A little Spanish History is essential:
In 1808 the French invaded Spain. Some resistance was put up. For instance General Padilla had some successes in 1808 before being overcome and Juan Martin Diaz fought a guerrilla campaign in Castile until the French were expelled by Wellington in 1812. Padilla’s name was adopted by Liberals who called themselves ‘Children of Padilla’.
Juan Martin Diaz (1775-1825) may well have been a ‘cousin’ of Pedro. He is mentioned in a couple of the Family stories.He was painted by Goya in 1814, and I think bears some resemblance to Mariano and Meliton. Despite or perhaps because of his resistance to French, he was held captive for two years, exposed in a cage on Madrid market days to be stoned by the Absolutists, until killed by bayonets on 25/8/1825.
In 1812 Don Diego Munoz Torrero and colleagues put together the Cadiz Constitution. This was pretty liberal for the time – taking power from the King and giving it to a Cortes (Parliament) of elected MPs, giving freedom to the Press, and addressing some of the malpractices in the Catholic Church. Ferdinand VII on his return in 1814 repudiated it, and reinstalled himself as an absolute ruler. Only ‘official’ political newspapers were allowed. Spain was a simmering pot. A wealth of secret societies plotted to bring back freedom. These included Freemason societies.
In February 1820 Rafael del Riego y Nunez led a revolt of young army officers. Nominally they were against being sent to South America in a fruitless attempt to maintain Royal Authority in countries committed to independence. Ferdinand was captured in Cadiz and forced to swear to the 1812 Constitution. Arrangements were then made to hold Parliamentary Elections. The elections took place in December 1821. Riego became President.
In July 1822 there was a Guard’s revolt (instigated by Ferdinand VII) against the Madrid Militia. As a result the Government became much more radical, but at the same time the degree of anarchy increased. The Allied Powers became alarmed and convened the Congress of Verona in October 1822. (Spain's was just one of several Independence movements in Europe eg another was Greece's). France was authorised to intervene militarily to restore Ferdinand to power – only Great Britain abstained. In April 1823 the French under the Ducque de Angouleme invaded Spain reaching Madrid in May and Cordoba in June. Meanwhile the Spanish under Riego had retreated with Ferdinand to Seville and then Cadiz. The decisive battle Trocadero was fought there in August 1823. Cadiz fell in September and Ferdinand was handed over to the French. On his re-accession there was an enormous purge against all who had opposed him. About 30000 died and 20000 locked up. The deputies in Parliament were forced to flee. Many went to England.
Much of Dufour’s book about Sedeno is based on researches in Spanish and Vatican Archives. Sedeno was a Canon of the Cathedral at Segovia, and as soon as the 1820 revolt occurred, he started delivering his liberal sermons some of which have survived. Segovia was pretty divided. In October 1820 there was considerable reluctance to join the new military forces. So a big military parade was organised that included Mass at the cathedral. Sedeno delivered the sermon. Sedeno’s seniority is demonstrated by the fact that at the end of 1820 he was elected to be Bishop of Coria despite Vatican opposition. The new Press freedom is demonstrated by the launch in Segovia in April 1820 of the magazine of the Sociedad Patriotica. Its first President was Don Manuel de la Torre who was curate of St Just.
Pedro Martin de Bartolome was not the Governor post 1820 (Don Jose Balsena was). However in December 1821 he and Sedeno were elected as Diputados (MPs) to the Cortes. When they were to be sworn in in Febrary 1822 there were objections and an enquiry into the manner of their election. Pedro and Sedeno both spoke. Sedeno’s speech survives (Diario de las Actas y discussions de las Cortes pub Madrid 1822 (Archivo Militar) and is in Dufour’s book. Unfortunately Pedro’s speech is not given but perhaps it too exists. The commission eventually decided that all was ok, but in the enquiry of 1823 it came out that there had been threats made against those electing. For instance Don Leon Beano, Vicar of Coca, claimed that ‘at twelve o'clock at night before the election, one of his companions received a piece of paper in which it stated, that if Don Ramon Cabrera, Don Santiago Sedeno, Don Manuel de la Torre or Don Pedro Martin de Bartolome was not elected, it would be a misfortune and a disgrace.’ Clearly Don Pedro Martin de Bartolome was in the Liberal Camp.
It is interesting that Mariano his eldest son was so passionate about Freemasonry. It must have come down from his father.
Don Pedro Martin de Bartolome must have been Governor sometime between 1815 and 1820. This would tie up with Mariano’s memories of his father writing the dispatches for Madrid before they could go to the bullfight. In fact I know from the list of subscribers to the book ‘El acueducto y otras antigüedades de Segovia’ published in 1820 that he was 'abogado de los reales Consejo (lawyer to the royal Council)'. Family tradition has it that he was nicknamed ‘silver tongue’. Also listed there are: Don Santiago Arranz de la Torre – contador honorario de ejercito (army accountant), Don Clemente Maximo de la Torre – secretario de la real sociedad economica (also abogado solteron), Don Juan Mata de la Torre – oficial de credito publico also procurado del supremo tribunal de Justicia (lawyer of high court of Justice), Don Santiago Sedeno – canonigal magistral, Don Manuel de la Torre – cura de San Justo.
We know the godparent of Mariano was a de la Torre. Don Santiago Arranz de la Torre is particularly interesting. He and Pedro seem to have both been on council of Sociedad Patriotica. He also signed orders in Segovia on 14th January 1821 as acting commander of the army (Medio pliego sechado en Segovia 14 de Enero de 1821 firmado El Teniente Colonel Comandante Santiago Arranz de la Torre). His tombstone at Las Navillas near the royal palace at La Granja reads “Here lies Don Santiago Arranz de la Torre, accountant of the Artillery, native of Segovia. Founder of the existing wool wash here. August 8, 1827”. This was the same year as the Segovia wool mill closed. Pedro’s wife as we know was Josefa Arranz. Perhaps he was her father or uncle.
The ‘Diario de las Cortes’ contains records of the proceeding and voting of the Cortes. So Pedro must surely be mentioned more. The ‘Historia de las sociedades secretas autiguas y moderna en españa y ..’ by Vicento de la Fuente Garcia (1874) says that he was one of those who tried to negotiate compromises with the extremist elements who had gathered in February 1823.
Pedro probably escaped from Cadiz in September 1823. There are family stories that he met Byron at his (Italian?) house. If true, it must have been as an ambassador prior to this. Byron sailed from Genoa (via Leghorn) on 15 July 1823 for Greece where he died on 19 April 1824.
The Times 4/9/1826: Confirmation of death sentence and confiscation of lands of all Deputies who voted for the deposition of the King on 11/6/1823 in the self styled Cortes. The list included Don Pedro Martin de Bartolome deputy of Segovia. Sedeno had already died in December 1823 from natural causes hospital of Mother Ignacia in San Lucar de Barrameda, with false passports in a disguised name.
Pedro’s family followed him into exile about 1828, although Mariano may have fled even later. They settled in Jersey, and Pedro’s wife had a son Joseph there in 1829. Pedro died in Jersey in 1839. Josefa and some of her daughters were in Jersey at 1841 and 1851 censuses living in Belmont Cottages, Ann St, St Helier.
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