The Survivors of the De Soto Expedition


Smith-293. Botello testified in New Spain that he had been in
Florida with Hernando de Soto, that he was a son of Diego Gil and
Isabel Botella, and that he was an hijodalgo married to a daughter
of Diego Yafiez.26

 Botello, Juan. Not listed by Hernandez de Biedma, yet his
existence appears well documented. In the year 1560 he was a
witness to the probanza made by Alonso Vazquez in Jerez, Spain
and declared that he was one of de Soto's soldiers, a citizen of
Villanueva de Valcarrota (sic), and 47 or 48 years of age. He
added that he was in the armada and on the same ship with Alonso
Vazquez and that the Adelantado disembarked with his men at
Santiago de Cuba and proceeded to Havana. In sum, they stayed
on that island several months while readying the armada. After
reaching Florida, Botello testified that Captain Juan Ruiz Lobilla
placed thirty to forty men under Alonso Vazquez's command, later
increased to eighty. He saw when Vazquez was struck in the ankle
by an arrow during a battle with the natives at the savannah in
Chicaza. Botello added that so great were the toils experienced in
Florida that no man could find words to describe them nor memory
to recite them. After so much hunger and fatigue, Juan Botello and
others were able to reach the port of Panuco and later the city of
Mexico. He lived several years there and in 1550 declared that in
the same city he had seen Luis de Moscoso, another of de Soto's
men, living with the former's cousin. Botello was able to sign his
testimony.27 Previously, Botello had declared, in Sevilla on March
11, 1538, that he was a son of Rodrigo Botello and Marina
Rodriguez, citizens of Villanueva de Barcarrota, SR-331.

 Bravo, Luis. Son of Baltasar Bravo and Leonor Rodriguez,
citizens of Badajoz, SR-277. This should be the same survivor
listed in Smith-293 as the son of Baltasar Bravo from Badajoz.

 Bustillo, Pedro de. Witness called to testify in lengthy
lawsuit between Isabel de Bobadilla, widow of de Soto, and
Hemando Ponce de Leon.28 Bustillo declared in Sevilla, Spain in
1546, he had known de Soto from 1535 until his death in 1542,
and that he was 35 years of age and from Valladolid. He knew


18