Geography

Oficio from junta de real hacienda discussing following four reconstruction of church in Pitic for Seris; construction of churches in Churray and Suaqui for Sibubapas; reestablishment of pearl fishing off coasts of Tepoca and Californias. Description of construction details and costs of building Canal and churches. Decision made to maintain existing Canal as well as possible; build churches; rent out pearl fishing areas. (D. Uhlman, February 1988)

Lizassoain writes detailed overview of states of Indians, missions of Sonora, Sinaloa, Nueva Vizcaya. Papagos, Pimas, Seris have apparently banded together in rebellion. Some detail about Indians of San Xavier (f.72); after death of Phelipe nearly all Papagos leave, most Pimas stay for fear of mentions gold found at Soyopa, pearls at Tepoca. Description of how Indians mined gold (f.74). Mentions fertility, abundance of Casas Grandes Valley. Description of Spanish gold mining with native labor (f.77). Logistics of transporting (by sea) families to populate valuable land. Folios 69, 71 concern Gonzales, belongs with documents beginning on F.83. (A. Dean, August 1989)

Around midnight on August 31, 1805, steady rain breaches Arroyo, floods Croix. Casas moves entire population first to Piedras, then to Forlon (between Llera, Escandon), only defensible high-ground in area. Speaks of three years of extraordinary dryness, one of excessive rain. paperwork to make move permanent, report on natural resources of Forlon. Calleja objects that settling in Forlon leaves ranches near old Croix sin auxilios espirituales, ni temporales, open to attack by Tamaulipos; requires Villa be reestablished at Piedras, but promises to allow new Villa at Forlon if more than 30 people want to stay. Much debate of relative merits, disadvantages of each site; detailed geographic description of Forlon to demonstrate superiority to Piedras, signed by many vecinos. Order given to move everyone to Piedras, but some refuse to leave Forlon. All religious effects moved back to Piedras. Yturbe gives official threat that anyone remaining in Forlon will be rigorously prosecuted (may - F.193). Inventory of all church property (f.203). Garcia de Leon describes in detail what layout of new Villa should be (f.207). Map of nueba Villa de la Purissima Concepcion de Croix; key lists residents of each lot, proportions of lots, streets, Plazas (f.210). Chart listing property, mostly different kinds of livestock, of each inhabitant (f.211). (A. Dean, July 1989)

Documents concern flooding that occurred along Lower Salado and Rio Grande rivers in Nuevo Leon. Includes detailed testimonies of loss of life, homes, crops and livestock for most heavily damaged settlements, along with final tabulation of money compensation to be awarded to each resident by real hacienda. Gobernador sends troops into area to prevent Indian looting and to help with reconstruction. Several towns relocated away from River banks. Affected region made exempt from tax payments and Diezmos until recovered from disaster. (A. Tukey, January 1989)

Correspondence between viceroy, Garces and de Anza concerning Garces's explorations in upper Colorado River with attachment of letters from fray Escalante about Zunis and area in case Garces travels to New Mexico from Colorado River. Accounts by de Anza on expedition to California, his turning command over to comandante Moncada, refusal of Moncada to travel to San Francisco to explore area for establishment of presidio and missions, de Anza travels with teniente Moraga, one priest and eight soldiers to explore San Francisco bay. de Anza gives an rich description of bay with its good soil, abundance of water, pastures, and wild animals and fish, meeting with Indians who fish with nets and use of balses made with reeds to cross bay and fish. de Anza does not name Indians but describes them as gentle. He also describes area to be rich with woods from which construction of fort would be easy. de Anza establishes places where missions and presidio should be built returning to Monterrey where he requests meeting with Moncada without success. Serra meets with Anza preoccupied with moncadas' attitude with friars and families from Sinaloa, teniente Moraga in letter to Anza believes comandante Moncada has lost his mind which results in his not wanting to follow planned agenda. Documents about rebellion in San Diego are not very clear, de Anza also describes desertions of some muleskinners and two soldiers who steal some horses and moragas capture of desertors in Gila where de Anza punishes them with laboring in construction of presidio and missions in San Francisco. Anza informs viceroy about Garces return to Colorado River leaving him foodstuffs for his sustenance as Anza returns, also fray Exiarc returns with Anza to Tumacacori mission. Capitan Palma and three Yumas with accordance with his people attaches himself to Anza to travel to Mexico. Viceroy answers Anza letting him know he is displeased as Anza did not finish his comission as he left before construction of fort and missions began. (A. Dell'acqua, January 1988)

Orders from viceroy to Anza about recruitment of soldiers with families to move to and settle San Francisco California, appointments of lieutenant and Sergeant to be in command of garrison. Also appointment of friars to accompany expedition with cooperation of fray Serra establish two missions in area settled. de Anza travels to Sinaloa and established towns in Sonora recruiting families and purchasing supplies, cattle, horses and mules for March with orders to leave as soon as possible carrying enough supplies to leave with settlers until area is established. Viceroy orders de Anza to turn command of expedition in Monterrey to Moncada who will command presidio in San Francisco, also is ordered to select with Moncada site for presidio and missions to be established and return to Sonora as soon as task accomplished. de Anza informs viceroy of progress made in recruitment impossibility of Alferez Morada to go with expedition as wife has terminal disease, also notifies viceroy of death of sargent Espinosa to unknown epidemic which has affected many families recruited slowing progress many months. de Anza request substitution of sargent from O'Conor military inspector and general commander. List of soldiers with families is sent to viceroy amounting to 191 persons not counting muleskinners, people attached to expedition like merchants, farmers who are not being paid by de Anza who is supplying them with food only, also three families whose husbands are attached to presidio of Monterrey. Anza expedition starts from Tubac on October 20, Ten months after viceroy issued orders which Anza argues is best time due to rains which will provide water and better pasture for animals. Attached are letters from fray Garces who is reluctant to go with expedition wanting instead to establish missions in upper Colorado and Gila rivers, viceroy issues him orders to join expedition under de Anza which he agrees with reluctance requesting his own special assistants and his own transportation. (A. Dell'acqua January 1988)

Correspondence between viceroy and Anza about overland expedition of later to open route to California from Sonora. Letters begin with Anza advising viceroy of recruiting of troops to substitute in presidio for men in expedition, his difficulties finding horses in area as Apaches had previously attacked presidio taking most horses. Anza purchases mules and leaves Tubac presidio January 1774 advising capitan Urrea and governor Crespo, obtaining as a guide capitan Yuma Tarabal, Anza goes to Altar presidio to buy horses. Anza worries about news of split between Yumas and crossing their lands. Anza lists 34 persons in expedition including frays Diaz and Garces. Anza encounters a Soyapa Indian who tells him of route and division of upper Colorado River; de Anza describes the physical stature of Yumas and mode of dress, also describes fertility of banks of Colorado and agricultural richness of area. Arrives at mission San Gabriel on April 1, 1774. Viceroy writes Anza with orders that if he encounters expedition coming from Loreto commanded by Moncada, they should together find best areas in San Francisco to construct two missions which will make it possible for more people to populate area. Anza returns to Tubac leaving Monterrey on April 22. Anza is transferred to presidio Terrenate and temporarily to Altar before he has sent an account of expedition to viceroy in Mexico City. In subsequent letters Anza relates meeting Junipero Serra sixty leagues before Monterrey in his return, also relates taking six soldiers from Monterrey with him to show them route to Rio Colorado and sending them back before leaving for Tubac, in subsequent letters Anza waits for many months before being ordered to travel to Mexico but cannot take trip before he pays amounts loaned from merchants to pay for expedition for which Anza request monies from viceroy. Viceroy writes de Anza consulting him based on personal explorations if route to New Mexico from Sonora and from New Mexico to Monterrey could be possible, de Anza relates based on experience and accounts by a Pima enslaved by people from New Mexico who escapes and crosses land in seven days. Anza calculates distance from Sonora to New Mexico 180 leagues and from Monterrey to New Mexico 368 leagues, advising if exploration should be taken it should start in September, earlier is too dry and later danger of snow is maximized. de Anza advises viceroy of danger crossing Apache lands and advises a person taking this expedition should know and understand territory and its people, de Anza offers himself as Head of this expedition to viceroy as best suited for the undertaking. Fray Garces comunicates with de Anza about his explorations in upper Colorado indicating encounter with Cocomaricopas and other people that dress, speak, and are similar physically to Apaches, fray Garces believes that a route thru Colorado River is possible to New Mexico based on accounts given him by new Indians he encountered. (A. Dell'acqua December 1987)

Correspondence between capitan Urrea and viceroy about military life in province including attacks of Apaches and Piatos in which Indians killed of soldiers civilians, and friendly Indians and theft of horses from towns and presidios. Three letters referring to expedition of Anza to Monterrey; second Hiaquis request that capitan Tueros not leave, for they consider him their protector while working in the gold mines; third, the orders by inspector general O'Conor to find suitable land to establish 2 missions in land occupied by Papagos of which Quitaquison area is recommended by Urrea. (A. Dell'acqua, December 1987)

Letter to viceroy by fray Fernandez criticizing role of military personnel in reduction of Apaches and advancement into in northern territories. Fray Fernandez describes areas by deduction and by information gained from travelers about such northern territories. Fray Fernandez also describes danger of advancement by French to colonize a bigger territory than Nueva Espana assuring crown he would be able to conquer these territories with a handful of soldiers and missionaries if permission is given. (A. Dell'acqua, January 1988)

Letters relating to re-establishment of presidio and mission de la Bahia del Espiritu Santo to a healthier and better defensive place, capitan Bustillos communicates that Actual site has deteriorated to an irreparable manner lack of wood makes it impossible to repair also for fuel of families there is not enough wood, area is full of swamps and water is not as good. Capitan Bustillos also complains about lack of priest as president of missions refuse to send a religious guide to presidio. Capitan describes a new explored site with plenty of wood, water and rocks to be utilized for construction, two creeks to provide with drinking water and irrigation of lands and site being only six leagues from bay stressing defensive emplacement. If viceroy desires such move it has to be carried out before winter. Capitan also participates arrival of convoy from presidio Adays and San Antonio four months after it left due to heavy rains. Comisario general of missions sends letter to presidente of missions by order of viceroy ordering him to send a priest to take charge of new mission built in new site of presidio of Bahia. (A. Dell'acqua, January 1988)