A free girl of color in Pensacola, Florida.
Born 8 March 1817. Race was not recorded.
Baptized 20 April 1817 by Father James Coleman at St. Michael’s Parish (Spanish Pensacola). Mother was Catarina, a free morena (mixed race) woman. Father was listed as unknown in baptismal record (this usually meant the father was unwilling or unable to acknowledge the child). Sponsors were Bartolome Galves and Luisa Garzon.
I suspect the child Bernarda, born 9 December 1820 and baptized by Father Coleman on 20 December 1820, is her sister. Bernarda’s mother was also identified as Catarina, a quarterona, or quadroon. Bernarda’s sponsors were Bernardo Pargas and Constanza Bernardo. The father was, again, no conocido.
Without a surname, and without Catarina being listed as the head of her own household in 1830 or 1840, it is difficult to identify her or her daughters after 1820.
FAMILY:
Mother: Catarina
Sister (possible): Bernarda
SOURCES:
Records of St. Michael’s Parish, Pensacola, FL, Book III: Baptisms of People of Color, 1817 – 1882. University of West Florida Archives and West Florida History Center. 22 SEP 2021.