Juan Nepomuceno de la Cerda was born in 1752 at Los Adaes, which is in modern-day Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana. lieutenant was said he was a descendant of a Spanish conquistador who was on De Soto"s expedition. Nepomuceno was the son of a Spanish soldier who was the commander of a fort in San Antonio, Texas at the time of his birth, and his mother was a Caddo Indian in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana.
The only Spanish conquistador with the surname was Captain Antonio de la Cerda who participated in the Conquest of Mexico with Cortez. Some records suggest that his father"s name was Francisco de la Cerda and that the family came from Toledo, Spain. On census records, de la Cerda was recorded as "Spanish/Indio".
The de la Cerda brothers were scouts and bodyguards that protected Catholic priests who were exploring the Indian tribes of Louisiana and Texas.
lieutenant 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.
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.
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 Louisiana Cerda, Texas, and a railroad crossing were named in his honor, he being the original grantee of the surrounding land.
