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Women and Independence in Latin America An exploration of women's involvement in the Latin American Wars of Independence |
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Women and Independence in Latin America An exploration of women's involvement in the Latin American Wars of Independence |
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Gender:Female
Ethnic origen: White
Events:
| 1813 | - | Valencia | - | Unknown | - | She married José María Ortega on 28 November 1813 in Valencia. |
| 1814 | - | San Carlos | - | Unknown | - | She and Ortega sought refuge here in 1814. |
| 1814 | - | Valencia | - | Patriot | - | Her father and sister were killed by royalists in July 1814. |
| 1815 | - | Puerto Cabello | - | Unknown | - | She said goodbye to Ortego here before he was sent to prison in Alcatraz. |
| 1815 | - | Puerto Cabello | - | Unknown | - | She and Ortega were discovered and imprisoned on 20 July 1815. |
| 1817 | - | Valencia | - | Unknown | - | She was reunited with her husband in Valencia. |
Connections:
female relatives of executed patriotsBiography:
From Valencia, Venezuela, the daughter of Fernando Párraga, younger sister of Gertrudis, she married patriot Capt. José María Ortega on 28 November 1813 in Valencia. The Arch-bishop of Caracas conducted the ceremony and Bolívar was a witness. On 15 June 1814 Ortega was allowed to spend some time with his wife in her father's house, and was there when Boves attacked. Ortega was seriously injured; Mercedes´ father and sister were killed. Mercedes saved Ortega's life by secretly moving him from house to house to her family's property in La Jagua from which they travelled in disguise to San Carlos and then to the country house of patriot Micaela Malpica. She hid them, but the following day a note arrived saying that the royalists were going to kill Ortega. Malpica offered the pair horses and her maids and they returned to San Carlos and to the coast. Ortega worked as a labourer here until discovered on 20 July 1815 by royalist Francisco Tomás Morales under Morrillo's orders. They were both imprisoned and Ortega sent to Alcatraz, Spain. Párraga was given permission to go to Puerto Cabello to say goodbye to him before he sailed. They were reunited in 1817 in Valencia. (Monsalve, 64-68)
Bolívar awarded her and her sisters, Rosa, Jacinta, and Gertrudis Párraga an annual pension of 1,000 pesos. Gertrudis (died 1814) is probably named in error and it should be Mercedes Párraga. (Monsalve, 264)
References:
Monsalve, José D (1926) Mujeres de la independencia