Mission Establishment

Escandon reports his advances in the exploration of the northern territory, describing the landscape, resources (lands, salt, minerals, woods, water sources, etc.) and Indian groups. He underlines the convenience of founding a village in a Valley called Voca de Santa Rosa. This proposition is well received by the authorities, who decide to effect it in the near future. Concluding the trip, Escandon recommends authorities send missionaries to preach in the area. The authorities are interested and continue to support the undertaking. (A. Nielsen, October 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)

Osorio and Palacio request payment from the virrey for the investigation they made of the establishment of Nuevo Santander and Escandon; virrey sends Escandon a letter requesting establishment of Tetillas Pueblo; Osorio and Palacio informe to virrey to divide Obispado. Need to establish a new Obispado with an interim visitor because distance to Guadalaxara is extremely far. Only four villages pay Diezmos, three to church of Valladolid and one to Guadalaxara. There should be an administrator to collect the diezmos from that fertile colony. Audit of hacienda results in it beginning to pay taxes and in a short period of time will produce enough for the troops and to fix the reales minas without using the Erario. Tampico is very convenient for opening the port to trade with Veracruz and Campeche and would change all the products that Nuevo Santander has and change transport time. In relation to the secret mission to investigate the behavior of Escandon it is suggested that for his admirable behavior in 1748, for the villages, and the commerce he opened and mantained in Santander, Soto la Marina, the size of his haciendas and his advanced age, it is recommended that his position as governor be given to someone Young, who is more able to travel and solve problems of the colony. folio 338,is an accounting of the compania volante Caballeria del Seno Mexicano. Last document a letter from the virrey to Soto la Marina, and others to protect missionaries. (D. Bautista, November 1989)

Signed. Concerns defense of Escandon; begins with minimization of charges and a briefly history of Escandons' ascendant career, merits from king; Escandon was in arms and participating in the ejection of British in Laguna in 1720; 1728, was named by virrey as sargento mayor later virrey gave him the title of Coronel; November 15, 1741, Escandon was named as teniente general de la Sierra gorda he gave missions to Franciscanos religious from San Diego de pachuca and San Fernando; he founded and establish four villages with no cost to the royal hacienda; September 3, 1746 in a royal decree full of eulogys virrey gives to Escandon all responsibilities in the mission of pacification de los barbaros de la Sierra gorda and he is named lugar teniente de la Costa del Seno Mexicano; December 1748, founded the first village in area which by 1759 had 20 villages; on folio 182 details of population; in 1757 virrey sent comission to investigate colony; in 1765 virrey orders Escandon to found five new villages in strategic places to stop the continual Indians attacks; strongest defense allegation is envy of Resendi family against Escandon and their plan to get him out of the colony and appeal to the virrey for the titles for their family; in folio 229 is a Spaniards description of Indians; defense by Escandon who defends himself charge by charge; since Escandon was commissioned by the virrey y la junta real de hacienda, they knew that it was a project that was subject to failure, in other words he was not obligated to succeed in his attempt; in selecting captains Escandon never chose the most specialized but selected the ones that were dedicated to the well being of the village; all that the fiscal imputed to Escandon was never supported with real evidence only anonimous statements from someone who heard rumors but had no hard evidence; not even fray Garcia was found in his mission to testify against Escandon to the auditors Osorio and Palacio; in regard to the murder of Indians by Escandon's captains, the fiscal never found witnesses; some of the crimes were investigated by Escandon and he found that the actions benefited the pacification and well being of the village. Escandon repremanded the captain and notified the capitania general. The women and children were placed in missions when the men were murdered or sent to a presidio but never were they sold and sent to Querataro in a collera as the accusations assert; in treatment of criminals, Escandon always followed the royal laws which permitted pardons of criminals if they serve the king. These people were serving the king by risking their lifes in the establishment of the colony; in regard to his rejection of Apaches, he argues it is well known that Apaches don't want anything except trading, and that Spain suffers terribles consequences when it assumes Apaches will remain peaceful in missions. He argued that too often they will suddenly murder, rape and destroy a village. For this reason Escandon avoided Apaches. On March 29, 1763, the royal cedula expired which authorized captain trenda y el ingeniero de la Camara alta to make the first audit of Escandon and nothing wrong was found except for the plot of the Resendi family, 17800 question the official informe by saying that it was corrupted by la voz de oro y Plata de Escandon pudo mas; but in the second audit nobody knew about it, not even the fiscal o el auditor and the results were no different. Escandon is exonerated from all charges. Descendants of Escandon have the right to claim what Escandon left them. (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)

Documents concerning foundation of missions of Jesus and San Francisco Xavier in Coahuila; discuss Indians' petition for land and indoctrination in catholic faith, search for appropriate mission location. Also, Ramon's auto de Fundacion of mission San Cristoval accomplished while returning from campaign against Tobosos. (J. H. Ochs, December 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)

Letters from Escandon for virrey informing him of the advances in the settlement of Nuevo Santander, villages founded, agricultural development, and the pacification and reduction of the Indians. Brief details of each village are provided by Escandon. The auditor answers the informe of Escandon stating that the religious are critical of Escandons methods of distributing land. (D. Bautista, April 1990)

Letters from Escandon informing virrey of the establishment of a new village in Paraje la Mula. Escandon received complaints of several Indian attacks in la Mula Paraje. Escandon named los padres carmelitas as protectors of that Paraje, to stop the Indians from attacking. (D. Bautista, April 1990)

Copies of the informaton sent to virrey Revilla Gigedo from Escandon November 27, 1752 concerning the creation of the Obispado. Answers from the Arzobispo and obispos to virrey with respect to the creation of the Obispado in Nuevo Santander. The answers do not favor construction. (D. Bautista, April 1990)