Naval Offices (Comisario)

(J. M. Johnson, July 1989)

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)

Goleta nuestra Senora de Guadalupe (Aka Sonora) left for Guaymas; ff. 510-517 inventario of Goleta; ff. 518-519 Estado y reglamento de Rancho for four months listing number of persons and positions, rations; ff. 520 list of Naval officials and crew. Two of three men Charged as Polizones (stowaways?) Brought in to prison; third took off just before arrest order y Plata as permanent position. Received copy of generos y efectos needed in presidios San Francisco, Monterrey and San Diego. Hixosa to return as comisario of San Blas. (D. Uhlman, January 1989)

Correspondence of administrative and financial matters consists of documents providing data on qualifications, salaries, appointments, health status and death notice (f. 475) of departmental personnel. Cargos and itineraries for fragata Santiago (Nueva Galicia), Goleta Sonora, Paquebot San Carlos carrying provisions to California. Ff. 471-472 discuss launching of new fragata la Princesa (N.S. del Rosario) and its role in colonization of California. Other documents continue Sonsonate and Realejo transferred to district of Guatemala, status of construction of new Paquebot and tools, supplies (ff. 453-455). Agricultural information on seeds and planting (ff. 451-452). Widow's pensions (f. 462) and salary deductions for payments to wives of officials (ff. 466-467). (J. M. Johnson, October 1988)

Correspondence is on administrative and financial matters in department of San Blas. Several documents deal with appointments, health and salaries of personnel; others with cargos and itineraries of Paquebot San Carlos and Goleta Sonora on voyages to California ports, supplying provisions to discuss damage to Paquebot in storm. Ff. 407 continues discussion of status in construction of Paquebot and why better suited to be fragata rather than Paquebot. Ff. 408-410, 414-419, 430-432, 434 deal with personnel problems of craftsmen on ship construction, delays due to illnesses. Ff. 411-413 on publication of new royal decrees lowering percentage of rights to gold, after royal fifth subtracted. Ff. 423-429 are list of workers contracted in Veracruz with salary information and deductions on salaries for officials for pensions to wives. (J. M. Johnson, October 1988)

Documents are of four types: Ff. 382-385 from Hijosa to Bucareli announce departure of Goleta Sonora (Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe) carrying memorias and efectos to Loreto and other California missions. Discussion of crew and change of command because of illness. F. 386 and ff. 399-400 are bills of lading for transported cargo. Ff. 387-388 is incomplete list of food supplies aboard, (dried) meat and fish, bread. Ff. 389-398 are extremely detailed inventories of the Goleta, including dimensions, volume capacity, hull, masts, rigging, quarters, keel, rudder, hold, tools, anchors, cables, auxiliary boats, etc. (J. M. Johnson, October 1988)

Series of documents of administrative and financial matters concerning San Blas. Topics include appointments, salaries and payments for expenses of personnel; also cargos, intineraries & freight charges of the fragata Santiago and Paquebot Principe. Completion of construction of new ship to be called la Princesa (Nuestra Senora del Rosario), including details on design of figurehead and whether it should be armoured as fragata or be a Paquebot. F. 376 acknowledges receipt from Neve for food supplies and other provisions ordered for California settlements for 1778. Ff. 379-381 detail 5 yr. Contract with townspeople of Tequepespam for supply of tar for ship maintenance. (J. M. Johnson, October 1988)

Series of documents of administrative and fiscal matters for San Blas. Many deal with cargos and itineraries of paquebots San Carlos and el Principe (San Antonio) and fragata Santiago; others with personnel matters, ship construction and repair. On excess food supplies from Naval department to be given to presidios and missions in California and administered by Serra. F. 344 on three month leave for Choquet for accident suffered to rejoin wife in Spain after 14 yr. Separation; discussion of Hijosa's successor Ruiz and military escort to Mexico. Ff. Wife, approved by viceroy. Details given on amounts and construction of new launch for Paquebot and new buque de Paquebot, many details given on problems and techniques, delay to appoint Ayllon as contador; both assume new duties upon Hijosa's incapacitation. (J. M. Johnson, October 1988)

Correspondence is of administrative and fiscal nature, expenditures, salaries, appointments, recruitment and health problems; ship construction and repair, continuation from previous folios of problems (with keel) and building of launch and paquetbot; supplies for repairing warehouse in comisaria. Cargos and itineraries for Goleta Sonora, paquetbots San Carlos and el Principe (San Antonio). Ff. 311-313 announce arrival of Goleta Sonora, transporting pigs and servants for Areche, explaining delay due to bad Weather and shortage of food supplies. Request to Bucareli and approval by him for extra funds to cover necessary expenses incurred by personnel of the Sonora. (J. M. Johnson, October 1988)

On Hijosa's orders, the following three documents were prepared: 1) ff. 284-304 consist of detailed inventory of the San Carlos, hull, masts, sails, rudder, pilots area, anchors, cables and rigging, pilot's equipment, workmen's supplies and auxiliary boats. 2) ff. 305-307 is a list of food rations, amounts given based on assumed daily consumption and necessity. Major cheese, condiments, water, firewood and kitchen utensils. 3) ff. 308-310; bill of lading for food shipped to Loreto. Includes amounts and buying price of in San Blas and selling price for Loreto, after obligatory (by provincial regulation) 100 surcharge is added. (J. M. Johnson, September 1988)