The Jerome fathers on their way to la Espanola, in 1516, touched at what they describe as “the port of Puerto Rico, which is in the island of San Juan de Boriquen,” and the treasurer, Haro, wrote of them on January 21, 1518:  " ...  They have done nothing during the year, and the inhabitants are uncertain and fear changes.  This is the principal cause of harm to the Indians.  It is necessary to dispose what is to be done ...  Although great care is now exercised in the treatment of the Indians their numbers grow less for all that, because just as they are ignorant of things concerning the faith, so do they ignore things concerning their health, and they are of very weak constitution.”

The frequent changes in the government that had been made by Diego Columbus, the arrest of Velasquez and his death in the gloomy dungeons of the Inquisition, the arrival of de la Gama as judge auditor and governor ad interim, and his subsequent marriage with Ponce’s daughter Isabel, all these events but served to embitter the strife of parties.  “The spirit of vengeance, ambition, and other passions had become so violent and deep-rooted among the Spaniards,” says Abbad,[30] “that God ordained their chastisement in various ways.”

The removal of the capital from its swampy location to the islet which it now occupies was another source of dissension.  It appears that the plan was started immediately after Ceron’s accession, for the king wrote to him November 9, 1511:  “Juan Ponce says that he located the town in the best part of the island.  We fear that you want to change it.  You shall not do so without our special order.  If there is just reason for change you must inform us first.”

Velasquez, in his report of April, 1515, mentions that he accompanied the Town Council of Caparra to see the site for the new capital, and that to him it seemed convenient.

In 1519 licentiate Rodrigo de Figueroa sent a lengthy exposition accompanied by the certified declarations of the leading inhabitants regarding the salubrity of the islet and the insalubrity of Caparra, with a copy of the disposition of the Jerome fathers authorizing the transfer, and leaving Ponce, who strenuously opposed it, at liberty to live in his fortified house in Caparra as long as he liked.

On November 16, 1520, Baltazar Castro, in the name of the crown officers of San Juan, reported to the emperor:  “The City of Puerto Rico has been transferred to an islet which is in the port where the ships anchor, a very good and healthy location.”

FOOTNOTES: 

[Footnote 25:  Annotations, p. 96.]

[Footnote 26:  Ponce protested and appealed to the Audiencia, but did not obtain restitution till 1520.]

[Footnote 27:  A Castellano was the 150 part of a mark of gold.  The mark had 8 ounces.]

[Footnote 28:  Indians distributed to be employed as domestic servants.]