Romero, wife
62 - Francisco Masias
(1st) Maria Ysabel Hernandez, wife
(2nd) Angela Hernandez Sanchez, wife
63 - Lorenzo Morales
Josefa Rodriguez, wife
Francisco, son
Vicente, son
Miguel, son
Ines, daughter
Sebastiana, daughter
64 - Juan Jose Garcia Melchor
Josefa de los Santos (de la Cruz), wife
Maria del Buen Suseuro, daugther
65 - Guillermo Yaraberry (Yabri)
(1st) Maria Philip, wife
(2nd) Maria Antonia Rodriguez
66 - Jacobo Baron
67 - Antonio Silva
(1st) Clara Poscas de Arvelo, wife
(2nd) Maria Suarez, wife
Maria, daughter
68 - Jose de Vera
69 - Juan Arison(?)
70 - Benito Fernandez
Ana Marie Martinez, wife
71- Jose Ramirez
Maria del Pino Sanchez, wife
72 - Juan Diaz
Rosalia Teresa Ramos, wife
73 - Antonio Gonzales
Francisca Zavallos (2nd)
74 - Romualdo Carmena
Josepha Morales, wife
Geronimo Antonio, son
Josepha Calasanz, daughter
Maria Praxedes, daughter
75 - Jose Bermudez
Maria Ramirez (Ramos), wife
Catalina, daughter
Maria Del Pino, daughter
Catherine Antonia, daughter
Marguerita Antonia, daughter
Maria, daughter
76 - Blas Aleman
Gregoria Sanchez, wife
Juan Aleman, son
77 - Julian Fonesca
Teresa Perera, wife
78 - Francisco La Cruz
Augustina Alvarez, wife
79 - Alexander Lopez
Maria Suarez, wife
80 - Francisco Ximeniz
Ana Martinez, wife
81 - Jose Antonio Silverio (???)
Maria Perez, wife (1st)
Julian, son
Pascual, son
Jose, son
Maria, daughter
Rosalia, daughter
82 - Fernando Alvarez
Phelipa Francisca Genera
Augustina, daughter
83 - Jose Gonzales Cavo
84 - Jose del Alamo
Francisca Dias [Diaz], wife
Bartolome, son
Catherine, daughter
Josepha Victoria, daughter
Leandro Josef, son
Margarita Rosalia, daughter
Maria, daughter
Nicolas Josef, son
Constancia, daughter
85 - Josef Alonso
Ana Maria, wife (1st)
86 - Francisco Ballestero
Ana Espino, wife
87 - Tomas Beltran
Catalina (Mendes) Gonzales, wife
88 - Simon Verde
Ana Sanchez, wife
Catalina, daughter
Josefa, daughter
89 - Josef Bizente Santana
Catalina Verde, wife
Juan Bautista, son
90 - Josef Crespo
Ana Romero, wife (2nd)
91 - Augustin Cabrera
Josefa Antonia Gil, wife
Maria Antonia, daughter
92 - Antonio Rafael de la Paz
Maria del Rosario (de Medina), wife
Antonio, son
Francisco, son
Antonio, son
(daughter)
Blas Antonio Ramon, son
93 - Bartolome Romero
Sebastiana Delgado, wife
94 - Josef Justo Diaz
Cathalina de Sena Ramirez
95 - Sebastian Delgado
Ysabel Montesdoca, wife
96 - Juan Diaz
Maria Viera, wife
Francisca, daughter
Gregorio Manuel, son
97 - Pedro San Pablo Diaz
Andrea Viera, wife
98 - Gregorio Duran
Ana Hidalgo, wife
Francisco, son
Miguel, son
Jose, son
Maria, daughter
Antonia, daughter
99 - Josef Escobar
Josefa Perera, wife
100 - Manuel Fernandez
Antonia Martin, wife
101 - Domingo Ximinez
Ynes, wife
Maria, daughter
102 - Jose Gonzales (1)
Maria Francisca Borges, wife
Josef, son
Maria del Pino, daughter
103 - Jose Gonzales (2)
Catarina de Leon, wife
104 - Joaquin Gutierez
Ana Marie Suarez, wife
105 - Antonio Hernandez
Sebastiana Delgado, wife
106 - Juan Lopez
Maria Romano, wife
Juan, son
107 - Cristoval Mayor Hernandez
108 - Baltasar Martin
Rosalia Perez, wife,
Antonia, daughter
Maria, daughter
Andres, son
Leandro, son
Juan, son
109 - Patricio Melo
Sebastiana Morales, wife
Antonio Marcos, son
Patricio, son
110 - Cristobal Ramirez
Ana Caballero, wife
Jose, son
Catalina de Sena, daughter
Fernando, son
Pedro, son
Francisco, son
Maria, daughter
Ana, daughter
111 - Francisco Reyes
112 - Juan Antonio Reyes
Josefa Antonia, wife
Laurencia, daughter
Francisca, daughter
Antonio, son
Maria Ramona de las Mersedes, daughter
113 - Jose Antonio Rivero
Dominga Flores, wife
Tomasa, daughter
Francisco, son
Marie Louise, daughter
Paula Juana Viridiana, daughter
Maria Francisca, daughter
114 - Luis Reivera
Maria De La(?), wife
Josef Francisco, son
115 - Fernando Rodriguez
Catarina Perera, wife
Ysabel Leonor, daughter
116 - Lorenzo de Cubas Romero
Lucia Sanchez, wife
Cristobal, son
Lorenzo, son
Antonio, son
117 - Antonio Siverio Pimental
Maria Jorge, wife
Marcial, daughter
Francisca, daughter
Pedro Francisco, son
Isabel, daughter
Ana Maria Suarez, stepdaughter
Bartolome Suarez, stepson
118 - Pablo Suarez
Teresa de Jesus, wife
Maria, daughter
119 - Nicolas Prado
120 - Manuel Villanueva
Maria Sebastiana Ramos, wife
121 - Juan Andres Rodriguez
Agustina Rodriguez, wife
Bernardo Leonisio, son
Francisco Antonio, son
122 - Fabian Ramos
Maria Viera, wife
Antonio Josef, son
Rosalia Teresa, daughter
Maria Modesta, daughter
English-Speaking 2nd Milita Company of Galveztown[1]
Some of those possibly from the British settlement of Canewood. Canewood was located near Fort Graham (aka. Amite River Post which served primarily as a warehouse for English engineer Louis Graham), situated north of Galveztown, along the east side of the Amite River in British West Florida.
1 - Luis Deves (poss. Louis Davis)
2 - Leandro Deves (poss. Leander Davis)
3 - Mr. Wet (poss. William Webb)
4 - Mr. Morris
5 - Mr. Bernat
6 - Mr Reeli
7 - Mr. Gulvi
8 - Mr. Guillermo (Guillelmo Yabri???)
9 - Jayne Nikolson (Cpt. James Nicholson)
10 - Meo Gre (Mayo Gray of Gray's Creek)
11 - Mr. Huescat (poss. family of Sale Huescot of Carolina)
12 - Genaro Nikolson
13 - Mr. Escot (poss. family of Sale Huescot of Carolina)
14 - Mr Reynals
15 - Mr Paquer
16 - Mr Simon
Others At Galveztown[5]
Non-Hispanic families and individuals living inside or near Galveztown[3,7,8]
1 - Francisco Bony
2 - Jorge Brun(?)
3 - William Yarabrough
4 - Adam Sides
5 - Santiago McAlpine(?)
6 - Augustin Lombardo
7 - Anthony Rausman
8 - Francis Rausman
9 - Zacharia Smith
10 - Edme Elisabelt(?) Perrin
11 - Jacob Espelle
12 - Sale Huescot
13 - Leo Leonardo(?)
14 - Isabel Craus
15 - Jayme Yabre (of Natchez)
Maria, wife
Guillelmo Yabri, son
16 - Maria Philip
17 - Lorenzo Esticher
18 - Ana Rich
19 - Benjamin Uber
20 - Ana Rudman
21 - Abraham Philip (of Pennsylvania)
22 - Sara (Rosalia) Veli (of New York)
23 - John Smith (of New York)
24 - Santiago [Jacques] Tallar (of Acadie)
Catalina Ross, wife
Maria del Carmen Tallar, daughter
25 - John Obenaeiseer
26 - James Adams
27 - Jose Solisian(?)
28 - Jaime Nicolas
29 - Joseph Leblanc
30 - Daniel Connel
31 - Baptista Esvent(?)
32 - Vilian Fabre
33 - Yane Fabre
34 - Jayme Kaly [James McKelpe]
35 - Frederico Kilton
36 - Marcos de Villiers
37 - Madame. Nicolas
38 - Cpt. Joseph Pauli
On libre, but not found elsewhere in GAL
Domingo Hernandez?
Manuel Nunez?
Angel Hernandez?
Andres Dominguez?
Domingo Diaz?
Lorenzo Lopez?
Juan Leon Rodriguez?
Josef Alesandro Perez?
Lucas Gonzales?
Lorenza Azapito Herrera?
Juan Manuel Plasencia?
Martin Hernandez?
Francisco Barcelona?
Salvador Ramirez?
Felipe Mercedes?
Josef Romero?
Salvador Viera?
Juan Sanchez?
Mauricio Garcia Melchora?
---------Galveztown???
Antonio Manuel Navarro?
Pablo Esteves
Antonio Barroso?
Cristobal Mendoza?
Gregoria Gonzalez?
Julian Buno?
Josef Robera?
Juan Angel?
References
- Roster of the First Company and Second Company of Galveztown. June 16, 1779 - June 27, 1779. Archivo General de Indias. Papeles de Cuba, Legajo 2351. Reprinted in Annual Report Of The American Historical Association For The Year 1945. Kinnaird, Lawrence. "Spain In The Mississippi Valley, 1765-1794." Vol II. US Government Printing, Washington, DC. 1949.
- Yndice de las familias Yslenas qe. han de establecer la Nueva Poblacion de Galveztown," No. 1, Libro Maestro, Archivo General de Indias. Papeles de Cuba, Legajo 568.
- Registro de las Tierras Concedidas por los Senores Govennadones a los abitantes de este Districto de Galveztown con expersion de los arpanes que cadauno tiene. February 8, 1804. 1804 Census of Galveztown. Copied by Judy Riffel. Iberville Parish Courthouse, Plaquemine, Louisiana. Conveyance Book B.
- Galveztown Census, August 16, 1793, AGI, PPC
- Sacramental Records of the Roman Catholic Church of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. v3 - v7.
- Emilie G. Leumas, archivist, Diocese of Baton Rouge Catholic Church Records, Department of Archives, v2 & v3
- Township Survey of 1832. John Gilmore. "Southeastern District of Louisiana. East of the Mississippi River." T.8S R.3E.
- Galveztown Papers, Mss. 890, Louisiana and Lower Mississippi Valley Collections, LSU Libraries, Baton Rouge, La
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