Haciendas

Officials' correspondence includes summaries of and references to documents not included in expediente; governor Munoz' 'papel sellado'; efforts of squadron to control Indians; operations at certain mines; 'librando' Munoz of governorship in face of accusations of misconduct; reinstatemnt of teniente of presidio; comandante Interino's correspondence includes accounts to virrey of state of province concerning, for example, three missions suffering small pox epidemic, general fiscal affairs, request by Cometunas for establishment of mission in area for purpose of protection, granted on condition that group live according to 'christiana politica', and militia's need for arms, as well as for officers to replace those who died; governor Velasco's correspondence to virrey refers briefly to military and fiscal affairs, establishment of 'correo' in Nuevo Leon, reduction and protection of Indians. (L. Kerr, December 1988)

Letters from Lorca y Villera, 1774, Nuevo Reino de Leon. Postal service in Nuevo Leon, death of Indian prisoners, death of Indians on hacienda (de Patos y Villa de Parras), need for military equipment (rifles, gunpowder) for defense of province. Letters discuss attack by Indians on July 25, 1773 and attack on Indians by Spaniards in Valle de Pesqueria Grande, of August 16, 1774. Informe from conde de Sierra Gorda concerning new mission in Valle Viejo. Letter giving permission for marriage of Soldados Voluntarios to christianized Indian women. Marriages to take place in missions of San Carlos and San Antonio. (j.acheson, November 1988)

Various letters of correspondence of Vidal de Lorca and Echeagaray in years of 1772-1773. Index of documents (f.163) petition of widow to governador for pension from her deceased Husband's salary; letter granting Echeagaray responsibility of soldiers in Monterrey; letters discussing need for reconstruction of mine in real de Vallecillo; letter to procurador general of Monterrey concerning restitution of hacienda which is located in Indian village. Letters also include transportation of cloth (lienzos pintados) from las Islas Filipinas; military tables (149) with clear data on military rolls, salaries, occupations, equipment. (J. Acheson, oct, 1988)

(S. Gibbs, August 1987)

Legal documents and receipts concerning interests paid by Echeverria to de la Mota y Portugal over a six thousand pesos loan covering haciendas de Arroyo Zarco and Guapango pertaining to misiones de California. (R. Gomez, October 1988)

Concerns funds needed for college in Chihuahua and cattle from property of college to be used for war against Apaches; complaint about mistreatment of Taraumares and Tepehuanes and description of them; discussion of provisions needed in Chihuahua and distribution of cattle and seeds; also discussion of distribution of land to Indians and detailed account of situation of haciendas de labor; mention of appointment of official to account for funds in Chihuahua and detailed investigation of these funds and book-keeping in notarized document, of its origins, management and destination. Discussion of formation of troop in Chihuahua. (M. Vasquez, may 1988)

Report made up of group of letters concerning vagrancy problems on northern frontier; includes notes on Indian attacks; need for Indian labor in mines and haciendas; payment to Indians in Inferior goods; use of Penal labor; reluctance of some Indians to work as day-laborers; visit of Galvez; legal actions of Galvez, Corbalan and others on pay; Croix's inspection; raids on various settlements; types of labor involving Indians (charcoal making; cultivation; Adobe making; mine drain construction; firewood and lumber cutting; livestock tending; Mule train servants; ore processing; and various mechanical arts); dangerous alliance of local Indians with Apaches; economic crisis that results from lack of sufficient Indian labor; problem of local Indian community demands on labor force; limited value of Indians in mines; seasonality of Indian labor demands; role of mulatos in mines; fugitive Yaquis in mining towns; ff. 348-355 includes copy of points 5-10 of Neve's general report of 1783; he finds explanation of rise in banditry in unfair use of forced Indian labor; he sets limitations on coroporal punishment in mission settlements (for example - six lashes for missing mass); he considers other matters involving civil justice; notes many of bandit's crimes falsely attributed to Apaches; use of presidio labor in new presidio constructions; ff 357-361 - Ugarte grants various rights to Indians of Pueblo of Santa Maria (4 December, 1787); this includes coverage of forced labor; payment in goods and cash; reviews earlier Indian labor policy; describes poverty and hunger of Indian day laborers; lack of spiritual guidance; locations of labor; character of culture change; importance of cheap Indian labor to economy, and failure of administrators to solve problems of Indian abuse become clear in this report. (J. Williams, may 1987)

Documents between governor Lasaga and various viceroys detailing efforts to pacify Indian groups in Santander. Request for peace by groups during food shortages, then running away as soon as supplies are given; attacking villages, ranches; killing and stealing horses and cattle. Governor details unsuccessful campaigns against groups in Sierra Tamaulipas; Indians seem to use canoes to go to nearby islands to take refuge. Governor requests from viceroy that instead of giving food to groups when requested they should be taken prisoners and be sent in colleras to Havana, Veracruz and Castillo de Ulua, with assurances from governor of Veracruz that Indians do not escape and become more fierce in revenge for being incarcerated. (A. Dell'acqua, April 1988)

Lengthy, detailed infome from Cabello to virrey re: granting of peace to Lipanes. Cabello provides historical background information about province beginning with discovery in 1630, description of boundaries, establishment of missions and presidios, colonization by Canary Islanders. Describes continual war between Cumanches and Apaches including accounts of Cumanche robberies and murders committed against Spanish and Apaches. Discussion of need for troops, placement; table listing personnel available at presidios de Bejar and Espiritu Santo; presidio line. Cabello makes plea for financing, stating that if money is not provided for war, region including Santander, Nuevo Leon, Coahuila, Texas and part of Nueva Vizcaya will be lost; population will have to move to area that is safe for families. Letter follows nearly one year later again asking that peace be granted to Lipanes. (D. Uhlman, July 1988)

Informe to viceroy about problems of miners in Parral with Indian incursions. Account of deaths of soldiers and civilians, destruction of ranches, abductions of children; difficulties in continuing to mine silver and gold in area due to lack of protection and supplies. (A. Dell'acqua, December 1987)