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Greg Casaretto

Male. Lives in Galveston, Texas, United States. Born on January 13.

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Greg Casaretto

October 6, 2024 8:38 pm

Texas History background. Since not much is happening on the ground concerning the Texas Revolution, I though I would provide some background color. There’s a lot of background information here, so ... View MoreTexas History background. Since not much is happening on the ground concerning the Texas Revolution, I though I would provide some background color. There’s a lot of background information here, so you may want to grab a cuppa whatever… 1730 On a beautiful, clear Monday morning in 1730, on the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands, Señora Granado was packing a "chest" in her room and preparing herself mentally for the longest journey of her life. Her husband, Señor Granado, could be heard shouting orders to help pack quickly since the time was near their departure to the port. The Granado Family was preparing for the most extended trip of their lives. The journey they were embarking on would take them across a dangerous and violent ocean, then 1000 miles on land - to the other side of the earth in the Americas. Señora Granado called out to the boys, who were loading her personal property, "Please, don't forget to put my chest on the cart. I don't want to forget it". On that Monday, along with other families from the Canary Islands, the Granado family (Juan Granado, Maria Robaina, and their twin daughters, Paula & Josefa) loaded their personal belongings on a boat in the port of Tenerife and set sail to the uncertain future to the edge of the vast Spanish Empire; to a final destination called, El Presidio San Antonio de Béxar. It seemed that King Philip V, seeking to halt the French from expanding into Spanish-held territory in Texas, had convinced several residents from the Canary Islands to relocate and establish a permanent settlement in Texas – and the Granados were part of that mission. Señora Granado was three months pregnant when these families departed and had just turned 27. History would remember her by her birth name, Maria Robaina de Bethéncourt. Juan Rodríguez Granado had married María Robaina de Bethéncourt while living in the Spanish Canary Islands. María Robaina was born in 1703 in Lanzarote, Canary Islands, and was described as an attractive native of Lancerota, about 27 years old, with a good figure, slender, long face, fair complexion, black hair, and eyebrows, and a thin nose. And - a woman with a strong disposition. Maria Robaina de Bethéncourt claimed to be a descendant of "Jean de Béthencourt," who, early in the fifteenth century, achieved the conquest of the Canary Islands for Henry III of Castile. The Bethencourt family dates back to circa 1000 A.D. in Normandy, France, where the first Bethencourt joined the Duke of Normandy in the invasion of England in 1066 (Battle of Hastings). These events occurred four hundred years before descendant Jean de Béthencourt invaded the Canary Islands in the early 1400s! Departing on March 27, 1730, from the island of Tenerife, a contingent of 25 families braved the Atlantic in a smaller vessel, wondering if the boat would even make the Atlantic crossing. On several occasions, that small boat almost capsized in the rough Atlantic. The families feared for their lives during virtually the entire ocean voyage. After two scary months at sea, the boat arrived in Havana, Cuba. Ten families went on and landed the following month at Vera Cruz, Mexico, then made a long journey by land to Texas, led by Juan Leal Goraz. In Vera Cruz, Robaina lost her first husband, Juan Rodríguez Granado. Juan never had the chance to witness the birth of his son, Juan de Acuña, born about four months later, on September 15, 1730, at Cuautitlán. Maria named her newly-born son after the viceroy of New Spain, Juan de Acuña, Marqués de Casafuerte. An epidemic of vomito, or tropical fever, had been raging throughout Vera Cruz, and several people had died too, including fellow Isleño Lucas Delgado, who died a month after Juan Rodríguez. Maria Robaina and Juan's children used Granado as their surname. Both Lucas and Juan were buried in the parish cemetery of Vera Cruz. The last 1,000 miles of the journey would be traveled on foot. Think about that. After months at sea, Maria Robaina, her new baby, and her twin daughters still had to walk 1,000 miles to get to their new home. When Maria Robaina arrived in San Antonio on March 9, 1731, the number of families had increased through marriages to 15. Although the group often has been described as 16 families that came to Texas, it included four single men who were counted as the 16th Family in an allotment of supplies. In 1731, Maria Robaina de Bethencourt, head of the 14th Family, was granted the Granado homestead on the southeast corner of Main Plaza and Commerce Street in the heart of San Antonio de Béxar. It included a home on Plaza de las Islas (the main square), two large plots of land, cattle, and tools. Within a few years after she arrived at San Antonio de Bexar, Maria married Martín Lorenzo de Armas, her second husband, the son of Roque Lorenzo de Armas and Teresa Aviles. Betancourt had more children with De Armas, and together, they owned a ranch on Cibolo Creek where they raised horses. Making a home for her family in a new land, Betancourt acquired property that became a dowry when she married her second husband, Martín Lorenzo de Armas. Widowed once again in 1769, she continued to manage the family property holdings and business interests for the rest of her life. Maria Robaina's granddaughter, Juan de Acuña's daughter, María Josefa Granado, was born October 8, 1759, in La Villa de San Fernando. On April 17, 1776, María Josefa Granado married Fernando de Veramendi, son of Martin de Veramendi and Benita de Olagrie. Fernando de Veramendi was the man who had the Veramendi Palace built at 136 Soledad Street near San Fernando Church (The site of the "roof fight" during the Storming of the Veramendi Palace in late 1835). The contributions of this courageous pioneer woman to our State in its infancy and her contributions to our cultural heritage are immense. But hers is also a story of bravery in the face of overwhelming hardships, a tale of personal fortitude and survival. Her example should continue to inspire every one of us, and one that is relevant to this day: The quest for a better life in a new land. Maria Robaina de Bethéncourt Granado De Armas was a strong and true pioneer woman of this great State, and many future members of the Tejano Volunteer Company of our Texas Revolution carried her DNA. This post is dedicated to all of Maria Robaina's descendants living today in Texas and worldwide who continue to carry the torch handed down to them by Maria Robaina, a true pioneer woman of our past, to benefit this great State. The details of her Will, filed in 1779, provide insight into everyday life during that era as well as her religious devotion and wealth, which was notable. Maria's Will listed not only her home and land holdings, complete with irrigation rights, but also herds of cattle and horses, a branding iron, and personal items, including 15 images of saints, a mattress, a quilt, a woolen skirt, - and a "chest" she had brought from the Canary Islands. August 18, 1813 The Battle of Medina was fought approximately 20 miles south of San Antonio de Bexar (modern-day downtown San Antonio in the U.S. state of Texas) as part of the Mexican War of Independence against Spanish authority in Mexico. Spanish troops led by General José Joaquín de Arredondo defeated republican forces (calling themselves the Republican Army of the North), consisting of Tejano-Mexican and Tejano-American revolutionaries participating in the Gutiérrez–Magee Expedition, under General José Álvarez de Toledo y Dubois. It was the deadliest battle in Texas history. September, 1835 Sep 01, 1835- Correo-San Felipe affair. Texas armed schooner San Felipe exchanges fire with and captures Mexican Navy armed schooner Correo de Majica with help of small steamer Laura. Arguably the first shots in the conflict. Sep 08, 1835 – Stephen F. Austin had previously published in his “Exposition to the Public Regarding the Affairs of Texas” that Texas wanted to be a separate Mexican state, not an independent nation. However, Austin reverses himself and now calls for war with Mexico to secure the freedom of Texas. Sep 20, 1835 - Mexican general Martín Perfecto de Cós and his army landed at Copano on their way to Goliad and Béxar Sep 28, 1835 - Juan Seguín, Salvador Flores, Manuel Flores and a group of Béxar locals hold a meeting near Floresville, Texas and declare their support and readiness to take up arms in favor of a revolution. Albert Martin is selected as Captain of the Gonzales "Old 18" defenders. The Lone Star Republic -Don Gray, reporting from Gonzales, Texas, September 28, 1835 "Gonzales Seeks Aid in Anticipation of Mexican Army Troops Dispatched from San Antonio de Bexar to Retrieve Cannon at Gonzales" Word has quickly spread throughout the Texian colonies that the citizens of Gonzales will soon need assistance in addressing the Mexican troops expected to soon return to Gonzales to retrieve the cannon that the Mexican Army had loaned for protection from Comanche attacks. Rumors abound in the area that Mexican troops left San Antonio de Bexar yesterday headed to retrieve the cannon at Gonzales (after the cannon’s return was denied by the Alcalde of Gonzales a few days ago). Stephen F. Austin, one of the most respected men in Texas and the de facto leader of the settlers, has sent messengers to inform surrounding communities of the situation. Austin cautions Texians to remain on the defensive and not on the offensive, as any unprovoked attacks against Mexican forces could limit the support Texians might receive from the United States if war eventually officially begins. "Tejano Leaders Declare Support for Taking Up Arms" Tejano leaders Juan Seguín, Salvador Flores, Manuel Flores and a group of Béxar locals held a meeting today near Floresville, Texas and declare their support and readiness to take up arms in favor of a revolution. The Lone Star Republic -Don Gray, reporting from Gonzales, Texas, September 29, 1835 "100 Mexican Army Troops Arrive in Gonzales to Retrieve Cannon" When Mexican Lieutenant Francisco de Castañeda and 100 Mexican Army troops neared Gonzales on September 29, to force the settlers to return the cannon they had been given in 1831, they found that the settlers had removed the ferry and all other boats from the Guadalupe River. As a result, the advance of Mexican Army to Gonzales was stalled on the west side of the river due to not being able to cross the river. On the east side of the swiftly moving river the Army saw eighteen Texians in wait of the much larger Mexican Army. Albert Martin, captain of the Gonzales militia, informed the Mexican soldiers that Alcalde Ponton was out of town, and until his return the Mexican Army must remain on the west side of the river. With no easy way to cross the river, Castañeda and his men made camp at the highest ground in the area, about 300 yards (300 meters) from the river. Three Texian s hurried to bury the cannon in a nearby peach orchard, while others traveled to nearby communities to ask for assistance. By the end of the day, more than 80 men had arrived from Fayette and Columbus to assist.

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