Guayanilla in Municipio de Guayanilla, Puerto Rico — The Caribbean (The West Indies)
Villa de Santa María de Guadianilla
[Village of Santa Maria de Guadianilla]
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 7, 2023
1. Villa de Santa María de Guadianilla Marker
La fundación de la Villa de Santa María de Guadianilla (hoy Guayanilla) se remonta al Siglo XVI (1511) y se le atribuye a Don Miguel de Toro. Esta villa tuvo su asentamiento en el Barrio Quebradas con su concejo y administrición munícipe hasta el 1556, año el que la Villa de San Germán se traslado desde el Río Guaorabo de Añasco hasta nuestro pueblo, debido a los constantes ataques de Indios Caribes y Corsarios Franceses, el 12 de mayo de 1571 Don Rodrigo Ortiz Vélez, Alcalde y teniente de Guerra de la Villa de Santa María de Guadianilla, mediante real provisión reúne a los vecinos en el barrio Consejo y traslada a los habitantes a las lomas de Santa Marta en San Germán, siendo así su fundador, primer alcalde y teniente de guerra. Muchos vecinos se negaron al traslado y se quedaron esparcidos en los barrios Consejo, Sierra Baja y Macaná. Fueron ellos los que le dieron significado a nuestra tierra. Entre ellos Don Domingo Pacheco de Matos quien años más tarde, con sus veinte lanceros repelió el ataque holandés el 11 de enero de 1703. Su hijo Don Fernando Pacheco de Matos del Sitio de Guadianilla, fue fundador, primer alcalde y tenienta de Guerra del Pueblo de Yauco el 29 de febrero de 1756. Su crecimiento poblacional y su gran desarrollo económico propulsaron a que el sitio de Guadianilla, representado por sus 28 fundadores, solicitara su indepencia del pueblo de Yauco ante el Gobernador Don Miguel de la Torre. La misma fue concedida el 27 de febrero de 1833. Sirva la presente para honrar la memoria de aquellos moradores que habitaron en uno de los primeros poblados europeos en Puerto Rico, y recordemos con orgullo las palabras del Reverendo José María Nazario y Cancel (padre Nazario), quien señaló lo siguiente:
"En el 1876 fui nombrado párroco de Guayanilla. Dede los primeros años de mi residencia en aquella comarca descubrí el derecho que, por sus antecedentes, tiene Guayanilla a figurar rodeada de honor en la historia de Puerto Rico, puesto que; a su puerto arribó el gran Cristóbal Colón; en sus cercanías vivió Aguebana; en sus cercanías se fundó la Antigua Guaydía, primera población de los Españoles en esta isla.
The Village of Santa María de Guadianilla (today Guayanilla) dates back to the 16th century (1511) and is attributed to Miguel de Toro. This town's first settlement was in the Quebradas neighborhood with its council and municipal administration until 1556, when the town of San Germán was transferred from the Guaorabo de Añasco River to our town because of the constant attacks of Caribbean Indians and French Corsairs. On May 12, 1571 Rodrigo Ortiz Vélez, Mayor and lieutenant to War of the Villa de Santa María de Guadianilla, by means of a royal provision, reunited the residents in the neighborhood and relocated the inhabitants to the hills of Santa Marta in San Germán. Hence, he was its founder, first mayor and lieutenant to war. Many residents refused to be move and remained scattered in the council, Sierra Baja and Macaná neighborhoods. They were the ones who gave meaning to our land. Among them Domingo Pacheco de Matos who years later, with his twenty lancers, repelled the Dutch attack on January 11, 1703. His son Don Fernando Pacheco de Matos of the Guadianilla Site, was founder, first mayor and lieutenant of the War of Yauco on February 29, 1756. Its growth and its great economic development propelled the Guadianilla site, represented by its 28 founders, to request its independence from the town of Yauco from Governor Miguel de la Torre. Independence was granted on February 27, 1833. May this plaque serve to honor the memory of those inhabitants who lived in one of the first European settlements in Puerto Rico, and let us remember with pride the words of the Reverend José María Nazario y Cancel (Father Nazario), who noted the following:
"In 1876 I was appointed parish priest of Guayanilla. From the first years of my residence in that region I discovered that Guayanilla has to appear surrounded by honor in the history of Puerto Rico. In its port, the great Christopher Colombus arrived; Aguebana lived nearby; Antigua Guaydía was founded nearby, the first Spanish town on this island.
Erected 2023
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Settlements & Settlers • Wars, Non-US • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical date for this entry is January 11, 1703.
Location. 18° 1.057′ N, 66° 47.389′ W. Marker is in Guayanilla in Municipio de Guayanilla, Puerto Rico. It is on Calle Luis Munoz Rivera (Puerto Rico Route 127) south of Calle Concepcion, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Calle Luis Munoz Rivera 6, Guayanilla PR 00656, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on Puerto Rico’s Southern Coastal Zone. Globally, it is one of the Greater Antilles on the Caribbean Sea, on in the Atlantic Ocean, in North America, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a Spanish colony.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Luis Muñoz Marin (within shouting distance of this marker); Veteranos Guayanillenses
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 7, 2023
2. Villa de Santa María de Guadianilla Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on August 2, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 14, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 975 times since then and 99 times this year. Last updated on August 1, 2024, by Rafael Escobar of Jacksonville, Florida. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 14, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
