fray Luis de Úbeda

Brief Biography

Like many religious, fray Luis de Úbeda did not use his given name. The use of Úbeda probably referred to his place of birth in the Jaén province. Fellow expeditionary Juan Jaramillo gave his name as fray Luis de Escalona. There are instances where a priest gave the location where he took Holy Orders. Both towns have 16th century convents, so it remains unclear where fray Luis was from. Fray Luis remained behind in Tierra Nueva at Pecos Pueblo (New Mexico) and died there shortly after the Expedition headed back to New Spain.

Gender
Male
Birthplace
Country of Origin
Spain
Place of Birth (City/Town)
?Úbeda
Place of Birth (modern province/state/region)
Jaén
View Birthplace on Map
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Date of Death
1540
Died on the Expedition?
Yes
Last Known Location
Cicuye/Pecos Pueblo (New Mexico)
European Social Status
Religious
Position on Expedition
Religious
Pre-Expedition Occupation
Ecclesiastic
References-Documentary

1530-1540:

AGI, Contratación, 4675, L.5 [fols. 373v-374r: Casa de Contratación, account book for 1530 - 1537] [May 21, 1534, cédula from the king: don fray Juan de Çumarraga obyspo de mexico con zelo de servir de nuestro señor y nuestro sea encargado de lleVar a la nueVa españa de estos nuestros Reynos doze Religiosos de su horden personas dotas y de buena Vida y e(n)xemplo para que enttiendan en aquellas partes en la ynstruccion y conversion de los yndios] [July 16, 1534 the treasurer released to fray francisco Çanbron e fray antonio de cuellar e fray pedro de las garoVillas e fray luys de Ubeda e fray gonÇalo de medina que son Çinco Religiosos de los doze que el obyspo de mexico ha de lleVar a la nueVa españa treynta ducados de oro que son honze myll e dozientos e Çinquenta maravedíes] [two more of the friars are paid October 15, 1534; two more on December 3]

1540-1550:

Juan Jaramillo’s Narrative in Flint & Flint, Documents, Document 30 [p.517: 1 black with his wife and children stayed in Pecos w/fray Luis; Jaramillo evidently refers to him as fray Luis de Escalona];

Castañeda in Flint & Flint, Documents, Document 28 [fol. 138v: stayed in Cicuye and was encountered for the last time by Spaniards delivering him ewes before they returned to Nueva España and he thought he would be killed];

Tello, Libro Segundo  [p.130/328:fray Luis de Ubeda; 348/485: says himself that he is an old man; lego; 358/492: stayed in the provincia of Tiguex at a pueblo called Ocuique and probably martyred] (places of origin very contradictory; Escalona near France or Toledo and Úbeda)]

Other info: Boyd-Bowman, Indice geobiográfico, II:10867 [in México 1537 or before; presumably this is fray Luis de Úbeda]