Mission Lists

Contains very comprehensive accounts of San Pedro de Ybarra hacienda under fincas rusticas administration of Juan Gomez Eguiarte, and an inventory of documents received on same hacienda from 1655 to 1842; also contains Fondo Piadoso de Californias debt records of all Alta and Baja California missions and lengthy lists of debtor missionaries residing in these missions; all documents lengthy with extensive financial data between years 1832 and 1844 from Fondo Piadoso. (K. Hubin, December 1989)

Concerns liquidation of accounts of synods in California; expenses of missions in both Alta and Baja California for year 1840; also mentioned in passing is sending of troops to Alta California for reconquista. (K. Hubin, December 1989)

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)

Concerns official allotment of unused land to previous owners who did not have official records of their landholdings. These lands are in Rio Verde and some land is reallocated. Land is used for Maguey, Milpas, and houses. Excellent descriptions and lists of church and mission supplies as well as church officials. (J. Acheson, March 1988)

Testimonies on state of missions in Nuevo Santander provide of Indians at mission and identification of their ethnic group, number of Indians christianized, inventory of livestock, political offices held by Indians, amount of land owned, description of agricultural production, quality of soil, rainfall or irrigation specified. Mention of group of Sierra tamualipan Vieja, mention of Mesquites' participation in dances, Mitotes, drinking, and Peyote use, and also past harmful behavior before making peace. Robbery by several Indian groups. Discussion of need for more soldiers to punish Indians who stray from towns and missions. Possibilities of use of cotton and sugar Cane. Also provides information of number of soldiers stationed at missions, military expenses for salaries and supplies, sinodo expenses, and commercial endeavors such as sale of hides. (L. L. Woodward, may 1989)

Very important and detailed correspondence include (especially agricultural and religious supplies for 3 missions of the Santa Barbara Canal; F. 309 lists officers for 3 Principal California presidios. Serra reports on repairs to old and construction of new missions, emphasizing temporal and evangelical elements in conquest of souls. F. 312 details requirements for furnishing missions and religious objects for each mission. Provides salaries of religious personnel for each. F. 313 is a list of priests at each of 8 missions attached to Monterrey. Comments on bad examples for Indians set by troops and settlers in area. Neve discusses weapons and clothing supplies for California troops and settlers. F. 318 list of clothing necessary for people in missions and presidios. Ff. 319-320 refer to past methods in determining minimal subsistance of food and clothing supplies. F. 321 is chart of amount of bullets, gunpowder, flints and types of weapons by presidio needed for defense. Defines need for new regulations to correct deficiencies due to distances of king and real hacienda from California. Proposes improved military organization and requests greater numbers of soldiers, supplies and horses. F. 324 discusses military escorts, organization, personnel, time of year with estimated subordination of soldiers, military promotions, equipment for cavalry units. Census of military personnel, including tackle and rider's clothing for cavalry. Distribution of animals to each presidio. Ff. 332-333 provides detailed list of tackle and clothing by cavalry officer for Monterrey, San Francisco and San Diego. F. 336 is chart of higher officers and numbers of soldiers for same presidios. F. 339 distribution by type and number of weapons to same three. F. 341 numbers of mules and horses distributed to these presidios. Other topics of San Francisco, storage and distribution of weapons to prevent sales to Indians, rations of food to presidios and missions, references to past ordinances for founding missions, family life of soldiers in presidios, evacuation of families in case of attack, duties and types of craftsmen with necessary supplies for same for settlements. (J. M. Johnson, January 1989)

Documents requesting that discontinued subsidies to Coahuilan missions be restored. Includes list of Coahuilan missions, date founded and Indian groups represented at each. (J. H. Ochs, March 1987)

An overview of general situation in north with emphasis on presidios and military. Also mentioned importance of missions and need for attracting more settlers to area. There is also a listing of all northern presidios including California. Annual payroll and numbers of officers and men. Summary of number of missionaries in different missions, their orders, and salaries. (J. Tapia, September, 1987)