Los Sobrevivientes de La Florida


was involved in all that took place at that time. Specifically, when
asked if it was true that after arriving at a marsh, which took three
days to cross while going without food, they arrived at a province
called Ocal, where food was found, she answered: That she
remembered crossing that swamp, there being much water in
it...which they went through with much labor in three days, but
does not recall if they passed the time without food. She continued
assenting to most of the questions, answering to one that she saw
the Indians kill Don Carlos, her master, and that Alfonso Vazquez
was wounded by an arrow in an ankle and was a long time lame.
She also testified that they went from Florida to Mexico, wearing
skins. Lastly, she did not sign her declarations for she stated she
could not write.

 Mendez de Sotomayor, Gonzalo. This conqueror made his
probanza in February of 1560, in the city of Tenochtitlan, New
Spain. He embarked in Sevilla in de Soto's armada carrying his
arms and horses on to Florida. There Mendez served for five years.
In the Apalache region, de Soto placed him in command of 30 men
whose mission was to reconnoiter a port about 100 leagues away.
The task was accomplished after many hardships. After Florida,
Mendez went to Mexico where he settled. In his probanza, Mendez
asked the witnesses to verify that he and his father, Cristobal
Mendez de Sotomayor, who had been a justicia mayor in M6rida,
were hijodalgos or of noble origin.81 One year later Mendez
appeared as a witness in the probanza of Garcia Osorio, another
survivor who stayed in Mexico. In it Mendez declared that he was
a trader, a resident of Mexico City, and 36 years of age. He added
that he had known Osorio before arriving in Florida. Both had
remained several years, and there he witnessed the natural death of
Francisco, a brother of Osorio. He signed his deposition.82
Gonzalo Mendez was a son of Cristobal Mendez and Leonor
Vazquez, citizens of Villanueva de Barcarrota, SR-319. His name
is included in the list of survivors as from Villanueva, Smith-393.

 Mesa, Juan de. Survivor from Sevilla, Smith-292.

 Miguel. Survivor from Vizcaya, Smith-297.


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