José de Urrutia

José de Urrutia (c. 1678 to 1741) was a Spanish explorer and settler of Texas, who became captain of San Antonio de Béjar Presidio and lived for seven years with several Native American tribes, leading campaigns against their enemies, the Apaches, in East Texas. He "was made" General Captain of all the Native American peoples that were enemies to the Apache nation.

This article is about the Spanish explorer. For the Spanish general, see José de Urrutia y de las Casas.
José de Urrutia
Born1678
Guipuzcoa, Basque Country, Spain
DiedJuly 16, 1741
San Antonio, Texas
NationalitySpanish
OccupationExplorer and captain of San Antonio de Béjar Presidio

Early life

Urrutia was born in Guipuzcoa, Basque Country, Spain around 1678. He became a soldier along his brother Toribio.[1]

Career

Urrutia and his brother participated in the Domingo Teran de los Rios expedition. They settled in Texas sometime before 1691. During this time, Urrutia lived in the barracks that were built near the Neches River.[1] Many of the soldiers who were exploring with Domingo Teran de los Rios left Texas in the winter of 1693, due to the increasing hostility of Texas Amerindians.[2]

Shortly after, José de Urrutia had an accident on the San Marcos River, (scholars now believe it was actually on the Colorado River[1]). His injury,[2] forced him to stay with nearby Native Americans. Three soldiers chose to stay with him. Urrutia lived with the Kanohatinos, Xarames and Tohos tribes for seven years and established important links with them.[1] He earned the respect of these tribes by learning their language and customs.[2] He became "captain General" of all nations hostile to the Apaches, and led several extended campaigns against the Apache [nation].[1] In 1696, he returned to Mexico. There, he held a prominent position in the Spanish military.[2] In 1700, after the founding of Mission San Juan Bautista, he resumed his explorations in Texas.[1]

After settling in San Antonio, Urrutia was named captain of Presidio San Antonio de Bexar on July 23, 1733. His hatred for the Apaches remained, and in the winter of 1739, Urrutia declared another war against them in the San Saba region. Urrutia died on July 16, 1741.[1]

Personal life

On 7 January 1697, Urrutia married Antonia Ramon, with whom he had a daughter, Antonia. The couple were married in the parish church of Santiago Apostol, Monclova, in the state of Coahuila, Mexico. After the death of his first wife during childbirth, Urrutia had a second wife, Rosa Flores, with whom he had four daughters and six sons, including Toribio de Urrutia, who would later become captain of the Presidio de Bexar.[1]

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See also

References
  1. "Urrutia, José de". Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 2 June 2010.
  2. John D. Inclan. "Geneabios:Biographies for Genealogy:Urrutia, José de". Biographies for Genealogy. Retrieved 2 June 2010.
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