First Known Black Baptismal Record

This document is a facsimile and on display with special permission from the Catholic Archdiocese of St. Augustine, FL

The Baptismal of Estebana, a daughter of Gratia, a slave is baptized on the fifth day of January 5th, 1595 by Father Francisco de Marron in St Augustine Catholic Diocese, FL. This is the earliest known Baptismal record of African American presence in what later becomes the present day United States, establishing the existence of African Americans twelve years before the founding of Jamestown.

Translation:
[margin:] Estebana

On the fifth day of January, (15)95, I, Father Marron, priest and vicar of this Holy Church, baptized Estebana. She is the daughter of Gratia, slave of [broken]-talita. This being true, I sign my name, Friar Francisco de Marron