Background
Lucas Vasquez De Ayllon was born c. 1478 in Toledo, Spain.
Lucas Vasquez De Ayllon was born c. 1478 in Toledo, Spain.
In 1502, Lucas Vasquez De Ayllon as one of the group came to Hispaniola (Santo Domingo) with Gov. Nicolas de Ovando.
Made a judge of the supreme court of Hispaniola, he was granted 400 Indians in repartimientos, or fiefs. So Ayllon formed a partnership with the clerk of the Audiencia of Hispaniola, and in 1520 sent a ship under Francisco Gordillo as captain and Alonzo Fernandez Sotil as pilot with orders to sail northward until they should reach land. Near the island of Lucayoneque, they fell in with Pedro de Quexos, who had been sent out from Hispaniola in quest of Caribs to sell as slaves. The commanders decided to go north together on a search for land, and incidentally for slaves as well.
In June 1521, according to Quexos, the two ships came upon land in latitude 33° 30' at the mouth of a considerable river to which was given the name of San Juan Bautista.
On June 30, 1521, Gordillo and Quexos took possession of the newly discovered country and by help of a native guide made exploration into the interior. Gordillo, contrary to instructions from Ayllon, lured to his ship 150 Indians and with them sailed for Hispaniola. On his return he was brought before a commission under Diego Columbus which freed the captives and ordered their return to their people.
Ayllon, soon after this, proceeded to Spain to secure his discovery by royal grant. He took a native of the new country who had been baptized as "Francisco Chicora" and who had learned to speak Spanish.
On June 12, 1523, Emperor Charles V issued a decree conferring upon Ayllon and his descendants the titles of adelantado and governor. By this decree Ayllon was empowered to search for an interoceanic strait (the coast for 800 leagues) leading to the Spice Islands in vessels furnished at his own cost. He was required to start on his expedition the following year, 1524, and was allowed three years from the day his fleet left Hispaniola in which to complete it. His grant secured, Ayllon returned to the West Indies with the intention of following up his undertaking. He was, however, embarrassed by a residencia (a public and official investigation of his conduct) and by the non-appearance of vessels from Spain bringing the armament for his ships.
While thus delayed, he, in 1525, sent to the new land two ships under Pedro de Quexos, probably Matienzo's former pilot. Quexos explored the coast for 250 leagues, taking possession in the King's name and returning the same year to Hispaniola. He brought back with him some gold and silver and a few pearls.
In June or July 1526, Ayllon was himself able to go to the new land and begin the planting of his colony. Accompanied by the pilot Quexos, he sailed from La Plata in Hispaniola with a fleet of "three large vessels" and some lesser ones. He took with him from the West Indies five or six hundred men and women and eighty or ninety horses in addition to the necessary outfit for the colony.
Ayllon landed at the mouth of a river (33° 40') which one of his pilots named the Jordan. On entering the river Ayllon lost a ship but saved the crew.
Thereupon Ayllon turned southwestward for about 115 miles until he came to a great river (Gualdape) which Lowery thinks may have been the Peedee, but which Johnson is confident was the Santee. On the Gualdape, in any event (above 33°), was begun the settlement of San Miguel de Gualdape. The region was flat and marshy and the settlement did not prosper. Many of the colonists sickened and died. Ayllon himself died on St. Luke's Day, 1526.
He was of good character, intelligent, and well educated. He was said to have had a talent for "conversation. " He never cared too much for wealth.
There is no record of his family.
