Slavery in Yauco

Coffee plantation in Yauco.

Slavery's Origins in Puerto Rico

The archive of Church records in Yauco provide details on the baptisms, marriages, and deaths of slaves living in the municipality starting in 1752 until the abolition of slavery in March 22, 1873. Puerto Rico's history of slavery began with Spanish colonization and its use of Taíno people as slaves. Due to a lack of immunity to diseases like smallpox and the inhumane conditions which caused many Taíno to commit suicide using poisonous yucca juice, Bartolomé de las Casas made a case against the use of natives as slaves in 1512. In his case against the enslavement of the natives, de las Casas suggested the use of African slaves instead of natives. In 1517, the Spanish Crown permitted the first importation of African slaves to the colonies thus beginning the slave trade.

Slaver Owners and their Slaves (1700s)

Doña Apolonia Borrero

Doña Isabel Borrero

Doña María Borrero

Doña María de la Candelaria

Juan Cintrón

Francisco Collazo

Paula Collazo

Sargento reformado Don Antonio López de Victoria

Capellán Don José López de Victoria

Don Nicolás Lorenzo de Figueroa

Guillermo de Lugo

Manuel Muñiz Suárez

Pedro Muñiz Suárez

Teniente de Capitán Don Juan Ortiz de la Renta

Teniente á Guerra Don Fernando Pacheco de Matos

Teniente de Capitán Don José Pacheco

Alférez Don Manuel Pagán

Carlos de Rivera

Doña Isabel de Rivera

Antonio Rodríguez de la Seda

Alférez reformado Antonio Rodríguez de la Seda

Diego Rodríguez de la Seda

Dionicio Rodríguez

Alférez reformado Don Domingo Rodríguez de la Seda

Capitán Don Domingo Rodríguez de la Seda

Isidro Rodríguez de la Seda

Alférez Miguel Rodríguez de la Seda

Nicolás Rodríguez de la Seda

Juan Ruiz Machado

Ana Sánchez de Cadiz

Capitán Andrés de Torres y Figueroa

Sargento Mayor reformado Don José de Torres y Figueroa

Ayudante Don José de Torres y Figueroa

Don Francisco de Montalvo