Biography (Financial)

Rangel as executor brings case against Barrio as Fiador (guarantor) of debts of (E)ulate. Money from confiscated items belonging to the Jesuits, now property of the state is also at issue for debt repayment. Long list of (E)ulate's creditors provided. Barrio's defense is that as Fiador he is not liable and therefore suit against him is illegal. (J. M. Johnson, October 1989)

Armesto instructs Landazuri, Aguilar and Barajas to put up boundary posts (mojones) for defining taxable lands belonging to California missions. Bermudez had usurped land for cattle, sheep and horse haciendas. Ladron de Guevara carefully chronologically traces ownership of parcels in question from original grants by viceroy in 1613. Detailed information on surveying geography, and inheritance, land use, rents and improvements through 1765 to disprove Bermudez' claim of possession. Bermudez ordered to effects, etc. Found acting in bad faith; ordered to return all property illegally obtained and fined 3000 pesos. Moctezuma provided costs of damage incurred to lands by Bermudez' misuse. Interesting primarily because of prominence of several major women heirs and for extracts of 17th century land documents. (J. M. Johnson, August 1989)

Mostly dull legal, repetitive material but useful perhaps for tracing chronological process of testimony and defense of the Jesuit missions. Marmolejo's Father in 1735 borrowed sum to establish sheep hacienda. Proceedings include tracing profits from that time and past due of interest and Principal. Decision made to embargo Marmolejo's effects and entrust them to third party until final decision. Marmolejo disappears and when authorities appear at his home to enforce this, his wife informs them she knows nothing of his whereabouts nor the effects. They are informed that Marmolejo will only appear in presence of impartial men whom he trusts. This condition guaranteed, he provides information on hacienda's economic status, his inheritance; strongly insisting he has complied with known obligations. Decision made against him. He has two years to pay debt of 1407 pesos to get his effects back. Armesto writes letter of appreciation to officials for expediting claim for welfare of missions. (J. M. Johnson, August 1989)

Will contains details of legacy, including personal items, real estate, salaries and provision for funeral costs. (J. M. Johnson, July 1989)

Cuenta general for Villa puente detail expenses from 1737 until 1746. Accounts examined and approved by Armesto and Jesuits in 1753. (J. M. Johnson, July 1989)

Lopez de Toledo describes inventory of Loreto warehouse and lack of sufficient supplies for California missions and presidios. Purchases ordered by superiors, transportation schedules. Stresses need for more money to provision expeditions to Monterrey and San Diego, refers to Galvez 1768 recommendations to remedy scarcity of supply; improve agricultural production and sheep production for meat and wool for clothing. Information Sonora (Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe); Canoas Santa Rita, San Ignacio, San Xavier, Guadalupe and San Francisco Solano; paquebots el Principe, Lauretana, Concepcion, San Antonio and San transhipment to California, pay for craftsmen and Mule drivers. Ff. 196-197 and 211-212 roster list of officers and soldiers with salaries for compania de Cuera. Ff. 209 reports shipwreck off Sonora, sailors lost, plans for other ship to take survivors and cargo to California. (J. M. Johnson, June 1989)

As required by viceroy, Barri submits accounts. Sent on Goleta Sonora. Details provided on contributors to final report which addresses problem of losses to royal treasury due to careless control of metals in province. expediente contains copy of Galvez' 1768 instructions and subsequent ordinances for control and reporting methods. Barri discusses difficulties of cooperation and trust of his subordinates. Viceroy orders him to Mexico for review and removes him from post while audit in progress. Barri claims innocence, poverty; complains of hardship of post, difficulty and cost of travel to Mexico. (j.m.johnson, June 1989)

Prelate and cabildo of Guadalajara urgently request viceroy to name engineer for work in city and region. Effects of drought forcefully described. Codina requests passport; details work experience in Spain and new world. Officials discuss length of time for completion of projects and responsibility for Codina's salary. Reference made based on king's decree of 1787, deciding salary questions of cuerpos de artilleria and ingenieria for all the indias. (J. M. Johnson, December 1988)

Concerns Ugarte's personal financial affairs; including; his transactions with Camargo and Arriaga; his expenses at time of his arrival from Spain; Ugarte concludes by stressing his extreme need for an immediate increase in pay to avoid complete ruin. (J. Williams, February 1987).

Most important documents concern arrival in San Blas of two carriages and four servants for Areche to be shipped to Acapulco (folio 198); and detailed inventory of the Goleta Sonora (N. S. de Guadalupe) including food supplies, its physical structure, rigging and equipment (ff. 199-213). Bausa requests monthly sum sent from royal treasury to Sister in financial need; approved by Hijosa and viceroy (ff. 330-333). Fragata Santiago (Nueva Galicia) and paquebots Concepcion and San Carlos; costs and logistics of transportation of materials to California ports; procurement of supplies and skilled labor for ship repair; appointments of Naval, religious and medical personnel; and reports on departmental personnel, including illnesses and deaths. (J. M. Johnson, September 1988)