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Born: 1527

Birthplace: Alemandralejo, Badajoz, Extremadura, Spain

Death: 1615

Birthplace: Villa de San Germán, Puerto Rico

Occupation: Alcalde de San Germán, Alferez de la gente de a caballo, Capitan

Spouse: Constanza Sanchez Ortiz y Gonzalez de la Renta

Father: Jurado Francisco Ruiz

Mother: Mencia Ortiz, senora de Salteras

Sex: Male

Rodrigo Ortiz Vélez

Biography

Rodrigo Ortiz Vélez was the first alcalde of San Germán in its modern location. He arrived in Puerto Rico around 1562 on a Spanish fleet searching for El Dorado. He was accompanied by his brother, Juan Ortiz Vélez. He married Constanza Sánchez Ortiz y González de la Renta, the daughter of Miguel Sánchez Ortiz and Ana González de la Renta, in 1563 in Villa de Santa María de Guadianilla (near modern day Guayanilla). Rodrigo served as Alférez de la gente de a caballo in Guadianilla where on the beaches he defended the island from a French attack. In 1565, Rodrigo held his ground for more than 20 days and nights not allowing the French to land. In 1567, a native uprising destroyed the town of Guadianilla. The town was burned, horses were killed, Rodrigo's son was captured by natives before being killed, and Rodrigo's home was burned and looted.

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In response to the constant attacks from the French and natives, the Spanish crown ordered that the population of Santa María de Guadianilla to move to the new Villa de San Germán en las Lomas de Santa Marta. Here Rodrigo became Alcalde Ordinario of the new settlement and continued to operate as a military officer with a promotion to Capitán. He defended against the French another time in 1576 in Guadianilla.

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In 1620, Constanza Ortiz gave her final will and testament stating she was the widow of Rodrigo Ortiz Vélez.

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Rodrigo Ortiz Vélez is the ancestor of the Ortiz de la Renta family through his daughter Isabel González de la Renta, the Vélez del Rosario through his son Francisco Vélez, and the Rodríguez Borrero through his daughter Juana Martín Vélez.

Descendants

  • A son who was killed by natives in 1567

  • Francisco Vélez

  • Juana Martín Vélez married Antonio Rodríguez Borrero

  • Isabel Gonzalez de la Renta married Alonso Gonzalez de la Renta

    • Alonso​ Ortiz de la Renta married María de Montalvo

      • Alonso Ortiz de la Renta y Montalvo married Constanza de Torres Quinones

        • Jose Ortiz de la Renta y Torres Quinones married Clara de Vivera​

          • Felix Ortiz de la Renta y Vivera married (1) Petronila de Rivera (2) Petronila Nazario de Figueroa

            • Jose Ortiz de la Renta​ y Nazario de Figueroa married Maria Cayetana de Irizarry y Pabon Davila

              • Juan Manuel Ortiz de la Renta e Irizarry​ married Maria Jose de la Seda y Lopez de Victoria

                • Juan de la Paz Ortiz de la Renta y ​de la Seda married Juana Celedonia de Lugo y Olanda

                  • Juan Cancio Ortiz Lugo married (1) Josefa Feliu Torres (2) Matilde Romeu Marti​

      • Maria Ortiz de la Renta y Montalvo married German Martin de Quinones

      • Adrian Ortiz de la Renta y Montalvo married Graciana Rodriguez

      • Teniente de Capitan Juan Ortiz de la Renta y Montalvo married (1) Petronila de Montlavo (2) Juana de Torres y Figueroa

        • Martin​ Ortiz de la Renta y Montalvo married Ana Sanchez de Cadiz

        • Juana Ortiz de la Renta y Montalvo

        • Margarita Ortiz de la Renta y Montalvo married Francisco Antonio Jusino

        • Diego Ortiz de la Renta y Montalvo

        • Clara Ortiz de la Renta y Montalvo married Manuel de Jesus Pacheco de Matos

        • Maria Ortiz de la Renta y Montalvo married Sargento Mayor Domingo Rodriguez de la Seda

        • Nicolas Ortiz de la Renta y Montalvo married Margarita Cintron

          • Maria​ Ortiz de la Renta y Cintron

          • Dominga Ortiz de la Renta y Cintron

          • Mauricio Ortiz de la Renta y Cintron

          • Micaela Ortiz de la Renta y Cintron married Manuel Negron y Lugo

          • Cayetano Ortiz de la Renta y Cintron

          • Tomasa Ortiz de la Renta y Cintron married Juan de Rivera

          • Rosa Ortiz de la Renta y Cintron

          • Raimunda Ortiz de la Renta y Cintron

          • Manuel Felipe Ortiz de la Renta y Cintron married Petrona Nazario de Figueroa

            • Vicente Ortiz de la Renta y Nazario de Figueroa married Juana Manuela Ortiz de la Renta y Velez del Rosario

              • Felipa de Jesus Ortiz de la Renta y Ortiz de la Renta

              • Ramona  Valentina Ortiz de la Renta y Ortiz de la Renta

              • Maria de la O Ortiz de la Renta y Ortiz de la Renta

              • Maria Juliana Ortiz de la Renta y Ortiz de la Renta

          • Tomas Ortiz de la Renta y Cintron married Maria de la Concepcion Velez del Rosario

            • Juana Ortiz de la Renta y Velez del Rosario

            • Maria de los Angeles Ortiz de la Renta y Velez del Rosario

            • Juan Francisco Ortiz de la Renta y Velez del Rosario

            • Juana Manuela Ortiz de la Renta y Velez del Rosario married Vicente Ortiz de la Renta y Nazario de Figueroa

            • Juan Victor Ortiz de la Renta y Velez del Rosario married Gregoria de Almodovar y Rodriguez

              • Maria Francisca​ Ortiz de la Renta y Almodovar married Lucas Gallardo y Gonzalez

              • Maria del Pilar Ortiz de la Renta y Almodovar married Juan Ramon Ortiz de la Renta y Lugo

              • Tomas Jose Ortiz de la Renta y Almodovar

              • Juan Francisco Ortiz de la Renta y Almodovar

              • Leonarda Ortiz de la Renta y Almodovar married Pedro Cordero

            • Marcos Ortiz de la Renta y Velez del Rosario

          • Bernardino Ortiz de la Renta​

            • Atanasio Ortiz de la Renta married Maria Rita Torres​

              • Jose Loreto​ Ortiz de la Renta

              • Eduardo Ortiz de la Renta

              • Ignacio Ortiz de la Renta

              • Josefa Ortiz de la Renta

              • Carmen Ortiz de la Renta

              • Maria Nemesia Ortiz de la Renta

        • Matias Ortiz de la Renta y Montalvo

        • Juana Josefa Ortiz de la Renta y Montalvo married Diego Rodriguez de la Seda

        • Juana Bautista Ortiz de la Renta y Torres de Figueroa married Luis Rodriguez de la Seda

        • Juan Alexos Ortiz de la Renta y Torres de Figueroa

        • Juana Ortiz de la Renta y Torres de Figueroa

        • Antonia Ortiz de la Renta y Torres de Figueroa married Juan Collazo

        • Petronila Ortiz de la Renta y Torres de Figueroa married Gaspar de Torres y Figueroa

    • Juan Ortiz de la Renta married Juana de Matos Maldonado

    • Diego José Ortiz de la Renta

    • Cristobal Ortiz de la Renta married Maria de Villanueva

Timeline

  • 1527 - Born in Alemandralejo.

  • c. 1562 - Arrives in Puerto Rico with his brother.

  • c. 1563 - Marries Constanza Sanchez Ortiz y Gonzalez de la Renta

  • 1577 - Probanza de Rodrigo Ortiz Vélez

  • 1596 - Juicio de Residencia

  • 1615 - Dies in Puerto Rico

Sources

Lluch Mora, Francisco; Catologo de Inscripciones Demografico Sacramentales y de orta Indole del Linaje Puertorriqueño Ortiz de la Renta

Lluch Mora, Francisco; Fundacion de la Villa de San German en las Lomas de Santa Marta

© 2020 by Julian Nunez

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