Maritime

Concerns report on the status of provincias of Nuevo Santander: report is summarized in chart showing number of armed men, name of villas, weapons and horses in each villa (see ff. 300); notice about return of troops from the base of Laredo; recommendation that Ramon Ferea be promoted to alferez; order given to troops and population to be on guard for possible French invasion; governor sends a list of military officials to viceroy for approval (each suggested promotion is included in the document. Index of promotions see f. 333) (M. Marroquin, November 1988).

And sumarios sobrantes to the viceroy, from Potosi; instructions are given that the fishermen must let teniente de Soto notice of ships getting near the coast; notice about the purchase of mission's supplies from the sales of bienes de campo also necessary to buy tools for agriculture (tools named here are: hachas, azadones, rejas); documents are not here. These are only summaries talking about alcavalas, missions supplies, missions secularization, missions establishments and money coming from fines. (M. Marroquin, November 1988)

Notice of revision of ramo de alcavalas of the provinces of Nuevo Santander; governor receives copies of bandos from the viceroy (bandos are related to prohibition of commerce among employees of ramo de rentas); viceroy authorizes military escort for Munoz, who is traveling to Texas; notice that people of tributary classes must get a licence to get out of domicile; viceroy gives recommendations about dealing with ships claiming to be whale hunting; Cierragorda receives order to release Alferez de Tula; notice is given that Mugier's case be reviewed; titulo de Castilla is given to Serena; Cierragorda receives copies of Bando giving pardon to people guilty of contraband (M. Marroquin, November 1988).

Documents consist of providencias for government and new institutions in California, correspondence between viceroy and of San Diego mission; improved communication system between Mexico and frontier regions; deployment of troops from Sonora for maximum defense of Californias and eastern provinces; purposes for pacification of Indians. Ff. 419-432 detail recruitment, transportation, settlement and protection of 70 families of colonists from Sonora for Alta California, of alleviating poverty and idleness by recruitment in Mexico; safety and choices of routes in combination of maritime and land means for transportation of settlers; desirable areas for colonization in new territories regarding protection, agricultural production, provisioning, recreation, water supply yet to extend Spanish occupation, defense and pacification plans; formation of companias volantes and militia to combat Indian hostilities and need for new regulations to do so; improvement of agricultural techniques and manufacture of domestic industries; long sections on required rations of food and other necessities, allotments of cash, markets for purchasing, selling regional commerce, supply and production of cattle, horses and mules. Other folios refer to maritime transportation of mission and presidio supplies and schedules of Goleta la Sonora (Senora de Guadalupe) and Paquebot el Principe between Guaymas or San Blas. Acknowledgements of arrivals of vessels along Sonoran and California coasts. (j.m.johnson, February 1989)

Neve's correspondence includes (most important documents, service records and promotions, rebuilding mission at San Diego and constructing Capistrano. Details geography of area around San Francisco and Santa Clara mission, especially natural resources. Lists of numbers of officers and craftsmen at four Principal California presidios, supply escorts, real reglamentos pertaining to details of presidio construction and tackle for cavalry companies. Ff. 354-356 is list of salaries and numbers of officers, craftsmen, and rations for presidios crews and ships, including Actual costs vs. Those alloted by missionaries, income from tobacco and other crops, purchase and distribution of mules, horses, and supplies, shipping, tackle for soldiers and settlers. Ff. 359-360 estimates of rations per single man and families, after spoilage in salaries by rank for officers, craftsmen and Naval personnel. Ff. 368-369 allotments of supply rations and money for presidios in Santa Barbara channel. (J. M. Johnson, February 1989)

Very important and detailed correspondence include (especially agricultural and religious supplies for 3 missions of the Santa Barbara Canal; F. 309 lists officers for 3 Principal California presidios. Serra reports on repairs to old and construction of new missions, emphasizing temporal and evangelical elements in conquest of souls. F. 312 details requirements for furnishing missions and religious objects for each mission. Provides salaries of religious personnel for each. F. 313 is a list of priests at each of 8 missions attached to Monterrey. Comments on bad examples for Indians set by troops and settlers in area. Neve discusses weapons and clothing supplies for California troops and settlers. F. 318 list of clothing necessary for people in missions and presidios. Ff. 319-320 refer to past methods in determining minimal subsistance of food and clothing supplies. F. 321 is chart of amount of bullets, gunpowder, flints and types of weapons by presidio needed for defense. Defines need for new regulations to correct deficiencies due to distances of king and real hacienda from California. Proposes improved military organization and requests greater numbers of soldiers, supplies and horses. F. 324 discusses military escorts, organization, personnel, time of year with estimated subordination of soldiers, military promotions, equipment for cavalry units. Census of military personnel, including tackle and rider's clothing for cavalry. Distribution of animals to each presidio. Ff. 332-333 provides detailed list of tackle and clothing by cavalry officer for Monterrey, San Francisco and San Diego. F. 336 is chart of higher officers and numbers of soldiers for same presidios. F. 339 distribution by type and number of weapons to same three. F. 341 numbers of mules and horses distributed to these presidios. Other topics of San Francisco, storage and distribution of weapons to prevent sales to Indians, rations of food to presidios and missions, references to past ordinances for founding missions, family life of soldiers in presidios, evacuation of families in case of attack, duties and types of craftsmen with necessary supplies for same for settlements. (J. M. Johnson, January 1989)

Various autos by Sola dealing with maritime traffic in the Californias. Sola submits listing of duty charges for use of national ships carrying sand, grease, a ramrod, leather, wool (clean and dirty),chamois leather, otter. He requests that national ships receive same rights that were demanded at their ports of origin. Itinerary for ship San Antonio (32-men crew) which left Lima destined for California and frigate cazadora which made various stops --panama, Lima, Chile, and other american ports before arriving in California. Recounts ship's need of landing to gather wood and water. Short account of Buenos-Ayres rebels attacking Chile due to lack of resources --medicine, agricultural tools, etc. Frays Duran and Marquinez protest new tax placed on goods from new Indian converts.

Correspondence concerning: receipt of revistas; discovery of mines at San Nicolas; construction of mission; financial and administrative business, particularly regarding rentas; departure of ship bound for Spain carrying silver and fruit; search for pelicans per superior order of virrey, but response is that none were sighted; conflicts with many Indian groups, description of attacks on missions, haciendas, rancherias; who involved in military actions, whom killed, number of horses, mules killed or stolen by Indians; description of pursuit of Indians by military, efforts made to reduce population or to negotiate. (L. Kerr, September 1988)

Continuation of correspondence with Escandon concerning affairs along Costa del Seno Mexicano; epidemic of unspecified disease which has caused suspension of labor in mines of Sierra Tamaulipa; damage to corn crops and livestock caused by drought in 1764; petitions virrey to promote to rank of Mariscal; sends expedition to survey northern coastline of Nuevo Santander. Expedition describes complex system of outer sand banks, discovery of Island off of San Juan mission near mouth of Nuezes discovery of wreckages of English and French ships. Also includes accounts of establishment of three Villas along coast between mouths of Rios Grande and Nuezes, and of theft of livestock by Indians inhabiting Sierra Sihuy. (A. Tukey, July 1989)

Series of letters from Escandon to virrey concerning state of and sugar Cane; discussion of precautions against attack by English along Costa del Seno Mexicano; ongoing efforts at evangelization and reduction of of Indians in area; protection of mining operations in Sierra Tamaulipa against Indian attack; Series of undetailed accounts of raids by Tanambres against town in Sierra Tamaulipa. Also includes letter from fray Chacon complaining that missions in Nuevo Santander do not have Indians and blames situation on lack of sufficient military pressure against rebel tribes. (A. Tukey, July 1989)