HISTORY

The Deposits. 

In 1704 a deposit was made under the name of Antonio Manso de Contreras (made by his descendents) of $8,000,000.00 golden pesos that at the time of deposit they turn into $16,000,000.00 British Sterling Pounds.

In 1925, the Cuban newspaper “EL HERALDO DE CUBA” the English Banks said:

• Account # 7, vault # 23
• S-2R8 AH OEJ Ref. SBO
• Account in folio #222
• Deposits in the Bank Odd Fellow, Vault #13 (In 1704 this was not exactly a bank but a depository of the F.Mazons and went to become the Bank of London in 1705)

In November 8, 1776 (US Declaration of Independence) another deposit is made consisting in $25,000,000.00 Gold pesos and a chest of full of precious jewels sent there by the Manso nuns through his nephew Jose Manso de Contreras y Perez del Prado, who went under the name of Jeronimo Paez de Villa Franca so that the pirates would not recognize and attack the galleon where he was traveling with the fortune. All this was printed in the newspaper “EL PAIS”.

In 1784 under the same account of Antonio Manso de Contreras was added 4 large wooden chests full of gold bullions and one with priceless jewels.

For protection as before, Jose made these deposits, and upon arrival in England he checked in the “LOS GAVILANES”, a guesthouse.

Another deposit in 1789 (French Revolution) is made adding to the account another 6 chests of gold pesos. In 1804 the Manso family adds another $8,000,000.00 gold pesos. This last deposit is mentioned in the newspaper “EL MAÑANA” in the 1930’s by a will printed by Gabriel Puerto Cañizare.

Andres Manso de Contreras Hernandez de Medina and his son Isidoro had a separate account in which the first deposit it is said to be $17,000,000.00, and later added $36,000,000,00 gold pesos placed in the English Bank of Conrad Jackson of London. This account is independent from that of the Manso nuns.