Leonor Delgado

Ancestor Number

A133227 »

Date of Birth

About 1726

Place of Birth

Lanzarote, the Canary Islands

Date of Death

After 1804

Place of Death

San Fernando de Bexar, San Antonio, Texas

Spouse(s)

1) Bernardo Leal, 2) Juan Jose Flores de Abrego y Valdés

Children

Vicente Leal, Juan Antonio Leal, Joaquin Leal, Vicente Delgado, Maria Ignacia Delgado Flores de Abrego, Juana Francisca Gertrudes Flores de Abrego, Francisco Remigio Flores de Abrego, Francisco Luis Flores de Abrego, Jose Francisco Flores, Maria Ignacia Flores

American Revolution Service

Provided supplies to Bernardo de Galvez by selling cattle to the Spanish to feed Galvez’ troops who were fighting the English forces in Louisiana, Alabama, and Florida

State of Service

Spanish America (Texas)

Donor

Texas Society DAR

On February 14, 1729, a small group of colonists departed the Spanish Canary Islands off the west coast of Africa bound for New Spain, the Province of Texas. On board the ship with her family was Leonor Delgado, who was about three years old.

After arriving in Vera Cruz in 1730 Leonor’s father, Luis Delgado, died of fever, leaving Leonor’s mother Maria a widow with five children. The colonists were then escorted overland to Saltillo and finally to the Presidio of San Antonio, arriving March 8, 1731. They were given temporary housing in the Presidio and were provided with supplies to build their homes and begin farming. The Canary Islanders established La Villa de San Fernando, the first chartered civil government in the Province of Texas.

Leonor Delgado’s name appears on the Texas DAR Patriot Monument, Texas State Cemetery, Austin, Texas. Courtesy of Martha Hartzog.

Leonor Delgado’s name as it appears on the Texas DAR Patriot Monument, Texas State Cemetery, Austin, Texas. Spanish women did not take their husband’s last names. Courtesy of Martha Hartzog.

Bas relief of herd of cattle on the Texas DAR Patriot Monument, Texas State Cemetery, Austin, Texas, illustrating the support provided by the Hispanic Patriots to the American Revolution. Courtesy of Martha Hartzog.

The Governor of Spanish Louisiana, Bernardo Galvez, the Viscount of Galveston, portrait by Mariano Salvador Maella.

Overland route of the Canary Islander colonists from Vera Cruz, Nueva España to Presidio de Bexar, Tejas (Texas) in 1831. Courtesy of Gerry Rickhoff and the Bexar County Clerk's Office.

18th c. Traditional Dress of the Canary Islanders, before arrival in Nueva España in 1731. Courtesy Canary Islands Descendants Association.

Detail of The Canary Islands off the coast of Africa, where Leonor Delgado was born. Lanzarote is the top island on the right side.

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In around 1740 Leonor married Bernardo Leal, who had also arrived with his family from the Canary Islands. Leonor had three children with Bernardo: Vicente; Juan Antonio; and Joaquin. Bernardo Leal died on March 30, 1748. On February 3, 1750, Leonor married Juan Jose Flores de Abrego y Valdés, originally from Saltillo.

Around 1756, Juan Jose and Leonor established a ranch on the lower Cibolo Creek, “Rancho San Jose de Alamos.” They were granted the first cattle brand in Texas in 1762. Juan and Leonor had seven children: Vicente Delgado; Maria Ignacia Delgado Flores; Juana Francisca Gertrudes Flores; Francisco Remigio Flores; Francisco Luis Flores; Jose Francisco Flores; and Maria Ignacia Flores.

Juan Jose Flores died after January 19, 1779, leaving a will contested by Doña Leonor. In 1779, Doña Leonor Delgado was listed as operating Rancho San Jose de los Alamos. That year the King of Spain approved trade with Louisiana, and the cattle on the ranches outside of San Antonio now could be driven to Opelousas, Louisiana, and sold to the benefit of Louisiana Governor Bernardo de Galvez who was fighting the English forces along the coast.

The life of Doña Leonor Delgado and her extended family illustrates the story of the Canary Islanders who created the city of San Antonio and contributed to the success of the American Revolution by providing cattle to Bernardo de Galvez.