Vicente Álvarez Travieso
Encyclopedia
Vicente Álvarez Travieso (1705–1779) was the first alguacil mayor (1731–1779) of San Antonio, Texas
, whose office was held until his death. He was one of the people who contributed most to the community of the isleños
of San Antonio because, through of their demands to the leaders of New Spain
was able to improve the lives of the Canarian
in the city, seeking, inter alia, a medical care, without the which many isleños would not have survived. He was mayor of San Antonio in 1776.
(Canary Islands
, Spain
). He was the son of José and Catalina (Cayetano) Álvarez Travieso. His family was established in San Antonio, Texas
in 1731. After leaving the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife
together with other families, went first to Mexico
, where crossed several villages. He married his girlfriend Mariana Curbelo in Cuautitlan
, Mexico
. After arriving in San Antonio de Béjar, the isleños
performed a municipal government and Alvarez Travieso was elected Alguacil mayor of for life. He then used his new position to fight for the rights of the canarians that had just arrived in the city, becoming thus the leading spokesperson for the new settlers and in a negative element for the colonial administration.
In this sense, must be underline a number of important facts: When the isleños needed medical care but were denied permission to travel to Saltillo
, Mexico, to obtain it (January 24, 1736), Alvarez Travieso sent a series of demands (which were finally accepted in 1770, with the government of Ripperdá
, and who allowed the canarian go to El Saltillo for that they were cured). Also sent other lawsuits on behalf of their peers. One of them, sent in 1740 was intended to ensure work of Amerindian missions on the lands of the settlers and the right to sell their products to presidio
. The missionaries appealed to the Viceroy, but yet he managed to retain their privileges. Sent another demand, in 1756, that was directed against the monopoly that the missions' virtual have on land and water rights, and that favored only to around the village to which the Canarian
had no access. When the claim of Don Vicente of a ranch on the banks of Cibolo Creek was rejected by friars Quereteran of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in Acuña Mission, he sued again in 1771. The sentence obtained in Mexico City
was favorable to private farmers from Bexar but, however, was not carried out, and the Álvarez's title in Rancho de las Mulas remained cloudy. The isleños's access to water surrounding the villages it was accepted but ironically, they became the owners this water, preventing access to it to the Franciscans Spanish
in the same.
He was elected mayor of San Antonio in 1776. The Alvarez Travieso´s family, despite the lost cattle in the area, continued to struggle, but the Members of the clan kept their cattle loose, so that many of their cows moved away from the pastures near. To prevent such of "excesses", the Governor Vicencio Ripperdá conducted two tests against the theft of livestock of the San Antonio River valley. Travieso Alvarez died just after the procedure, the January 25, 1779, but fighting continued in the younger generations.
Since that they the Isleños were still in Mexico, before coming to Texas, Vicente Alvarez Travieso also had problems with the leader of the canarian in Mexico and future mayor of San Antonio, Juan Leal
which gave him a loan when were with others canarian in San Luis Potosí, in route to Texas. Álvarez Travieso not paid the loan within the time fixed by what Juan Leal claim it back when they arrived in Coahuila, just before reaching San Antonio. After this statement began a dispute between the mayor and Alvarez Travieso, who was mayor alguacil.
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, whose office was held until his death. He was one of the people who contributed most to the community of the isleños
Isleños
Isleño is the Spanish word meaning "islander." The Isleños are the descendants of Canary Island immigrants to Louisiana, Cuba, Venezuela, Puerto Rico and other parts of the Americas....
of San Antonio because, through of their demands to the leaders of New Spain
New Spain
New Spain, formally called the Viceroyalty of New Spain , was a viceroyalty of the Spanish colonial empire, comprising primarily territories in what was known then as 'América Septentrional' or North America. Its capital was Mexico City, formerly Tenochtitlan, capital of the Aztec Empire...
was able to improve the lives of the Canarian
Canarian people
The Canarians are an ethnic group living in the archipelago of the Canary Islands , near the coast of Western Africa...
in the city, seeking, inter alia, a medical care, without the which many isleños would not have survived. He was mayor of San Antonio in 1776.
Biography
Vicente Alvarez Travieso was born in 1705 in TenerifeTenerife
Tenerife is the largest and most populous island of the seven Canary Islands, it is also the most populated island of Spain, with a land area of 2,034.38 km² and 906,854 inhabitants, 43% of the total population of the Canary Islands. About five million tourists visit Tenerife each year, the...
(Canary Islands
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
). He was the son of José and Catalina (Cayetano) Álvarez Travieso. His family was established in San Antonio, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
in 1731. After leaving the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the capital , second-most populous city of the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands and the 21st largest city in Spain, with a population of 222,417 in 2009...
together with other families, went first to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, where crossed several villages. He married his girlfriend Mariana Curbelo in Cuautitlan
Cuautitlán
Cuautitlán is a city and municipality in the State of Mexico, just north of the northern tip of the Federal District within the Greater Mexico City urban area. The city has engulfed most of the municipality, making the two synonymous...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. After arriving in San Antonio de Béjar, the isleños
Isleños
Isleño is the Spanish word meaning "islander." The Isleños are the descendants of Canary Island immigrants to Louisiana, Cuba, Venezuela, Puerto Rico and other parts of the Americas....
performed a municipal government and Alvarez Travieso was elected Alguacil mayor of for life. He then used his new position to fight for the rights of the canarians that had just arrived in the city, becoming thus the leading spokesperson for the new settlers and in a negative element for the colonial administration.
In this sense, must be underline a number of important facts: When the isleños needed medical care but were denied permission to travel to Saltillo
Saltillo
Saltillo is the capital city of the northeastern Mexican state of Coahuila and the municipal seat of the municipality of the same name. The city is located about 400 km south of the U.S. state of Texas, and 90 km west of Monterrey, Nuevo León....
, Mexico, to obtain it (January 24, 1736), Alvarez Travieso sent a series of demands (which were finally accepted in 1770, with the government of Ripperdá
Juan María Vicencio de Ripperdá
Juan María Vicencio, Baron de Ripperdá was the Spanish governor of Texas and Honduras.-Early life:He was born ca 1724,the son of Dutch political adventurer John William, Baron Ripperda and Francisca de Xarava del Castillo. His father became Duke of Ripperda and Prime Minister of Spain but was...
, and who allowed the canarian go to El Saltillo for that they were cured). Also sent other lawsuits on behalf of their peers. One of them, sent in 1740 was intended to ensure work of Amerindian missions on the lands of the settlers and the right to sell their products to presidio
Presidio
A presidio is a fortified base established by the Spanish in North America between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries. The fortresses were built to protect against pirates, hostile native Americans and enemy colonists. Other presidios were held by Spain in the sixteenth and seventeenth...
. The missionaries appealed to the Viceroy, but yet he managed to retain their privileges. Sent another demand, in 1756, that was directed against the monopoly that the missions' virtual have on land and water rights, and that favored only to around the village to which the Canarian
Canarian people
The Canarians are an ethnic group living in the archipelago of the Canary Islands , near the coast of Western Africa...
had no access. When the claim of Don Vicente of a ranch on the banks of Cibolo Creek was rejected by friars Quereteran of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in Acuña Mission, he sued again in 1771. The sentence obtained in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
was favorable to private farmers from Bexar but, however, was not carried out, and the Álvarez's title in Rancho de las Mulas remained cloudy. The isleños's access to water surrounding the villages it was accepted but ironically, they became the owners this water, preventing access to it to the Franciscans Spanish
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
in the same.
He was elected mayor of San Antonio in 1776. The Alvarez Travieso´s family, despite the lost cattle in the area, continued to struggle, but the Members of the clan kept their cattle loose, so that many of their cows moved away from the pastures near. To prevent such of "excesses", the Governor Vicencio Ripperdá conducted two tests against the theft of livestock of the San Antonio River valley. Travieso Alvarez died just after the procedure, the January 25, 1779, but fighting continued in the younger generations.
After his death
In 1785, the Mulas became property of his son Thomas, one of the sons of Vicente Alvarez Travieso, but others challenged the right of Thomas to inherit the land. However, in 1809, the ranch was transferred to Vicente, the son of Thomas, and remained in their hands after Mexican independence despite the prominent role that Vincent had played in the revolutionary years against monarchical.Personal life
He married with Maria Curbelo, daughter Juan Curbelo, the September 18, 1730 and they had eleven children.Since that they the Isleños were still in Mexico, before coming to Texas, Vicente Alvarez Travieso also had problems with the leader of the canarian in Mexico and future mayor of San Antonio, Juan Leal
Juan Leal
Juan Leal Goraz was the founder and first Mayor of San Antonio. His family settled by order of the Spanish crown in San Antonio in 1731, together with other families. He had become the most important member of the community in his early years in San Antonio, since he became the leader and...
which gave him a loan when were with others canarian in San Luis Potosí, in route to Texas. Álvarez Travieso not paid the loan within the time fixed by what Juan Leal claim it back when they arrived in Coahuila, just before reaching San Antonio. After this statement began a dispute between the mayor and Alvarez Travieso, who was mayor alguacil.
External links
- A Guide to the Vicente Alvarez Travieso Papers, 1771-1783 : http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/utcah/00738/cah-00738.html
- My Genealogy Home Page: Information about Vicente Álvarez Travieso: http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/a/n/d/Anderson-A-Anderson/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0116.html