Introduction

Microhistory

Migration history

Migration in the early modern Atlantic

Letters as a Source for the History of Migration

The Agata’s Letters in Context

Structure and sources

Chapter 1: The Master and his Family

Sanlúcar de Barrameda: A City of Migrants

Life Before the Agata

Becoming Shipmaster

Letters from Mexico

News From the Family

Letters to Spain

Chapter 2: The Agata’s Journey

From Zaandam to Spain

A Dutch Ship in Cádiz

War, Privateering and Trade

The charterers

Preparations for the Journey

From Cádiz to New Spain

The Agata in Veracruz

Missing Havana

The Capture and the Captors

Chapter 3: The Agata’s Migrants

Mobile Workers

A Multinational Crew

Life on the Agata

Regular and Irregular Migration in the Spanish Atlantic

Blending in: Citizenship and Belonging in New Spain

A Free Black in Mexico

Return Passengers: from Batavia to Veracruz

Chapter 4: The Agata’s Letters

Letters to Migrants Sent From Sanlúcar

From Josepha Croquer in Sanlúcar de Barrameda to Her Nephew Antonio

From Juan Franchois in Seville to Juan de Espinosa y Eliguisamon

Letters From Migrants in Mexico to Sanlúcar

From Joseph de Vargas to a Woman Named Catalina

From Joseph de Ribas to His Wife Rosa Francisca de Ribas y Aguilar

From Bartholome Rodríguez de Reina to His Relative Roman de Bargas

Two Letters of Recommendation

Chapter 5: A Father and a Son

A Commercial Agent and His Son

Letters and Themes

From Juan to Ángela Vallejo

From Juan to Bernardo Fallon

The Valderrama Family

From Juan to Luis

From Juan to Pantaleona

From Joaquín to Pantaleona

From Joaquín to Antonio and Luis

Conclusion

Bibliography