The first mention of la Angostura was in the property documents of Frenchman Francisco Espaillat. He purchased the property described as "Tierras la Angostura" in 1764 from Pedro Jesús Paredes along with a house in the city of Santiago for 2,000 pesos. The industry of this land was sugar, indigo, and cattle. There was also tobacco farming in the area which continued into the 20th century. On Espaillat's land there was a hospital, pharmacy, and jail along with a host of other buildings. Espaillat used slave labor on this property with 8 individuals being accounted for in a description of the property and many more appearing during an inspection of slaves that were unaccounted for taxation.

During the Era de Francia, Espaillat and his family beifly relocated to Puerto Rico where he would die while leaving instructions to his employees to manage his property. Eventually the Espaillat family returned, but it seems that they no longer had the massive influence in Angostura as previously. It is uncertain if they sold this property all at once, if it was confiscated and redistributed, or if it was sold in parts the local families that would come to inhabit it. The next mention of Angostura is in the 1826 dispensation of Manuel Núñez and María Bonifacia Fernández. Here it states Manuel inherited land in Angostura from his father Felipe.

"dijo: que tiene diez reses que ha heredado de su padre y sinquenta pesos de tierra en Langostura"

Evidently, Felipe Núñez de los Reyes owned land in la Angostura before his death with other close relative living in the same area. My personal theory on what happened is that the Espaillat family sold land in parts to local white workers and these families spread their influence south of the city from places like Arroyo Hondo. Eventually the families like the Núñez would go as far south as Baitoa, following a southern migration path away from the city of Santiago.

The population of Angostura Arriba was 251 and the population of Angostura Abajo was 304 totaling 555 people. The mayors were Juan Espinal and Manuel Núñez. In 1882 there were 67 houses in Angostura Abajo with Alfonso Vidal and 56 houses in Angostura Arriba with Juan Espinal still serving as Alcalde.

Alcaldes and Census

• 1875 - Manuel Núñez (Angostura Abajo)

  • Hombres 71

  • Mujeres 50

  • Niños 99

  • Niñas 84

  • Total 304

• 1875 - Juan Espinal (Angostura Arriba)

  • Hombres 61

  • Mujeres 49

  • Niños 67

  • Niñas 74

  • Total 251

• 1882 - Alfonso Vidal (Angostura Abajo)

  • Casas 67

• 1882 - Juan Espinal (Angostura Arriba)

  • Casas 56

Genao

The brother Toribio and Tomás Genao came to la Angostura and left descendants who mainly settled in López.

Núñez

The Núñez family first resided in la Angostura during the generation of Felipe Núñez de los Reyes. He and his brother Juan left descendants in the area.

Payán

The Payán (later Payamps) family resided in la Angostura after having migrated from the north western part of Santiago. The first record of this family has a Bruno Pallan living in Licey in 1776, a branch of the family mingled with the Estrella in Canabacoa and followed a migration path along the outskirts of the city of Santiago until they reached La Noriega and Angostura. in they early 1800s. Other branches went out further to Los Montones, San José de las Matas before coming to live with their cousins in Angostura.

• 07 Oct 1875 - Jertrudis Reyes

• 05 Jan 1876 - Seledonio Pallan Peres

• 12 Mar 1876 - Maria Ramona Pallan Peres

• 05 Apr 1876 - José Pallan Estrella

• 29 Apr 1876 - Manuel de Jesus Buldié Buldié

• 18 Jul 1879 - Ramón Perez

• 30 Nov 1879 - Domitila de Jesus Payan Nuñez

• 03 May 1880 - Sista Perez Dominguez

• Elites y grupos de poder: Los Hacendados de Santo Domingo (1750-1795) by Ruth Torres Agudo