Indians (Mistreatment)

(See preceeding folios for more details of issue.) Ximenez, Pison Indian from area of Ygollo mission, lodges complaints against fathers, alleging poor administration of mission, inventory of items at Escandon, other missions, from livestock to kitchen utensils, also expenditures to people of area for items and services purchased from them; testimony regarding accuracy of inventory and Cuenta; testimony regarding 86 Bueyes at mission that died; regarding alleged Meco cattle raid; 1766 decreto regarding rules of mission administration (b33-34); letter from frayes of Ygollo mission (3-22-1778) concerning persecution suffered at hands of Indians, climate (b35-36); letter from Father Ordonez criticizing frayes' defense, that Religiosos trying to escape doctrinal, instructional obligations; issue discussed into late 1780s. (L. Kerr, August 1989)

Documents address same issue as in sequence 2, allegations of mistreatment of Pisones; defense offered by missionaries, arguing that severe drought conditions made difficult proper care of Indians. Includes 'cuenta' of expenditures from mission Ygollo to various individuals for services, activities, goods (folios a53-68). Copy of inventory of goods at Ygollo and Escandon, 12-22-76 (folios b1-17), from religious paraphernalia to livestock; weight and content of 'copas', 'platos' etc. Given. Folios b17-22 include testimony of residents in Escandon area concerning burning of Santa Barbara mission (later rebuilt and renamed Escandon) in 1753 by Tanambres, during which padre, captain killed; also includes further inventory of Escandon items. (L. Kerr, August 1989)

Concerns alleged mistreatment of Pisones by missionaries at Ygollo; presentation, verification of charges a lengthy process, issue continues in sequences 3 and 4. Gimenes, captain of Pisones, outlines poor administration of mission, mistreatment of Pisones who inhabit area and care for mission livestock. Beseeches governor to finish construction on church first promised them in 1749. Informs him that Indians started building church years earlier, also do mission farming, but that reverand fathers have them working 'enero a enero' without payment, assistance or food, only reward is death. One Father left with large sum of mission's money. Gimenes has instructed Indians to cease construction of church until conditions improve; Ramirez sent by governor to investigate situation; in subsequent autos, other sides of issue heard. Fathers offer defense in missives to pizzaro; following autos, various inventories made over years of ecclesiastical and secular goods at Ygollo, testimonios verifying information; individuals testify to treatment of Pisones, knowledge of inventory, quality and quantity of harvests, livestock at mission. (L. Kerr, July 1989)

Series of autos and testimonies describing type of abuses committed against Hacendados. Baes is said to have taken advantage of his position to benefit himself. Baes Ran illegal gambling for profits and made soldiers and Indians work for him without pay. Hacendados were forced to pay 50 pesos each. Workers were fearful of asking for their pay. (M. Marroquin, August 1989)

Concerns procurador Rodriguez Balda, requesting assistance for Indians while they remain in Mexico City; military letters seeking pay, promotions, loans and resignations; letter from Juan Ballesteros Regidor of Monterrey requesting pardon from virrey; Fuentes Vicente, Clerigo requesting the grade of licenciado from virrey;bishop of Nuevo Reyno de Leon request permission from virrey to retire and leave his place to the assistance; military letters requesting permissions to retire, payments and loans. (D. Bautista, September 1989)

Petition from Indians of Villa de Camargo asking for better treatment, they request Lopez Rafael to be their protector; Series of letters concerning echegarays marriage. (D. Bautista, September 1989)

Informe of Apaches attacks; teniente Echegaray (son of Gonzalez de santienez) requests weapons and munitions for the families being attacked; Indian Jose Santiago goes to Mexico City to complain of the bad treatment Indians receive from the government of Nuevo Leon; royal decree established that Indians will receive support when they bring complaints to Mexico. (D. Bautista, September 1989)

Concerns soldiers' duties at Nuestra Senora de la Concepcion mission with Indians and how the Former abused their power, physically abusing Indians and taking their plots of land for personal use; reactions of Indians and new demands for protection. (K. Hubin, September 1989)

Letter from Survier to viceroy Revilla Gigedo indicting most of his acquaintances in government of Nuevo Santander for their indolence, sophism, hypocrisy, tyrrany, greed, lack of integrity, and general stupidity. Written with caustic wit, considerable intelligence, literary style, and flawless handwriting. Footnoted digressions make up one-third of document. Mentions Antonio Fabian de Puga's murder of five non-hostile Indians (discussed in ff. 0107-0115, exp. 23 of this volume). (A. Dean, February 1989)

Documents concerning transportation of Apache prisoners (28 Gandules, 56 women) to the capital, escorted by Mateos and his men. Mateos requests reimbursement for having to pay for firewood and supplies while camped at Salamanca. During March, nine prisoners became gravely ill with plague and were hospitalized at Leon. One died; Mateos accompanied survivors to Hospital. (A. Dean, February 1989)