Prisoners

Concerns the annual funding of account gastos de paz established for Coahuila and administered by Ugalde, surplus may be used to pay off scribes and assistants, mentions periodic reporting requirements (letter interrupted by other documents resumes on ff. 0485), traces transmittal of documents related to this account over the years 1788, 1789 in which Indian groups for which it was intended find themselves at war with Spanish, resulting surplus is to be sent to treasury or the Bahia presidio, communication of this information to Loyola; letter in which Ugalde has contended that the annual amount designated for the aforementioned account was not distributed by San Luis Potosi for the year 1788, Yermo who was to distribute funds had previous commitment to fund presidio and resources were used in this manner, Ugalde allowed to request money from Yermo but because each request must be accompanied by explanation and justification, control which Ugalde had expected is missing, one reason for this administrative apparatus is to preclude the duplication of gratificationes by other provinces to the same Indian groups, mentions other costs such as military supplies for horses, surgeons salary, and prisoners, further explanation of methods of making transactions so as to enhance coordination of the intendente of Potosi with Ugalde. (O. Velez, November 1989)

Index which concerns the request by sargents, and other soldiers that land be distributed to them in San Rafael de Croix in a manner similar to the rest of the colony, mention of needing to research information on the establishment of the town in 1777; index which concerns judicial proceeding against Borrego for killing Gonzales, later release of the prisoner; index which concerns the case against Lorenzo Leal for insubordination, later pardon of individual of prisoner; letter which describes classification of documents relating to Indian gratifications; an index of quadernos 1-10 that discuss; request by Ugalde for goods to give Indians involves salary of Montanez; how gratificaciones were used in Besar to open the way for the control of Texas and New Mexico, the reimbursement of cost of gratificaciones, review of gratification costs incurred by Munoz and Pacheco, costs incurred due to Comanches, examination of accounts by various officials and the finding of a direct path from Santa Fe to San Antonio Besar, remaining entries cover similar matters under command of Nava, the years represented in this index are 1786-1792. (O. Velez, November 1989)

Certain sum of money from the paz y guerra account was being spent on maintaining prisoners of war in 1789 at same time that the account was being clarified; claim by Nava that Cortes had failed to count costs of maintaining prisoners of war that continued in 1789 when he was reconciling paz y guerra account for Bahia, asking for those funds to be returned to Bahia; letter from Monterrey inquiring as to why the real tribunal y audencia has taken so long in finishing work on the documentation relative to the paz y guerra accounts for Texas and Coahuila; real tribunal requests that Nava prepare report on costs made to this account for the year 1788; Gondra writes that delay in processing account due to death of Cabo-Franco and sickness of Medina, to the costs mentioned by Nava earlier is added gifts to Lipanes, gives progress made so far on these accounts for several areas, goes into the history of the account in terms of its establishment and motives (covered in detail in expediente 3 of this reel), attests that no mention is made on documents that he is examining prisoner and gift costs; issue is explained by Gondra by pointing to the date of incurred costs and timing of examination of the accounts, cites verification by means of written proof of costs as way to resolve this issue; letter from real tribunal informing virrey that after examining the paz y guerra account the 368 pesos that Nava held were still in the account for Bahia are not there; orders to communicate this information to Nava allowing him opportunity to submit proof in order to substantiate his earlier claim. (O. Velez, October 1989)

Concerns Pena's letter explaining how while working for secretaria de comandancia he was imprisoned on orders from Emparan, asking that partial salary be paid to him so he can pay off debts that he acquired and could not pay while in prison, refers back to annual salary disbursed into the cuenta de Paz y guerra as a source of requested money; prison being explained in later letter as detainment suffered when he was sent to Valle de Santa Rosa to deliver files, 4 months without receiving salary, salary eventually suspended; letter from conde de Revilla Gigedo advising that Pena get the amount he requested for the sustenance of himself and his family; Gutierres de la Cueva disburses the funds to Pena; last document in this Series refers to the dates in which the quaderno being abstracted was sent to various officials and why. (O. Velez, October 1989)

Concerns the outbreak of an epidemic of malignant fevers that was expected to subside once winter started, in some towns the sickness has killed off one fourth of the population; mentions report submitted by Calleja that deals with the political economic aspect of this problem, advises junta provisional be established for purpose of enacting measures which would allow funding to be made available for medicines, this letter signed by members of the real tribunal y audencia de la contaduria maior de Cuentas; letter requests information on the state of the illness in terms of the number of people currently suffering and at what stage is the sickness, public funds are made available for the fight against the epidemic; expressing concern that the cost of fighting epidemic not be borne soley by public funds; mention of junta provisional which will set out the ways the public funds will be spent on this problem; information that will be acquired by Calleja, type of illness, its origen, method of cure, aid that would be helpful; mentions the reluctance of some people to take medicines that they are familiar with; specific example of 3 people who would not take the medicine, would only take liquid forms that they were familiar with and which were narcotic, attributes this fanaticism with exotic medicines to the Europeans living in the area. (O. Velez, October 1989)

Index of letters that are included in this sequence; concerns Apache prisoners held in Durango who needed to be transported to San Luis Potosi but cannot be because of conditions (not explained) on path; virrey mentions taking same prisoners to Habana. (O. Velez, September 1989)

Fusilero who fired first shot in action in Cajon de la Palma sent to San Blas to serve two years in shackles. (D. Uhlman, April 1989)

Person who fired first shot at Indian auxiliaries in attack of Cajon de la Palma is in prison and should be sent to Obras de San Blas. (D. Uhlman, April 1989)

Lengthy, repetitious testimony taken from the eye witnesses to the stabbing of Santiago by Cristoval Geronimo and well as the latter two. Four Indians originally held in jail until three let go as innocent. Treatment for victim described. Case finally decided in Mexico. (J. M. Johnson, April 1990)

Most important documents will be referenced below by folio no. Most unusual document is letter to Pison signed and likely written by his wife regarding his importance to family (f. 308). Incredibly filthy swear words attributed to him, directed against priest during mass, quoted and underlined in ff. 244-245. Useful diagnosis of ailment (sinocat putrida) and simple treatment prescribed of better diet, sleep, exercise by surgeon (f. 316 ?) Traces processes of judicial procedure in determination of charges of other bad conduct on Pison's part, brought by teniente de gobernador Moreno in Loreto. Included is detailed service and conduct record and witnessed testimonies of Pison's past military service; and other biographical information. Accused of years of drunkenness, womanizing, thievery, setting bad examples for mission Indians. Jailed at mission; some witnesses testify that he reacted to provocation by others; Pison requests change of venue for unbiased trial and accessibility to witnesses for his defense who are themselves in prison in Guadalajara. Released by authorities on bail paid by Ramon Espinosa; although his mine personal effects are kept. At trial, jailed prisoners clear him of murder of Osio, by swearing latter died by drowning. Pison countercharges Moreno with beating and refusal to allow his case to go before Barri. Provides motive for Moreno's silencing him by citing evidence of Former's absconding with treasury funds and illegal trade in alcoholic beverages. Missionaries and Armona testify to his generally good character, despite drinking bouts. Final decision, however, by Valcarcel; approved by viceroy is that Pison must be punished by losing personal effects, mine, military title and lifetime banishment from Californias. Ff. 328-331, when punishment given, Pison petitions Bucareli to allow him for temporary stay in Loreto with family to make financial arrangements before his expulsion. (J. M. Johnson, July 1989)