Nepomuceno de la Cerda (1752–1826) was a Spanish soldier of note, after whom the town of La Cerda, Texas (near present day Woden) was named.
Early life Juan Nepomuceno de la Cerda was born in 1750 at St Augustine baptized at our lady of solitude Nov 22 1750. It was said he was a descendant of Isleno couple from Canary Island Gomera. Their names are Jose dela Cerda and Maria dela Concepcion. The first son born Salvador dela Cerda born at sea in Route to St Augustine from Gomera Canary Island. Salvador marries Apalachee woman Francisca de Orta. These people were living at Mission San Luis Tali Mali when the British attacked and massacred the Apalachee people 1704. by Spanish escort the dela Cerdas and other sought refuge at Castillo St. Augustine. Where some dela Cerdas died there and some were born there until 1763 Treaty of Paris.
Juan Nepomuceno was the son of a Spanish Apalachee soldier Francisco Ponce dela Cerda (Baptized 1709 Apalachee) and his mother Rosa Cano (Baptized Apalachee 1728) both parents and Juan Nepomuceno (Baptized 1750) Married April 25 1740 and baptized at st Augustine our Lady of Solitude. Juan Nepomucenos Family evacuated from St Augustine Sept 3rd 1763 as the treaty of Paris took effect. They were with 722 other people from St Augustine to board 8 ships going to Vera Cruz Mexico. From there the dela Cerda family went with others to Los Adaes ... an 8 month journey they arrived at Los Adaes March 1764.
Life as a soldier Nepomuceno de la Cerda and his brother, Francisco, both traveled as soldiers in the Spanish army. The de la Cerda brothers were scouts and bodyguards that protected Catholic priests who were exploring the Indian tribes of Louisiana and Texas. It was during this time that Spaniards in Louisiana were ordered by the King of Spain to remove to San Antonio, Texas. Many of the Spaniards died along the way from illnesses.
Nepomuceno and his brother were among the 76 Spaniards to sign a petition to the King of Spain in the fall of 1773 to move back to east to Louisiana. They were allowed to move as far east as Nacogdoches, Texas. Both of the de la Cerda brothers were granted leagues of land for their services.
Later life Nepomuceno de la Cerda married and fathered eight children, seven daughters and one son. Starting from the oldest they were: María Josefa de la Cerda, María Sapopa de la Cerda, María Telesfora de la Cerda, Ana María de la Cerda, María Marcelina de la Cerda, María Manuela de la Cerda, José Atanacio de la Cerda, and María Gertudes de la Cerda.
He lived his life as a rancher and was described as a "devout Catholic". Nepomuceno was described as a very refined man, well educated, and had beautiful handwriting. He died in 1826 and was buried at the Old Spanish Cemetery which is now underneath the old courthouse in Nacogdoches, Texas.
The town of La Cerda, Texas, and a railroad crossing were named in his honor, he being the original grantee of the surrounding land.
References
External links http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hvl01 http://www.new.familysearch.org http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/FH24&CISOPTR=96445