Part TwoStruggle and Survival

By Hannah Shipps

Antonio de Gouveia 1508 - 1575 Spain Azorean Male Priest

When he was about 20 years old, Antonio was ordained to the holy priesthood. A few years later, he was shipwrecked near Barcelona. He turned to medicine as a means of earning money. From this point on in his life, Antonio was repeatedly arrested on charges of superstition and witchcraft. He continued to try his hand at many different occupations throughout his life.

Enrico Martinez 1557 – 1632 Mexico City German Male Printer and engineer

Martinez was raised as a printer in Seville and studied physical sciences in North Europe during his teens. He then moved to Mexico City where he worked as a translator and a printer. The Inquisition caused him to become more successful, but also limited him in what he could print. In 1607, Martinez was hired to create a drainage canal for the city, but his efforts were largely unsuccessful.

Miguel Hernandez Middle of 16th century Mulatto Mexico Male Muleteer

Hernandez moved to Queretaro and began building his own freighting business. He carried wool, cloth and other goods on his mules. Despite prejudice against mixed-bloods during this time, Hernandez became very successful, eventually earning the title ‘master of mule trains’.

Hernando de Valencia 1572 – 1635? European Spain Male Tax promoter

As a teenager, Valencia was apprenticed as a policeman. He soon became a police recorder which, while it was still a lowly job, gave him access to men of high society. In 1631, he was sent to Lima to extort revenues from the wealthy Spanish Americans. He met with many defeats until someone finally adopted the arbitrio on vineyards. He was later caught up in many scandals and eventually tried to flee to Spain.

Francisco Baquero 1748 – 1810 Mestizo Buenos Aires Male Shoemaker

At 12 years of age, Baquero left his parents’ home and became an apprentice shoemaker. He later started a shop, but it remained very small. These circumstances encouraged him to support the efforts to create a guild. However, the guild that was created had a lot of racial discrimination in its constitution. Baquero worked to remove this discrimination, but was ultimately unsuccessful.

Damiana da Cunha Early 19th century Caiapo Indian Goias Female Catechist

An Indian heroine who had been baptized and given a Christian name, Cunha spent a few years living as a hostage among the Portuguese. She learned their language, adopted their religion, and had even married two outsiders in succession. Yet at the same time, she held a position of respect among the Caiapo. Throughout her life, she encouraged her people to adapt to the settled way of life and become Christians.