Rosalia Canoso

Other names/titles:
Gender: F
Ethnic origin: Unknown

Biographical details

She was born around 1775, and married Ygnacio Hernández, a Spanish widower, in Caracas in 1815. In 1830 she tried to divorce him on the grounds of adultery and abuse. The case was rejected and the following year she used the courts to make him support her and to seek the right to administer her properties. She claimed that he had married her for her wealth and that their marriage was unconsummated. He had tricked her into signing over all her property shortly after their marriage. In 1819 he had fled to Curaçao following the patriots´ victory but had returned in 1830 to reclaim her money. She stated: "After many years, here comes a sworn enemy of the country, who, calling me his wife, did not waste a step to gain possession of my houses. (Díaz, 156)

In 1833, she was ordered by the courts to live in a house over which Hernández had control. She managed to escape. In May 1837 Hernández died and Canoso went to the courts to regain her properties that had been passed on to his children from a previous marriage. (Díaz, 159-160)

Life Events

Born	1775	She was born around this time.
Married	1815	She married Ygnacio Hernández.
Other	1819	Her husband fled to Curaçao.
Other	1830	She unsuccessfully tried to divorce her husband.
Other	1831	She used the courts to enable her to administer her properties.
Other	1833	She managed to escape being sent to live under her estranged husband's control.
Other	1837	Her estranged husband died in May 1837.

References

Díaz, Arlene J., (2004), Female Citizens, Patriarchs and the Law in Venezuela, 1796-1904

Publications

There is no writing by this subject in the database.

Links

Resource id #33 (50)

Gendering Latin American Independence

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