Land (Litigation)

Valiente, administrator of the hacienda de Californias, insists villages is not canceled, most of the sheep of the hacienda will die during the present year because they do not have enough land to graze. The request causes great concern among the authorities because they find themeselves in the dilemma of revoking a right of the settlers or harming the real hacienda (which is administering the temporalities of the Jesuits since their expulsion). Long transcriptions of the reports, letters and acts related to the repartimiento of the missions' land to the new villages are attached. It becomes clear that the government is interested in maintaining the villages for strategic reasons, as frontier settlements. Several details concerning the precise limits of each jurisdiction and private estate, the resources and about procedures for the division of land in general are included. (S. Nielsen, October 1989)

The preceding declarations are summarized in a Series of letters which describe the limits of the jurisdictions of Padilla, Cerro Santiago and Hoyos. It is confirmed that a major portion of the land claimed by the administrator of misiones de Californias are inhabited only by Indians. (nielsen, October 1989)

The administrator of misiones de Californias asks the viceroy to return some of the land that belonged to the missions and were later given to settlers of Villa de Hoyos and Cerro Santiago, because remaining agostaderos are not enough to sustain the cattle. Survey is effected, and declaration is taken to vecinos and estate administrators from several villages in the area, recording in very precise and detailed way the limits of each agostadero, private estate and of the jurisdictions of each village. Sometimes the number of animals raised in each agostadero is also declared. Witnesses of the division of the hacienda of California, when the new villages were founded, describe which were the limits of that original unit. Vecinos ask the limits to be maintained as they are, because any reduction in their estates would menace their economic stability and ultimately lead to the depopulation of the frontier. Some of them Argue that the land they received did not belong to the missions but was occupied by Indians. Two agostaderos called Nochebuena and Corcobado, seem to be the main source of the conflict. (A. Nielsen, October 1989)

Concerns official allotment of unused land to previous owners who did not have official records of their landholdings. These lands are in Rio Verde and some land is reallocated. Land is used for Maguey, Milpas, and houses. Excellent descriptions and lists of church and mission supplies as well as church officials. (J. Acheson, March 1988)

Letter by Escandon mentions contents, dates of testimonios he authored, many of which form other expedientes in this volume. Mentions testimonios about pacification of Reynosa; descriptions of Camargo; saca de Agua in Mier; rangeland of Basquez; Santander Indians forming hacienda and growing corn; Indian pacification at Igollo; land dispute in Labrador resulting in castigation of Alcalde mayor. Functions as an index for expedientes 1-11 in this volume. (S. Gibbs, October 1989)

Escandon orders Alcalde mayor of Labradores to return land to soldiers of Malacara which was unrightfully taken. Lists of land returned to each soldier. Cyprian includes undetailed allotment letter describing location of missions in Nuevo Santander. (S. Gibbs, October, 1989)

Testimonio covers autos concerning possession of Ganado mayor y Menor grazing sites. Details herding and cropping activities of Bazquez Borrego and Barreda near capitol of Coahuila. Bazquez remarks on cruelties of Tobosco Indians which make San Juan de Castayrrio dangerous. (S. Gibbs, October 1989)

Concerns Series of autos dealing with conflict that arose when land and water rights were distributed to Indians of the San Fernando missions and colonizers from islas canarias (repopulation of the area needed to serve as a deterrent to Indian invasions coming through San Fernando). (M. Marroquin, September 1989)

Concerns Series of documents dealing with conflict that arose between colonizers of Villa de San Fernando, province of Texas and Nuevas Filipinas. Sixteen families came to colonize. Colonizers are given land and water rights. Series of documents explaining boundaries of each property which was distributed to dwellers. Conflict arose between alcalde mayor Curbelo, and colonizers who complained with higher authorities (governor Sandoval and viceroy). Land distribution takes place by Rio San Antonio and Rio San Pedro. (M. Marroquin, August 1989)