Juan Galván
Encyclopedia
Juan Galván Was a Spanish soldier and explorer who stressed as an ensign and explorer in
San Antonio, Texas
.
for what, the explorador elected thirty men of the garrisons of Los Adaes
and Carancahua Bay
. Thus, the March 13, 1748, Galvan began to participate in such missions. However, in the first report he wrote on the issue, he said he needed more than thirty men to protect the three missions by recommending the built the establishment of a presidio of fifty soldiers. In June 1749 he returned to Bexar to try to make with Governor Pedro del Barrio Junco y Espriella
a solution to the valley of San Xavier (San Gabriel). He personally investigated the valley for decide how to conduct the expedition. On 28 August, after returning from his expedition, Barrio elected to lieutenant Galván to lead a new group of soldiers to San Javier. In June 1753 he received orders from the viceroy to explore Apache territory. Few men wanted to investigate the region, so the expedition set out with only a few men and this went to
Pedernales
, Llano
and San Saba
rivers. In San Saba, after that Galván spoke with a group of Apaches who accepted the creation of a mission in the area, Galvan informed the viceroy that had strong signs of rich minerals and that he hoped that many Apaches
arrived on a mission in that area . His report was what caused the establishment of the Presidio San Saba.
San Antonio, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
Biography
Juan Galvan was born in the eighteenth century, however, the precise place and date of birth is unknown. It is known that he began his military career around 1710. In the 1720s he was posted to San Antonio of Bexar as an explorer, a city that does not populate until 1931. In 1734 he served as ensign in San Antonio. Later, Galvan was assigned to Mission San Xavier del BacMission San Xavier del Bac
Mission San Xavier del Bac is a historic Spanish Catholic mission located about 10 miles south of downtown Tucson, Arizona, on the Tohono O'odham San Xavier Indian Reservation...
for what, the explorador elected thirty men of the garrisons of Los Adaes
Los Adaes
Los Adaes was the capital of Tejas on the northeastern frontier of New Spain from 1729 to 1770. It included a mission, San Miguel de Linares de los Adaes, and a presidio, Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Los Adaes . The site is located in the present-day Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana. The Los Adaes...
and Carancahua Bay
Carancahua Bay
Carancahua Bay is a northern extension of Matagorda Bay located in Jackson and Matagorda counties in Texas, United States. It is oriented from the southeast to the northwest but meanders as it reaches the north to the confluence with Carancahua Creek. It is generally slender, only about in width...
. Thus, the March 13, 1748, Galvan began to participate in such missions. However, in the first report he wrote on the issue, he said he needed more than thirty men to protect the three missions by recommending the built the establishment of a presidio of fifty soldiers. In June 1749 he returned to Bexar to try to make with Governor Pedro del Barrio Junco y Espriella
Pedro del Barrio Junco y Espriella
Pedro del Barrio Junco y Espriela was acting governor of Texas from 1748 to 1750 and the governor of Nuevo León, Mexico .- Biography :...
a solution to the valley of San Xavier (San Gabriel). He personally investigated the valley for decide how to conduct the expedition. On 28 August, after returning from his expedition, Barrio elected to lieutenant Galván to lead a new group of soldiers to San Javier. In June 1753 he received orders from the viceroy to explore Apache territory. Few men wanted to investigate the region, so the expedition set out with only a few men and this went to
Pedernales
Pedernales River
The Pedernales River is a tributary of the Colorado River, approximately long, in central Texas in the United States. It drains an area of the Edwards Plateau, flowing west to east across the Texas Hill Country west of Austin...
, Llano
Llano River
The Llano River is a tributary of the Colorado River, approximately 105 mi long, in central Texas in the United States. It drains part of the Edwards Plateau in Texas Hill Country northwest of Austin....
and San Saba
San Saba River
The San Saba River is a river in the U.S. state of Texas. It is an undeveloped and scenic waterway located on the northern boundary of the Edwards Plateau.-Course:...
rivers. In San Saba, after that Galván spoke with a group of Apaches who accepted the creation of a mission in the area, Galvan informed the viceroy that had strong signs of rich minerals and that he hoped that many Apaches
Apache
Apache is the collective term for several culturally related groups of Native Americans in the United States originally from the Southwest United States. These indigenous peoples of North America speak a Southern Athabaskan language, which is related linguistically to the languages of Athabaskan...
arrived on a mission in that area . His report was what caused the establishment of the Presidio San Saba.
Personal Life
Juan Galvan married in 1723 with Xaviera Francisca Maldonado, daughter of a sergeant, in San Antonio. Galvan and his wife had ten children.Sources
- http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/GG/fga99_print.html. The Handbbok of Texas. Accessed September 16, 1010.