When Manuel Rivera Guzmán was born about 1798, in San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico, his father, Lucas Rivera Sánchez, was 34 and his mother, Violanta Guzmán, was 38. He married Petrona Dávila Villafañe on 8 February 1823, in Gurabo, Puerto Rico. They were the parents of at least 6 sons and 9 daughters. He died from 1850 to 1908.
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A British armada of 68 vessels and 7,000 men under Scotsman Sir Ralph Abercromby attacked San Juan, Puerto Rico. The Spanish defenses held. A procession of women made up to look like soldiers caused the siege to be called off. An annual parade later commemorated this event.
The Island became a host to an assortment of pirates and smugglers. One of the more famous was the Puerto Rican Roberto Cofresi, who is said to have shared his spoils with the poor. Pirate Roberto Cofresí and his crew attacked 8 ships one of them an American Ship. As a result, the U.S. Naval Forces send the schooner Grampus to pursue him. After a ferocious battle Cofresi and his crew were captured by Captain John Sloat.
Slavery is abolished in the Spanish colonies of Puerto Rico.
Some characteristic forenames: Spanish Jose, Juan, Luis, Carlos, Angel, Miguel, Manuel, Francisco, Jesus, Pedro, Jorge, Roberto.
Spanish: habitational name from any of several places called Rivera, from ribera ‘bank, shore’ (from Late Latin riparia). Compare De Rivera .
Catalan and Italian (southern): variant of Ribera , a cognate of 1 above.
Dictionary of American Family Names © Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006.
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