I represent Maria Juana, a girl of color enslaved in the household of Don Manuel Gonzalez (there were three men by the name of Manual Gonzalez living in Pensacola in 1820, but only two were referred to as Don; researchers have not yet confirmed which one was my owner).
I was baptized by Father Coleman at St. Michael’s on March 26, 1820, several months after my birth. My mother was Maria, a mulata woman enslaved in the same household. I was born into slavery by virtue of her enslaved status. My father is listed as no conocido (unknown) – but that usually means that the man either did not want or was not able to acknowledge me. I had a younger sister named Luisa Ursula.