Carmen Noriega y Paredes (Noriega de Paredes)

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

Biographical details

From Peru, she was the cousin of José Martín, Governor of Maylas. She worked with Petronila Fernández de Paredes and hid Captain León Febres de Cordero (who was wanted dead or alive) in the house of Gertrudis Coello. He was later shipped out to join Lord Cochrane’s flotilla.

She was married to José Fernandez Paredes who was betrayed between 1820 and 1821, and accused of having a hiding place in Cercado barrio. Realising that her husband was about to be captured by the Spaniards, she hid him before transferring him to a safe house of a patriot. She had a spy network that saved many patriots from capture. They infiltrated into the highest positions, many as servants, others in the Convent of San Francisco. San Martín had absolute confidence in her. (Balta, 26-28).

In December 1821, she was described as the widow of José Fernandes Paredes. On 20 February 1822 she was awarded his pension of 48.7 1/2 (pesos/ reales) until the end of December 1821. (Gaceta del Gobierno, 20 de feb de 1822, p.5)

She was awarded the Orden del Sol by San Martín in 1822. (Gaceta de Lima, 23-1-1822, p.3)

When there was news that the liberating army was on its way to Lima, the royalists doubled their guard on Lima, especially on the women. Noriega de Paredes transported arms about the city hiding them in the folds of her skirt and her rebozo. She would joke to her husband that if a Spaniard touched her she would go off like a cannon as she was so well armed. She was thus able to take arms to where they were needed by the patriots. (García y García, 251)

Related to Manuela Noriega? and to Dr. Francisco Noriega who subscribed to El Mercurio Peruano, 1791-1793?