Tejano History
Martinez Pacheco, Rafael
Tejanos |
MARTÍNEZ PACHECO, RAFAEL (?–?). In 1759 Rafael Martínez Pacheco, presidio commander and government official, petitioned the viceroy of New Spain for a post in Texas, where he said he had had experience in helping Diego Ortiz Parrilla move the San Francisco Xavier de Gigedo Presidio from the San Marcos River to the San Saba in 1757. Martínez claimed to have recruited families to settle at San Saba and to have served as conductor of supplies and horses for San Antonio de Béxar Presidio. On November 23, 1763, he was appointed commander of San Agustín de Ahumada Presidio, on the lower Trinity River. His inadequate work and failure to report antagonized Governor Ángel de Martos y Navarrete, who ordered the removal of the presidio to Los Horconcitos and eventually ordered Martínez's arrest. In the ensuing conflict the presidio was burned, and Martínez fled to La Bahía and San Antonio.
Full article on the Texas State Historical Association's Handbook of Texas Online