Labor Force (Indians)

Complaint by Pizones of mistreatment by fray Estrada of Hoyos mission Indians. Indians were to give labor and land to mission for 4 years in exchange for half of the production and their needs taken care of. For the last 2 weeks rations have not been supplied; missionary not meeting needs. Estrada requested to treat Indians well and return their lands as laws prohibit mistreatment of Indians. Description of mission church at Hoyos. Count of oxen, horses and mules of mission; Indians contest that there were more cattle and that they were more Mature. Request that Ramirez be responsible for management of cattle, previously mismanaged. Estrada has had harvests collected and has spent money all over; sale of almost all mission cattle by Blanco. Discussion of Indians attendance of mass, absence of idolatry. Ordovas to make journey to mission to investigate but complains of illness, distance, and dangerous Mecos which has delayed trip; told he must go despite these excuses. Puga to investigate and return land to Indians. Indians having to travel in search of food. 3 Pizones and a Pame went to Mexico City to testify that a year has passed without rations and land taken by Estrada. Descriptions of vegetable and Milpa crops grown. Testimonies of mission apames and Pizones indicate that Estrada gave corn rations the first two years and describe bloody beating by Alcaldes but directed by Estrada, and Indians given other land of lesser quality. (L. L. Woodward, September 1988)

Summary of testimonies about Escandon's record in completing orders to pacify and reduce Indians and settle Nuevo Santander by officers and settlers and their charges against him. Funds spent, mistreatment of Indians, assassination of 5 capitans, use of Indians to work Escandon's land, build his Palace, and increase his wealth. Real cedula ordering pacification of Nuevo Santander delayed in its completion. Activities of Escandon include use of military funds, Indians reduction, founding of 14 settlements with population count of number and families and troops in each (f.8); plus 6 more settlements founded which were not in original budget of 115,000p. Complaint of not achieving increased agricultural production in spite of having fertile land, water; availability of minerals and salt. History of Escandon's earlier military record, reopening of missions. Problems resulting from drought. Espenses of military salaries and sinodos to missionaries. Annual costs in pacification process. Cost of settling 15 families from canary islands in Texas (ff.17). Organization of troops and distribution among settlements; distribution of lands. Difficulty of defending property under Indian hostilities. Complaint that Escandon's soldiers instead of gathering Indians together killed them inhumanely when they asked for peace. Murder by capitan trasieria and soldiers of slave and silversmith not punished or investigated by Escandon; Escandon named capitans and paid them salaries of 500p. (ff.33). Alvares' attempts at populating Rio Verde, movement of people, costs, problems with hostile Indians, mosquito plague (ff.56) order not to let Laredo capitan admit Apaches even though they offered peace (ff.57). Escandon prohibited commerce; payed soldiers in goods. Mining of silver without paying royal fifth (ff.63). Escandon has made few or no reducciones since 1746. List of 9 places on coast where Escandon says he has reduced total of 1,258 Indians and gives names of ethnic groups and number baptised in each location (ff.64). Service record of Escandon since he began service in Yucatan, distinguished service in Sierra Gorda as sargento mayor, teniente until 1746 (ff.68). Provides total inventory of livestock in 20 settlements. Movement of Escandon (Villa), Reynosa, and Burgos settlers to new Parajes (nuezes, Tetillas, Encinos). Molina reinstated as capitan; Barbara Resendi's complaints against Escandon (ff.83)(ff125). Charges against fray Garcia as being hipocrite receiving double salary (ff.91) description of reason for failure of mission for Cocos in San Saba due to murder of missionaries (ff.112). Apaches do not want to be reduced, only want peace and commerce with Spanish (ff.113). Even when they offer peace, Escandon gives them motives to be insolent. Murder at Rancheria of smallpox infected and other Indians by capitan went unpunished (ff.120). Massacre of Janambres on road to Horcasitas (ff 121). Paz not punished for murder of Indians (ff.122). Guevarra's murder of reduced Indians of mission of Santander unpunished. Cordova's mistreatment of Indians in Rio Frio (ff.124). Use of Indians Sihui, janambre as work force, Indian death due to hard labor (ff.125). Attempt to reduce Pames threatening to drive them to the coast. Indians paid 4p month plus rations for corn growing and also grew their own crops (ff.131). Escandon allowed people exemption from debts in order to populate settlements. Escandon's appointing as capitans convicted murder. Escandon refused to release Sanches Borriego who was involved in riot of Coahuila to Serma. Two destructions of Pizones' church in Santa Rossa and Taumave missions. Taking of Indian lands to give to Carmelita priests for 10 years. No payment of Diezmos for farmland; Diezmos payments of hollas, Mier, and Revilla. Escandon nor captain Vasques Borrego payed Diezmos for their large cattle haciendas. Gives cost of campaign against Indians of north and Apaches who attacked Taguacanas. Defense of Escandon's choice of capitans and families to populate settlement in that it is difficult to find cultivated people like those from the capital--they must come from the provinces. Description of Tanambre November 1754 destruction of mission Ruvoroso near Escandon; only 4 escaped including missionary. Complaint of Tanambres robbing, Murdering. Escandon captured tamambre rebles and sent them to Querataro prison. Tamambres and Tonases sent to Querataro as labors, servants and for convents. Marcos Molino's case in which he worked for Hidalgo for 15 years without payment. (ff.163) use of hard labor as punishment as well as death sentence. (L. L. Woodward, November 1988)

Concerns publication (book ?), of administrative proceedures sent from conde de Galvez to Ugarte y Loyola regarding the governing of Provincias Internas del oriente and Occidente. Specificies the kind of events the commanders of each province muist report back. Document comprises gives a break down of the many characteristics that Spanish colonization implemented in the conquest of Indian territories. Strategies of the conquest are explained in this document, such as use of Indian controversies to facilitate their reduction. History of how the conquest began is given. Document explains trade Spaniards had with some Indian nations in order to subjugate them. Specific indications of what type of activities were allowed for Indians under Spaniard's domination is given. Characteristics of several Indian nations are provided, such as which one was friendly and/or hostile. (this document is a very important summary of almost all kind of activities the Spanish conqueror had to implement in their fight against tricks used, legislation among provinces, judicial organization, religious strategies etc. Etc.). (M. Marroquin, June 1989)

Concerns letter from Canaveral to viceroy explaining a whole strategy to accomplish Indians reduction. For this the governor suggests distributing land in Santa Gertrudis, where conditions are good for that purpose, in spite of cold Weather. Plan includes reorganization of presidios and authority in Nayarit (more personnel, new salaries, more supplies etc). Letter describes inaccessible conditions of Nayarit, stubborness of Indians who workship idols and progress being made in their reduction to the crown. Political reorganization of alcaldias in the area is also suggested. (M. Marroquin, April 1989)

Report on poor state of wooden bridges in area of osolotepeque across two rivers. Will benefit haciendas, owners to contribute to expenses for construction of stone bridge. List of hacienda owners and lessees with quotas due for each. Indians to do labor; punishment for those refusing. (J. M. Johnson, December 1988)

Describes his visita, state of each mission, Villa; records Indians speaking Castillan, some industriously planting fields or cleaning churches, some who need to be taught how to work. mentions rations of corn, meat, tobacco; problems with water supply; baptism of Indians, giving Christian names. (A. Dean, July 1989)

Letters from Palacios to virrey marques de Croix commenting upon impoverished state of Indians in region who have not been baptized, educated and employed; Palacio recommends support and protection of Indians to develop skills as laborers; also discusses mines discovered in region, problems involved in mining process and separation of minerals. (L. Kerr, 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)

Series of documents concerning complaints of Indians from Bacadeguachi because of mistreatment and little food they get from missionary of that jurisdiction. Governor of Sonora gives account of need for postal service within provinces under his authority. Construction of a ditch for irrigation. Military groups and officials existing in Sinaloa and Sonora. Indians ambushed a military convoy killing two and wounding eight (folio 59). (J. Marroquin, August 1988)

Virrey acknowledges receipt of Munoz's letter re: campaign executed against indios fronterizos; virrey will order captain of Janos to render military assistance to Munoz in times of special need. Included is testimonio de auditor general de Indian attack on supply train en route to Julimes in which soldiers, arrieros killed (09-24-'63). Virrey acknowledges Christoval (03-26-'63). Auditor de guerra approves repartimiento of Indians captured in military campaign (04-30-'63). Military roster for Junta de los Rios. Includes name, length of service, ethnicity, etc. of presidio officers, soldiers, plus record of military campaigns, Indians captured, killed, catholicized, or remitted to Chihuahua or virreinato. Munoz notes that mulatos, mestizos, coyotes are suited to soldiering at presidios por estar estos hechos al trabajo, y acostumbrados a mantenerse . . . con los bastimentos ordinarios que ofrece el pais . . . (12-13-'63). Virrey orders Munoz to follow Cuellar's orders (04-25-'68). Re: viceregal order that presidio officers be payed cash wages (07-13-'68). Virrey writing military service libretas (cover letter only.) Military service, plus request for funds 07-16-'67). (J. H. Ochs, July 1988)