Mission Administration

Letters between Escandon, several missionaries to determine how to divide funds among missions; papers to formalize decision. Further discussion of details of ornamentation, building of missions. Discusses how many Villas should be considered spiritual domain of one missionary. (A. Dean, may 1990)

Letters between financial administrators and friars of apostolic colleges determining how many missions to build in new colony (Seno Mexicano), which college will be responsible for each. F.262 hopes for total of 12 missions to administer settlers. F.268 mentions grain, seed, livestock to be supplied to missions. (A. Dean, may 1990)

Concerning establishment of missions along Seno Mexicano. Ff.227-230 concern 6000 pesos to be given to apostolic college of Zacatecas toward construction, ornamentation of three missions at Nuezes, Salinas, Llano. Mentions importing grain, seed, copper, iron for missions. F.236 lists distances between new missions, other places. F.237 mentions 14 projected missions in addition to new three. F.240 speaks of preparations for reduccion of Indians. F.251 general history of spread of missionization across Nueva Espana; describes how new missions will augment effort. F.256 involves to some extent rivalry between apostolic colleges of Zacatecas, Querataro vying to open more missions first, get more funding. Lists which college runs which missions. (A. Dean, may 1990)

Documents contain information resulting in formal establishment of Guemes. Describes well drilling and associated difficulties at various levels. Escandon and others conduct review of people, land, Indians, crops, rivers, timber. Contains complete lists of families and Escuadra including names, ages and property owned. Describes planting of crops. Abundant Mesquite and Nogales. Reports from others telling Escandon that more people coming to Guemes. He must allocate more corn and tools. Escandon says must plant wetter lands in sta. Anna because of difficulties in well construction. Also says have taken so much Cascara of Sabinos that have left them dry and dying. Practice will punished, must use palms for roofs. Instructions for Ciprian to direct residents and congregate residents. Escandon names location for mission. Includes city plan. (M. Dannemiller, April 1989)

Documents concern information resulting in formal establishment of Santa Barbara. Escandon and others conduct review of residents, Indians, mission, climate, crops and general advantages of area. Includes complete list of all residents and members of Escuadra including names, ages, marital status and property owned. Also, 10 families live around mission with same privileges as those in Villa. Mentions Indian groups in area. Reviewers say Santa Barbara one of most important establishments in Colonia as stop-over place and has most fertile lands and most abundant timber. Provides distances to other Villas. Discussion of moving mission to Alberca which Escandon later approves. Escandon gives instructions for construction of homes and a road to Llera. says gambling and liquor to be outlawed. Contains record of admission of one family to Villa. Provides instructions for administration of both Villa and mission. Contains map, city plan of town including surrounding rivers. (M. Dannemiller, April 1989)

Concerns autos, plans and conditions for establishment of Dolores. Contains description of land and length and distances of rivers in area. says area has been penetrated with enemies. Basques is asking for piece of land for his son to be given control of. says he wants to promote peace and populate section of Seno Mexicano and requests financial and military assistance. says from rivers Grande to Nueses has not found Paraje with sufficient water or suitable lands. says many areas inhabited with hostile, thieving Indians. Places in east would be too distant from other settlements and Rio grand is intransitable in areas. Contains Escandon's review of Basques' cattle. says need to increase Dolores' population of 12 families and need arms and munitions. Dolores needs a well. Escandon allocated this area to Basques. States conditions for its administration. says spiritual guidance to be handled by Religiosos of Revilla. (M. Dannemiller, March 1989)

Concerns letter from archbishop of Mexico to virrey about promotion of padre Lino as representative in Nuevo Santander; informe to virrey from gobernador of Nuevo Santander about establishment of pueblos and how it took take place; virrey requests an informe from Obispo of Guadalaxara on the new colony Santander. (D. Bautista, November 1989)

Documents concerning mismanagement of temporal and spiritual resources leveled by bishop of Guadalajara and others against Ramon, interim governor of Coahuila, and vaga, padre comisario. Also, real cedula ordering that viceroy remedy problems in aforementioned province. (J. H. Ochs, December 1987)

Rodriguez Gallardo's deposition and remarks to informe written by visitor of Jesuit missions in Sonora. Issues discussed include consolidation of dispersed pueblos de indios; military escort for religious entradas into frontier areas; definition of indios vagantes; reasons for Pueblo desertion. Cites various articles from recopilacion de Leyes de las indias concerning reduction of Indians to mission life. author suggests that 2,000 pesos be sent to governor of Sinaloa to combat Apaches and that Barrancas of Sierra Madre be cleared of small Tarahumaran rancherias, and Indians gathered to be settled in larger pueblos. Also discussed are issues of election of Indian civic officials, regional officials to oversee Indian communities, Indian labor at missions, and punishment of mission Indians. Included is definition of siembras de comunidad versus siembras de Iglesia; number of Indians needed for a Pueblo to be legally recognized. Also, suggestions concerning land tenancy, education and repartimiento system in Sonora. (J. H. Ochs, November 1987)

Copied and original informes which provide excellent source of description of missionaries and christianization of Indians. Establishment of new bishopric in Nuevo Santander and administration of bishorpric (Obispado) in Provincias Internas. Vassels, tribute paying towns, missions, and tithes listed in detail as well as Indians populations that inhabit adjacent regions. Establishment of new bishopric serves regions of Santander, Nueva Estremadura, Coaguila, Texas, and Nueva Philipinas. Mission details consist of dotacion, mission goods, land owned, horses and cattle owned, lists of finances and expenses. Establishment of Indian and Ladino towns, Indian gender, work distribution of Indians, many other rich details are present. (J. Acheson, March 1988)