José Clemente de Arocha: A Key Figure in Spanish Texas History (1765–1817)

José Clemente de Arocha, pastor of San Fernando de Béxar during the Spanish Texas period, was born to Simón Francisco de Arocha and María Ignacia de Urrutia. He belonged to one of the most important and wealthy families in Texas. His father was the most prosperous rancher in El Rincón and the nephew of Canary Islander leader Vicente Álvarez Travieso. His mother was related to Luis Antonio Menchaca and Andrés Hernández.

Arocha was most likely born around 1765 in San Fernando de Béxar. By 1785 he attended the seminary in Mexico City and thereafter became a priest. Upon returning to San Fernando, he temporarily succeeded Francisco Gómez Moreno as acting pastor of San Fernando in 1793. This substitution coincided with the secularization of the San Antonio de Valero Mission and the integration of its chapel with that of San Fernando (see SAN FERNANDO CATHEDRAL). He was soon replaced by Gabino Valdez of Saltillo.

By 1794 Arocha was acting as a vicar of José María Gómez de Castro in the Valle del Pilón and the Valle de la Mota in the New Kingdom of León and remained active there at least until 1799. Replacing Valdez in 1804, Arocha made history as the first native bexareño priest of San Fernando. Moreover, after Father José Bravo’s death in 1806, Arocha replaced him as chaplain of the “Pueblo of San José del Alamo,” as the San Antonio de Valero Mission was known when it housed the Second Flying Company of San Carlos de Parras.

The Arocha family owned the large San Rafael de Pataguiya ranch and gained prominence over other families in the area. As early as 1780 José Clemente was signing petitions alongside other noteworthy regional ranchers. After the Valero Mission’s secularization in 1793, Arocha acquired two land parcels during the subsequent land sales, but they were left uncultivated for at least three years, according to a report from 1809.

Amidst the turmoil of Napoleonic France’s invasion of Spain, Tejanos, including Arocha, made financial contributions to aid Spain's defense against the French. In an effort to better tie the empire together, the Supreme Central Junta of Spain extended representation to all overseas provinces to the Cortes of Cádiz. Economic and political considerations made the selection of a deputy from Texas contentious. Aside from Arocha, José Dario Zambrano, and Refugio de la Garza as the native candidates for deputy, a substantial group of electors wished to appoint Governor Manuel de Salcedo, who although not a Tejano, had the financial resources to serve. A six-year-old child randomly picked Arocha’s name from among the candidates, thereby designating him as Texas's deputy to the Cortes de Cádiz. Despite the apparent role of divine providence in his selection, his election was mired in contention and opposition, with Salcedo’s supporters refusing to certify his election.

The year 1810 saw revolutionary sentiments, inspired by Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, sweep across Texas (see MEXICAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE). While awaiting confirmation from the audiencia of Guadalajara regarding his election, Arocha was in San Fernando when Juan Bautista de las Casas led a coup against Salcedo in January 1811 (see CASAS REVOLT). The Arochas supported the cause, but fate and political currents were not on their side. The royalist faction, led by Juan Manuel Zambrano, crushed the revolt. He established a governing junta, incarcerated Casas, and took the reins of the province as interim administrator. Arocha opposed the junta, leading its members to imprison and exile him. He entered into exile on April 10, 1811. José Darío Zambrano replaced Arocha as pastor of San Fernando. In January 1812 the audiencia of Guadalajara nullified Arocha’s election as representative of Texas because of the charges of sedition.

By 1816 Arocha was living as a priest in the Valle del Pilón in Nuevo León and was renting land from a local mission. Without ever returning again to Texas, Clemente Arocha died on February 3, 1817, in modern-day Montemorelos, Nuevo León.