Tejano History

Galvan, Juan

Galvan, Juan

Tejanos |

       GALVÁN, JUAN (?–?). Juan Galván, soldier and explorer, began his military career around 1710, and by the early 1720s he was stationed at San Antonio de Béxar. In 1723 he married Francisca Xaviera Maldonado, the daughter of Sgt. Francisco Xavier and Agueda Ximénez (Gill) Maldonado of San Antonio; Galván and his wife had ten children. In 1734 he served as alferez at San Antonio. On March 13, 1748, in accordance with his orders to take command of San Francisco Xavier de Gigedo Presidio, Galván arrived at the San Xavier missions with thirty men borrowed from the presidios of Los Adaes and La Bahía. His initial report, which gave the first description of San Xavier, stated that there were so many Indians that thirty men were not enough to protect the three missions, and it recommended the establishment of a presidio with fifty soldiers. In June 1749 Galván returned to Bexar to testify before Governor Pedro del Barrio Junco y Espriellaqv as to the suitability of the San Xavier (San Gabriel) valley for settlement. When the governor decided to investigate the region personally, he had Galván accompany him. 

 

Full article on the Texas State Historical Association's Handbook of Texas Online

   Courtesy of the Texas State Historical Association.