Former House and Store of Leading San Antonio Citizen Don Angel Navarro

Contributed by Jade Evenstad

Don Angel Navarro

"I came here as a merchant to this Presidio of San Antonio de Bexar"

Don Angel Navarro, originally from Corsica, was a prominent merchant and citizen in early San Antonio upon settling there in 1777 after a series of moves around Europe and the United States. He served as the town's first elected alcalde in 1790 and donated funds to city projects, including the cemetery he was eventually buried in. Don Angel Navarro built a house and shop on the corner of Flores and Presidio (now Commerce St) in what is downtown San Antonio today. Navarro was also a slaveholder, and one of his slaves, Maria Gertrudis de la Peña, sued for her freedom in 1785 on the basis that she was an Indian and could not be enslaved. After eight years of slavery and being passed between masters, she ended up in San Antonio at the house of Don Angel Navarro and was promised her freedom after three years of servitude. After enduring abuse from the Navarro family, de la Peña was freed after winning her case. Don Angel Navarro was also involved in a lawsuit of his own 10 years later (April 21,1795) in which he demanded that the San Jose Mission make payments towards the the loan he gave them in the amount of 745 pesos.

"qualification of the Justice with which I demand the Mission of San Jose in the aforementioned Province, the payment of seven hundred and forty five pesos"

References

Proceedings considering the freedom of Maria Gertrudis de la Peña, 2/11/1768, Béxar Archives, Box 2C22, Volume 45.

Notable Men and Women of Spanish Texas by Donald E. Chipman and Harriett Denise Joseph

https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fna17

http://www.thc.texas.gov/historic-sites/casa-navarro/history/angel-navarro-corsicans-journey-bexar

http://www.cah.utexas.edu/projects/bexar/image_lg.php?doc=e_bx_006593&rel=e_bx_009728

http://www.cah.utexas.edu/projects/bexar/gallery_doc.php?doc=e_bx_011074