Military-Religious Relations

Vague documents concerning lack of appropriate religious services at Cocospera, Terranate; movements, payment of dragones in Sonora; payment of Pineda. (A. Dean, August 1989)

Tordesilla claims that one evening 15 soldiers, sailors passed outside his house loudly singing obscenities; he reprimanded them; Vargas, among them, assaulted him. Complains that Elizondo did nothing about incident. Testimonies from tordesilla, his doctor, his neighbors, miscreants. (A. Dean, August 1989)

Abalos accuses Olasaran of viciousness, treason, imperiosity, among other things. Olasaran accuses Abalos of calumny, being an imposter (Abalos claims his Father is C. Abalos; Sanchez claims C. Abalos had no son). Frequently mentioned that Abalos is mestizo. Many letters from character witnesses protesting for/against each party. Inserted in middle of these is Series of letters concerning death of Guzman (f.262-265), in which Abalos is apparently implicated. Buena is widow of Guzman. It seems Abalos is arrested, his punishment discussed. (A. Dean, July 1989)

Reports to Flores de San Pedro from missionaries concerning success of reduccion, status of pueblos receipts for donations to missions by military and civil government. Documents span two years, all same general format, theme. F.409 mention giving sacraments to reduced Indians at Miraflores in their own language. F.415 further mention of barbarous death of Luna; mentions which missionaries responsible for which pueblos. (A. Dean, March 1990)

Correspondence concerning complaints by Arredondo of not receiving proper personal mass that his position of comandante general and vice patrono merit. Includes description of mass ceremonies and citations of historical precedents which support Arredondo's case. Repititious. (A. Tukey, October 1988)

Correspondence concerning lack of revenue in northern provinces, contributing to shortage of food for soldiers fighting Indians and rebels. Arredondo calls on patriotic citizens for donations, and admonishes cabildo eclesiastico de Monterrey for not contributing to war effort. Also, accuses Obispado de Monterrey of not paying Diezmos. (A. Tukey, October 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)

Orders from viceroy to Anza about recruitment of soldiers with families to move to and settle San Francisco California, appointments of lieutenant and Sergeant to be in command of garrison. Also appointment of friars to accompany expedition with cooperation of fray Serra establish two missions in area settled. de Anza travels to Sinaloa and established towns in Sonora recruiting families and purchasing supplies, cattle, horses and mules for March with orders to leave as soon as possible carrying enough supplies to leave with settlers until area is established. Viceroy orders de Anza to turn command of expedition in Monterrey to Moncada who will command presidio in San Francisco, also is ordered to select with Moncada site for presidio and missions to be established and return to Sonora as soon as task accomplished. de Anza informs viceroy of progress made in recruitment impossibility of Alferez Morada to go with expedition as wife has terminal disease, also notifies viceroy of death of sargent Espinosa to unknown epidemic which has affected many families recruited slowing progress many months. de Anza request substitution of sargent from O'Conor military inspector and general commander. List of soldiers with families is sent to viceroy amounting to 191 persons not counting muleskinners, people attached to expedition like merchants, farmers who are not being paid by de Anza who is supplying them with food only, also three families whose husbands are attached to presidio of Monterrey. Anza expedition starts from Tubac on October 20, Ten months after viceroy issued orders which Anza argues is best time due to rains which will provide water and better pasture for animals. Attached are letters from fray Garces who is reluctant to go with expedition wanting instead to establish missions in upper Colorado and Gila rivers, viceroy issues him orders to join expedition under de Anza which he agrees with reluctance requesting his own special assistants and his own transportation. (A. Dell'acqua January 1988)

Correspondence between viceroy and Anza about overland expedition of later to open route to California from Sonora. Letters begin with Anza advising viceroy of recruiting of troops to substitute in presidio for men in expedition, his difficulties finding horses in area as Apaches had previously attacked presidio taking most horses. Anza purchases mules and leaves Tubac presidio January 1774 advising capitan Urrea and governor Crespo, obtaining as a guide capitan Yuma Tarabal, Anza goes to Altar presidio to buy horses. Anza worries about news of split between Yumas and crossing their lands. Anza lists 34 persons in expedition including frays Diaz and Garces. Anza encounters a Soyapa Indian who tells him of route and division of upper Colorado River; de Anza describes the physical stature of Yumas and mode of dress, also describes fertility of banks of Colorado and agricultural richness of area. Arrives at mission San Gabriel on April 1, 1774. Viceroy writes Anza with orders that if he encounters expedition coming from Loreto commanded by Moncada, they should together find best areas in San Francisco to construct two missions which will make it possible for more people to populate area. Anza returns to Tubac leaving Monterrey on April 22. Anza is transferred to presidio Terrenate and temporarily to Altar before he has sent an account of expedition to viceroy in Mexico City. In subsequent letters Anza relates meeting Junipero Serra sixty leagues before Monterrey in his return, also relates taking six soldiers from Monterrey with him to show them route to Rio Colorado and sending them back before leaving for Tubac, in subsequent letters Anza waits for many months before being ordered to travel to Mexico but cannot take trip before he pays amounts loaned from merchants to pay for expedition for which Anza request monies from viceroy. Viceroy writes de Anza consulting him based on personal explorations if route to New Mexico from Sonora and from New Mexico to Monterrey could be possible, de Anza relates based on experience and accounts by a Pima enslaved by people from New Mexico who escapes and crosses land in seven days. Anza calculates distance from Sonora to New Mexico 180 leagues and from Monterrey to New Mexico 368 leagues, advising if exploration should be taken it should start in September, earlier is too dry and later danger of snow is maximized. de Anza advises viceroy of danger crossing Apache lands and advises a person taking this expedition should know and understand territory and its people, de Anza offers himself as Head of this expedition to viceroy as best suited for the undertaking. Fray Garces comunicates with de Anza about his explorations in upper Colorado indicating encounter with Cocomaricopas and other people that dress, speak, and are similar physically to Apaches, fray Garces believes that a route thru Colorado River is possible to New Mexico based on accounts given him by new Indians he encountered. (A. Dell'acqua December 1987)

Letters to viceroy requesting increase of monies as sinodo and extra monies to purchase bell and other religious supplies by fray Garza for mission of San Antonio. (A. Dell'acqua January 1988)