Joseph Vaguizu – An Infant Slave in Puerto Rico
I’ve edited this post with the following…
I want to thank the source of this record, an individual who is collecting records for Toa Alta. I wanted his okay before putting his name out there. I cannot thank Angel Perez-Galarza enough for providing me with numerous images on those that were enslaved. This record is one of many he sent my way.
I have posted about this record on Facebook but decided to post it here. Here is a record of a woman who was enslaved. It clearly states that she is a black slave. Her name is Martina Vaguizu. This is a name that I have never come across in going through church records for Puerto Rico. I also did a search to see if I could find this last name today and could not find it. I found the last name on one record in Argentina. This leads me to believe that Martina was sold again and sent to live in Puerto Rico as her slave captors did not share her last name. However, that is not why this record has caught my attention. I have seen many Africans and blacks whether enslaved or freed being baptized.
The record is not even about Martina per say, but about her son Joseph de la Mercedes Vaguizu. Joseph is being baptized in the church in Toa Alta, Puerto Rico on the 17th of October, 1824. Joseph de la Mercedes was born on the 24th of September, 1824. This makes Joseph only 23 days old. This is normal for any baby born during this era to be baptized under 30 days of age. However, what I do not consider normal is that this infant is a slave.
Here is where things go really wrong for me as I never seen any church records documenting the following. Apparently the slave holder decides to advise the priest that the child is being gifted to his daughter to be her slave. So yes, the child is being taken away from his mother to be raise as a slave in another home to serve a new slave owner, the man’s daughter.
What I also suspect is that the man is the child’s father. The reason for this suspicion is that the child is listed in the church record as a “mulato slave”. This means that although the mother is being recognize as being black, not mulato, the child is being identified as such. If the slave holder is indeed the father of Joseph, it can be that his wife did not want the child in the home. Anything is possible.
I have attached the image below. I hope that he survived and that his legacy continued until today. Hoping that whomever descends from him and his mother will come across this record.
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Myself, and those who love our ancestry and geneology, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. In the 80's I had to go to the National Archives in Washington D.C. and write letters to the island's churches in hopes that the information I needed would be found and provided, and in many instances, they had it. I reached circa 1825, and I'm still looking for even further back. Your work in helping us is deeply appreciated.
I am happy to hear that this is helping many. I hope you are successful in your search.
I admire you, Anna. Your research and your desire to share everything you find, helping so many of us is priceless. Lots of blessings.
So interesting & your theories all make sense. Another reason I love this post is because just recently I came upon 2 baptismal records for my enslaved ancestors in Juncos. Their last name is Pabellon sometimes spelled Pavillon. I think about what life was like for them often.
Thank you and the pleasure is mine. I hope you find the records you seek.
I always wonder what their life was like. My dad would tell me stories about his maternal grandfather. He always suspected that he was born a slave because he refused to do any hard labor. I did not find it to be the case but would not be surprised if either of his parents were. My dad believe his grandfather potentially grew up listening to stories or seeing oppression and just refused.
Hi Anna, I can't imagine how hard life had to be in those times. The more I research our family tree the more I'm disgusted with human race.
Thank you for all of the links you are sharing. I'm trying to find records on my husband's ancestors from Dominica, Montserrat and Curacao. It is not easy to find anything online and your site provided me with lots of new links, much appreciated.
Hi Margot,
Yes life was difficult for many then but they persevered and ensured that we are here today. We descend from some amazing people. I actually have more information on Dominica and Curacao, I just haven't gotten to them as I'm in school. I hope to post soon. Thank you so much for visiting the website and happy to hear that it is helping you and many others in your research. Take a look at posts for other islands as it may lead to information for your lines on those 3 Caribbean Islands. For Montserrat, I recommend the UK's archives as they have many records for Caribbean Islands. I also highly suggest having your DNA done if you haven't done so yet.
This is incredible. To think the baby was baptized and handed over to the new owner right then and there. Poor lady had her baby taken at 23 days old. Me muero. God bless them