Spain's Support of the American Revolution

Spain's Support of the American Revolution

(Used with permission from SOMOS PRIMOS, newsletter of the Society of Hispanic Historical and Ancestral Research (SHHAR), January 2000 issue (http://www.somosprimos.com/spjan.htm).

Little is know of the very important role that Spain played in supporting the American Revolutionary war. Granville W. (Ph.d.) and his daughter N.C. Hough have dedicated themselves to the task of gathering records to promote that awareness. The goal of the Houghs is to produce books identifying the Spanish soldiers serving in the states of California, Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, and Florida between 1779-1783, and to examine the consequent of their activities as it relates to the formation of the United States. Dr. Hough, a retired professor from California State University, Long Beach and his daughter have completed the first three books in the series: Spain's California Patriots (Part 1 and 2) and Arizona Patriots.

The following is the Preface to Spain's Arizona Patriots in its 1779-1783 war with England During the American Revolution.

In 1996, the authors became aware that neither the NSDAR (National Society for the Daughters of the American Revolution) nor the NSSAR (National Society for the Sons of the American Revolution) would accept descendants of Spanish citizens of California who had donated funds to defray expenses of the 1779-1783 war with England. As the patriots being turned down as suitable ancestors were also soldiers, the obvious question became: "Why base your membership application on a money contribution when the ancestor soldier had put his life at stake?" This led to a study of how the Spanish Army and Navy had worked during the war to defeat the English and thereby support the fledgling English colonies in their War for Independence. After a year of study, the results were presented to the NSSAR; and that organization in March, 1998, began accepting descendants of Spanish soldiers who had served in California. The acceptance is based simply on service during the time period of 1779-1783 while Spain was at war with England.

We had not by March, 1998, studied the organization of the Spanish Army in the Spanish Borderlands from Texas through California. We now know how the forces were deployed and used in an effort to unify the frontier and counter the influence of English or any other foreign forces. We know that orders going to California also went to Texas, New Mexico, Sonora, and all the other border provinces of Northern New Spain. In fact, the whole frontier and bordering provinces had been united in 1776 into a military command under a Commandante-General who reported directly to the King (or at least to his ministers). The Northwestern realm, with its unidentified border with England, was a continuing concern to the highest Spanish authorities, particularly to Jose de Gálvez, Minister of the Interior. During 1776 while the English Colonies were declaring Independence, he reorganized the military structure of the Provincias Internas; he authorized his nephew, Governor Bernardo de Gálvez of Louisiana, to begin clandestine help to the English Colonies; and he supervised the Anza Expedition to settle San Francisco Bay. He visualized that he could regain the Floridas, lost to Britain earlier; unify the whole northwestern frontier from the Mississippi River to the Pacific; and counter the British wherever they appeared.

Indeed, Gálvez' aims were partly accomplished. He did establish California and wipe out any historic English claims from the time of Sir Francis Drake. He did recover Florida. He made progress unifying the northern outposts, but there were not enough resources to do what he visualized. Indian tribes who were already on the vast land could not be incorporated into the Spanish way of life fast enough. Events in Europe intervened and took higher priority. So, in due course of time, the land from the Mississippi River to the Pacific became American rather than Spanish.

However, we still have the Americans of Spanish descent who fought to move the frontier forward to counter the British. They helped the English Colonies to become the United States of America. They held land in trust for future expansion of the United States. Both the NSDAR and NSSAR accept descendants of soldiers and sailors who served under Governor Bernardo de Gálvez. The NSSAR accepts descendants of soldiers and sailors who served in California. It has also accepted descendants of soldiers who had served in Texas and descendants of Texas cattlemen who drove cattle to Louisiana to support Governor Bernardo de Gálvez in his campaigns. Why not accept other Borderlands soldiers who served the same King, received the same orders, and fought and died trying to carry out the common strategy? That became our question.

Our first two books covered California. This third book covers Arizona, or at least the southern third of the state. This land was part of Pimería Alta in the Province of Sonora. It does not have a separate history as does New Mexico and Texas. Records are fewer and more scattered. Actually, Pimería Alta remained in Mexico until it was divided by the Gadsden Purchase into a Sonoran part and an Arizona part. Sonora had been very closely associated with California for a few years, and there was great hope that it would become a roadway to that area. Many Pimería Alta families have close blood ties with families who settled Northern California. However, any hopes for an overland route from Sonora to California were cut in 1781 when the Yumas rebelled and rejected Spanish culture. Pimería Alta became a forlorn frontier area ravaged by frequent Apache attacks. A few frontier soldiers and settlers hung on, and this book is their story.

SHHAR is pleased for the privilege of publishing the Hough series. We believe it is a major contributions to Hispanic history. It is a practical, easy to use manual for Hispanics researching family history in the borderlands. Hispanics/Latinos must look at their history as inclusive to the development of the United States. That insight can be shared through identifying and promoting the contributions of ancestors.

California Patriots, Part 1 and Part 2 are $14.each, or 2 for $25.
Arizona Patriots, $14 or two copies for $25.
Postage cost is $2.50 for the first book, additional books $.75.
Please write directly to SHHAR Press at:
P.O. Box 490, Midway City, CA 92683

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