Alfonso Rodríguez (Captain)


Alfonso Rodríguez was a Spanish mariner and merchant, who was colonizer in the cities of Río de Janeiro and Buenos Aires in 1620s. He served as Captain of commercial ships, having an active participation in the commerce of Río de la Plata towards the middle of the 17th century.

Biography

Rodríguez was born in Galicia, Spain, son of Juan de Trovo Rodríguez and Inés de Vasanta, belonging to a traditional Galician family. He arrived port of Buenos Aires in the early 1600s from Rio de Janeiro, where he had lived a few years. Installed in Buenos Aires he participated in the economic activities of the Río de la Plata as a naval merchant.
In 1629 the Captain Rodríguez married in Buenos Aires, with Ana de la Trinidad Martínez, daughter of Juan Gil de Freytas and María Martínez, belonging to families of residents of the city. Ana Martínez's parents were of Spanish and Portuguese origin. Their wedding took place in the year of 1612, and they had as witnesses Isabel de Frias and Manuel de Frias, "el mozo", sons of Manuel de Frías, a distinguished military man born in Asunción, who held various political posts in the Río de la Plata, including that of lieutenant governor of Buenos Aires.
Alfonso Rodríguez and his wife Ana Gil de Freytas were the maternal grandparents of Miguel Gerónimo de Esparza y Rodríguez perpetual alderman of Buenos Aires.