Ermitage Ancón - El Rincón - Valle de la Orotava - Tenerife

LITTLE HISTORY AND ANECDOTES OF THE "ANCON hermitage "

According to research made by Don Antonio Luque from the Instituto de Estudios Canarios. En el “Nobiliario Español” de Julio de Atienza se afirma que MONTENEGRO es apellido de origen gallego, procedente de Pontevedra. Alfonso López de Montenegro caso con Dña. María Sarmiento y vástagos de este linaje pasaron a Portugal y Canarias.

In the "Spanish Nobiliario" of Julio de Atienza it is said that MONTENEGRO is a Galician Name, from Pontevedra.
Alfonso Lopez Montenegro married Ms Maria Sarmiento and offsprings of this family went to Portugal and the Canary Islands.

Native of Galicia they establishe themselves in Tenerife, Vilaflor at first and then in the Villa de La Orotava. The Montenegro formed a highly renowned House in the island.
They were employers for the Chapel of San Juan Nepomuceno in the Convent Church of San Nicolas, where they obtained their distinguished burial and the honors and privileges of the Board of the "Hermitage of Our Lady of Montenegro" in the Ancon, foundations set up by JOSEPH OF MONTENEGRO and DIAZ DE LUGO.

Lineage OF THE TENERIFE HOUSE OF VILAFLOR:

Don Cristobal de Montenegro, married twice, first with Maria Martin and the second with Maria Machado, who later tested before the Madrid Notary Public Vilaflor in 1622, whose descendants were, among others:
- Don Joseph de Montenegro y Martin, married to Maria Rodriguez de Ledesma
- Children: Don Joseph Rodriguez Montenegro de Ledesma
- Grandchildren: Don Joseph de Montenegro and Diaz de Lugo

Joseph de Montenegro and Diaz de Lugo, who was born in La Orotava, was a public notary, deputy clerk of War, apostolic notary of Crusade and public of issue of the Diocese of the Canaries.

Purchased many real estate. Including several lands of owners in El Rincon de La Orotava till he formed the "Hacienda El Ancon".

Montenegro reported in his will about several altars and chapels, due to his spiritual power of religion, to solemnize the cult of the saints of his devotion. In 1730, in honor of San Juan Nepomuceno he ordered the production of an altar to celebrate the Holy Office.

He died on July 8th, 1789 without receiving the sacraments as in that moment he found himself vomiting and therefore only the extreme unction was administered to him.
Having no descendants he bequeathed all his property to his nephew Crispulo Restituto de Montenegro ordering as his last wish that his bones to be buried in the Chapel of the Ancon, without having any record that his wish took place.

In 1789 an inspection was conducted and the license was conceded to continue holding the office of the Holy Mass, it was ordered so by the bishop: "Bishop my lord I sign and certify Antonio, Bishop of the Canaries".

Maria de la Concepcion Castro, his widow, died in 1793.

Dña.Josefa and Ms. Francisca Calzadila, both descendants, received in legacy, "Half pipe Mosto each year, from the profits of "La Hacienda El Alcón" and the product of half the moral planted in it, appointing an executor, among others, Don Crispulo De Montenegro naming universal  heiress to Gervasio Alayón Sancedo, his niece and legitimat wife of Don Crispulo de Montenegro. "

Don Crispulo de Montenegro was born on June the 10th, 1760 and in 1791 he was awarded the job of a notary public.

Crispulo discussed against the Vicar of the Party and with Prior of the Dominicans for the famous Cross of Carey, because completed the procession because of "El Paso", the religiousman  tried to keep it. Justice required the monk to return it.

He died on the 18th of MAY, 1810

FOUNDATION OF THE HERMITAGE:

Joseph de Montenegro built this Hermitage with the holy purpose of placing "Our Lady of Montenegro" appeared in Livorno (Liorna), Saint Joseph and Saint Juan Nepomuceno and their special devotees.
He asked the Bishop Don Francisco Delgado y Vargas, grant him license to celebrate and say Mass in it. On August 8th 1766 the vicar was commissioned to carry out the verification. Satisfied with the document, the license was granted to celebrate the holy office on the
23rd of July 1771. The  first Mass was held on July 24th 1771.

Don Crispulo and Ms Gervasio and were married in the Chapel on July 27th, 1785.


In the late nineteenth century the steward of the chapel Isidro Alvarez changed the name of the Virgin to "Our Lady of Montserrat", but we don´t know the reason for this change.

In the area of El Rincon the pilgrimage had been celebrated on the last Sunday in September, until the year 2005 and the residents of the place still retain the devotion to the Virgin of Montserrat in the Hermitage of El Ancon. .