1760. Carta de Juan de Santa Olalla para Manuel María Crespo y Toledo

Letter from Juan de Santa Olalla to Manuel María Crespo y Toledo

The author warns Manuel Crespo of his suspicions regarding the prior, given that he thinks he is obstructing the law proceeding.

In 1759 the Council of Castile noted certain conflicts plaguing the village of Madridejos, in San Juan priory. The disagreements mainly focused on three individuals: Ramón de Medina Osorio, a lawyer; Manuel Martín Salcedo, a scrivener; and Manuel María Crespo, a native and resident of the aforementioned village. The charges against the former ones were for the excesses committed in the course of their duties, for their own benefit and at the expense of their fellow neighbours. Manuel María Crespo was involved in this strife as a victim, specially due to Salcedo´s manipulations. Francisco de Solera, the judge of this proceeding, collected a number of testimonies from several neighbours and members of the highest repute within the community. The judge´s intention was to unravel the conflict, find out who was to blame and, specially, reveal what were the motives for these actions. Francisco de Solera pondered which were the ills that these three individuals represented for their community and recommended their exile from the village. He also suggested for the village to appoint a neutral mayor to put an end to the dissensions in the village and safeguard its economic and social potential. Manuel Crespo appealed the decision and tried to be considered for pardon. He assured he was being a victim of a conspiracy and not having any part in Madridejos´ dissents. He argued he was only following orders from certain members of the Council on the proceedings against Salcedo. In this regard, he provided several letters justifying his point, which were proof of his management in Madrid against Salcedo. On the other hand, he argued that the decision of his exile would leave in a precarious position to his sisters (Vicenta and Ana Rosa) and his young son, who he had to rise as a widow. Despite his allegations, the Council was adamant and he was banished to Ceuta by decree. In the Council´s decision the real motivation was Crespo´s uncontrolled lifestyle in Madridejos rather that Salcedo´s issue. He was accused of having unlawful relationships with several women from the village (as a matter of fact, the apothecary and all of his family were also exiled because of it); of not working and spending his time playing cards; and of giving a bad life to both of his wives, Barbara Dupont and Josefa Lasa. For that matter, he had already completed an exile sentence in Oran. Nevertheless, Crespo´s wanderings did not end here. In 1761, once in Ceuta, he got married to Josefa Tejada, abandoning her a few years later to return to Madridejos. In 1774 the Council ordered him to return to Ceuta to reunite with his wife and son. In 1778 he was applying to return to his home village, which was reluctant to take him back.