Luis Manuel Quintero facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Luis Manuel Quintero
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| Born | c. 1725 |
| Died | 1810 (aged 85) |
| Nationality |  Spanish subject |
| Occupation | Tailor, cattle rancher |
| Known for | Los Angeles Pobladores |
| Spouse(s) | María Petra Rubio |
| Children | María Juana Josefa Quintero María Gertrudis Quintero María Concepcíon Quintero María Tomasa Quintero María Rafaela Quintero María Fabiana Sebastiana Quintero Catharina Quintero José Clemente Quintero |
Luis Manuel Quintero (born around 1725, died 1810) was a tailor from Guadalajara, Mexico. He was one of the first 44 people to settle the city of Los Angeles, California. This happened on September 4, 1781.
Luis Quintero's Family
Luis Quintero's wife was María Petra Rubio. She was born around 1741 in Álamos, Mexico. They had eight children together. Their names were María Juana Josefa, María Gertrudis, María Concepcíon, María Tomasa, María Rafaela, María Fabiana Sebastiana, Catharina, and José Clemente.
Three of their daughters got married on the same trip to California. On January 21, 1781, Catharina, who was 16, married Joaquin Rodríquez. Fabiana Sebastiana, 15, married Eugenio Valdés that same day. The next day, María Juana Josefa, 18, married José Rosalino Fernández. All three husbands were soldiers on the expedition.
Founding of Los Angeles
Luis Quintero and his wife María Petra Rubio were one of the eleven original couples. They helped settle the new Spanish town of Los Angeles in 1781. The Quintero family traveled from Sonora, Mexico, to Alta California. They were part of the group that founded the new settlement.
Captain Fernando Rivera y Moncada led the settlers and soldiers. Luis Quintero decided to join the group in January 1781. It is thought he was the last settler to sign up. Perhaps he wanted to stay close to his daughters, who were marrying soldiers on the trip. On February 2, 1781, Luis, María Petra, and their eight children began their journey.
Life in California
Not much is known about Luis Quintero's first six months in the new town. In March 1782, Luis became a godfather for Native Americans at the San Gabriel Mission. This was a special role in the church.
Some historians believe Luis Quintero was not suited for the tough life on the frontier. He was a tailor, not a farmer, and was 55 years old. Many sources say that Governor de Neve ordered Luis and two other settlers to leave Los Angeles in March 1782. Their land was taken by the government. These families then joined a group heading to Santa Barbara.
However, historian William Mason had a different idea. He said that Luis Quintero and the others asked many times to leave Los Angeles. They were not forced out. Whether he left by choice or not, Luis Quintero chose to live in Santa Barbara. He continued his work as a tailor there. It is also important to note that the two families who left were the only ones of African descent.
Three of Luis's daughters had married soldiers from the 1781 expedition. These soldiers were later stationed at the Santa Barbara Presidio. This might be why the Quintero family wanted to move closer to them. Luis Quintero lived for 28 more years in Santa Barbara. He worked as the master tailor for the soldiers at the presidio. He died in Santa Barbara in 1810.
