History of Tamaulipas
(Nuevo Santander)
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Places Listing
Abasolo, Armadillo,
Aguayo, Altamira, Bagdad,
Baltazar, Burgos, Camargo, Cerro de
Santiago, Croix,
Cruillas, Diaz Ordaz, Escandon,
Gomez Farias, Gonzalez, Guemes,
Guerrero (Revilla), Horcasitas, Juamave, Padilla,
Palmillas, Llera, Los
Guerra, Mante, Matamoros,
Mendez, Mier, Miguel Aleman,
Miquihuana, Morelos, Nuevo
Guerrero, Ocampo,
Quintero, Rayon, Reynosa, Rio
Blanco, Rio Bravo, Rio Rico,
San Carlos, San
Fernando, San Nicolas, San Vicente,
Santa Barbara, Santander
(Jimenez), Santillana, Soto La
Marina, Tampico, Tetillas, Tula,
Villagran
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Nuevo Santander
The origins of Tamaulipas begin with the
province of Nuevo Santander which was officially named and became
a part of New Spain in 1746. The territory spanned from the San
Antonio river to the north east to the Gulf of Mexico, then south
to the Panuco River near Tampico and west to the Sierra Madre
Mountains. This area became a haven for rebellious Indians who
fled here after increased Spanish settlements in Nuevo Leon and
Coahuila..
Jose de Escandon Helguera
Conde de la Sierra Gorda
Jose de Escandon, a native of Soto La Marina, Santander,
Spain and an officer of the Querétaro militia , was commissioned
to pacify the Sierra Gorda. Escandon was a wealthy man
and accomplished much with little expense to the Spanish crown. 231-339 Escandon founded most of the
towns during this pacification. The Sierra Gorda was
located in the new province of Nuevo Santander which was named
after Escandon's home province in Spain. Escandon led a total of
three expeditions to colonize the new province, and after the
first one was appointed Conde.
Notes on resources:
1. Resources labeled GSFCNS (General State of the Foundation of the Colony of
Nuevo Santander) refer to the web site located at the Corpus Christi Public
Library that contains the entire text of the documents left by Jose Tienda de
Cuervo and translated by Edna Brown in 1993. Among them, you will find censuses
and statements made on old Tamaulipas settlements.
2. Family History Center Resources refers to materials available through the
Family History Centers which are sponsered by The Church of Jesus Christ Latter
Day Saints (LDS). You can check out there web site at familysearch.org.
They have libraries at most major cities throughout the country where you may go
and for a small fee request microfilm and other materials for a small fee
(usually about $3.00 US). It takes 1 or 2 weeks to get the material usually.
3. Offical Web Sites are web sites sponsored by the city or
state government. Here is the Official Web Site for the History
of Tamaulipas (in Spanish).
4. Books on Civil and Church Records. I am listing that which is available at the University
of Texas Pan American Lower Rio Grande Valley Collection The reason
I am using them as a source is that it is located close to me and they have
their list available online. These books may and probably are available at other locations.
Historic Towns and Settlements
of Tamaulipas. (In Chronological Order)
* Indicates an Escandon Settlement
Modern Name, (Common/Older Names), Date Founded
Resources
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Family History Center
Resources for Tampico Tamaulipas
Family History Center
Resources for Tampico Alto, Veracruz
History
of Tampico (In Spanish)
This city is comprised of several early settlements, the
first one beginning in 1554. A convent established by
Fray Andrés de Olmos existed there as early as 1530 and
was located near what today is Cuahtémoc. The Indian
settlement dates from much earlier. The first official
settlement was the Villa de San Luis de Tampico
which was consolidated in 1560 and was settled by people
from San Esteban del Puerto, a nearby
settlement. After many pirate attacks another settlement
named Tampico Joya was established about a two
kilometers north of the present day Tampico Alto, Veracruz. Villa de San Luis de Tampico II was
established January 15, 1754 by Escandon and was located
at the present day Tampico Alto, VeraCruz. Santa Ana
de Tampico was established April 12, 1823 and was
settled by Mexicans of the time as well as Spaniards and
French.
221-218
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GSFCNS Page
221-143 |
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GSFCNS
Page
Family History Center
Resources
Official Web
Site
221-143
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* Llera (Villa de Llera,
Santa Maria de Llera, Villa de Llera de Canales) 25 Dec 1748
GSFCNS Page
Family History Center
Resources
Official Web Site
Santa Maria de Llera
Population: 77 Families, 257 persons.
Capitan: Jose de Escajadillo
Mission: Peña de Castillo (Escandon Settlement)
Escandon named it in honor of his wife Josefa de Llera y Ballas (the
Canales was
subsequently added in honor of General Servando
Canales).
221-145
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* Hidalgo, (Guemes, Guemez, San Francisco
de Guemes, San Antonio de los Llanos, Villa de Hoyos, Santo Domingo de
Hoyos) 1 Jan 1749
GSFCNS Page
Family History Center
Resources 1
Family History Center
Resources 2
Official Web
Site 1 Official Web Site
2
Population: 58 Families, 303 persons
Capitan: Felipe Tellez Jiron (Escandon
Settlement)
221-145
117-221 |
* Padilla (San Antonio de
Padilla) 6 Jan 1749
GSFCNS Page
Family History Center
Resources
Official Web
Site
This town was relocated after Vicente Guerrero Lake which is in the
central part of the state was constructed.
Population: 44 families, 280 persons
Capitan: Gregorio de la Paz, Martin de La Peña,
Mission: De Guarnizo (Escandon Settlement)
Escandon named it in honor of Doña Maria Padilla, the wife of the Count
of Revillagigedo
221-146
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* Jimenez, Santander Jimenez (Villa de
Santander de los 5 Senores) 17 Feb 1749
GSFCNS Page
Family History Center
Resources
Official Web
Site
Original capitol of Nuevo Santander.
Population in 1749: 45 families
Capitan: Jose Gomez
Mission: Nuestra Señora de la Concepcion. (Escandon
Settlement) 221-151 |
Burgos (Nuestra Señora
de Loreto) 20 Feb 1749
GSFCNS Page
Family History Center
Resources
Official Web
Site
Population in 1757: 260
221-165,7
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* Camargo (Nuestra Señora Ana de Camargo) 5 Mar 1749
GSFCNS
Page
Family History Center
Resources
Official Web
Site
Camargo
Census of 1750
Camargo
Census of 1757
Camargo
History
Camargo
Land Grants of 1767
Map
of Camargo Settlement Showing Land Grants of 1767
UTPA
LRGV Collection
[Tamaulipas] Church Baptism Records, 1764-1864.
[UTPA LRGV CS 108 .C36 C32 1989]
Camargo [Tamaulipas] Church Marriage Records, 1764-1876
[1879]. 2 volumes. [UTPA LRGV CS 108 .C36 C34 1989]
Camargo [Tamaulipas] Church Marriage Records, 1764-1913.
(2nd. edition). 2 volumes. [UTPA LRGV - See "Photocopied
Manuscripts" List]
Camargo [Tamaulipas] Civil Records, 1860-1880. 2 volumes
[Brides and Grooms]. [UTPA LRGV - See "Photocopied
Manuscripts" List]
Camargo [Tamaulipas] Church Death Records, 1764-1864
[1881]. [UTPA LRGV CS 108 .C36 C33 1989]
Database
available for purchase on Camargo
This was the first Escandon settlement along the Rio
Grande. Land originally occupied by Nicolas De Los Santos
and Blas Maria De La Garza. Previously inhabited by
pastors from Pedro de Ugarte's hacienda "El
Rosario". A nearby mission, San Agustin de Laredo
was also established.
Population in 1749: 85 families, 402 persons
Close to 200 of these settlers were from the Presidio of
Cerralvo. When Escandon arrived on March 3 there were
approximately 30 families living there.
Population in 1757: 638 108-6, 106-24 221-153
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* Reynosa (Reynosa
de San Antonio, Reinosa Vieja, Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Reynosa "La
Vieja") 14 Mar 1749
GSFCNS
Page
Family History Center
Resources
Official Web
Site
Census
on Reynosa July 1757
Land originally owned by Nicolas De Los Santos and Blas
Maria De La Garza. Previously habitated by pastors from
Pedro de Ugarte's hacienda "El Rosario"
Originally 15 miles east of Camargo, moved to higher
ground in 1757 due to flooding problems.
Founding families relocated from Cadereyta, San Mateo del Pilon (Montemorelos),
Linares, Pesqueria Grande, Sabinas and Cerralvo.
Population in 1749: 279 with 50 families
Population in 1757: 470
108-6,
110-54, 221-154
The land on which Reynosa was founded was originally granted to Jose Maria Balli Porcion 72
and present site.
110-61, 62,
110-82, 55-e4
The Capitan of the Villa was Carlos Cantu.
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* San Fernando (San
Fernando de Presas, Congregacion de la Barra de Salinas) 19 Mar 1749
GSFCNS Page
Family History Center
Resources
Official
Web Site
Books
The Capitan of the Villa de San Fernando was Francisco
Sanchez Zamora. 221-155,6
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* Altamira (Nuestra Señora de las Caldas)
2 May 1749
GSFCNS Page
Family History Center
Resources
Official
Web Site
Capitan: Juan Perez
Population in 1749: 65 families, 340 persons. (Escandon
Settlement) 221-157
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* Gonzalez (Magiscatzin, San Juan Bautista
de Horcasitas) 9 May 1749
GSFCNS Page
Family History Center
Resources
Official Web
Site
Was already a settlement when Escandon arrived.
Designated a city on this date.
Capitan: Jose Antonio Oyeruide
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* Ocampo (Santa Barbara de Ocampo) 19
May 1749
GSFCNS Page
Family History Center
Resources
Official Web
Site
Capitan: Juan Francisco Barbarena
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GSFCNS Page
Family History Center
Resources
Official
Web Site
The setters who settled here had been part of failed
attempt to establish settlement on the Nueces River. The
area proved to be unsuitable for this purpose and the
settlers retreated back to Mexico.
Capitan: Juan Jose Vazquez Borrego.
Population in 1757 abt 420. 221-168
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* Ciudad Victoria (Aguayo, Villa de Santa Maria del Refugio de Aguayo, Boca de Caballeros)
6 Oct 1750
GSFCNS Page
Family History Center
Resources
Official
Web Site
Designated the capital of Tamaulipas.
Capitan: Juan de Astigarraga.
Population in 1757 over 1000. (Escandon Settlement) 221-170
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Guerrero Viejo (Revilla, Villa de Señor San Ignacio de Loyola de Revilla)
10 Oct 1750
GSFCNS
Page
Official
Web Site
Web
Site on Guerrero Viejo (A Shared Experience)
Census
of Guerrero Viejo in 1750 & 1753
Ecclesiastical
Census of Revilla,1791
Bibliography
on Revilla (Guerrero Viejo)
Founded on a part of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de las
Puentes an hacienda owned and operated by Nicolas De La
Garza Falcon. This land was then passed on to Juan Guerra
Cañamar a notario publico in Boca de Leones. Juan's son
Vicente was introduced to Escandon in Burgos in October
of 1750. At that meeting Vicente asked for authorization
from Escandon to establish a settlement on lands which he
owned and operated ranches on. He offered to do this at
no expense to the Spanish Government. The only condition
was the he be allowed to be the Capitan. Escandon agreed
and Vicente proceeded to bring 40 families from Monterrey
for the original settlement. Vicente died in 1753. When
Escandon visited in 1754, he designated Jose Baez
Benavides as the new captitan of the villa. By this time
more settlers had arrived from Nuevo Leon and Coahuila.
Originally about a mile upriver from Carrizo, it was
moved to the banks of the Rio Salado, just two miles
above the famous water falls. The nearby mission was
named Ampuero. The priest at this time was Fray Miguel de
Santa Maria. Many settlers from Revilla operated a salt
trade in which they aquired salt at the Sal Del Rey
mines, north of Reynosa and sold it to locations in Nuevo
Leon and Coahuila. Guerrero was one of the towns that was
submerged when Falcon Lake and Anzalduas Dam were
constructed in 1952.
Population in 1749: 336, in 1757: 357 108-6, 106-186, 221-172
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* Abasolo (Santillana, Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Santillana)
26 Dec 1752
GSFCNS Page
Family History Center
Resources
Official Web
Site
Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Santillana
Population in 1752: 18 families, 73 persons. Population
in 1757: 473
Capitan: Tomas Conde. 221-184
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* Mier (La Purisima Concepcion de Mier, Paso del Cantaro) 6 Mar 1753
GSFCNS
Page
Family History Center
Resources
Official Web Site
Located near what was earlier known as El Paso del
Cantaro, a natural ford in the Rio Grande. The land
was originally owned by Felix de Almandoz. Land later
passed on to General Prudencio Basterra who married
Felix's sister Ana Maria. 19 Families from Camargo formed
the new settlement. Capitan: Jose Florencio de Chapa.
UTPA
LRGV Collection
[Tamaulipas] Church Baptism Records,
1767-1880, 1854-1867. 4 volumes. [UTPA LRGV CS 108 .M54 M51 1989]
Mier [Tamaulipas] Church Marriage Records, 1767-1925. 2
volumes. [UTPA LRGV CS 108 .M54 M53 1989]
Mier [Tamaulipas] Church Death Records, 1767-1903. 2
volumes. [UTPA LRGV CS 108 .M54 M52 1989] |
* Xicotencatl (Villa de Escandon) 15
Mar 1757
GSFCNS Page
Family History Center
Resources
Official
Web Site
Population: 76 families. Capitan Domingo de Unzaga.
Population in 1757: Over 500.
221-176
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Villagran (Real de Borbon, Cerro de Santiago)
8 May 1757
GSFCNS Page
Family History Center
Resources
Official Web
Site
Named Villagran after the hero Julián de Villagran, by the then
Governor of Tamaulipas Don Lucas Fernández on 15 November 1827.
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Family History Center
Resources
Official Web
Site
221-206
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Family History Center
Resources
Official Web
Site
221-207
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San Nicolas (Mineral) 1 April 1768
Official Web
Site
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Casas (Tetillas, Villa de
Croix) 8 Jun 1770
Family History Center
Resources
Official
Web Site
221-211
In 1827 this settlement was given the name Casas in honor of Juan Bautista de las
Casas, a military man killed in the war of Independence.
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* Aldama (Presas del Rey, San Vicente) 15 April 1790
Family History Center
Resources
Official Web Site
This was the last settlement founded by Escandon. By
decree it was renamed Villa Aldama in memory of Ignacio Aldama, a hero
of the Independence movement on 25 November 1828. |
Antiguo Morelos (Baltazar, Villa de Baltazar
Morelos) 6 May 1821
Official
Web Site
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Matamoros (Esteros Hermosos,
Congregacion del Refugio, San Juan de los Esteros) 28 Jan 1823
Family History Center
Resources
Official Web
Site
UTPA
LRGV Collection [Tamaulipas] Church Baptisms Records, 1800-1850. [UTPA
LRGV - do NOT own]
Matamoros [Tamaulipas] Church Marriage Records, 1801-1848.
Brides. [UTPA LRGV - See "Photocopied Manuscripts" List]
Matamoros [Tamaulipas] Church Marriage Records, 1801-1848.
Grooms. [UTPA LRGV - See "Photocopied Manuscripts" List]
Matamoros [Tamaulipas] Church Marriage Records, 1802-1833.
Brides. [UTPA LRGV CS 108 .M38 M37 1989 v.2]
Matamoros [Tamaulipas] Church Marriage Records, 1802-1833.
Grooms. [UTPA LRGV CS 108 .M38 M37 1989 v.1]
Matamoros [Tamaulipas] Church Death Records, 1800-1828. [UTPA
LRGV CS 108 .M38 M36 1989]
In 1818 an influx of settlers arrived from Palafox,
another settlement upriver from Laredo, which was
abandoned after many Comanche raids. In 1823 it was
reorganized as a villa and named Matamoros after the
martyred priest Mariano Matamoros. 220-51 106-41 221-216,7
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Rayon (San Antonio
de Rayon, Congregacion de San Antonio) 5 Feb 1829
221-219 |
Tula (Ciudad Tula) 17 October 1835 (
22 July 1617)
Official Web
Site
The date given is actually when the settlement officially became a
city. Spanish first arrived at this Indian settlement in 1617.
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Nuevo Laredo (Congregacion Monterrey) 1847
Official Web
Site |
Miquihuana (Congregación de San Juan
de Miquihuana) 14 May 1849
Official Web
Site
221-220,221
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Ciudad Mante (Villa Juarez, Quintero, Congregacion del
Palcuay) 1860
Family History Center
Resources
Official Web Site
221-221
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Nuevo Morelos (Congregación de Mesillas)
19 October 1860
Official
Web Site |
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Located on south bank at the mouth of the Rio Grande. It
boomed and was used as a port during the civil war, when
the Union blockaded all of the Confederate ports.
Destroyed in the hurricane of 1874. Reported to have as
many as 6000 inhabitants in 1863, while population 10
years later was about 2000. 106-8, 106-39, 106-99, 221-222,223 |
Gomez Farias (Congregacion
La Joya, La Joya de Los Indios) 1869
Official Web
Site
221-221
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Mendez (Congregacion de la Laja) 1869
Official Web Site
Named after General Pedro José Méndez (1836-1866).
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Web
Page on Rio Rico
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Miguel Aleman (Congregacion de San Pedro de Roma)
11 October 1950
Official
Web Site
Date given is when settlement was renamed to Miguel Aleman in honor
of Mexican President. Settlement dates from at least a hundred years
earlier to 1850's.
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Valle Hermoso 8 September 1951
Official
Web Site
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Family History Center
Resources
Official
Web Site
Formed after Falcon Lake and Dam were built and Old
Guerrero flooded. The Mexican counterpart to Zapata
located 35 miles north of old Guerrero 109-16
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Official Web
Site
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Diaz Ordaz (Gustavo Diaz Ordaz) 20
March 1968
Official Web
Site
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Last Updated: August 30, 2002
This is a work in progress.
Please Email any suggestions, feedback etc to stnem_genealogy@hotmail.com.
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