Francisco Pareja
Encyclopedia
Francisco Pareja was a Spanish
Franciscan
missionary in Spanish Florida
. His primary importance was as a linguist: he developed a writing system for the American Indian
Timucua language
. In 1612 he published the first book in an indigenous
language of North America
, a catechism in Spanish and Timucua. From 1612 to 1627, he published several other works in Spanish and Timucuan, for the use of his teaching brothers. He taught both Timucuan men and women to read and write in six months.
in the Diocese of Toledo, Spain
; the date of his birth is unknown. He would have studied at a school and seminary there.
in 1593 or early in 1594.
Pareja worked as a missionary
on the east coast of the peninsula, notably at San Juan del Puerto, the mission to the Saturiwa
chiefdom. The mission was on present-day Fort George Island near the mouth of the St. Johns River
in what is now Jacksonville
. There he worked with the local Timucua
-speaking people, known as the Mocama
. He developed a form of written language for Timucua, and wrote a catechism
in Spanish and Timucua. Published in 1612, it was the first book written in an indigenous language of the Americas. Through 1627, he published several other works in both languages. Due to his books and teachings, both Timucuan men and women learned to read and write in less than six months, and were able to write letters in their own language.
Pareja also worked at Mission San Pedro de Mocama
on Cumberland Island
(present-day Georgia
), the mission to another Mocama-speaking group, the Tacatacuru
. He was there at the time of the Guale
revolt in 1597. He later became guardian, or an officer of the monastery
of the Immaculate Conception at St. Augustine. He is also styled custos
, and must have held the office before 1613. At that time the church organization was elevated to the rank of a province under the patronage of St. Helena.
In his last posting, Pareja joined the province of the Holy Gospel in Mexico
. He died in Mexico in 1628.
. He published several works between 1612 and 1627 in Timucua and Spanish. His various works are:
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
missionary in Spanish Florida
Spanish Florida
Spanish Florida refers to the Spanish territory of Florida, which formed part of the Captaincy General of Cuba, the Viceroyalty of New Spain, and the Spanish Empire. Originally extending over what is now the southeastern United States, but with no defined boundaries, la Florida was a component of...
. His primary importance was as a linguist: he developed a writing system for the American Indian
American Indian
American Indian may refer to:*Native Americans in the United States*Indigenous people of the Americas, the inhabitants of North and South America prior to the arrival of Christopher Columbus*Indian American, an American with ancestors from India...
Timucua language
Timucua language
Timucua is a language isolate formerly spoken in northern and central Florida and southern Georgia by the Timucua people. Timucua was the primary language used in the area at the time of Spanish arrival in Florida. Linguistic and archaeological studies suggest that it may have been spoken from...
. In 1612 he published the first book in an indigenous
Indigenous languages of the Americas
Indigenous languages of the Americas are spoken by indigenous peoples from Alaska and Greenland to the southern tip of South America, encompassing the land masses which constitute the Americas. These indigenous languages consist of dozens of distinct language families as well as many language...
language of North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, a catechism in Spanish and Timucua. From 1612 to 1627, he published several other works in Spanish and Timucuan, for the use of his teaching brothers. He taught both Timucuan men and women to read and write in six months.
Early life
Pareja was probably born at AuñónAuñón
Auñón is a municipality located in the province of Guadalajara, Castile-La Mancha, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 254 inhabitants....
in the Diocese of Toledo, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
; the date of his birth is unknown. He would have studied at a school and seminary there.
Career
Pareja traveled to Florida with eleven other Franciscans assigned to establish missions to the Native Americans. They arrived at St. AugustineSt. Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine is a city in the northeast section of Florida and the county seat of St. Johns County, Florida, United States. Founded in 1565 by Spanish explorer and admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, it is the oldest continuously occupied European-established city and port in the continental United...
in 1593 or early in 1594.
Pareja worked as a missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
on the east coast of the peninsula, notably at San Juan del Puerto, the mission to the Saturiwa
Saturiwa
The Saturiwa were a Timucua chiefdom centered around the mouth of the St. Johns River in what is now Jacksonville, Florida. They were the largest and best attested chiefdom of the Timucua subgroup known as the Mocama, who spoke the Mocama dialect of Timucuan and lived in the coastal areas...
chiefdom. The mission was on present-day Fort George Island near the mouth of the St. Johns River
St. Johns River
The St. Johns River is the longest river in the U.S. state of Florida and its most significant for commercial and recreational use. At long, it winds through or borders twelve counties, three of which are the state's largest. The drop in elevation from the headwaters to the mouth is less than ;...
in what is now Jacksonville
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
. There he worked with the local Timucua
Timucua
The Timucua were a Native American people who lived in Northeast and North Central Florida and southeast Georgia. They were the largest indigenous group in that area and consisted of about 35 chiefdoms, many leading thousands of people. The various groups of Timucua spoke several dialects of the...
-speaking people, known as the Mocama
Mocama
The Mocama were a Native American people who lived in the coastal areas of what are now northern Florida and southeastern Georgia. A Timucua group, they spoke the dialect known as Mocama, the best-attested dialect of the Timucua language. Their territory extended from about the Altamaha River in...
. He developed a form of written language for Timucua, and wrote a catechism
Catechism
A catechism , i.e. to indoctrinate) is a summary or exposition of doctrine, traditionally used in Christian religious teaching from New Testament times to the present...
in Spanish and Timucua. Published in 1612, it was the first book written in an indigenous language of the Americas. Through 1627, he published several other works in both languages. Due to his books and teachings, both Timucuan men and women learned to read and write in less than six months, and were able to write letters in their own language.
Pareja also worked at Mission San Pedro de Mocama
San Pedro de Mocama
San Pedro de Mocama was a Spanish Franciscan mission built in the mid-16th century on Cumberland Island in what is now the U.S. state of Georgia. It was part of the missions system of Spanish Florida, and was founded to serve the Tacatacuru, a chiefdom of the Timucua...
on Cumberland Island
Cumberland Island
Cumberland Island is one of the Sea Islands. Cumberland is the largest in terms of continuously exposed land area of Georgia's barrier islands. It is located on the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of the U.S. state of Georgia and is part of Camden County...
(present-day Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
), the mission to another Mocama-speaking group, the Tacatacuru
Tacatacuru
The Tacatacuru were a Timucua chiefdom located on Cumberland Island in what is now the U.S. state of Georgia in the 16th and 17th centuries. They were one of two chiefdoms of the Timucua subgroup known as the Mocama, who spoke the Mocama dialect of Timucuan and lived in the coastal areas of...
. He was there at the time of the Guale
Guale
Guale was an historic Native American chiefdom along the coast of present-day Georgia and the Sea Islands. Spanish Florida established its Roman Catholic missionary system in the chiefdom in the late 16th century. During the late 17th century and early 18th century, Guale society was shattered...
revolt in 1597. He later became guardian, or an officer of the monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
of the Immaculate Conception at St. Augustine. He is also styled custos
Custos
Custos is the Latin word for guard. It occurs in titles such as* Custos rotulorum, keeper of the rolls* Custos * Custos...
, and must have held the office before 1613. At that time the church organization was elevated to the rank of a province under the patronage of St. Helena.
In his last posting, Pareja joined the province of the Holy Gospel in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. He died in Mexico in 1628.
Works
Pareja is noted for having published the first books in the language of an indigenous tribe within the present-day United States, the TimucuaTimucua
The Timucua were a Native American people who lived in Northeast and North Central Florida and southeast Georgia. They were the largest indigenous group in that area and consisted of about 35 chiefdoms, many leading thousands of people. The various groups of Timucua spoke several dialects of the...
. He published several works between 1612 and 1627 in Timucua and Spanish. His various works are:
- "Catecismo en lengua castellana y timuquana" (Mexico, 1612);
- "Catecismo y breve exposición de la doctrina cristiana" (Mexico, 1612);
- "Confesionario en lengua castellana y timuquana" (Mexico, 1613);
- "Gramatica de la lengua timuquana de Florida" (Mexico, 1614);
- "Catecismo de la doctrina cristiana en lengua timuquana" (Mexico, 1617);
- "Catecismo y examen para los que comulgan, en lengua castellana y timuquana" (Mexico, 1627).
External links
- "Francisco Pareja", Catholic Encyclopedia, New York: Robert Appleton Co., 1911