The Spanish Colony in the Chesapeake Bay That Never Was

When we usually think of the extent of Spanish influence, we usually associate Spain and Spanish culture with either the Deep South (Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Lousiana, Texas) or the West (Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, California, Nevada). But believe it or not, the Spanish made it all the way to the vicinity of the Delmarva Peninsula which is today parts of the states of Maryland, Virginia and Delaware. Now, you may ask, aren’t the states of Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware former British colonies? And you are correct, they are, but it is also important to note that there were attempts by the Spanish to build a colony in the Chesapeake Bay area, but they were not successful at all.

Old Map of Spanish North America Showing "Bahía de Santa María" near the top - Courtesy of the Library of Congress

In June 1561, the Spanish ship Santa Catalina departed from Florida and while on its way bringing supplies to a Spanish settlement in South Carolina, it encountered a storm which blew them further north. The ship and crew found themselves in the Bahia de Santa Maria, or Saint Mary’s Bay which is today known as the Chesapeake Bay. Shortly thereafter, they found land and two Indian boys of the Powhatan Confederacy. The two boys accompanied them on their voyage back to Spain. One of them became known as “Paquiquineo”, and later “Don Luis” (after the Viceroy of New Spain Luís de Velasco) after his baptism. Following his conversion to Christianity, Don Luis spent a few years studying Dominican theology.

Detail of A map of Virginia of 1612, showing Powhatan in the royal wigwam. He wears a crown of feathers - Courtesy of the Library of Congress

In August 1566, Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, governor of La Florida, with the intention of locating the Straits of Anian (also known as the Northwest Passage) and building a Spanish foothold further north to prevent the French from threatening further Spanish expansion, ordered Captain Pedro de Coronas to lead an expedition to Don Luis’ homeland of Ajacán. Shortly afterwards, the Spanish ship La Trinidad, commanded by de Coronas, sailed from St. Augustine. After several days, guided by Don Luis, the Spanish missed the entrance to Saint Mary’s Bay, and they instead ended up somewhere in the vicinity of what is today the Chincoteague Bay. There, they encountered a strong storm that lasted four days.

1610 Map showing the rumored Straits of Anián on the Upper Right

Several days later, on August 25, 1566, they found land off the coast of North Carolina, and Captain de Coronas anchored the ship, placed a cross made of tree branches and declared the land a possession of the Spanish Crown. He also named the river around it “San Bartolome” after Saint Bartholomew the Apostle. After that, they made another attempt to find Don Luis’ homeland of Ajacán. Once again, they missed the entrance to Saint Mary’s Bay, and they were again in the vicinity of the Chincoteague Bay where they encountered yet another storm. Shortly thereafter, Captain de Coronas decided to change course and sailed for Spain. La Trinidad returned to the Bay of Cádiz disappointed and frustrated.

Don Luis subsequently moved to Seville where he began immersing himself in Jesuit theology. Four years later, Don Luis was going to be part of the next and final attempt to colonize the Chesapeake Bay, one that would be a success with an absolutely gruesome ending.