Mission Finances

Various documents regarding remission of contents of royal treasuries and taxes to Arispe in response to orders from comandante general. Mention of shortage of muleteers in Guadalajara to convey payment to Arispe. Mention of Nava's succession to comandancy general after Neve's death. Folios 29, 30 are manifests of contents of royal treasuries, payments to civil officials from September 1784. Includes informe notifying viceroy of Neve's death. Folios 38, 45, 46 mention use of tax money for military expeditions; folio 47 refers to formation of new company of presidial dragoons from Saltillo. folio 56 is partial list of payments received in Mexico dated 13 November 1784. folio 58 provides summary of contents of military treasury at Chihuahua and royal treasuries at Durango, Rosario, Guanajuato, and San Luis Potosi in response to orders from Mexico. Several autos from local officials regarding use of royal funds. Much anxiety and debate occurs as to dates and amounts of payments throughout. folio 76 is review of taxes on gunpowder and playing cards from 1781-1784. Mention of Rengel's succession to comandante general in 1784/1785. Mention of great drought and shortage of food for animals to transport money to Mexico. Mention of famine in Sombrerete in June 1785, in which wealthy estates were forced to post guards. folio 118 presents inventory of contents of royal treasury at Durango and payments to troops in Chihuahua dated 15 September 1785.folios 127-130 present tabular summary of annual revenues and payments from royal treasuries to officials, clergy, and military throughout Provincias Internas as of 20 August 1785. (W. Copas, June 1987)

Commentary on collection of old coinage; return from Renta de Tavaco, Polvora y Naipes; and payment of presidial positions and mission sinodos in Texas, Coahuila and San Sabas. See ff 337 for table of volante and presidio positions and salaries including Indian auxiliaries and explorers. Ff 341--table of presidios and salaries, Coahuila. Ff 345--list of money needed for presidios, N. Mexico and N. Vizcaya, and amounts remitted to Caja de Guanajuato. (diane marksz, April 1987)

Letters to viceroy accusing provincial of Zacatecas of stealing sinodos and demanding specific amounts of money from priests under his supervision leaving friars without their sustenance and not enough monies for care of churches, some priests incurred debts with outsiders who made judicial demands about payments. same provincial is accused of stealing and melting church utensils made of gold and silver substituting them with ones of lesser value. Investigation carried by comandante general de Provincias Internas on all missions following directive of king to remedy abuses. Secularization of missions and doctrines in Santander is carried out except the mission of San Cristobal de los gualahuises where only the priest is changed but mission is transferred to diocese of Nuevo Leon. Within body of documents there is information about Indian unrest due to encroachment of lads by Spaniards, pacification force is sent but withdraws, members of force are accused of cowardice. An informe about census of Indian nations under jurisdiction of each mission is attached with accounts of depredations and killings by Indian Pedro Jose and his band. Accusation of provincial unfounded. (Arturo dell'acqua. September 4, 1987.)

Letters pertaining to military incursions ordered by Cuerbo y Valdes to retake territory in Nueva Mexico, also incursions against Moquis, rescue of Picuries and pacification of Apaches de Guantelejo carried out by Iribarri. Letters from fray Alvarez, Cuerbo y Valdes and others to viceroy about need of more missionaries, religious materials and monies to properly teach and practice faith. Religious census taken in territory. (A. Dell'acqua, may 1987)

Two letters petitioning viceroy for funds to construct a new church for the Apaches at Villa Nueva de Santa Cruz.

Autos concerning exclusion of missions in Coaguila and Texas from paying taxes and Diezmos. (J. Carpenter, June 1987)

Describes situation with Indians: murders of and by; religious education of; military strategies used to subdue, and control; agricultural labor of, and transporting to prisons. Tobacco, gunpowder, and land finances listed along with expenditures and troop payments, appointments made in civil offices of governor and justicia. Activities at missions described: crop production, establishment of new orders, rebuilding of destroyed mission, failure of priests to report profits and subsequent conflicts with royal officials, and distribution of mission supplies. Case of presidial captain of Laredo falsifying location of town. Travel conditions at Tetillas poor. (L. Deatherage, July 1987)

Attempts made to control Indians via mission establishment at Cruillas. Military strength increased, guns purchased and distributed, weapons replaced at Padilla, Santillana and Marina. Iron and wax sold for financing of poor missions. Indian prisoners to be transported by de la Garza to Mexico. Land allotments described along with profits, expenditures of mission production. (L. Deatherage, July 1987)

Concerns murder trial of Santiago, accused of killing Montelongo. Troop reviews sent for late 1770. Lands in north of state used by Yrizal for summer pasture. Legal proceedings discussed for Yrizal's land tenure. Osorio and Palacio new residents of northern lands. Mission reports on land production. (L. Deatherage, July 1987)

Document concerning court decision providing funds for Tampico and Rio Verde missions. (J. Carpenter, February 1987)