Population of Havana, Cuba, in 1975.

The population of Havana, Cuba was 1,917,500 in 1975.

Population of Havana, Cuba, in 1960.

The population of Havana, Cuba was 1,529,800 in 1960.

Population of Havana, Cuba, in 1953.

The population of Havana, Cuba was 785,455, in 1953.

Population of Havana, Cuba, in 1943.

The population of Havana, Cuba was 659,883, in 1943.

Population of Havana, Cuba, in 1931.

The population of Havana, Cuba was 520,504, in 1931.

Population of Havana, Cuba, in 1919.

The population of Havana, Cuba was 363,506, in 1919.

Population of Havana, Cuba, in 1907.

The population of Havana, Cuba was 297,159, in 1907.

Population of Havana, Cuba, in 1899.

The population of Havana, Cuba, was 235,981, in 1899.

Population of Havana, Cuba, in 1861.

The population of Havana, Cuba, was 196,847, in 1861.

Spanish Colonial Governors of Cuba, 1512 to 1550.

1) 1512 to 1524 - Diego Velasquez, Lt. Governor
2) 1524 - Manuel De Rojas, Lt. Governor, (Provisional)
3) 1525 to 1526 - Juan De Altamirano, Lt. Governor
4) 1526 to 1532 - Gonzalo De Guzman, Lt. Governor
5) 1532 to 1535 - Manuel De Rojas, Lt. Governor, (Provisional)
6) 1535 to 1538 - Gonzalo De Guzman, Lt. Governor
7) 1538 to 1543 - Hernando De Soto, Governor-General
8) 1544 to 1546 - Juan De Avila, Governor-General
9) 1546 to 1550 - Antonio Chavez, Governor-General

Welcome // Bienvenidos

Welcome to the History of Cuba Blog.

Juan B. Vinas, A Hispanic Confederate Marine // Juan B. Vinas, Un Marino Hispano Confederado

Juan B. Vinas was a Private in the Confederate States Marine Corp, on the C.S.S. (Confederate State Ship) Gaines. He was born in 1846, in Barcelona, Spain and died on March 21, 1911. The C.S.S. Ganes was sunk at the Battle of Mobile Bay, on August 5, 1864. He enlisted in April 1862 and was listed as a Steerage Steward and later joined the Confederate Marine Corps. He surrendered in April 1865 and his wife received a Confederate Pension for his service. He was a founding member of the Spanish Benevolent and Mutual Aid Society of Mobile, Alabama in 1871 and was a member of the Raphael Semmes Camp 11, United Confederate Veterans. He married Mary “Mamie” Fitzgerald. He had immigrated to Alabama in 1860 and became an American Citizen on October 30, 1868. He is buried at Magnolia Cemetery in Mobile, Alabama, in Square 22, Lot 39.

You can visit http://adf.ly/8ALVr and learn about the Cuba Libre Camp Project of the Admiral Semmes Camp 11, Sons of Confederate Veterans which is a project to identify all known Cuban Confederate Soldiers, as well as other Hispanics and Minorities who served in the Confederate Military.

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Juan B. Vinas fue un soldado en la Marina de los Estados Confederados a bordo del C.S.S.(Barco de los Estados Confederados) Gaines. El nació en el 1846 en Barcelona, España y murió el 21 de marzo, 1911. El C.S.S. Gaines se hundió en la Batalla de Mobile Bay el 5 de agosto, 1864. Se enlisto en abril del año 1862 y su cargo fue el de trabajador en el barco, y luego se unió a la Marina Confederada. El se entrego en abril del 1865 y su esposa recibió una pensión  Confederada por el servicio de su esposo. Vinas fue miembro fundador de la Sociedad Ayuda Mutua y Español Benevolente (Spanish Benevolent and Mutual Aid Society) de Mobile, Alabama en el año 1871 y miembro del Raphael Semmes Campamento 11, Veteranos Confederados Unidos (United Confederate Veterans). Se caso con Mary “Mamie” Fitzgerald. El emigro a Alabama en el año 1860 y se hizo ciudadano americano el 30 de octubre, 1868. Vinas esta enterado en el cementerio Magnolia en Mobile, Alabama, cuadrado 22, lote 39.

Juan Ochoa and the C.S.S. Alabama // Juan Ochoa y el C.S.S. Alabama

Juan Ochoa was a Seaman on the C.S.S. (Confederate State Ship) Alabama. He was born in Bilbao, Spain , in 1847 and was captured by the C.S.S. Alabama, while on the on the T.B. Wales, on November 10, 1862. He signed on the C.S.S. Alabama as an Ordinary Seaman and was promoted by Admiral Raphael Semmes to Able Seaman. He served in the famous Battle between the C.S.S. Alabama and the U.S.S. Kearsarge, on June 19, 1864 and was captured. He later moved to New Zealand and died on May 16, 1889. He is buried in Waikumete Cemetery , Auckland , New Zealand , Public Burial “A,” Row 1, Plot 70. Juan Ochoa was of Basque descent and was the only known Hispanic to serve on the C.S.S. Alabama under the famous Confederate Admiral Raphael Semmes.

You can visit http://adf.ly/8ALVr and learn about the Cuba Libre Camp Project of the Admiral Semmes Camp 11, Sons of Confederate Veterans which is a project to identify all known Cuban Confederate Soldiers, as well as other Hispanics and Minorities who served in the Confederate Military.

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Juan Ochoa fue un marino en el buque de guerra C.S.S. (Barco de la Confederacion de Estado) Alabama. Nació en Bilbao, España en el 1847 y fue capturado por el C.S.S. Alabama mientras estaba en el T.B. Wales el 10 de noviembre 1862. El se registro con el C.S.S. Alabama como un marino y fue promovido por el Admiral Raphael Semmes a marinero con experiencia. El sirvió en la famosa batalla entre los buques de guerra C.S.S. Alabama y el U.S.S. Kearsarge el 19 de junio, 1864 donde fue capturado. Luego se mudo a Nueva Zelanda, donde murió el 16 de mayo, 1889. Fue enterrado en el cementerio Waikumete en Auckland , Nueva Zelanda. Su tumba esta en el entierro publico ”A,” Fila 1, Lote 70. Juan Ochoa era de descendencia Vasca y fue el único Hispano de la cual se tenga conocimiento de haber servido en el buque de guerra C.S.S. Alabama bajo el famoso Admiral Confederado Raphael Semmes.

Miguel Pol, a Hispanic Confederate Blockade Runner // Miguel Pol, Un Hispano Confederado

Miguel Leon Pol was the Captain of a very small coastal Blockade Runner, out of Bayou La Batre, Alabama, in 1861. He was a ship carpenter and had a small ship building business, in Bayou La Batre, as well as a small salt works and later at Pascagoula, Mississippi where he settled during the war. He was born in Palma, Island of Mallorca, Spain on April 11th, 1833 and died on September 4th, 1879, in Lockhart, Mississippi. He married Manuela Valverde (born April 14th, 1841 died in 1931). She was the daughter of Jose Antonio Valverde (born 1812, on the Island of Ibiza, Spain, died 1860/1861 ?) and Mary Jane Davidson. She was the daughter of William Davidson and Elizabeth Peters who was the daughter of Nathanial Peters. Miguel and Manuela are both buried in Greenwood Cemetery, in Jackson County, Mississippi. There is a photo of Miguel Pol which still exists and of his wife and children. He became an American Citizen on January 18th, 1858.

You can visit http://adf.ly/8ALVr and learn about the Cuba Libre Camp Project of the Admiral Semmes Camp 11, Sons of Confederate Veterans which is a project to identify all known Cuban Confederate Soldiers, as well as other Hispanics and Minorities who served in the Confederate Military.

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Miguel Leon Pol eran el capitán de un pequeño velero usado para evadir el bloqueo de la Unión desde Bayou La Batre, Alabama en el 1861. Eran un carpintero para barcos y tenia un pequeño negocio de carpintería para barcos y una pequeña fabrica de sal en Bayou La Batre y luego en Pascagoula, Mississippi donde se estableció después de la guerra. El nació en Palma, Isla de Mallorca, España el 11 de abril del 1833 y murió el 4 de septiembre 1879 en Lockhart, Mississippi. Se caso con Manuela Valverde (nacida 14 de abril 1841 y murió en el 1931). Ella fue hija de Jose Antonio Valverde (nacido en el 1812, en la isla de Ibiza, España, murió entre 1860 y 1861) y Mary Jane Davidson. Ella era la hija de William Davidson y Elizabeth Peters, quien fue la hija de Nathanial Peters. Miguel y Manuela ambos fueron enterrados en el cementerio Greenwood en el condado de Jackson, Mississippi.
Hay una foto de Miguel Pol la cual todavía existe de el con su esposa e hijos. El se hizo ciudadano Americano el 18 de enero del 1858.

Jose Comas Laramendi, A Cuban Confederate Blockade Runner // Jose Comas Laramendi, un Cubano Confederado.

      The Laramendi brothers of Oriente Province, Cuba ran the Union blockade from Cuba into the ports of New Orleans, Mobile, and along the Mississippi Gulf Coast as well as in Florida at different times during the war. They had a small sloop named the San Quintin. They were never captured and both are buried in Cuba. Their surname has also been found as Larramendi.
Jose Comas Laramendi was the Captain of the blockade runner San Quintin. He married Paulina Rosa Batista (born 1865, died November 3, 1943). She is buried in Cauto, Oriente Province, Cuba. She was the daughter of Guiseppi Battista, of Florence, Italy and Luz Barra or Barras, of Cuba, daughter of Maria “La Ciboney” Barra or Barras. Luz Barra was one of the few remaining descendants of the Native Cuban Taino, Ciboney Indians. Jose Comas Laramendi was the son of Jose Comas and Teresa Laramendi. He is said to be buried in Jabaco, Oriente Province, Cuba. The family of Guiseppi Battista adopted the Spanish spelling of Batista, with one T.
Manuel "Manolito" Laramendi was the brother of Jose Comas Batistsa and served as his 1st Lt. on the blockade runner San Quintin. He married Alta Gracia (no surname found). He is buried in Oriente Province, Cuba.

You can visit http://adf.ly/8ALVr and learn about the Cuba Libre Camp Project of the Admiral Semmes Camp 11, Sons of Confederate Veterans which is a project to identify all known Cuban Confederate Soldiers, as well as other Hispanics and Minorities who served in the Confederate Military.

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Los hermanos Laramendi de la Provincia de Oriente en Cuba dirigían la balandra usada para evadir del bloqueo de la Unión desde Cuba hasta los puertos de Nueva Orleans, Mobile y a lo largo de la costa de golfo en Mississippi al igual que en la Florida varias veces durante la guerra. La pequeña balandra se llamada San Quintín. Nunca fueron capturados y están enterados en Cuba. Su apellido también ha sido encontrado como Larramendi.
José Comas Laramendi era el Capitán de la balandra San Quintín que era usada para evadir el bloqueo. Se casó con Paulina Rosa Batista (nacida en el 1865 y falleció el 3 de noviembre del 1943). Ella esta enterada en Cauto, Provincia de Oriente, Cuba. Fue la hija de Guiseppi Battista de Florencia, Italia y Luz Barra o Barras de Cuba, hija de María “La Ciboney” Barra o Barras. Luz Barra era una de los pocos sobrevivientes de los Tainos nativos de Cuba, Los Indios Ciboney. José Comas Laramendi fue hijo de José Comas y Teresa Laramendi. Se dice que esta enterado en Jabaco, Provincia de Oriente, Cuba. La familia de Guiseppi Battista adopto el Batista, deletreándolo como los Españoles, con una T.
Manuel "Manolito" Laramendi era el hermano de José Comas Batista y sirvió como su Primer Teniente evadiendo el bloqueo de la Unión en la balandra San Quintín. Se caso con Alta Gracia (su apellido no fue localizado). El esta enterado en la Provincia de Oriente, Cuba.

Joseph Alexander Calcina, A Hispanic in the Confederate Navy from Mobile, Alabama // Joseph Alexander Calcina, Un Hispano en las Fuerzas Navales de la Confederacion, de Mobile, Alabama.

Joseph Alexander Calcina was a member of the Confederate Navy and served as a landsman on the C.S.S. Gaines. He was then transferred to Battery Buchanan at Mobile Bay, Alabama. He was born on July 17, 1845 and died on died March 7, 1916. He was the son of Jose Calcina (born 1814, Spain, died December 11, 1874) and Delphine Raffin (born 1832), her father is listed as French and her mother is listed as being born in Louisiana. They married on November 19, 1844.
Joseph Alexander, married Margaret E. Simonson (born 1858, Alabama, her father was born in Norway and her mother was born in North Carolina), on June 23, 1875. Joseph Alexander was a Barber at 39 South Royal Street and lived at 86 St. Emanuel Street, in 1861, in Mobile, Alabama. Joseph Alexander Calcina enlisted on July 12, 1863, in Mobile, Alabama and was paroled on April 15, 1865, in Mobile. His father Jose Calcina Sr. was a founding member of the Spanish Benevolent and Mutual Aid Society, in 1871.

You can visit http://adf.ly/8ALVr and learn about the Cuba Libre Camp Project of the Admiral Semmes Camp 11, Sons of Confederate Veterans which is a project to identify all known Cuban Confederate Soldiers, as well as other Hispanics and Minorities who served in the Confederate Military.

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Joseph Alexander Calcina era miembro de la Fuerzas Navales de la Confederacion y trabajaba en el buque C.S.S. Gaines. Luego se transfirió a Battery Buchanan en la Bahía de Mobile. Nació el 17 de Julio, 1845 y murió el 7 de marzo, 1916. Fue el hijo de José Calcina (nacido 1814 en España, falleció el 12 de diciembre, 1874) y Delphine Raffin (nacida 1832). El padre de ella esta registrado como Francés y su madre nacio en Luisiana. Ellos se casaron el 19 de Noviembre, 1844.
Joseph Alexander se caso con Margaret E. Simonson (nacida en 1858 en Alabama, su padre nació en Noruega y su madre en Carolina del Norte), el 23 de junio del 1875. Joseph Alexander trabajo como barbero en la dirección 39 South Royal Street y vivía en el 86 Emanuel St., Mobile, Alabama durante el 1861.
Joseph Alexander Calcina se enlisto el 12 de julio, 1863 en Mobile, Alabama y despachado en libertad el 15 de abril del 1865 en Mobile. Su padre José Calcina, fue un de los miembros fundadores de el Spanish Benevolent and Mutual Aid Society, 1871.

Joseph Manuel Del Barco, A Hispanic Confederate Soldier from Mobile, Alabama // Joseph Manuel Del Barco, Soldado Confederado Hispano de Mobile, Alabama.

Joseph Manuel Del Barco was a Private in Company C, of the Alabama State Artillery (born 1820, Florida , died December 17th, 1877). He was the son of Manuel Del Barco, of Bilbao, Spain (born 1778, died May 5th, 1862), both are buried at Magnolia Cemetery, in Mobile . Del Barco Street , in Mobile , Alabama, is named after this family.

Joseph Manuel married Rose Ann Dorman on June 23rd, 1852. She was born May 2nd, 1833, died May 12th, 1921. She is buried at Catholic Cemetery, and was the daughter of Benjamin Dorman of New Haven, Connecticut and Azeline Noel, who was born in Cuba. Joseph M. Del Barco was a Clerk for T. McConnell and Company and is listed as living on Spring Hill Road, in 1861, in Mobile, Alabama. Manuel Del Barco had settled in Spanish Pensacola, Florida prior to moving to Mobile . The remnants of the Del Barco home on the corner of Del Barco Street and Spring Hill Avenue built in 1852, is still standing, as of the writing of this article.

You can visit http://adf.ly/8ALVr and learn about the Cuba Libre Camp Project of the Admiral Semmes Camp 11, Sons of Confederate Veterans which is a project to identify all known Cuban Confederate Soldiers, as well as other Hispanics and Minorities who served in the Confederate Military.

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Joseph Manuel Del Barco era un soldado raso en la Compañía C de la artillería de el estado de Alabama. Nació en la Florida en el año 1820, falleció el 17 de diciembre del 1877. Fue el hijo de Manuel Del Barco, quien era de Bilbao, España. Nació en el año 1778 y murió el 5 de mayo en el 1862. Padre e hijo están enterrados en el Cementerio Magnolia en Mobile. La calle Del Barco en Mobile, Alabama lleva el nombre de esta familia.

Joseph Manuel se caso con Rose Ann Dorman el 23 de julio, 1852. Ella nació el 2 de mayo 1883 y murió el 12 de mayo del 1921. Ella esta enterada en el Cementerio Católico. Fue la hija de Benjamin Dorman de New Haven, Connecticut. Su madre Azeline Noel nació en Cuba. Joseph M. Del Barco fue oficinista para T. McConnell and Company. Su dirección queda registrada en la calle Spring Hill Road en Mobile, Alabama en el 1861. Manuel Del Barco se estableció en la área Española de Pensacola, Florida antes de mudarse para Mobile. Los restos de la casa de Del Barco construida en el 1852 todavía están en la esquina de DelBarco y la avenida Spring Hill al escribir este articulo.

Edouard Gardere, a Hispanic / French Confederate and the Cruzat Family of Louisiana and Alabama // Edouard Gardere, un Hispano / Frances Confederado y la familia Cruzat de Luisiana y Alabama.

Edouard Gardere was a member of the Spring Hill Cadets 89th Alabama Militia. His rank is unknown. He was born in 1847 and died on October 14th, 1878. He was the son of Edouard Gardere (born 1813, died November 24th, 1891, son of Francois Gardere and Elisa Riviere) and Eulalie Cruzat (born 1817, died September 8th, 1906), of New Orleans.
The Cruzat family originated in Louisiana during the Colonial period when Francisco Xavier Cruzat (born 1739), a Captain in the Spanish Army arrived in New Orleans, (later promoted to Lt. Colonel). He became Lt. Governor of northern Spanish Louisiana (the Illinois Country). He married Nicanora Ramos y Tibaldo (died April 20th, 1786, buried St. Louis, Missouri) of Cartagena, Spain and had Antonio Gertrudes Cruzat (born 1775, died 1854), who married Louisa Victorine Martin De Lino Chalmette (born 1777, died 1868), who were the parents of Eulalie Cruzat.
The 1st cousin of Eulalie Cruzat is buried at Catholic Cemetery, in Mobile Alabama. His name was Jose Ygnacio Cruzat (born 1791, died November 17th, 1847). He was the son of Jose Cruzat y Ramos (son of Francisco and Nicanora) and Maria Palao (both buried in Havana, Cuba). He had served in the Fixed Regiment of Louisiana, during the Spanish Colonial Period. Joseph Ygnacio married Alix Suzanne Coulon de Villiers (daughter of Marc Coulon de Villiers) and served for many years as Spanish Consul in Mobile, Alabama. He is buried in the Guesnard Plot, at Catholic Cemetery, Mobile, Alabama.
The family of Edouard Garedere lived at 145 Conti Street, in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1861. The family was in the sawmill and brickyard business.

You can visit http://adf.ly/8ALVr and learn about the Cuba Libre Camp Project of the Admiral Semmes Camp 11, Sons of Confederate Veterans which is a project to identify all known Cuban Confederate Soldiers, as well as other Hispanics and Minorities who served in the Confederate Military.

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Edouard Gardere fue miembro de Spring Hill Cadets 89th Alabama Militia. Su rango es desconocido. Nació en 1847 y murió el 14 de Octubre del 1878. El era el hijo de Edouuard Gardere (nacido en 1813 y murió el 24 de Noviembre del 1891, hijo de Francois Gardere y Elisa Riviere) y Eulalie Cruzat ( nacida en 1817, y murió el 8 de Septiembre e 1906, en New Orleans.
La familia Cruzat llego a Louisiana durante el periodo Colonial cuando Francisco Xavier Cruzat (nacido en 1739), un Capitán en la Milicia Española que llego a Nuevo Orleans, (después ascendió a Coronel). Se convirtió en Gobernador de el área norte de Louisinana Española (Illinois Country). El se caso con Nicanora Ramos y Tibaldo (murió el 20 de Abril del 1786, enterrada en St. Louis Missouri) de Cartagena, España y Antonio Gertrudes Cruzat (nacido en 1775 y murió en 1854), quien se caso con Louisa Victorine Martin De Lino Chalmette (nacida en 1777, murió en 1868), y eran los padres de Eulalie Cruzat.
El primer primo de Eulalie Cruzat esta enterrado en el Cementerio Católico en Mobile Alabama. Su nombre fue José Ygnacio Cruzat (nacido en 1791, murió el 17 de Noviembre del 1847). El era el hijo de José Cruzat y Ramos (hijo de Francisco y Nicanora) y Maria Palao (los dos enterrados en Havana, Cuba.) El había servido en el Regimiento Fijo de Louisiana, durante el período colonial español. Joseph Ygnacio se caso con Alix Suzanne Coulon de Villiers (hija de Marc Coulon de Villiers) y sirvió por muchos años en el Cónsul Español en Mobile, Alabama. El esta enterrado en Guesnard Plot, en el Cementerio Católico en Mobile, Alabama.
La familia de Edouard Garedere vivió en la calle Conti numero 145, en New Orleans, Louisiana en 1861. La familia se dedicaba al negocio de aserradero y fábrica de ladrillos .

Diego Alvarez, Spanish Colonial Settler to Mobile, Alabama.

The Alvarez family descends from an early Spanish colonial settler to Mobile, Ala. by the name of Diego Miguel Alvarez (born approx. 1745 San Eligio, Oveido, Asturias, Spain, died April 2, 1820). He was the son of Pascual Alvarez and Lucia Cachero. Diego arrived in Mobile, on his own ship named the “Maria Luisa”.
He married Barbara Fernandez (born 1780, Mexico, died October 15th, 1850, buried at Alvarez Cemetery, Saraland, Ala.), daughter of Pedro Fernandez and Maria Barea of Medina, Mexico. Barbara Alvarez and Catalina Plock, were found by Francisco Fontanilla after their parents were murdered by Indians, in the present day Weeks Bay area of Baldwin County, and raised them with his wife.
Diego owned land in what is now downtown Mobile’s Bienville Square and received a land grant to what are now sections of Prichard, Saraland and Chickasaw, where he grazed cattle and ran a ferry over Chickasaw Bogue Creek. He was described as a “good looking man, who always wore a plume in his hat and always carried a Sword and two Pistols.”
Diego Alvarez was murdered at his home and there is a well known legend about his persistent and friendly ghost, in downtown Mobile. There are still many descendants of this family found in Mobile and the surrounding area and places named after the Alvarez family in Mobile County, including Alvarez Drive, in Saraland.

The Spanish Language In Alabama from the Colonial Period (1780-1813) to 1861.

The Spanish language has existed in Alabama, since the colonial period as individuals have immigrated and settled here, but the little Spanish community was never numerous nor concentrated. Once these individuals married an American, the language usually became extinct within the first generation. If it was indeed passed down, it became a “dead” language as only passive bilinguals had limited knowledge of it. I have also searched for any survivals of Basque, Galician and specifically Catalan, in the local area, with no success. The Spanish language in Alabama from the Spanish Colonial Period (1780-1813) and the pre-1861 period, died out in the late 1940’s. This language was still spoken by grandchildren of the Spanish colonists as late as the Second World War. My research into “Alabama Spanish” shows that  the last fluent pre-1861 Spanish speaker died during this period. I found and interviewed two grandchildren of Colonial Spanish speakers. Both are in their mid-eighties who are vestigial “rememberers” who, although they themselves cannot speak Spanish, they were able to follow a simple conversation in Spanish and answer questions posed to them. Both of them remembered parts of a popular children’s song which was sung to them by their grandfathers and one was able to remember parts of a popular “Decima” song he heard growing up. They pronounced the little Spanish words they put together in what can best be described as the atypical Caribbean Spanish whose beginnings were in the Canary Islands and southern Spain with a admixture of the northern Spanish dialects. There are about ten or so “rememberers” whose Spanish ancestors arrived between 1860 and 1900. I have been unable to find any other “Alabama Spanish” survivals. There has never been a study of this vestigial “Alabama Spanish,” and I fear that the last living memories of the men and women who left Spain and her colonies for a new life in Alabama will die with them. The Spanish Ladino dialect still exists among Sephardic Jews, who live and worship in Alabama, but I have been able to identify only one individual in Mobile who speaks it fluently. There is a small Sephardic community, in Montgomery, but they arrived after 1910. The Ladino dialect spoken by the original immigrants which is based on the dialect of the Island of Rhodes exists, but is presently in irreversible language death.

The Confederate "Creoles of Color" of Mobile, Alabama 1861-1865.

There are a group of people that came into existence in Mobile, AL as a result of interracial marriage and or sexual relations, forced or consensual, which became known as the "Creoles of Color." The Catholic Church Registrars during the Spanish period have many such relationships and the children were generally given their freedom, by their fathers. These "Creoles of Color" were a bridge between the white and black (both slave and free) populations in Mobile, Alabama.
This community formed in 1819 the Creole Fire Company, which had as its founding members 5 Hispanic “Creoles of Color.” They were Rene Rafael, Vincent Chavana, Manuel Barcello, Augustin Joseph (Jose) and Francis Yrigoyen (born October 31, 1800, son of Miguel Yrigoyen and Constance Hugon). This company saw service in the War Between the States. The company was accepted as part of the Mobile Fire Battalion, for local Home Guard defense, at the onset of the Civil War.
The "Creoles of Color" were mobilized for the war on December 17, 1862 by the Mayor of Mobile Robert H. Slough, who issued a proclamation entitled "An Act authorizing the enrollment of the Creoles of Mobile." This Act authorized the enrollment of all male "Creoles of Color" between the ages of 18 and 50 to defend Mobile and the county. They were "requested and ordered" to appear before the Chief of Police within 10 days for registration and enrollment.
The Creole Fire Company, was accepted into Alabama State service on November 20th, 1862, by an Act of the Legislature, and was renamed the Native Guards on April 8, 1865. This unit served as a Home Guard force and helped do military guard duty as well as helping police the county, and of course, fighting fires. It was officially disbanded on April 12, 1865, but a few of its members left the city with the other Confederate forces and finally surrendered, with General Richard Taylor, at Citronelle, Alabama, on May 4, 1865.
The "Creoles of Color" who had existed since the earliest days of the French period, absorbed the Spanish members of the community to such an extent that almost all Spanish surnames have since "daughtered out." This community was among the last to preserve the French language in Alabama, and its last fluent speaker died in the mid 1960s.
There are still some French passive bilinguals, but no study of this language survival or what influence the language had from Spanish, English or African languages has ever been done. The "Creoles of Color" have always been an intriguing and misunderstood people and it is sad that no true study has ever been performed, on the richness they have bought to Alabama history. The main communities are found on Mon Louis Island, and the north eastern parts of Mobile County and the Weeks Bay area, of Baldwin County. There are many smaller communities, which exist in both counties and the "Creoles of Color" have inter-married into both the White, Black and Native American populations, in southern Alabama.
Their influence will remain a part of Alabama historically, linguistically and socially, for generations to come.

You can visit http://adf.ly/8ALVr and learn about the Cuba Libre Camp Project of the Admiral Semmes Camp 11, Sons of Confederate Veterans which is a project to identify all known Cuban Confederate Soldiers, as well as other Hispanics and Minorities who served in the Confederate Military.

John Kennedy Toole, Quote.

"Employers sense in me a denial of their values. They fear me. I suspect that they can see that I am forced to function in a century I loathe." - John Kennedy Toole (A Confederacy of Dunces).

The Spanish Guards, Mobile, Alabama Confederate Militia, 1863 to 1865.

The Spanish Guards Confederate unit of Mobile, Alabama was composed mostly of foreign citizens from Spain and her colonies, with a scattering of members, from other nationalities. It was organized, on November 6, 1863 and was composed mostly of merchants and “cradle and grave” members. It served solely as a local home guard unit.

There were other similar home guard units formed by French, British, Slavic and German nationals (The Mobile French Guards, The British Legation Guard, The Pulaski Rifles and The German Fusiliers #2). The Italian population joined the 21st Alabama Infantry, Company G, with their Spanish neighbors, due to the language similarity and a few can also be found in the Spanish Guard unit.

The City of Mobile had a foreign born population of approx. 7061 people,
out of a total City population of approx. 29,258, in 1860, which was composed mainly of newer French, Spanish, Slavic, German, and English immigrants (including Scots, Irish and Welsh). The State Capital and 1st Capital of the Confederacy located at Montgomery, Alabama even had its own unit composed of foreign born resident’s aptly named, “The Montgomery Foreign Guard,” who among its ranks had a lone Hispanic, although a few others did serve, in other Montgomery local defense units.

The Spanish Guards served as part of the Mobile County Reserves and saw service as Provost Guard and Scouts, in Mobile, and to a minimal extent, in Baldwin County. It was officially disbanded on April 12, 1865 although a few men evacuated with the other Confederate forces and surrendered with General Richard Taylor, at Citronelle, Alabama, on May 4, 1865.

You can visit http://adf.ly/8ALVr and learn about the Cuba Libre Camp Project of the Admiral Semmes Camp 11, Sons of Confederate Veterans which is a project to identify all known Cuban Confederate Soldiers, as well as other Hispanics and Minorities who served in the Confederate Military.

1st Alabama Artillery Battalion, Field and Staff Officer's.

Lt. Colonels - Robert Charles Forsyth and James Thomas Gee

Major - Joseph M. Cary

Surgeon - James T. Reese

Assistant Surgeon - Thomas Mattingly

New Episode of "Rosales' History of The South" (Show #7) / La Historia Del Sur Por Rosales (14 Minutes Long)

We did a new episode of "Rosales' History of The South", we will be talking about Jacob Osorio De Castro, a Spanish Sephardic Jew and a Confederate Soldier, as well a Corporal Frank Buckles, the last World War One Veteran, who recently passed away. You can listen to the show by clicking on this link http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rosales-history-of-the-south/2011/04/05/rosales-history-of-the-south-episode-6-la-historia-del-sur-por-rosales-show-6