Submitted by : William Richard (Bill) Swearingen, Cousin of Troy DeSoto,
924 South Oak St, Bellville, TX 77418 BSWEAR@HAL-PC.ORG

Timeline of Manuel Antonio de Soto y Bermudez
b. 11-Jan-1720 in Spain & d. September, 1799 in Louisiana
Compiled by : Troy DeSoto, Baton Rouge, LA From Archives
in Spain, Summer of 2002, Plus Archives in Texas and Mexico

1693 June 28 Manuel's mother is baptized Maria Josepha, daughter of secretario Alexandro Suarez and Venitta Megia (Benita Mexia) in San Juan Dorron, Galicia, Spain. San Juan Dorron, near Sanxenxo, is about 10km west of Pontevedra, on the north side of the bay into which the Pontevedra River flows.

1720 January 11 Manuel is born and baptized Manuel Antonio, son of Josepha Suarez de Saavedra and father unknown in San Juan Dorron.

1734 August 16 Baptism of Marie des Neges (future wife of Manuel de Soto), born, August, daughter of Messire Louis de St. Denys, Commandant of the post and Dame Emmanuele Sanches de Navarre, at Natchitoches.

1738 January 19 Manuel's grandmother (his mother's mother, Venitta Megia) / Benita Megia, receives Last Rights Sacraments in San Juan Dorron.

1738 There is a potential reference to Manuel's father, Domingo Antonio de Soto Bermudez, in the Mexican National Archives regarding "exhibe 3,000 pesos de una capellania" in Mexico City.

1739 April 24 Manuel's mother, Maria Josepha Saavedra Mexia y Balboa, claims Manuel Antonio's father as Domingo Antonio de Soto Bermudez y Aldao, who is said to be in the Indias (Americas), in San Juan Dorron.

1739 June 8 Manuel's grandfather (his mother's father), Alexandro Suarez, Escribano (notary), is given Last Rights Sacraments in San Juan Dorron.

1750 November 5 Baptism of Marie Eleanore, daughter of Marie des Neiges de St. Denis (future wife of Manuel DeSoto), and a father unknown or not given, in Natchitoches.

1751 June 23 Manuel witnesses a document by Governor Jacinto Barrios's decree at San Xavier (Gabriel) providing for restitution of 17 soldiers at San Xavier to Los Adaes.

1751 July 20 to October 12 - Manuel is witness to Barrios' investigation at Los Adaes of contraband trade with the French.

1751 December 31 Manuel is witness to a Power of Attorney of soldiers of Los Adaes authorizing Diego Antonio Giraud to collect their salaries for 1751.

1752 February 21 to September 30 Manuel is witness to Barrios' proceedings at Los Adaes for the investigation of the murders at San Xavier (Gabriel) of Father Fransisco Joseph Ganzabal and Juan Joseph Zains de Zeballos.

1752 July 17 Manuel is appointed Judge at Los Adaes to the case of the above said murders.

1753 January 15 Manuel makes a written protest against don Jacinto, Lieutenant Colonel and Captain General of the Province of Texas to Cesar de Blanc at Natchitoches.

1753 September 27 According to the Information following (see 1754), Manuel drew up a petition of several residents/soldiers at Los Adaes against Governor Barrios at this time then took refuge at the Mission of Los Aiys en route to Natchitoches.

1753 or later There is a potential reference to Manuel's father, Domingo de Soto Bermudez, regarding some books being held at the Royal Customs and that he requests them to be returned. Included in the books is 11 Volumes a Breviard of Antwerp, and Volume 4 of the work of Cartas Eruditas of Reverendisimo Maestro Feijoo (Cartas Euditas y cuiosas? By Fray Benito Jeromino Feijoo?), in the Mexican National Archives. Although no date is mentioned on the abstract available online, the date of 1753 or later is assumed because Cartas is reported to have been written in 1753.

1754 May 20 Manuel petitions Cesar de Blanc, Commandant at Natchitoches, to marry Maria Nieges de San Denis.

1754 June 2 Manuel marries Marie de Niege de St. Denis at Natchitoches and states himself to be the Legitimate son of Dominique Bermuedes (Domingo Bermudez) and Marie Josepha de Suerda (Maria Josepha de Suarez of de Saavedra), and claims to be a native of St. Jean Dorron, of the Archbishopric of St. Jacque (Santiago de Compostela) de Galisce (Galicia, not Gritierce as mistranslated in Elizabeth Mill's work), Kingdom of Spain.

1754 September 10 A letter from Louisiana Governor Marquis Kerlerec to Jacinto de Barrios, Governor of Tejas and New Philippines, refers to having received a letter via de Mezieres from Barrios in August 1753, which contained a complaint related to de Soto.

1754 September 10 to October 14 Information held by Governor Jacinto de Barrios y Juaregui at Los Adaes on the subject of Manuel's subversive activities.

1756 January 20 In the proceedings against Chirino, Loyosa, Esparaza, and Manuel de Soto for desertion from Los Adaes, Marquez de Aranda orders the governor of the Province of Texas (Barrios) to effect the capture and transport of de Soto to the Royal Prison in Mexico. De Soto is accused of being the principal instigator of some disturbances which occurred at Los Adaes and especially of the petition which was made by various residents that defamed Governor Barrios. It is said that de Soto has deserted to Natchitos.

1756 February 4 In the proceedings in connection with the prosecution of four Frenchmen for trading with Indians and entering the territory of New Spain, it is mentioned that the French Governor had proposed to Barrios that they draw up a reciprocal cartel providing for the mutual exchange of deserters as a consequence of Manuel de Soto's having deserted from Texas and gone to the house of Madam San Denis.

1756 February 23 The Marquis de las Amarillas (Viceroy of New Spain) references the proceedings forwarded by Barrios to Amarillas' predecessor (should be Francisco de Guemes y Horcasitas, Conde de Revilla Gigedo I) with letters of November 30, 1754 (the information above) and February 3, 1755 concerning the desertion of Manuel Gomez (mistake ?) de Soto to Nachitos. Amarillas asks Barrios to execute the proceedings possible for arresting de Soto and sending him to the prison of Mexico.

1756 May 27 Baptism of Marie Emmanuel de Soto, born May 11, daughter of Manuel and Marie, at Natchitoches.

1758 February 3 Baptism of Antoine Marcel de Soto, born January 16, son of Manuel and Marie, at Natchitoches.

1759 May 5 Manuel's mother, Josepha Suarez, receives the Last Rights Sacraments in San Juan Dorron. Manuel Antonio is named as sole heir and is said to be in the Indias (America).

1759 May 15 Manuel is mentioned with respect to three private Power of Attorneys with Mr. De Blanc a Natchitoches.

1759 November 12 Land donation by de Soto to Widow Catin, Negress at Natchitoches.

1759 December 29 Land sale by de Soto to Sr. Prodhomme at Natchitoches.

1760 January 24 In the proceedings of the public and secret residencia held for Lt. Colonel Don Jacinto de Barrios y Juaregui for the period of his administration as Governor of Texas are several documents related to de Soto that were included from the Archives, including : No. 21, a dispatch and mandatory letter relative to the imprisonment of de Soto on five pages. No. 42, an official sumaria held by idem against de Soto on eight pages. No. 60, certified copy of the proceedings held by Thorobio de Urrutia and Manuel de Soto Bermudez for the investigation of the two murders which occurred at San Xabier, and No. 123, proceedings executed by de Soto by order of Barrios, copy of originals forwarded to the superior government.

1760 February 6 Baptism of Marie Josephe Damasene de Soto Bermudez, daughter of Manuel and Marie, at Natchitoches.

1760 February 10 Document signed by Marie and Manuel de Soto.

1760 March 4 Sale of a negro by de Soto to Sr. Borme at Natchitoches.

1761 March 26 to May 20 Francisco Vallejo, Jose Francisco Caro and Jose Calahorra y Sanz give testimony on de Soto's activities at the Mission of San Miguel de los Adais, Ais.

1761 October 23 Baptism of Louis Joseph Firmin, son of Manuel and Marie, at Natchitoches.

1763 March 21 to April 8 Manuel requests pardon at Los Adaes.

1763 July 14 Power of Attorney, Mr. St. Denis to de Soto at Natchitoches.

1763 Manuel is declared free and absolved of the charges imputed against him by the Most Excellent Senor Viceroy of this Kingdom (should be Joaquin de Montserrat, Marques de Cruillas) by virtue of his appeal and other proceedings recorded.

1763 September 19 Baptism of Joseph Francois de Soto, son of Manuel and Marie, at Natchitoches.

1763 December 22 Baptism of Eulalie Marie Anne de Soto, daughter of Manuel and Marie, at Natchitoches.

1764 January 12 to 16 Requests that decrees ordering his restitution to former status be published at Los Adaes.

1766 January 27 Manuel Soto appears in the census of Natchitoches with one married woman, or widower, 3 boys, 3 girls, 1 free mulatto man, 4 female negro slaves, 2 young negro boys, 4 young negro girls, 1 firearm, 10 horned cattle, 2 horses, mares, or mules, and 6 hogs.

1766 October 4 Requests to be reimbursed for expenses before the Recorder's Court, presumably in New Orleans, of what apparently was a trip from Natchitoches to New Orleans and back. He arrived in the morning this day in New Orleans with family, four other men, and five slaves in accordance with a written agreement with Honorable Ulloa. The slaves apparently belonged to a Mr. Dauterive.

1766 Baptism of Severine Antoine Gertrude de Soto, Born on the 11th
of same month, daughter of Manuel and Marie, at Natchitoches. Manuel is said to be absent.

1767 June 15 Return of a negro by de Soto at the request of Sr. Roble at Natchitoches.

1768 May 12 - 17 In the proceedings of the case against Andres Chirinos, Chirinos accuses de Soto of "depraved malice" in Chirinos' petition for a new trial received by Governor Hugo O'Connor at Los Adaes. He also claims de Soto owed him 100 pesos and that de Soto acted as a "director" for Governor Anguel de Martos, who was said to be on his visita at San Antonio. It appears that this petition was made at least one year and seven months after events involving the arrest of Chirinos. This arrest was apparently carried out with the involvement of de Soto and Juan Prieto, deputy to Governor Angel de Martos y Navarrete, who was Governor of Texas Province from 1759 - 1767.

1768 In a letter from Louisiana Governor Ulloa (Spanish Governor) to the
Texas Governor O'Connor, Ulloa mentions a letter from O'Connor, of which he received a copy from Melchor Afan de River of Orcoquisa, which claimed de Soto and some Frenchmen incited some Indians to take up arms. Ulloa states that a request for the arrest of de Soto must come with an investigation (summaria). He also states that Louis de Sandenis on December 31, 1767, reported to Ulloa that a Frenchman named DeBuche was on his way to take merchandise to some Indian nations when he was arrested and driven back by O'Connor at the residence of Bermudez (de Soto).

1769 April 5 to 1770, January 29, July 24, and August 8 Papers relating to Croix's (Carlos Francisco de Croix, Marques de Croix, Viceroy of New Spain?) order for de Soto's arrest and transfer to Mexico City.

1769 September 11 Petition for land by Marie, de Soto's wife, at Natchitoches.

1769 December 10 In a letter from O'Reilly, Spanish Governor of Louisiana, to Juan Julian de Arriaga, Ministro General de Indias, O'Reilly states that the "Viceroy of New Spain has send me a legal order requesting the arrest of Don Manuel Bermudez de Soto, secretary of the former Governor of the Province of Texas (could be Barrios or Martos y Navarrete). This man Bermudez, knew the province well and had many friend there, but none of whom however, was of any help to him. Due to my orders he was arrested and delivered to the Commander of the Presidio of Adaes."

1770 Order of the Governor of the Province of Texas (should be O'Connor of Juan Maria, Baron de Ripperda) for the apprehension of de Soto related to a fire at the Presidio of San Augustin de Ahumada in Texas - Mexican National Archives

1771 December 17 A document recording the sales of three slaves by Marie Jucherau de Saine denys, spouse of Manuel de Soto Bermez at Natchitoches notes that de Soto was absent from Natchitoches and in Mexico City by order of O'Reilly.

1774, 1776 Natchitoches records involving Marie, de Soto's wife.

1778 Manuel de Soto appears on the American Revolutionary War Rolls

1779 June 4 Proceedings of Louis Diard against Mr. And Dame Manuel Soto of Natchitoches.

1779 July 29 Sale of a Negress named Marie Thereze ditte Coin Coin by Mdme. Don Manuel De Soto to Sr. Mettoyer at Natchitoches.

1780 A survey by one Trudeau indicates that de Soto owned land near Bayou
Lafourche, Acadia.

1781 February 12 Registration of several notes belonging to Mr. Borme, made by Sr. Soto at Natchitoches.

1783 April 4 Statement of Marie, Manuel's wife, refusing to obey an order of the Commandant at Natchitoches.

1791 Later claims by de Soto representatives on December 21, 1813, claim
that 640 arpents in Pine Prairie was cultivated by him since this year.

1793 May 9 A letter is addressed from Athanaze Poissot, son-in-law, to Marie and Manuel at Bayou Chicot.

1794 de Soto appears in documents of the Natchitoches French Archives.

1797 August 10 Marie, wife of Manuel, is given Ecclesiastical Burial, records of St. Landry Catholic Church in Opelousas, LA.

1799 September 26 Manuel is given Ecclesiastical Burial, records of St. Landry Catholic Church in Opelousas, LA.