▁John ▁Haw kins ▁came ▁to ▁its ▁port ▁attract ed ▁by ▁the ▁reputation ▁of ▁port ▁of ▁rich es ▁and ▁del ights . ▁ ▁The ▁Count ▁of ▁Santa ▁Cruz ▁de ▁la ▁Torre ▁went ▁up ▁to ▁M omp ó x ▁after ▁being ▁attacked ▁by ▁pir ates ▁in ▁Rio ach a ▁and ▁not ▁having ▁felt ▁at ▁home ▁in ▁Santa ▁Mart a ▁or ▁Cart ag ena ▁de ▁Ind ias . ▁From ▁there ▁he ▁man ages ▁his ▁ha ci end as ▁of ▁Santa ▁Cruz ▁de ▁Pap aren ▁in ▁the ▁sav ann as ▁of ▁Santo ▁Tor ib ío . ▁And rés ▁de ▁Mad ar ri aga , ▁a ▁hero ▁of ▁the ▁Cart ag ena ▁resistance ▁against ▁the ▁sie ge ▁of ▁Vern on ▁and ▁in ▁defense ▁of ▁the ▁river ▁during ▁that ▁battle , ▁cho oses ▁M om po x ▁as ▁an ▁address ▁after ▁it ▁acqu ires ▁P est agua ▁County . ▁Juan ▁B aut ista ▁de ▁M ier ▁y ▁de ▁la ▁Torre , ▁the ▁first ▁Mar quis ▁of ▁Santa ▁co a , ▁develop s ▁his ▁fortune ▁and ▁has ▁his ▁base ▁in ▁M om po x , ▁living ▁in ▁the ▁house ▁built ▁by ▁his ▁father - in - law , ▁Captain ▁Pedro ▁G uti ér rez , ▁in ▁what ▁is ▁known ▁as ▁the ▁Port ales ▁de ▁la ▁Mar ques a . ▁ ▁José ▁Fernando ▁de ▁M ier ▁y ▁Guerra , ▁married ▁to ▁his ▁cousin ▁sister ▁and ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁two ▁daughters ▁of ▁his ▁uncle ▁Juan ▁B aut ista ▁de ▁M ier ▁y ▁de ▁la ▁Torre ▁( J u ana ▁Bart ola ),