Indians (Reduccion)

Series of charges against Escandon. First charge, folio 10, that Escandon did not reduce Indians peacefully and failed to populate the colony; second charge folio 60 that Escandon did not distribute the land between people, soldiers and Indians during twenty years; third charge, folio 77, that he did not take in to account the meeting of 1748 on election of captains and treatment of Indians; fourth charge, folio 88, failure to investigate the murder of several Indians; fifth charge, folio 90, failure of Escandon to investigate and punish captain Guevara's murder of a group of Indians; sixth charge, folio 90, no investigation of other murders by Unsaga; seventh charge, folio 91, Escandon orders killing of three Indians, one a minor; eighth charge, folio 93, a citizen of Aguayo complains to to Escandon about the behaviour of a captain, Escandon punishes the complainer and when the wife of the complainer goes to look for him and she was murdered by the Indians; ninth charge, folio 95, Escandon separates Indian men from their wifes and children, and sells Indians to other cities resulting in Indian retaliation and thus starting wars with Xanambres and Apostatas. He is accused of twenty years of fraud, despotism, trials without authority, misappropriation of land; 10 charge folio 98, Escandon sends 173 Indians to Querataro; eleventh charge, folio 100, Escandon kept three Indians working for him for fifteen years; twelfth charge, folio 103, Escandon abused his power to use the death penalty and forced labor in the presidio; thirteenth charge, folio 103, he used comissions to get Indians for his own service; fourteenth charge, folio 106, he failed to protect Indian health; fifteenth charge, folio 107, he used Indians to build his house and maintain his lands; sixteenth charge, folio 108, he failed to investigate or punish two sheperds who murdered an Indian; seventeenth charge, folio 110, Escandon populated colony with dangerous criminals getting the nickname of colonia Portugal de Nueva Espana; eighteenth charge, folio 114, Escandon forgives Indians that confess crimes and puts them in esquadras militares; nineteenth charge, folio 115, Escandon intimidated new settlers he did not like and gave instructions not to accept them; twentieth charge, folio 117, he appointed a murderer from Reinosa as captain; twenty first charge, folio 119, Escandon admitted a delinquent from Coahuila; twenty second charge, folio 121, twice Escandon destroyed the church of the Pisones Indians; twenty third charge, folio 123, has taken land from Indians of Santa Rosa; twenty fourth charge, folio 125, Escandon did not build a church in Laredo for the spiritual benefit of the Spaniards and Indians; twenty fifth charge, folio 128, for a period of 14 years Escandon remained minister of Santillana village; twenty sixth charge, folio 129, Escandon did not permit the redistribution of Diezmos from labranzas y crianzas in the colony for 20 years; twenty seventh charge, folio 131, Escandon renamed places; twenty eighth charge, folio 135, Escandon became rich and did not pay diezmos; twenty ninth charge, folio 138, Escandon gave a captain more than five Leguas at border of Rio Grande, other land and did not pay any diezmo to church of Guadalaxara; thirtieth charge, folio 141, Escandon was paying salaries to ministers in places that had no ministers; thirty first charge, folio 141, Escandon did not accept Indians in his village because he did not want to give them protection; thirty second charge, folio 144, he gave instructions to captain of Laredo not to admit Apaches; thirty third charge, folio 147, Escandon did not give 100 pesos to the colonists of San Carlos; thirty fourth charge, folio 148, Escandon refused to receive the bishop from Guadalaxara; thirty fifth charge, folio 151, he became a trader, knowing gobernadores were prohibited from trade; thirty sixth, charge, folio 158, Escandon permit exploitation of mines and use of silver without paying tax; thirty seventh charge, folio 160, since the year 1746 he had not reduced or pacified any Indians; last charge folio 162, complaints from capitania general related to Escandon's procedures. The next group of folios (166-319) are the defense of Escandon. (D. Bautista, nov, 1989)

Concerns campaigns against Indians; presidio of Sacramento; Indians negotiate surrender but others refuse. Petition to relocate presidio of Sacramento to Santa Rosa Valley because of better strategic location to fight the Indians. Cura Flores gives accounts of events with Indians to viceroy; report is also given about the charity from missions toward Indians (items given to the Indians include cloth and food). Cura Flores argues that Santa Rosa Valley would be a better place for new presidio. Protection is asked for missions, specially for Nadadores, Santiago de Xalisco and San Buenaventura. Mention is given about the abundant Mineral and water resources in Santa Rosa de Coahuila. (M. Marroquin, February 1989)

Concerns construction of military facility named presidio del Santisimo sacramento in Junta de los Rios Grandes del norte. Purpose of this presidio is to protect people and property from continuous attacks made by Indians. Documents are descriptive of the area chosen for the construction of such facility. Construction of presidio is also important to control Indian population in the area in case they are not converted to be christians. Military personnel are appointed. Salaries are established for commanders and soldiers. Place for construction of presidio is said to be abundant of natural resources and minerals. Soldiers for the new presidio are going to be transferred from other presidios so it will not be costly to the crown. (M. Marroquin, January 1989)

Documents concerning mismanagement of temporal and spiritual resources leveled by bishop of Guadalajara and others against Ramon, interim governor of Coahuila, and vaga, padre comisario. Also, real cedula ordering that viceroy remedy problems in aforementioned province. (J. H. Ochs, December 1987)

Documents concerning foundation of missions of Jesus and San Francisco Xavier in Coahuila; discuss Indians' petition for land and indoctrination in catholic faith, search for appropriate mission location. Also, Ramon's auto de Fundacion of mission San Cristoval accomplished while returning from campaign against Tobosos. (J. H. Ochs, December 1987)

Rodriguez Gallardo's deposition and remarks to informe written by visitor of Jesuit missions in Sonora. Issues discussed include consolidation of dispersed pueblos de indios; military escort for religious entradas into frontier areas; definition of indios vagantes; reasons for Pueblo desertion. Cites various articles from recopilacion de Leyes de las indias concerning reduction of Indians to mission life. author suggests that 2,000 pesos be sent to governor of Sinaloa to combat Apaches and that Barrancas of Sierra Madre be cleared of small Tarahumaran rancherias, and Indians gathered to be settled in larger pueblos. Also discussed are issues of election of Indian civic officials, regional officials to oversee Indian communities, Indian labor at missions, and punishment of mission Indians. Included is definition of siembras de comunidad versus siembras de Iglesia; number of Indians needed for a Pueblo to be legally recognized. Also, suggestions concerning land tenancy, education and repartimiento system in Sonora. (J. H. Ochs, November 1987)

Documents concerning Ortiz Parrilla's expedition against Seris. Includes Correa's physical description of Isla del Tiburon; Ortiz Parrilla's discussion of condition of province, and military plans, indictment of Rodriguez Gallardo's plans vis-a- Vis Seris and Rodriguez Gallardo's rebuttal and countercharges. Also, testimony concerning condition of Seris after expedition. (J. H. Ochs, November 1987)

Detailed account of wars with Pimas, Seris, Apaches and Papagos. Literary example with rich description of campaigns reduccion system, criminales, political Christian life, granary, rebellion of Pimas. (J. Acheson, October 1988)

Letters concerning Indians who live on missions under administration of Escandon. Problems such as rebellion, agitation of Indians as well as their committing crimes such as robberies are discussed. Friendly relationship with gustecas is also mentioned. (J. Acheson, April 1988)

Concerns establishment of new pueblos. Gives details on control, irrigation, el cano. Details on establishing church; needed goods such as ornaments, minister, churchbell. Discusses religious conversion of Peniguan and guamotos Indians. (J. Acheson, February 1988)