Sixteenth Century European Trade in the Southeastern United States: Evidence from the Juan Pardo Expeditions (1566-1568)

Chester B. DePratter · Marvin T. Smith

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Latin American history and culture Historical and Cultural Archaeology Studies Global Maritime and Colonial Histories

Abstract

In 1566-68, two Spanish expeditions commanded by Captain Juan Pardo ventured inland from Santa Elena, a Spanish settlement on the south Atlantic coast of North America (DePratter et al. 1980).Accompanied by 125 soldiers, Pardo explored the area from the coast inland beyond the Appalachian Mountains.Despite the importance of these expeditions, they have attracted comparatively little scholarly attention, perhaps because of the limited nature of published primary documents recording these journeys.Published Pardo expedition documents are three in number: 1) Pardo's account of both expeditions (Ruidiaz y Caravia 1894); 2) a highly condensed account of the first expedition by a soldier, Francisco Martinez (Ruidfaz 1894); and 3) a brief account of the second expedition by Juan de la Vandera who was the expedition's official scribe (Smith 1857; Ruidfaz 1894).Translations of all three accounts into English have been published by Ketcham (1954), Folmsbee and Lewis (1965), and Quinn (1979).These three accounts provide only limited details about the route taken, local populations, and trade goods distributed.Previous studies of Pardo's explorations (Mooney 1900; Ross 1930; Lowery 1905; De Soto Expedition Commission 1939;and Baker 1974) have been based entirely on these three documents.A fourth, unpublished account written by Juan de la Vandera (1569) provides more details concerning all aspects of Pardo's second trip into the interior.When used together, the four known accounts furnished a relatively complete picture of both expeditions, including the route followed and the trade materials that were distributed (DePratter et al. 1980).Once the east coast forts were garrisoned and settlements were in place at San Agustin and Santa Elena, Menendez turned his attention to settlement and exploration of other parts of Florida.He established a fort, San Antonio, and a mission, Tocobaga, on the Gulf Coast, and dispatched an expedition to explore Chesapeake Bay (Quinn 1979:II:551-54).As part of the same effort, Menendez ordered Captain Pardo to explore areas inland from Santa Elena.

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