Military Personnel

Lumbreras petitions for money he has deposited in Caja of regimiento. (D. Uhlman, April 1989)

Troop lists for April, may, June, 1769--Elizondo expedition. (T. Sheridan) (1980)

Vellido named as Ayudante mayor. (D. Uhlman, April 1989)

Bureauratic confusion over granting permission to la Porte to leave his post and recover his health. (T. Sheridan) (1980)

Letter from Daroca to Croix complaining his services have been overlooked by Elizondo. Elizondo's reply on margins of letter. (T. Sheridan) (1980)

Troop lists of Elizondo forces, December 1768, January-March, 1769. Notes officers, troops under their command, deserters, illnesses, etc. (T. Sheridan) (1980)

Notice of need for provisions and the construction of a warehouse in San Diego; notice of delivery of 22 soldiers to California from Loreto, Neve advises captain to stay in port because of Lobos before returning with shipment of mules, returns to San Blas because of scarcity of supplies on peninsula; notice of departure from San Blas with construction materials destined for Loreto; review of expenditures of Camacho on way to San Blas and request for remuneration; notices of transfer of personnel from Spain. (p. Coyle, March 1990)

Choquet forwards request that mission in San Diego be exempted transport Fee for furnishings; notice that Choquet remained in San Diego because of scurvy contracted, request that salary be sent there; soldier Zeda complains that he was recuperating from sickness, but upon returning to post was arrested for desertion; receipt of money from mission in San Diego, discounted for personal needs of Choquet; doctor certification of Choquet's illness and recovery; notice of establishment of missions at San Francisco and Monterrey, superficial description of land surrounding these missions; notice of illness of Quinos, recuperating in Tepic; notice of arrival of ships from Peru into San Blas, their need for repair before the possibility of their use in the exploration of California; brief summary of journey of these ships from Peru, no loss of cargo but slow due to unfavorable winds; Diaz appointed chaplain of favorita with salary; report on status of favorita for two explorations of Californias; capitan, chaplain named- widespread sickness and some deaths among sailors noted, ship provisioned (p. Coyle, March 1990)

Receipt of pay for transport of dragones de Mexico and Varios sailors from Veracruz to San Blas; sailor Banegas falls ill on way to San Blas; no documents relate to passengers from Peru or the fragata favorita. (p. Coyle, March 1990)

Most important documents will be referenced below by folio no. Most unusual document is letter to Pison signed and likely written by his wife regarding his importance to family (f. 308). Incredibly filthy swear words attributed to him, directed against priest during mass, quoted and underlined in ff. 244-245. Useful diagnosis of ailment (sinocat putrida) and simple treatment prescribed of better diet, sleep, exercise by surgeon (f. 316 ?) Traces processes of judicial procedure in determination of charges of other bad conduct on Pison's part, brought by teniente de gobernador Moreno in Loreto. Included is detailed service and conduct record and witnessed testimonies of Pison's past military service; and other biographical information. Accused of years of drunkenness, womanizing, thievery, setting bad examples for mission Indians. Jailed at mission; some witnesses testify that he reacted to provocation by others; Pison requests change of venue for unbiased trial and accessibility to witnesses for his defense who are themselves in prison in Guadalajara. Released by authorities on bail paid by Ramon Espinosa; although his mine personal effects are kept. At trial, jailed prisoners clear him of murder of Osio, by swearing latter died by drowning. Pison countercharges Moreno with beating and refusal to allow his case to go before Barri. Provides motive for Moreno's silencing him by citing evidence of Former's absconding with treasury funds and illegal trade in alcoholic beverages. Missionaries and Armona testify to his generally good character, despite drinking bouts. Final decision, however, by Valcarcel; approved by viceroy is that Pison must be punished by losing personal effects, mine, military title and lifetime banishment from Californias. Ff. 328-331, when punishment given, Pison petitions Bucareli to allow him for temporary stay in Loreto with family to make financial arrangements before his expulsion. (J. M. Johnson, July 1989)