San Miguel de Gualdape
Encyclopedia
San Miguel de Gualdape was the first European settlement inside what is now United States
territory, founded by Spaniard Lucas Vázquez de Ayllón in 1526. It was to last only three months of winter before being abandoned in early 1527.
Records show that in 1521, de Ayllón, a wealthy sugar planter of Santo Domingo
, had sent Francisco Gordillo northward to explore the continent. Upon reaching the Bahamas, he ran into his cousin, slave trader Pedro de Quexos (Pedro de Quejo), and the two of them set out together. They landed at the "River of St. John the Baptist", possibly the Pedee River, where they kidnapped 70 natives to sell in Hispaniola
, including one, given the name Francisco de Chicora
, who provided some ethnological information about his province, Chicora
, and the neighboring provinces. Chicora was evidently one of several Carolina Siouan territories subject to their king, Datha of Duahe (Duarhe). The Siouan captives were described as white, dressed in skins, and larger than the average Spaniard.
De Ayllon obtained a patent from Charles V
in 1523, and in 1525 again sent Quexos, who made peace with the natives, explored the coastline from as far north as the Delaware Bay
, and even obtained two men from each district to come home with him to learn Spanish, and act as interpreters.
By mid-July 1526, Ayllon was ready to establish a colony with 600 settlers and 100 horses. He lost one of his three ships at a river he named the Jordan, probably the Santee. They landed in Winyah Bay
, near present day Georgetown, South Carolina
, on September 29 (the Feast of Archangels), and Francisco de Chicora abandoned him here. They then proceeded '40 or 45 leagues', partly overland and partly by boat, visiting the king of Duahe en route as related by Peter Martyr
, and finally arrived at another river, the Gualdape, where they built San Miguel de Gualdape on October 8.
The location of this colony has been disputed over a wide area, since it is never related in which direction from the Jordan (Santee) they travelled. Some have asserted that he went north to the Chesapeake; Ecija, chief pilot of Spaniards searching the Bay for English activities in 1609, claimed that Ayllon in 1526 had landed on the James somewhere near Jamestown
. Ecija also claimed the natives at the Santee had told him Daxe (Duahe) was a town 4 days to the north. Swanton, on the other hand, suggested Ayllon may have gone '45 leagues' to the southwest, that the Guandalpe was in fact the Savannah River in Georgia, and that his interactions there had been with the Guale
tribe. More recent scholars concur that it was probably at or near present-day Georgia
's Sapelo Island
and consider attempts to locate the San Miguel settlement (Tierra de Ayllón) any farther to the north to be unsubstantiated conjecture.
This colony was a failure and Ayllon himself died, purportedly in the arms of a Dominican
friar. Ayllón's rough-hewn town withstood only about a total of three months, enduring a severe winter, scarcity of supplies, hunger, disease, and troubles with the local natives. In the spring of 1527, Francis Gomez
returned the 150 survivors to Hispaniola on two of the vessels, one of which sank, leaving only one of the three to return.
The first group of African Americans to set foot on what is now the United States were brought by Ayllón to erect the settlement. The employment of African slaves
in the 1526 colony is the first instance of African slave-labour within the present territory of the United States. Upon political disputes within the settlers, there was an uprising among the slaves, who fled to the interior and presumably settled with the native American people.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
territory, founded by Spaniard Lucas Vázquez de Ayllón in 1526. It was to last only three months of winter before being abandoned in early 1527.
Records show that in 1521, de Ayllón, a wealthy sugar planter of Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
, had sent Francisco Gordillo northward to explore the continent. Upon reaching the Bahamas, he ran into his cousin, slave trader Pedro de Quexos (Pedro de Quejo), and the two of them set out together. They landed at the "River of St. John the Baptist", possibly the Pedee River, where they kidnapped 70 natives to sell in Hispaniola
Hispaniola
Hispaniola is a major island in the Caribbean, containing the two sovereign states of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The island is located between the islands of Cuba to the west and Puerto Rico to the east, within the hurricane belt...
, including one, given the name Francisco de Chicora
Francisco de Chicora
Francisco de Chicora was the baptismal name given to a Native American kidnapped in 1521, along with 70 others, from near the mouth of the Pee Dee River by Spanish explorer Francisco Gordillo and slave trader Pedro de Quexos, based in Santo Domingo and the first Europeans to reach the area. From...
, who provided some ethnological information about his province, Chicora
Chicora
Chicora may refer to:*Chicora, Pennsylvania, a borough in Butler County, Pennsylvania, USA** the Chicora meteorite of 1938, which fell in Pennsylvania, United States...
, and the neighboring provinces. Chicora was evidently one of several Carolina Siouan territories subject to their king, Datha of Duahe (Duarhe). The Siouan captives were described as white, dressed in skins, and larger than the average Spaniard.
De Ayllon obtained a patent from Charles V
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
in 1523, and in 1525 again sent Quexos, who made peace with the natives, explored the coastline from as far north as the Delaware Bay
Delaware Bay
Delaware Bay is a major estuary outlet of the Delaware River on the Northeast seaboard of the United States whose fresh water mixes for many miles with the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. It is in area. The bay is bordered by the State of New Jersey and the State of Delaware...
, and even obtained two men from each district to come home with him to learn Spanish, and act as interpreters.
By mid-July 1526, Ayllon was ready to establish a colony with 600 settlers and 100 horses. He lost one of his three ships at a river he named the Jordan, probably the Santee. They landed in Winyah Bay
Winyah Bay
Winyah Bay is a coastal estuary that is the confluence of the Waccamaw River, the Pee Dee River, the Black River and the Sampit River in Georgetown County in eastern South Carolina...
, near present day Georgetown, South Carolina
Georgetown, South Carolina
Georgetown is the third oldest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina and the county seat of Georgetown County, in the Low Country. Located on Winyah Bay at the confluence of the Great Pee Dee River, Waccamaw River, and Sampit River, Georgetown is the second largest seaport in South Carolina,...
, on September 29 (the Feast of Archangels), and Francisco de Chicora abandoned him here. They then proceeded '40 or 45 leagues', partly overland and partly by boat, visiting the king of Duahe en route as related by Peter Martyr
Peter Martyr d'Anghiera
Peter Martyr d'Anghiera was an Italian-born historian of Spain and its discoveries during the Age of Exploration...
, and finally arrived at another river, the Gualdape, where they built San Miguel de Gualdape on October 8.
The location of this colony has been disputed over a wide area, since it is never related in which direction from the Jordan (Santee) they travelled. Some have asserted that he went north to the Chesapeake; Ecija, chief pilot of Spaniards searching the Bay for English activities in 1609, claimed that Ayllon in 1526 had landed on the James somewhere near Jamestown
Jamestown
-Saint Kitts and Nevis:*Jamestown, the name of a former town on the edge of Morton Bay on Nevis in the late 17th century-United Kingdom:*Jamestown, Rossshire, Scotland*Jamestown, West Dunbartonshire, Scotland*Jamestown, Fife, Scotland...
. Ecija also claimed the natives at the Santee had told him Daxe (Duahe) was a town 4 days to the north. Swanton, on the other hand, suggested Ayllon may have gone '45 leagues' to the southwest, that the Guandalpe was in fact the Savannah River in Georgia, and that his interactions there had been with the Guale
Guale
Guale was an historic Native American chiefdom along the coast of present-day Georgia and the Sea Islands. Spanish Florida established its Roman Catholic missionary system in the chiefdom in the late 16th century. During the late 17th century and early 18th century, Guale society was shattered...
tribe. More recent scholars concur that it was probably at or near present-day Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
's Sapelo Island
Sapelo Island
Sapelo Island is a state-protected island located in McIntosh County, Georgia. The island is reachable only by airplane or boat, with the primary ferry coming from the Sapelo Island Visitors Center in McIntosh County, Georgia, a seven mile , twenty-minute trip.Approximately 97 percent of the...
and consider attempts to locate the San Miguel settlement (Tierra de Ayllón) any farther to the north to be unsubstantiated conjecture.
This colony was a failure and Ayllon himself died, purportedly in the arms of a Dominican
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
friar. Ayllón's rough-hewn town withstood only about a total of three months, enduring a severe winter, scarcity of supplies, hunger, disease, and troubles with the local natives. In the spring of 1527, Francis Gomez
Francis Gómez
Francis Gómez is a retired female judoka from Venezuela. She competed for her native South American country at the 1996 Summer Olympics, where she lost in the semifinals of the Women's Half-Heavyweight division to France's Estha Essombe. Gómez claimed a total number of three medals during her...
returned the 150 survivors to Hispaniola on two of the vessels, one of which sank, leaving only one of the three to return.
The first group of African Americans to set foot on what is now the United States were brought by Ayllón to erect the settlement. The employment of African slaves
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
in the 1526 colony is the first instance of African slave-labour within the present territory of the United States. Upon political disputes within the settlers, there was an uprising among the slaves, who fled to the interior and presumably settled with the native American people.