The Accounts of the Royal Treasury of Puerto Rico as a Historical Document

Transcription

1 The Accounts of the Royal Treasury of Puerto Rico as a Historical Document Luis E. González Vales Introduction The publication in 1971 of the Documentos de la Real Hacienda de Puerto Rico, Volumen I ( ) [lit.: Documents of the Royal Treasury of Puerto Rico, Volume I ( )], transcribed and compiled by Argentinean historian and paleographer Aurelio Tanodi, marked a milestone for Puerto Rican historiography. For the very first time, researchers would have the first volume of a publication intended to consist of several volumes which is essential for tracing the history of the development of Puerto Rico s economy in its early stages of conquest and colonization. This work issued from the paleography and diplomatics courses developed by this professor of the Universidad Nacional de Córdova with the collaboration of students from the University of Puerto Rico and from the Faculty of Philosophy and Humanities from this institution located in Río Piedras. The appearance of the first volume should have been followed by others, the manuscripts of which were left in deposit at the Historical Research Center of the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, but this did not come to pass. The unpublished volumes may be and have been consulted albeit with certain limitations by researchers interested on the subject. As Tanodi very well points out in the introduction of the said volume, by the beginning of the conquest and colonization of Puerto Rico and by the time the economic institutions of the Island were being organized, there

2 2 already was a well experienced and advanced Spanish tradition in the creation of documents of diverse sorts 1 [Our translation.] There was also concrete experience that issued from the operations of this institution in Hispaniola, which preceded Puerto Rico s by some fifteen years. In the first two decades of the 16 th century, the institution of the American Royal Treasury was still in its formative stage and its staff was limited to the so-called royal officers, a generic term used to identify the four officials appointed by the Crown to manage the affairs of the Treasury, among which were the treasurer, the tax collector, and the mine inspector. Our interest does not lie in focusing this paper on the institutional aspect of the subject. There is an ample, well-known bibliography that does. Documents in connection with the Royal Treasury of Puerto Rico were produced in Spain, mostly in the Imperial Corte and in the Casa de Contratación [House of Trade] of Sevilla, by its officials in Santo Domingo where the general officials of the Indies resided in the beginning and by many more in Puerto Rico. 2 Three years into the conquest and colonization of Puerto Rico by Juan Ponce de León, after a capitulation was executed with Governor General of the Indies Nicolás de Ovando, the Crown appoints the first royal officers for the Island between April and June of The appointees were Francisco de Lizaur, accountant; Andrés de Haro, treasurer; and Miguel Díaz de Aux, tax collector. 3 At the time these appointments were made, and pursuant to instructions of the Crown, the systematic work of keeping the accounts of the Puerto Rican Treasury begins. We must point out that in the decree I Aurelio Tanodi, Documentos de la Real Hacienda de Puerto Rico ( ), p. VIII (1971). Id., p. XII. The appointment decrees for the three officials mentioned above may be consulted in III Vicente Murga Sanz, Historia Documental de Puerto Rico, Cedulario Puertorriqueño Tomo I ( ), pp , 78-79, and (1912).

3 3 appointing Francisco de Lizaur as the accountant of the Island, Juan Ponce de León is asked to hand over to the latter any paper that any person may have in connection with said trade. 4 The documents of the Royal Treasury of Puerto Rico constitute a valuable element to examine how Puerto Rican society is forming during its early years. It is possible, through this examination, to ascertain the arrival of important personalities; to detect the presence of artisans and professionals; to observe institutions such as Indian, and later African, slavery; to observe the efforts of the inhabitants of the Island in defending from the attacks of Caribs and corsairs; and to document the construction of the first fortresses. On the other hand, by studying vessel registries, passenger lists, and goods registers, it is possible to note how the Island s commercial life is taking shape. Some of these aspects are the ones on which we will focus in this paper. The Arrival of the First Bishop and the Visit of Admiral Don Diego Colón The arrival of a bishop is always a major event, and even more so when the person to arrive, as is the case, is the first Bishop of the Diocese of San Juan, which has a double significance. Don Alonso Manso, appointed by King Ferdinand to wear the miter of Puerto Rico, is the first Bishop to come to America and take possession of his diocese. This is not the place in which to ponder matters of the church in the New World or the work of Manso in Puerto Rico. Father Álvaro Huerga has already done so very 4 III Murga Sanz, Historia Documental de Puerto Rico, pp (1912).

4 4 eruditely and under much historical rigorousness in the first volume of Episcopologio de Puerto Rico [lit.: Episcopology of Puerto Rico]. 5 The Relaciones de Navíos de 1512 y 1513 [lit.: Ship Accounts for 1512 and 1513] record the moment in which Bishop Manso arrived to the Island on December 25, He travels as maestre aboard the San Francisco Lope Sánchez. The passenger account allows us to identify the persons accompanying the prelate, among which there is mention of his chaplain; Juan Rodríguez, scholar; Fernando Alonso, his valet and relative; Trasmiera, scholar; Villafañe, his butler; and his page, by the name of Cristóbal. 6 The inventory of the Bishop s belongings unloaded from ship is quite interesting. The document shows that the prelate was issued a decree so that he would not pay any taxes. Among the things that the bishop and his entourage brought along were fabrics, tablecloths, bed sheets, pillows, rugs, a coffer with His Highness s dinnerware, ecclesiastical ornaments, and various foodstuffs such as: flour, oil, vinegar, bacon, wine, almonds, and a great variety of spices. It is rather curious that there was a sack with His Highness s carpentry tools, which included, among others, beech wood, saws, chisels, hammers, a triangle, an iron file, and sixteen drills. One could surmise that Manso was a carpentry aficionado. In addition, the Bishop brought along two images of the Virgin Mary, one of which is described as small, and a crucifix. It is surprising that, from among his entourage, Villafañe brought among his things eighteen pairs of shoes, perhaps to sell some. 5 6 See on this matter: VI Vicente Murga and Álvaro Huerga, Historia Documental de Puerto Rico. I Episcopologio de Puerto Rico, D. Alonso Manso, Primer Obispo de América ( ). Ponce, Catholic University of Puerto Rico, I Aurelio Tanodi, op. cit., p. 158; Salvador Brau, La colonización de Puerto Rico, 1966, p. 210 (3rd ed. 1966).

5 5 However, most interesting is the fact that among the belongings of Don Alonso there is a chest that contains 230 books for study. Thus, this is the first library to ever reach our beaches. Unfortunately, there is no inventory of the books so as to know what sort of books constituted the Bishop s library, and he had intellectual concerns, no question about that. These were manifest in his establishing of a grammar school at the new cathedral to educate the children of the budding colony. Among the things brought by scholar Juan Rodríguez, the secretary of His Highness, there is a copy of Colón s letter and canon texts in three volumes. A vihuela a musical instrument is among the belongings of one of the members of his entourage who is only identified by his last name, Quintana. 7 In 1513, Don Diego Colón visits the Island moved by the complaints about the new governor, commander Rodrigo de Moscoso, whom the Admiral had appointed to replace Juan Cerón. 8 The ship s register is dated May 20, 1513, at Villa de Salvaleón: it is the Santa María de Antigua, whose maestre and owner is Juan Rodríguez Geronés. The ship reaches the port of San Germán, in the west coast of the Island, on June 2, The Admiral brings along a large entourage, consistent with his Viceroy status, as well as cargo, which includes cassava, corn, bacon, birds, pigs, rams, and four dogs. Most of his entourage brings along Indians as personal servants. Among those accompanying the Admiral are Ordoño Ordonez, an apothecary; a chaplain; Torillo, the valet of Admiral Fernando I Aurelio Tanodi, op. cit., pp Salvador Brau, op. cit., p On the village of San Germán and the different changes as to its location during the 16 th century, see Aurelio Tió, La Fundación de San Germán (1956).

6 6 de Valdés; a valet; a pantryman; several stable boys; and three Indian laundresses: Leonor, Marinita, and Juana. 10 A Society in the Making The delivery of accounts, as rendered by royal officials especially by treasurers shed light on interesting information that allows us to surmise how Puerto Rican society was forming at its beginnings. By examining these deliveries, it is possible to identify the presence in the Island, from very early on, of a number of artisans and skilled laborers. Most of these participate in the works being developed at that time, such as the construction of the fortress and the house of His Majesty. In addition, the accounts reveal how two brigantines are being built in the Island with the intent to use them to protect our coasts from the attacks of Caribs and foreign corsairs. Within the categories indicated above, the documents reveal the presence of carpenters 11, shipwrights and ship caulkers 12, masons 13, a tailor 14, a smith 15, a stonemason 16, a cart driver 17, a navigator 18, a limestone quarryman 19, a barber 20, a merchant 21, a cooper 22, a tiler 23, and a muleteer I Aurelio Tanodi, op. cit., pp On the visit of the Admiral, see Salvador Brau, op. cit., pp I Aurelio Tanodi, Documentos de la Real Hacienda de Puerto Rico (copy, doc. no. 3), Rendición de cuentas de Martín de Aguiluz y Juan de Castellanos, pp Id. Id., pp Id., pp Id. Id. Id., pp Id., pp Id., pp Id. Id., pp Id., pp Id., pp

7 7 who traveled with a horse of his from here (San Juan) to San Germán, on which he carried the chest with the 3,500 pesos being remitted to His Majesty 24. [Our translation.] The accounts also provide information as to the time worked and the wages that were paid to those who partook in labor, which information is quite valuable for the history of the working class in Puerto Rico. As an additional datum, the accounts reveal the presence in the Island of two apothecaries Francisco Muñoz and Francisco Núñez. The first one appears as supplying 6 loads of cassava for the sustenance of the Negroes who served at the household of His Majesty 25 ; as to the second, the account reveals a payment of six pesos for the medications he has supplied and for certain ministrations provided to the Negroes that serve at the household of His Majesty after licentiate Formazedo no longer ministered to them. 26 [Our translation.] The accounts of persons and goods prepared in San Juan and the Village of San Germán are also sources which reveal the integration into the Island s society of persons with professional training. Thus, for example, one of the passengers arriving to San Juan aboard the Santa Cruz on October 10, 1512, is Fernando Torres, an apothecary, who, along with Cristobal de Alcaraz, registered goods which include all things necessary to operate an apothecary s shop, such as: glass flasks, glass canisters, and big and small apothecary boxes, as well as medications 27. On the same ship, scholar Gregorio Gaitán arrives to the Island; among the goods he declares are 6 books of medicine and surgery, in addition to 2 dozen surgery Id., pp Id., pp Id., pp Id., pp ; I Aurelio Tanodi, p In the latter, there are medications, pills and ointments of various sorts are recorded.

8 8 instruments 28 [Our translation]. As far as we are able to know, he is the first surgeon to arrive to the Island. Also registering his arrival to the Island is Fernando de Peña, a barber, aboard the San Juan ship on April 15, Quite interesting is the account of the goods he brings along. As gathered from the document, he introduces and pays the corresponding taxes for two barber s whetting wheels, two small barber s grinding stones, two barber s pots, a mirror, two combs, a set of blades, and a pair of scissors, which instruments are all essential to ply his trade. But it doesn t end there, for the account indicates that he paid two tomines to introduce 1 small box with certain tools for the extraction of molars, which makes him the first known practitioner of dentistry. Some Curious Facts and Cargo On many an occasion, the documentation under study brings to light curious facts that stand out for their very unusualness. Here are some examples. Worth mentioning is the fact that various seamen of the crew aboard the Santa Catalina introduce, among other goods, 16 pairs of playing cards; while Antonio Sánchez another crew member declares 25 brooms and 3 dozen water jars 29. On that same ship, passenger Diego Díaz declares 6 wineskins containing very bad wine, some already turned into vinegar, from Sanlúcar 30. [Our translation.] Equally astounding due to its curiousness is the cargo that arrives on the Santa Cruz caravel, which came from Isla Margarita and Cumaná. Fifteen Indian men and women which were declared to have been taken as ransom at the docks were introduced into the Island, and in addition to some 37 pearl frames, they Id., p I Aurelio Tanodi, pp Id., p. 298.

9 9 brought eight parrots and three monkeys 31. The La Concepción caravel, which came from the same point of departure and arrives in San Juan on April 22, 1516, carries a cargo consisting of 40 slaves, male and female, among which there are 4 children, 3 cats, and 30 parrots 32. There is only one case in which the arrival of an entire family is recorded, which family, as it turns out, is quite large. It s the family of Rodrigo Zambrano, who arrives to San Juan aboard the San Francisco in July, The family is composed by his wife, one sister-in-law, five children, and four servants 33. What strikes us as curious is the fact that there is no cargo of any kind to his name. Undoubtedly, they are only carrying their personal effects. The accounts allow us to document Ponce de León s endeavor as a commercial entrepreneur. Thus, for example, the ship accounts reveal the arrival of the Santiago and the Santa María de la Concepción caravels, both arriving from Hispaniola, both owned by Ponce de León 34. Likewise, there are goods in his name which arrive to the Island, such as: fabrics, women s and men s shirts in various sizes, threads, corn, cassava, bacon, hardware, nails, and wine, among others 35. The two largest cargoes of goods recorded on the books, based on their declared value, correspond to Alonso de Hernández and Alonso de Palma. These merchants introduced a variety of articles, the values of which are a little over 1,733 pesos and 1,019 pesos, respectively Id., p Id., p Id., p Id., pp Id., pp. 295, 307, 322, and 345. Id., p. 329.

10 10 In conclusion, from this catalogue of particularly curious facts, we will point to the arrival of two slaves who, due to their particular circumstances, deserve a special mention. The first one of the two is Cristóbal, a slave that arrives to the Island as a passenger on the Santa María del Antigua and who is described as a white mulatto slave 37 [Our translation]; then there s a white female slave who appears as one of the passengers on the Santa María de la Gracia, but whose name and owner are unknown. The fact is recorded on the passenger list, right below the name of clergyman Francisco de Campo, but since the latter declared no goods, it is unknown whether she belonged to him or not 38. The analysis of the ship accounts contained in the documents under study reveals that, during this initial period in our history, the ports of San Juan or Puerto Rico as it was called back then and San Germán are frequent ports of call for ships that come mostly from the island of Hispaniola. The second place where most ships come from is Castilla. There are some cases in which ships stop at both ports before going on their way. Ships coming from Canarias, Isla Maragarita and Cumaná also reach our shores, although less frequently. The two most extraordinary are the arrival of the San Pedro, whose maestre was Jorge Yáñez, which reached port on March 15, 1533, in San Juan, coming from Cabo Verde, and the San Germán caravel, which arrived on October 27, 1516, coming from the islands of Giants or the ABC Islands 39. The Attacks of the French Corsairs Id., p Id., p I Aurelio Tanodi, op. cit., pp and 370.

11 11 As part of the process of delivering accounts, Juan de Castellanos presented as witnesses, residents Martín Salinas, Francisco de Toro, Diego Ramos, Francisco Juancho, Alonso de Molina, and Alonso Gutiérrez the latter is identified as a resident and also as a mason and notary public and town council member Hernández Pérez, which are questioned on a number of issues. Among the questions posed, there is one in relation to the attack on the Village of San Germán by French corsairs in 1528, in which this village is burnt down and pillaged, as well as on other incursions conducted by said corsairs, including a second attack on the Village. Diego Ramos declares that he witnessed the war on San Germán and that he brought the news to San Juan, from where he saw the departure of a ship that was to bring news to Santo Domingo about the presence of the French, for there they had ships being prepared to part for Castilla. The ship was property of Dominican 40 friars and 100 pesos were paid to Prior Friar Juan de Magdalena. The ship was captained by Friar Pedro, another friar of the Santo Tomás Convent 41. Martín Salinas also testified that he was present during the attack to San Germán, while mason Alonso Gutiérrez, after having explained his participation in fortification works, stated that he witnessed the departure of the ship with notice to Santo Domingo 42. The most explicit testimony is that of Francisco Juancho, who indicated that it was agreed that artillery would be bought and artillerymen and sentries posted at the El Morro Fort and the Fortaleza, day and night [Our translation] and that the residents stood watch on their own. He also added that a cattle ranch he owned was attacked by the French, who burnt it down and stole whatever they found. As to the Village of San Germán, he The religious order. I Aurelio Tanodi, op. cit., footnote 11, pp Id., pp ,

12 12 recounts how, after stealing a caravel at the mouth of the Toa, the French went along the coastline, stealing whatever they found in cattle ranches and farms. [Our translation.] Upon reaching San Germán, they plundered and burnt down the village and the residents of the Village had an encounter of some sort with the French, and they killed certain Frenchmen, and the latter killed a resident. 43 [Our translation.] Conclusions This brief study of the documents of the Royal Treasury of Puerto Rico in the 16 th century reveals that these contain a variety of valuable information to study other aspects of Puerto Rican life, beyond their value as an indispensable source for the analysis of the development of the public treasury in Puerto Rico. Among the various aspects that may be studied by analyzing these documents, we could mention: a. the development of the process whereby skilled workers, such as artisans and professionals, are incorporated into the Island s workforce; b. the patterns of payment and the wages that prevailed at a specific time; and c. the development of the forts in the Island as a response to the dangers posed by the presence of rival foreign powers in the Caribbean. If we were to focus on the social development of the country in light of the lists of passengers arriving to our Island aboard the different ships, this would be a useful element to trace the origins of the surnames which are common in our society today. 43 Id., pp ,

13 13 The analysis of the goods introduced into the Island apprises us of the consumption patterns of Puerto Ricans. Likewise, these documents shed light on valuable data to know their eating habits during these early stages if we study the kinds of food that arrive to the Island for the consumption of the population. This listing, which does not purport to be thorough, illustrates the usefulness of the documents of the Royal Treasury for modern-day researchers.