Miguel Eslava 1740-1823: The Eslava Family in Mobile, Alabama, Spanish Colonial Mobile 1780-1813 // Miguel Eslava 1740-1823 y la Familia Eslava en Mobile, Alabama, durante la epoca Colonial Espanola en Mobile 1780-1813.

Miguel Eslava 1740-1823: The Eslava Family in Mobile, Alabama, Spanish Colonial Mobile 1780-1813.

The Eslava family originated in Alabama, with Miguel Deciderio Eslava (born July 10th, 1740, San Sebastian, Spain, died September 17th, 1823), son of Tomas De Eslava and Maria Giron. He served in the Office of The Royal Treasurer at Mexico City, and in 1782 was transferred to Natchez, Mississippi, then a Spanish possession, where he purchased a home and land. He was retransferred to Mobile, in 1784, where he served as Royal Treasurer and Custom's Collector. Miguel served in the Spanish Colonial Militia and by 1802, had reached the rank, of Captain. He was described while living as a "tall soldierly man, without a beard and with auburn hair". He was fluent in Spanish, French, English and the Native American Mobilian Trade Jargon. These 4 languages we know he spoke because we have written record's attesting to the fact but although born in the Basque Country of Spain, there is no record of him being able to speak Basque or any mention of him ever using the language, so perhaps he did or perhaps he didn't, one thing is for certain, he seems to have had a "gift" for learning various languages, so the possibility is very strong that in the least he was a "passive bilingual" or a semi-speaker of Basque, as both his parent's were of Basque origin.

He eventually became a large landowner, in Alabama and married Hypolite Francoise Alexandre (born 1767, died January 30th, 1849), daughter of Jean Baptiste Alexandre Jr. (born 1734, son of Jean Baptiste Alexandre Sr. and Francoise Hypolite Baudin, 1716-1744) and Catalina Angelica Loisel (daughter of Pierre Paul Loisel and Marie De Nial).

Eslava Street, Eslava Lane, Eslava Creek, Eslava Creek Parkway, in Mobile, are all named after this family, as are Eslava Drive, in Foley, Alabama and Eslava Circle, in Lillian, Alabama. The Eslava surname originated in the Village of Eslava, Navarra, Spain and is Basque, in origin. Miguel and Hypolite are both buried in Church Street Cemetery, in the famous Eslava Tomb, in downtown Mobile, Alabama.

The Spanish Colonial Period, in Alabama left many imprint's, on Mobile and Baldwin Counties, including a handful, of legend's, one of which deals specifically, with Miguel Eslava. There are many descendants of Miguel and Hypolite in Mobile and Baldwin Counties both with the name Eslava and those who "daughtered out" the name, as well as other location's along the Gulf Coast and the United States. There are also collateral descendants of Miguel Eslava via his family, in both Spain and Cuba (and among Cuban Exiles). /// You can listen to the radio show episode I did on Miguel Eslava by clicking on this link  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rosales-history-of-the-south/2010/09/15/rosales-history-of-the-south-la-historia-del-sur-p, I hope you enjoy it. 

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Miguel Eslava 1740-1823 y la Familia Eslava en Mobile, Alabama, durante la epoca Colonial Espanola en Mobile 1780-1813.

La familia Eslava originó en Alabama con Miguel Deciderio Eslava (nacido el 10 de Julio, 1740, San Sebastián, España, falleció Septiembre 17, 1823), hijo de Tomás de Eslava y Maria Girón. Sirvió en la Oficina de la Tesoreria Real de la Ciudad de México y en 1782 fué transferido a Natchez, Mississippi, entonces una posesión española, donde el compró una casa y terrenos. Fué transferido a Mobile en 1784, donde sirvió como Tesorero Real y Colector de Aduanas. Miguel sirvió en la Milicia Colonial Española y para 1802 habia alcanzado el rango de Capitán. Fué descrito como un "hombre alto de porte militar, sin barba y con pelo castaño." Era fluido en Español, Francés, Inglés y la Nativa American Mobilian Jerga comercial. Sabemo que hablaba estos 4 idiomas porque tenemos records escritos, pero a pesar de que nació en la región Vasca de España, no hay ningún record que él hablara el idioma o que alguna vez lo usara. Asi que quizás lo hablaba , pero algo es cierto, parecia tener un "don" para aprender varios idiomas pero existe la fuerte posibilidad de que el era un " bilingue pasivo" o medio hablante ya que sus padres eran de origen Vasco.

Eventualmente llegó a ser un gran terrateniente en Alabama y se casó con Hypolite Francoise Alexander (nacida en 1767 y fallecida Enero 30, 1849) hija de Jean Baptist Alexander Jr. (nacido en 1734, hijo de Jean Baptist Alexander Sr. y Francois Hypolite Boudin, 1717-1744) y Catalina Angélica Loisel (hija de Pierre Paul Loisel y Marie de Nial).

Eslava Street, Eslava Creek, Eslava Lane and Eslava Creek Parkway en Mobile, son nombradas por esta familia, asi como Eslava Drive en Foley, Alabama y Eslava Circle en Lillian, Alabama. El apellido Eslava originó en la Villa de Eslava, Navarra, España y es de origen Vasco. Miguel é Hypólita están enterrados en la famosa Tumba Eslava en el Cementerio de Church Street en el centro de Mobile.

El período Colonial Español dejó muchas huellas en Alabama, en los condados de Mobile y Baldwin, incluyendo un puñado de leyendas, una de las cuales trata especificamente con Miguel Eslava. Hay muchos descendientes de Miguel é Hipólita en los condados de Mobile y Baldwin con el nombre de Eslava y los que "daughteredout" (repartieron, crearon) el nombre en otras localidades a lo largo de la Costa del Golfo y los Estados Unidos. Hay también descendientes colaterales de Miguel Eslava y su familia en España y Cuba ( y entre los Cubanos exilados).