CROKER PRIZE FOR BIOGRAPHY 2016
1619 – “Captain LUIS de CASTRO-CASTILLA
CONTRERAS”
By Anthony Lehner
“Captain LUIS de CASTRO-CASTILLA CONTRERAS”
The ancestor I most admire is Captain Luis de Castro-Castilla Contreras. He was born in
San Bartolomé de Chillán, Chile in 1629, and was a descendent of Spaniards who had
settled there in the late 16th century, only a few decades after it had been conquered and
claimed by the Spanish Crown 1. Prior to the arrival of the Spaniards, the territory had
been inhabited by several indigenous tribes. 2
Luis was a Captain in the Spanish Army, having fought in the Arauco Wars. These were a
series of continuous battles lasting more than two centuries between colonial Spaniards
and Mapuche Indians 3. For his service he was awarded a land-grant in 1663 by the
Spanish Crown and settled in Curepto, in the more peaceful province of Maule, in central
Chile 4. He also inherited his father’s estate called “La Limpia Concepción de Limavida” in
Curepto, which comprised 3800 acres 5 of land as well as “a house of adobe, 5,500 grape
vines, and a chapel where mass is given” 6. His estate had a tannery as well as an oven to
bake clay pots used for storing wine. He became a wealthy land-owner, dedicating the rest
of his life to managing his numerous agricultural estates.
Luis was the son of Captain Diego de Castro-Castilla Gutierrez and María de Contreras
Meza, both born in Chillán. He had three sisters; Beatriz, Ana and Inés. His father’s Will
dated 9th of August 1666, mentions that he had a half-brother called Balthasar, who had
been born to an unknown mother 7.
His paternal grandparents were Luis de Castro Castilla, born in Seville, Spain, and Beatriz
Gutierrez, born in Angol, Chile. His maternal grandparents were Captain Andrés de
Contreras Meza, born in Santiago in 1568, and María de Contreras Gómez de Yébenes.
All of his grandparents were land-owners in San Bartolomé de Chillán 8.
Luis married Fabiana de Ocampo Gascó de Velasco, daughter of Francisco de Ocampo
and Maria Gascó de Velasco. She was a descendent of Luis de Velasco Ruiz de Alarcón,
2nd Viceroy of Mexico during the Spanish colonisation of the Americas in the mid-16th
century 9.
Their marriage dowry dated 15th of December 1666 states that Luis was promised the sum
of 2,800 Spanish Dollars. The dowry also included a 3800 acre estate called “San
Francisco de las Peñuelas”, valued at 500 Spanish Dollars, which had belonged to his
mother-in-law. The dowry was divided into several items which included 1,000 sheep, 100
cows, 500 head of cattle, 40 mares, a red embroidered woollen bed-cover, a white
blanket, two pillows, a pair of pillowcases, two pairs of sheets, two shirts, two petticoats,
two pairs of stockings and a silk robe 10. Luis brought 1,530 Spanish Dollars of his own
money into the marriage, plus “200 mules, 300 goats, 100 cows, 100 mares, 2 stallions,
200 oxen and 1,900 acres of land in the province of Maule” 11.
During their marriage they had 7 legitimate children; Juan, Diego, Felipe, Maria, Ana,
Gabriela and Maria Rosa. He also fathered the following illegitimate children: Diego,
Ramon, Francisco, Juana and Francisca 12. Records show that he had relations with a
lady named Juana Díaz del Valle, yet it is uncertain whether these children were born
before or during his marriage.
1619 – Croker Prize for Biography 2016
In a Bill of Sale dated 14th of April 1678, Luis bought 1,500 acres of land in the valley of “El
Potrillo” 13.
Danubio Correa, in his book on the History of Curepto writes that Luis and his wife
Fabiana de Ocampo owned “Curepto, (on the) south bank of the Mataquito River, as well
as the estates “Las Peñuelas” and “La Limpia” with vineyards and tanneries”. They
established an oratory next to their house for the use of their servants and other
inhabitants of the area. This oratory played an important role in the religious life of the
region, being the forerunner of the present-day parish. Their estate eventually gave rise to
the town of Curepto, which was built around their house and gardens 14.
In his Will, dated 20th of July 1679, Luis states that he was a member of the brotherhood of
the Convent of Saint Augustine and wished to be buried there. He requested that mass be
chanted by three priests on the day of his burial, and every year thereafter, the cost of
which would be paid by his estate. He also requested that 7 pesos be drawn from his
estate as charity to be given to the ‘Brotherhood of Redemption’ in the city of Santiago, to
be used to help redeem captive children during the Arauco Wars 15. During these wars,
many Spanish children were taken captive by indigenous Indians. 16.
th
Signature of ‘Don. Luis de Castro Castilla’ - Will & Testament – 20 of July 1679.
17
He also owned two African slaves called Juan and Maria, and had an account book which
listed his debts and those owed to him. His land and properties were all divided amongst
his children, including those born out of wedlock. Some of those lands remained in the
possession of his descendants for many generations 19.
Luis was buried in the Convent of Saint Augustine according to wishes. His death entry
reads:
— “On the twentieth of September of one thousand six hundred and seventy nine, Captain
Don. Luis de Castro was buried in the church of the Convent of Saint Augustine in Talca,
at the age of fifty years” — 20
Despite only living to the age of 50, he had a remarkable life, of which the earlier years
were lived during a time of great hostility and war, yet for his achievements he was
rewarded with land in the peaceful central valley of Chile. There he lived the remaining
years of his life as a wealthy land-owner, whose legacy lives on in me, and his many
descendants. He is certainly my most admired ancestor.
1619 – Croker Prize for Biography 2016
Note: All quotations have been translated from the original Spanish documents.
___________________________
1
Barros Arana, D., Historia General de Chile, vol. 1. Editorial Universitaria, Chile, 2nd Ed. 2000.
Bengoa, J., Historia del Pueblo Mapuche. Ediciones Sur, Chile, 5th Ed. 1996.
3
Jara, A., Guerra y Sociedad en Chile. Editorial Universitaria, S.A., 2nd Ed. 1981.
4
Opazo Maturana, G., Historia de Talca. Imprenta Universitaria, Santiago, 1942.
5
Bizarro, D., Historical Dictionary of Chile, Scarecrow Press, Maryland, 3rd Ed. 2005. [1 cuadra = 3.88
acres]
6
Archivo Notarial Talca, vol. 1. Testamento, 09.08.1666.
7
Ibid.
8
Revista Libertador O’Higgins, Santiago, 2010, pp.69-70.
9
Opazo Maturana, G. Familias del antiguo Obispado de Concepción, 1551-1900. Editorial Zamorano &
Caperan, Chile, 1957.
10
Archivo Notarial Talca, vol. 1. Dote, 15.09.1666.
11
Archivo Notarial Talca, vol. 2. Testamento, 20.07.1679.
12
Ibid.
13
Archivo Notarial Talca, vol. 1. Venta, 14.4.1678.
14
Correa, D., Curepto: Apuntes de su Historia. Mara-Natha, 2nd Ed. 1988.
15
Archivo Notarial Talca, vol. 2. Testamento, 20.07.1679.
16
Jara, A., Guerra y Sociedad en Chile. Editorial Universitaria, S.A., 2nd Ed. 1981.
17
Archivo Notarial Talca, vol. 2. Testamento, 20.07.1679.
18
Ibid.
19
Notaria & Conservador de Bienes Raíces, Curepto, #25 1944; #95 1947.
20
Archivo Notarial Talca, vol. 2. Testamento, 20.07.1679.
2
1619 – Croker Prize for Biography 2016