Ángel Navarro facts for kids
Ángel Navarro (born 1748, died 1808) was an important early Spanish settler in San Antonio, Texas. His family played a big part in the history of Texas, especially during the Mexican and Texas revolutions. He was born in Corsica and moved to Spanish Texas in 1769.
A Leader in Early San Antonio
Ángel Navarro served as the seventy-second alcalde (which means mayor) of San Antonio. This was during the time when Texas was still part of Spain. As alcalde, he helped lead the community and make important decisions for the town.
His Influential Family
Ángel Navarro had a very influential family. His son, José Antonio Navarro, became a famous Texas statesman. Another son, José Ángel Navarro (elder), also served as an alcalde of San Antonio. Ángel Navarro's grandson, José Ángel Navarro III, later became a state legislator in Texas.
Ángel Navarro's daughter, María Josefa Navarro, married Juan Martín de Veramendi. He was the Governor of Coahuila y Tejas from 1832 to 1833. Their oldest daughter, Maria Ursula de Veramendi, married the famous Texas revolutionary, Jim Bowie. This shows how connected the Navarro family was to key figures in Texas history.
A Fight for Freedom
Records show that Ángel Navarro owned people. One person, Maria Gertrudis de la Peña, was an Indigenous woman. In 1785, she went to court in San Fernando de Béxar (San Antonio) to gain her freedom. She argued that Indigenous people could not be held against their will. This was because they had some of the same rights as Spanish people in New Spain, where holding people against their will was not allowed.
While she was with Ángel Navarro, she was known as "Escalava" (meaning 'person held against their will'). She stated that she faced difficulties in the household. Navarro had promised her freedom within three years when he acquired her. However, Maria Gertrudis de la Peña sought her freedom sooner due to the situation in the home. She asked the Texas Governor, Domingo Cabello y Robles, for help. The Governor ruled that Spanish law "greatly favors the freedom of Indians." Because of this ruling, Maria Gertrudis de la Peña was granted her freedom.
