Los Sobrevivientes de La Florida


land he engaged in several discoveries and expeditions over a
period of five years until he abandoned it and left for Panuco and
Mexico, the latter being his place of residence in the years of his
declarations. On both occasions he signed his testimonies, adding
that he was born around 1514.127 Garcilaso de la Vega mentions a
Silvera from Galicia, calling him in one instance Francisco and in
another Hernando.128 Hernandez de Biedma lists a Silvera,
Galician, among the survivors, Smith-298. On a third occasion,
Silvera testified he was the son of Rui de Silvera and Teresa
Rodriguez de Sejas, residents of San Payo (?) which is in Galicia.
He added he went from Spain to Cuba with Bishop Diego
Sarmiento, from which he continued with Hemando de Soto to
Florida.129

 Silvestre, Gonzalo. In 1558, Silvestre requested permission
from the authorities of Valladolid, Spain, to make a probanza of
the services he rendered to the Crown in Peru, New Spain and
Florida. Once obtained, he presented an interrogatory to the
witnesses that he gathered in Valladolid, Badajoz, and Ciudad
Rodrigo. In essence, he indicated that he was a citizen of Villa de
Herrera, and that he went to Florida with Hernando de Soto in
1538, well equipped with arms and horses, where he remained for
several years. Afterwards he reached New Spain and in 1544 he
departed for Peru. In this province he took part, under Captain
Diego Centeno, in the battle against the rebel Gonzalo Pizarro as
well as in the final battle of Xaquixaguana where Pizarro was
defeated and killed. Finally, he took part, with Gonzalo de
Alvarado, in opposing and vanquishing the forces of the rebel
Francisco Hemandez Giron.130 Gonzalo was the son of Gonzalo
Silvestre and Isabel Morena, citizens of Alcantara, SR-319. He
was mentioned so many times by Garcilaso de la Vega that he is
believed to be the person who supplied this chronicler with most of
his information.131


 Soria, Pedro de. Son of Juan de Soria and Ana, residents of
Oropesa, SR-296. He is listed as a survivor from Castilla la Vieja
by Hemandez de Biedma, Smith-296.


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