SAN ANTONIO – As America celebrates its 250th anniversary this year, a significant part of its history stretches back nearly 300 years, connecting the past to the present in profound ways.
In 1730, 16 families embarked on a remarkable journey from the Canary Islands to what is now San Antonio, Texas. Their arrival marked the establishment of the first civilian government in Texas, a pivotal moment in the region’s history.
The descendants of these pioneering families assert that their story is not merely a local narrative but an integral chapter in the broader American story. Julia Lopez, president of the Canary Islands Descendants Association, emphasizes this connection: “It’s important for us to know who we came from. That’s how we know what tomorrow brings.”
Sent by the King of Spain to settle the “New World,” these Canary Islanders landed in San Antonio on March 9, 1731. Lopez reflects on their arduous journey, stating, “You can only imagine the journey. They sailed across the Atlantic, they walked across Mexico and up into San Antonio.”
While Spanish missionaries had arrived in the region as early as 1718, it was the Canary Islanders who laid the groundwork for the city’s governance. “Our families were the first mayors of San Antonio,” shares Sharon Pelayo Simonick. “Our families were the first council people, our families were the first sheriff.”
These early settlers also played a significant role in the San Fernando Cathedral, which remains a central landmark in San Antonio. The cathedral houses a devotion to Our Lady of Candelaria, the patroness of the Canary Islands, a testament to their enduring legacy.
Lopez passionately articulates the importance of their story, stating, “I think our story is so important because we are the story of America. We’re the story of immigration; we are the story of people who came to find a better life.”
For descendants like Anthony Delgado, discovering their ancestors’ contributions to the American Revolution has profoundly impacted their understanding of history. “Learning about our ancestors’ contributions to the American Revolution makes that history more personal,” Delgado reflects. “I now have an ancestral investment in this thing called America and its revolution and independence.”
The narrative of the Canary Islanders serves as a powerful reminder that resilience, sacrifice, and the quest for a better life are foundational elements of the American experience, enriching the collective history of the nation.
