Update on 'Who was Lasqueti - the namesake of our island'

Hi everyone!

I scrolled through my inbox today (mostly junk about male enhancement products) and found this email from David Harris about 'Juan Maria Lasquetty'.  If anyone wants the attachment let me know and I'll send it along. Thanks Internet! 

Hi Tanis, Thanks for the information on Who was 'Lasqueti', the namesake of our Island? | Lasqueti Island. 'm English. My wife is Spanish.

My father in law was called Lasquetty, and he was born in Cádiz, Spain. 

By chance a few months ago a very detailed history of the (huge) Lasquetty family was published in Spain (45 pages - attached).

In a nutshell ... from the pdf I understand that the Lasquetty family was an important Italian noble family. The pdf indicates that Antonio Lasquetty was born in Pisa, Italy, 1565. Two generations later, Sebastián (born in Livorna, Italy 27.12.1668) went to Cadiz, an important port and city in Spain, age 32. He created a successful trading company. One of Sebastian's two brothers, Juan María Lasquetty, was a ship's captain. References don't indicate whether Juan María was a friend of José María Narváez, Capitain of the Santa Saturnina - or someone else in the Spanish navy named the island 'Lasqueti'. Sebastián's other brother, also an officer in the Spanish navy, had nephews, including Captain Juan Ruiz de Apodaca. 

In Spain members of the Lasquetty family have been recognised as 'hidalgos', members of Spain's nobility. Unfortunately any wealth and / or noble titles didn't go my father-in-law's way!  Orphaned very young, his family was separated by the Spanish civil war. He was a wonderful doctor, and an exceptional father in law.

Santa Saturnina   Santa Saturnina

The Santa Saturnina was a comparatively small sloop, at roughly 12 m long and 3.5 m wide.

1 It was built in Nootka Sound in 1790.

2 Scott notes that the Santa Saturnina was constructed from pieces of the Santa Gertrudis la Magna, thought to be the first European-built ships in the Pacific Northwest.

3. In 1791, under the command of José María Narváez, the Santa Saturnina explored Barkley Sound, the Strait of Georgia, and the Haro Strait, and sailed within sight of Desolation Sound and Nanaimo Harbour.

4.  The Santa Saturnina draws its name from the German martyr St Saturnina, patron saint of farmers and wine merchants (but no mention of Lasqueti haze cannabis...)

Just as a final comment. I'm from Plymouth, UK. My predecessors were from Ireland. You will probably have heard of my fellow Plymothian (Sir) Francis Drake. He attacked the Spanish armada in Cádiz (1587) and was Vice-Admiral, setting out from Plymouth in 1588 to attack, and overcome the Spanish armada.

All the best with your research! regards David Harris