Capitán General y Gobernador interino de la Florida Nicolás Suárez Ponce de León

This branch Ponce de Leon family prob. related to Don Juan Ponce de Leon (1460-June 1521) according to Fco. Xavir de Santa Cruz; Don Juan accompanied Columbus in his 2nd trip to the NW and "discovered" Florida 3/27/1513.

Nicolas travels to the Indies in 1630

Named Contador de Hacienda of Florida 1630-03-08 (PARES) & sent to Florida from Spain w. title Accountant of the Royal Treasury;

Was Interim Capt. General & Governor of Fla May 14-Oct 19 1651; died that year

Sargeant Major; haad to defend St. Agustin against pirate attacks

Note: According to Cuban Genealogy Center Elizondo/Martel/ etc.: "When Nicolas traveled to Florida he was accompanied by Estefania Avila ( his wife), Estefania and Isabel (daughters), and Francisca Gomez (ama), Maria Bautista (criada), Alonso de Camargo (criado) y Manuel de Avila (criado - hijo de Manuel de Avila (criado del rey y portero de camara) e Isabel de Salvatierra). " Same info in PARES

John Ayes says his parents were Francisco & Jeronima

Ponce may be a sephardic surname

GEDCOM Note

Notes for Don Nicholas Ponce de Leon: <p>Broderbund WFT Vol. 15, Ed. 1, Tree #2544</p> <p></p> <p>He was appointed Accountant of Florida in 1630. He had served the crown prior for 19 years. In 1631, he was appointed "Gobernadoe de la paz" (peacetime governor) due to the death of Gov. Andres Roderigues De Villegas. On May 14, 1651 hea gain brcame acting governor of Florida when gov. Benito Ruiz died. He used this opportunity to introduce his son Nicholas in local military circles. Major Nicholas Ponce de Leon (1632-1701) like his father was acting governor at the age of 31. <p></p> <p>In the first half fo the 17th century we find the family of Ponce de Leon in San Augustin, FL, though the principal part of this century wa spent in Havana, Cuba. Born in Spain, Nicholas Ponce de Leon, passed through Florida carrying cargo for the accountant of the Royal House. He held this position from 28 January 1631 until 16 October 1651, when he was made peacetime governor and Captain Genral of Florida. he died that same year. It is not known if Juan Ponce de Leon (explorer) has any relationsip with the Ponce de Leon families established much later in Havana, but first writing indicatethere is a great probablility it is the same family as that of teh conquistador. <p>Nicholas Ponce de Leon, born in Sevilla, Spain, was head cashier for the Royal House. Married in Sevilla to dona Estania D'Avila Y Mendoza (Saavedra?) They had seven children.</p> <p></p> <p>Note: When Nicolas traveled to Florida he was accompanied by Estefania Avila ( his wife), Estefania and Isabel (daughters), and Francisca Gomez (ama), Maria Bautista (criada), Alonso de Camargo (criado) y Manuel de Avila (criado - hijo de Manuel de Avila (criado del rey y portero de camara) e Isabel de Salvatierra). 6 <p></p> <p>Note: According to Francisco Xavier de Santa Cruz, This branch of the Ponce de Leon family is likely to be related to Don Juan Ponce de Leon, (c.1460-June 1521), who accompanied Columbus in his second trip to the new world and discovered Florida on 27 Mar 1513. 3 <p>Occupation: Named Contador de Hacienda of the Spanish Province of Florida. Don Nicolas Ponce de Leon was sent from Spain to Florida with the title of Accountant of the Royal Treasury (Contador de la Real Hacienda), where he had this title from 28 January 1631 until 19 Oct 1651. 08 JUN 1630 Florida, Nueva España 5 2 3 <p>Occupation: Governor and Captain General acording to Ref 7, but have found no details in "Titulos de las India" or in the AER. 14 MAY 1651 Florida, Nueva España 3 </p> <p></p> <p>Sources:</p> <p></p> <p> Title: TITULOS DE LAS INDIAS, Catalogo XX del Archivo General de Simancas</p> <p> Author: Magdaleno, Ricardo</p> <p> Publication: Patronato Nacional de Archivos Historicos, Valladolid, Spain, 1954</p> <p> Page: pg 346</p> <p> Title: AER - Archivos Españoles en la Red</p> <p> Page: CONTRATACION,5408,N.38</p> <p> INDIFERENTE,452,L.A.12,F.245-246V</p> <p> CONTRATACION,5789,L.1,F.64V-65V</p> <p> Title: HISTORIA DE FAMILIAS CUBANAS (9 volumes)</p> <p> Author: Santa Cruz - Conde de Jaruco, Francisco Javier de</p> <p> Publication: Editorial Hercules (1-6), Ediciones Universal (7-9), Habana, Miami, 1940-1988</p> <p> Page: Ponce de Leon - Vol 1, pg 265</p> <p> Title: HISTORIA DE FAMILIAS CUBANAS (9 volumes)</p> <p> Author: Santa Cruz - Conde de Jaruco, Francisco Javier de</p> <p> Publication: Editorial Hercules (1-6), Ediciones Universal (7-9), Habana, Miami, 1940-1988</p> <p> Page: Ponce de Leon - Vol 1 pg 265</p> <p> Title: TITULOS DE LAS INDIAS, Catalogo XX del Archivo General de Simancas</p> <p> Author: Magdaleno, Ricardo</p> <p> Publication: Patronato Nacional de Archivos Historicos, Valladolid, Spain, 1954</p> <p> Page: pg 344</p> <p> Title: AER - Archivos Españoles en la Red</p> <p> Page: CONTRATACION,5408,N,38</p> <p> Title: IGI - Spain</p> <p> Page: no reference details.</p> <p> Title: IGI - Spain</p> <p> Page: No reference details. </p> <p></p>