The National Record of the Founding of the Town of San Josephe de Oruna summarises that:
St. Joseph was the first capital of Trinidad. It was founded in the year 1592 and named San Jose de Oruna.It was also the very first established town in Trinidad discovered by Don Antonio de Berrio y Oruna, who in the year 1580 inherited a Royal Charter in which he was then allowed to explore the El Dorado for Spain.
The El Dorado was also known very well for all it's riches. In his conquest to find all the riches of the El Dorado and as Trinidad being so close to it de Berrio decided to set up his headquaters in Trinidad, so that he may be as close as possible to the El Dorado. He also thought that he may be able obtain to some hidden answer to the El Dorado that was hidden in Trinidad.
After the request of the Spanish Court they made him Governor of Trinidad, he then forward his second-in-command, to find a good area for a town. It was then on the 15th of May, 1592, Domingo de Vera took hold of the site which he thought was best for the King's possesion. He then decided to mark the site of the four buildings in which any Spanish was allowed to pass. The Casa Real, or Governments House, The Cabildo or Town Hall, a church, and a prison. The place was then christened after him as San Jose de Oruna.
Not only de Berrio was interested in gold but he had a competetor in Sir Walter Raleigh, who intervened after getting no response to his messages from De Berrio. he describes briefly what happens as quoted from the text
San Jose known to us now as St Joesph was then rebuilt by the next Governor, who inherited this town by his father. It was De Berrio's son who inherited his father's town after his death in 1597, his name was Fernando. After the town was restored by Fernando it was burnt down or should I say Reduced to ashes during a Dutch raid.
St Joesph remained the capital, due to the remaining members of the ruling body, those of whom were the Illustrious Cablido, due to the fact that they refused to have it.
In the year 1784, resulting in the advent of the new Governor Jose Maria Chacon we had a revolution. The pride we had in the status of San Jose De Oruna ended in the declaration of the captial to be Puerto de Espana, which is noe Port-Of-Spain.
When the British gained control or ownership of San Jose 13 years later and entered in 1797 we had a change. There were 13 sugar mills, seven coffee mills, four cotton mills and two rum distillers. Our population at that present time consisted of 728 people, of whom 142 were white, 177 were free blacks and free people of colour, and the last 409 were the slaves.
Another date that has shown up in our research was the year 1837, it was on the 18th of June, 1837 that the big revolt broke out leaving Daaga and three of his companions who thought together wit Daaga that they were not fit tobe a slave. They thought that they belonged to the upper class. This revolt left them excuted in the square.
St Joesph the english name given to San Jose has always been well-known as one of the finest towns in Trinidad. We once had a visitor by the name of Charles Kingsly who was totally drawn to the sight of this lovely town and he has told of his experience he said
Although St Joesph had the idea and the status of a town, it was stated that in the year 1881 only 1,814 people lived there, thus stating that vilages such as Tunapuna, Arouca, and Princess Town, had long surpassed it.
Today, St Joesph is much the same in Character but during the period 1881 and 1981 it has just been improving drastically. It's population has even had a better growth from 1,814 to 4,800.
As i mentioned before, it is the same place but has developed into something that is enourmously appreciated by every citizen of Trinidad. For instance we have schools such as the Government school, a more recent one than Mr. Vincent's. We also have St Joesph Girls R.C., and St Joesph Convent, the last being one of the most highly regarded secondary schools in the land. There is also St Joesph's College, and near the Roman Catholic Church is St Joesph's Boys R.C..
The Roman Catholic church is also known as one of the very first sites of Domingo de Vera. He marked this site in the year 1592. Until the year 1851 up to this present day they have had their own postal service. Which as mentioned before began in the year 1592.
Yet one remains with the impression that the history of St Joesph wouls always be vibrant and exciting, and even prosperous. One remarkable thing is that we would not forget that it was our first captial, and the memories of the exceptional people that made it significant in Trinida these people are Domingo de Vera, Antonio de Berrio, Sir Walter Raleigh, and even Charles Kingsley.