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JUAREZ, or XUAREZ, Juan (wah'-reth), Spanish
missionary, born in Spain; died probably on the banks of the Mississippi river
late in 1528. He entered the reformed order of Franciscans, and when Cortés
applied for missionaries to undertake the conversion of Mexico, was one of those
who sailed from San Lucar, 15 January, 1524.
He landed at Vera Cruz on 13 May, and was appointed
superior of the mission at Huexotzingo. Here the missionaries assembled the
Indian children for instruction, and in a short time the natives allowed the
temple to be destroyed, in which they were accustomed to offer human sacrifices.
In 1526 Father Juarez returned to Spain, accompanied by
some of his Indian pupils, and laid a report of the state of his mission before
his superiors. It is said that he returned to Mexico the same year, bringing
with him six other Franciscans, but, if so, it was for a brief interval, as he
was again in Spain in 1527. He accompanied the expedition of Panfilo de Narvaez
to Florida with five Franciscans, of whom he was appointed commissary.
It is said by some Spanish authorities that he was also
nominated bishop of Florida that his diocese was to extend from the Atlantic to
Rio de las Palmas in Mexico This assertion, if true, would make him the first
bishop that was appointed to any see within the present territory of the United
States.
The fleet of Narvaez, while endeavoring to enter the
harbor of Havana, was driven on the coast of Florida. The Spaniards landed near
Appalachee Bay and began a long and disastrous march along the northern coast of
the Gulf of Mexico. Father Juarez and his companions embarked in one of the five
boats that Narvaez built, in the hope of reaching some Spanish settlement. The
boat was overturned, probably near Mobile, and the missionaries had a narrow
escape.
There is no further record of Father Juarez, and it is
supposed that he perished from hunger or at the hands of the Indians.
Edited Appletons Encyclopedia, by John Looby Copyright ©
2001 StanKlos.comTM
JUAREZ, or XUAREZ, Juan (wah'-reth), Spanish missionary, born in Spain; died probably on the banks of the Mississippi river late in 1528. He entered the reformed order of Franciseans, and when Cort6s applied for missionaries to undertake the conversion of Mexico, was one of those who sailed from Sanlucar, 15 January, 1524. He landed at Vera Cruz on 13 May, and was appointed superior of the mission at Huexotzingo. Here the missionaries assembled the Indian children for instruction, and in a short time the natives allowed the temple to be destroyed, in which they were accustomed to offer human sacrifices. In 1526 Father Juarez returned to Spain, accompanied by some of his Indian pupils, and laid a report of the state of his mission before his superiors. It is said that he returned to Mexico the same year, bringing with him six other Franciscans" but, if so, it was for a brief interval, as he was again in Spain in 1527. He accompanied the expedition of Panfilo de Narvaez to Florida with five Franciscans, of whom he was appointed commissary. It is said by some Spanish authorities that he was also nominated bishop of Florida that his diocese was to extend from the Atlantic to Rio de las Pahnas in Mexico This assertion, if true, would make him the first bishop that was appointed to any see within the present territory of the United States. The fleet of Narvaez, while endeavoring to enter the harbor of Havana, was driven on the coast of Florida. The Spaniards landed near Appalachee bay and began a long and disastrous march along the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Father Juarez and his companions embarked in one of the five boats that Narvaez built, in the hope of reaching some Spanish settlement. The boat was overturned, probably near Mobile, and the missionaries had a narrow escape. There is no further record of Father Juarez, and it is supposed that he perished from hunger or at the hands of the Indians.
