Land

Detailed description of geography of Texas (and north America in general, from Canada to isthmus of Panama) and its history including- discussion of French colonies, French-Indian relations; location/number of troops of Texas presidios; brief description Texas found, Flora; first explorers; Frenchmen in Texas; Spanish responses to French, military activities, including founding of missions, presidios; fertility of land and possibilities of trade with Vera Cruz via Bahia del Espiritu Santo; quality of presidial soldiers; French-Spanish relations. See also DRSW serial 4633. (T. Sheridan) (1977)

Holguin sells to Maines one half of an hacienda de labor for the price of 6,100 pesos. (R. Perez) (1977) others- 0677-0678. Parral. 30 enero, 1794. Venta de un Sitio de tierra de pastar con Sus Montes y Aguas Por 137 pesos. 0689-0690. Parral. 14 Marzo, 1794. Venta de Rancho. Juan Jose Almanza sells to Juan Antonio Ruiz de Zeballos a Rancho for 300 pesos. 0698-0701. Parral. 10 Mayo, 1794. Venta de hacienda. Mariano del Fierro executor of the estate of Francisco Saens Moreno, sells to Jose Dias an hacienda from said estate for the price of 1,400 pesos.

Record of land registered for purposes of house construction. Data on measurements, kinds of houses and details of the growing city of San Joseph del Parral. (T. Barnes) (1977)

Enclosed are the testimonies of three Frenchmen, Luis del Fierro, Pedro Sastre, and Joseph Miguel, in response to fourteen questions put to them by Spanish authorities after their arrival in Taos with a number of Comanches after coming from new Orleans. Of special importance is their descriptions of the indigenous peoples and the geography they encountered along the way. Also included are descriptions of the same territory by other officials and another Frenchman. (G. Miller) (1977)

Gathered, transcribed documents discussing possible locations in Nuebo Santander, Coahuila for new presidios or relocation of old ones. Problem finding sites with sufficient water, defensible. Letters span 7 years but all very similar; lots of information on geography, distances between places, locations of Arroyos and Rios, places suitable for livestock, etc. (A. Dean, March 1990)

Autos from Escandon's son requesting acknowledgment of lands for his Father. Palacio and Osorio inspect by order of virrey, seizing lands without Owner; Escandon's son gets testimony from capitans of other villages concerning land Father owns; letter from Escandon to virrey requesting he consider the plundering of his lands. (D. Bautista, may 1990)

Information from Cornide to virrey concerning complaints against Escandon in terms of missions, military, presidios, mines, Salinas, ports of Santander and Tampico; offers some solutions; replacement of villages to more strategic points, establishing three missions to contain Indian attacks, replace missionaries and sinods, allotment of land to proper owners, organization of companias Volantes and commerce in port of Santander. (D.Bautista, may 1990)

Discusses dismissal of indio Manuel from position as gobernador due to falling out with Guillen. Manuel is to be reinstated; Guillen transferred, replaced. Indian uprisings are worst in Caborca, Pitic and Saric. Local uprisings in theses pueblos have opened area up to Apache hostilities which previously had not been problematic. Suggestion made for Spanish, mestizo and other castes to move into Indian pueblos. Law prohibits non- Indians from living with indios reduccidos or in Indian pueblos, but in this case exception should be made as mixture is necessary to stop hostilities. Plan presented for dividing land among Indians. (D. Uhlman, February 1988)

Correspondence between viceroy, Garces and de Anza concerning Garces's explorations in upper Colorado River with attachment of letters from fray Escalante about Zunis and area in case Garces travels to New Mexico from Colorado River. Accounts by de Anza on expedition to California, his turning command over to comandante Moncada, refusal of Moncada to travel to San Francisco to explore area for establishment of presidio and missions, de Anza travels with teniente Moraga, one priest and eight soldiers to explore San Francisco bay. de Anza gives an rich description of bay with its good soil, abundance of water, pastures, and wild animals and fish, meeting with Indians who fish with nets and use of balses made with reeds to cross bay and fish. de Anza does not name Indians but describes them as gentle. He also describes area to be rich with woods from which construction of fort would be easy. de Anza establishes places where missions and presidio should be built returning to Monterrey where he requests meeting with Moncada without success. Serra meets with Anza preoccupied with moncadas' attitude with friars and families from Sinaloa, teniente Moraga in letter to Anza believes comandante Moncada has lost his mind which results in his not wanting to follow planned agenda. Documents about rebellion in San Diego are not very clear, de Anza also describes desertions of some muleskinners and two soldiers who steal some horses and moragas capture of desertors in Gila where de Anza punishes them with laboring in construction of presidio and missions in San Francisco. Anza informs viceroy about Garces return to Colorado River leaving him foodstuffs for his sustenance as Anza returns, also fray Exiarc returns with Anza to Tumacacori mission. Capitan Palma and three Yumas with accordance with his people attaches himself to Anza to travel to Mexico. Viceroy answers Anza letting him know he is displeased as Anza did not finish his comission as he left before construction of fort and missions began. (A. Dell'acqua, January 1988)

Autos of residencia against Bustillos y Zevallos by edict of king and ordered by viceroy to comply with laws which investigates administration of governor at end of his term. Investigation is by governor Sandobal questioning all personnel involved with administration under Bustillo and Indian heads and people at large in province. Also lists of documents, inventories of arms and stores issued to province under governor's care. (A. Dell'acqua, February 1988)