Naval Administration

Index and extractions from legajo 12 (1765) containing administrative, military, and religious information regarding various provincias. Indexed material includes petition by Oca for health leave; remission of treasures from Chihuahua mines; discovery of islands near San Juan and San Bernardo; petitions for travel; salt mine development; canons and gunpowder for presidios; auxiliary troops provided to San Saba; instruction of military recruits; Indian invasions in los Alamos and Batuco Valley; need for supplementing arms, horses to Buena Vista recruits; request that a held white deer be submitted to Mexico; establishment of navigation between Acapulco and Matanchel; establishment and fortification of presidio of Buena Vista and money allocated for work; salaries for citizens substituting for absent soldiers; department of wine and spiritous liquors. (J. Hiller, July 1989)

Letter from Mourelle accusing ship pilots of abusing their position. Pilots for explorations which took place in 1774 and 1775 accused of excessive spending. Detailed discussion of spending for particular voyages. Lists of wages paid to crew of Mourelle's fragata. Court finds Mourelle's pay excessive. (K. Mccaston, April 1990)

Despacho orders amount paid to Armesto as amount due him for the construction of a ship to be used for the California missions. Documents status report of old one the San Francisco Xavier and refers to regulations for building new one, la Concepcion Indians to be used for construction. (J. M. Johnson, August 1989)

Padre Armesto requested viceroy to expedite the readiness of the ships from Acapulco to Loreto for service to the California missions. Documents concern delay of arrival of ships in Acapulco because of scheduling problems at point of origin in Guatemala. (J. M. Johnson, August 1989)

Letters concerning arms shipments. Technical terms concerning ship disrepair. Echeverria (pilot) ill, Castro takes over position. Artillery Inspections. Accident delays cargo. Discussion of livestock shipments. Rodriguez sent from Spain to oversee Arsenal. Discussion of fragata Rosario Alias la Princesa. Document awarding pension for Antonia Gonzalez (widow). Yzaguir reretired. Routine expeditions to California coast.

Letters concerning the Naval operations and administrative tasks conducted at San Blas. Fernando Quinos given permission to retire. Sailors refused to continue journey without two months advance pay. Echeverria named second pilot. Request for Galvez to return to Spain. Echeverria ill and unable to leave Guadalajara to assume position. expenses paid for frigatta Santiago's voyage form Cartegena to Guatemala. Letter requesting more reliable ship for California voyages. Request for wage increase for fragata Santiago crew. Letters stating wage increase justified based on merit and length of Naval experience. Santiago in route to San Blas. Documents concerning desertion of Gallo and forty others.

Lopez de Toledo describes inventory of Loreto warehouse and lack of sufficient supplies for California missions and presidios. Purchases ordered by superiors, transportation schedules. Stresses need for more money to provision expeditions to Monterrey and San Diego, refers to Galvez 1768 recommendations to remedy scarcity of supply; improve agricultural production and sheep production for meat and wool for clothing. Information Sonora (Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe); Canoas Santa Rita, San Ignacio, San Xavier, Guadalupe and San Francisco Solano; paquebots el Principe, Lauretana, Concepcion, San Antonio and San transhipment to California, pay for craftsmen and Mule drivers. Ff. 196-197 and 211-212 roster list of officers and soldiers with salaries for compania de Cuera. Ff. 209 reports shipwreck off Sonora, sailors lost, plans for other ship to take survivors and cargo to California. (J. M. Johnson, June 1989)

Very useful analysis of conditions of Nueva California with details as to funds and costs to be incurred by military and include - economic benefits and improvements in cattle raising, improvements in agriculture techniques and crops grown. Role of missionaries and changes due to and since Jesuit expulsion. Provisions to be supplied to Indians, settlers, military and missionaries; militia formation; housing and choosing community leaders; required annual inspection of establishments; work habits, recreation and rewards to combat idleness. Salt supply and transportation. Appeal to be made to viceroy to enforce law should clergy refuse to oppose regulations. Relocation of include - establishment of towns, workshops, mills with suggestions on where to locate, what to produce, what to teach Indians. Military service for residents of Nueva California. Use of whale sperm and fat. Shipbuilding. Development and taxes. Investments and profits. Accounting procedures for agriculturalists and religious. Military, religious, Naval salaries. Better communication needed for cooperative trade between two Californias. Importance of further exploration of coast. (J. M. Johnson, may 1989)

Series of documents concerning Naval surgeon Jose Maria Maldonado's request to have 20 pesos deposited monthly during a six month period for his Father, Jose Gregorio Maldonado. Correspondence concerns certification by treasury at San Blas and procedures to be followed for transferring the money. folio 320 cites royal orders from 1773 which says that the Naval treasury should assist the families of members of the royal service. (S. Tisdale, October 1989)

Series of documents concerning Manuel quimpers illness and his need to transfer to Guadalajara for treatment. Includes some minor discussion of climate in the Nootka establishment and the voyage of the Frigata Aranzazu. Certificates from doctors in Guadalajara giving detailed description of Quimper's herpetic disease for which he requires a dry, temperate climate for recuperation. Correspondence concerning Quimper's pay and his request to return to Spain because the climate in San Blas does not agree with him. Mention of decrees passed as early as March 8,1703 and how they effect the decision to pay Quimper (ff.288-289). Itemized list of Quimper's wages. (s.tisdale, October 1989)