Geography

Formation of 2 more companies of militia. Done by donations, thus a long list of people donating. Equipment and supplies needed for new companies listed with prices. Information on general status of agriculture and mining and problems caused by Indians. (T. Barnes) (1977)

List of Indian hostilities from October 1777 to March 1778. One of his mules and he wants and receives compensation and persons residence, place of hostility, political jurisdiction, the month and year of hostility, livestock involved, and deaths. (T. Barnes) (1977)

For reasons of sickness, Spanish pressure and pressure from other Indian groups, the 70 groups listed have asked for peace and want to settle and become converted in an area near Saltillo. This brings about a great deal of Indian and Spanish testimony on the history of the area and its people. Excellent ethnography- social organization; population migrations; names and ages of Indians. (T. Barnes) (1977)

Plea from officials in Culiacan, asking officials in Nueva Galicia and Nueva Viscaya for help in capturing six mulato sailors who killed a Hacendado and pillaged his hacienda. (T. Barnes) (1977)

Part of testamentaria of deceased capitan Zelis, in which he sets his slaves and their children in El Paso and Parral free. Only two slaves, Ramona and Joseph mentioned by name. Total number, value, ethnic affiliation not given. (T. Sheridan) (1977) additional slave documents- 0273b-0275a- Venta de mulatillo Esclavo de color cocho, age 7 or 8; named Juan Pablo, son of Juana de Dios, 75 pesos. 0275a-0276a- Venta de Mulata Esclava, color cocho, named Gertrudis de Suniga, 295 pesos. No age given. 0346b-0348b- Venta de mulatillo Esclavo, color blanco, age 7, 60 pesos. 0365a-0367b- testamento noting possession several slaves, including Esclava bought for 300 pesos.

Documents concerning meat shortages in Parral, calling for bids to supply meat to Real, apparently, best bid submitted by Antonio Martin Vasquez, Vecino and rancher of Valle de San Bartholome. (T. Sheridan) (1977)

Testimony by Franciscan priests and civil officials as to the job being done by capitan Alonso Victores Rubin de Celis as commander of the presidios of Pilar and El Paso. He gets high marks, and the visitador commends him. Good information on general state of affairs in the far north. (T. Barnes) (1977)

Expediente file on the campaign for pacification of Sumas and other tribes by Jose de Berrotaran, comandant of presidio of San Francisco de Conchos. Contains; certified copies of initial instructions of Juan Francisco de la Puerta y Barrera, gov. Of Nueva Vizcaya (September 30, October 8, 1749), Berrotaran's campaign diary (October 5, November 24, 1749, signed January 7, 1750), testimony on Berrotaran's future to obey order as regards the line of March and the Apache chief Pascual, diary (November 27-December 15, 1749) of Cerrogordo comandant Jose Sanchez de Campillo documents concerning Berrotaran's arrest, defense and attachment of his property, the claim of his wife (Margarita de Ugarte) to the same property, and referral of the case to the viceroy. 184p. Partly on stamped pages. Written principally in San Felipe el real and the Conchos presidio. Pages tied together. With the signatures of Puerta, Berrotaran; Sanchez de Campillo; Dona Margarita; capts. Bartolome Luis Fernandez de Alcorta and Alonso Vitores Rubin de Celis; lts. Juan Jose de Basterrechea, Pedro Joaquin Diaz, and Jose de Vargas; and the notaries Juan Jose de Arespacochaga and Juan Antonio Marine. Legalistic and repetitious. Indians are mentioned but no real info. Given. Good example of sp. Bureaucracy. I would guess the ms. Was taken from Parral archives. (T.n.) (1975)

Complaint from residents of the Paraje de San Sebastian about the lack of law enforcement and justice, which has led to a great deal of stealing and murder by various criminal elements. The Alcalde mayor of Santa Barbara is ordered to dispatch his lieutenants to take care of the problem. (T. Barnes) (1977)

Concerning foundation of new Pueblo of San Joseph de Grasia, by 45 families of Indians from Parras Pueblo, at least some of whom are of Tlascaltecan descent. (T. Sheridan) (1977)