Religious Paraphernalia

Monumental Tome detailing everything you ever wanted to know about the missions of Nuevo Santander. One document comprising many assembled, transcribed reports from missions of Jalpam, Conca, Tancoiol, Tilaco, Landa, Herrera, Rioverde. Most of first half deals with Tancoiol, second half with Conca; others interspersed. F.359 concerns Landa; F.365 Jalpam; F.374 Conca; F.386 caderreita, Sierragorda; F.387 Rioverde, Nuevo Santander. Topics shuffled together, include minutely detailed description of architecture, ornamentation, furnishing of missions; reports on population (especially ff.349, 358, 375), crops planted (f.356), Indian labor in construction (344), livestock. Occasional mention of number of weddings, deaths of Indians. F.388 mentions Guastecos at Conca deserting. F.399 Indians gathered from mission to search of deserters. Throughout document are references to various missionaries, their document appears on ff.407-417 of this volume; See next entry. (A. Dean, April 1990)

Discussion of lack of treasury funds to pay Franciscans and buy paraphernalia at new missions of Revilla, Escandon, and Aguayo. Report that missionaries' salaries for the other 12 Nuevo Santander missions have been paid and list of areas of mission settlements with brief note on location and population, number of troops and captain. Request by Franciscans of Jalisco to reduccion of Indians, and discussion of moving Indians to missions lacking Indians. (L. L. Woodward, September 1989)

Autos describing excandon's visit to five Sierra Gorda missions. Dismissal of missionary Cabeza de Baca for negligence of responsibilites, also discussion of need to rebuild mission structures, inventory of mission furnishings especially images of saints and religious paraphernalia, measurement of mission lands, list of Mecos Pames of Xalpa mission ff 97-100, including number of Christian converts. Auto regarding election of Alcaldes and other officials attended by Mecos Pames officials. Saldivar reports that in all missions the children and adults go to Christian doctrine classes and provide details on attendance. (L. L. Woodward, September 1989)

Around midnight on August 31, 1805, steady rain breaches Arroyo, floods Croix. Casas moves entire population first to Piedras, then to Forlon (between Llera, Escandon), only defensible high-ground in area. Speaks of three years of extraordinary dryness, one of excessive rain. paperwork to make move permanent, report on natural resources of Forlon. Calleja objects that settling in Forlon leaves ranches near old Croix sin auxilios espirituales, ni temporales, open to attack by Tamaulipos; requires Villa be reestablished at Piedras, but promises to allow new Villa at Forlon if more than 30 people want to stay. Much debate of relative merits, disadvantages of each site; detailed geographic description of Forlon to demonstrate superiority to Piedras, signed by many vecinos. Order given to move everyone to Piedras, but some refuse to leave Forlon. All religious effects moved back to Piedras. Yturbe gives official threat that anyone remaining in Forlon will be rigorously prosecuted (may - F.193). Inventory of all church property (f.203). Garcia de Leon describes in detail what layout of new Villa should be (f.207). Map of nueba Villa de la Purissima Concepcion de Croix; key lists residents of each lot, proportions of lots, streets, Plazas (f.210). Chart listing property, mostly different kinds of livestock, of each inhabitant (f.211). (A. Dean, July 1989)

All Seris except Chepillo and family flee Pitic on July 15, 1790. Chepillo imprisoned. Detachment sent to Cerro Prieto to find and reconcile ingrates, begin new reduccion. Since Seris aren't raiding, revealing location, troop can't find them. With Seris gone, Ugarte y Loyola cuts off supplies ordered by bishop of Sonora for Seri mission. Francisco, two envoys come to Pitic to negotiate better arrangement. Seris want independent nation, to trade fish, antelope with Spaniards for grain, to participate in christianity only when they want. No deal made, but Seris start appearing for mass at Banamichi. Mora named missionary there. Seris slowly trickle back to Pitic. Occasional brief references to plan for staging campaign against frontier Apaches. 450 men, including Opatas, Pimas reserved for fighting. (A. Dean, may 1989)

Military chaplain has been administering sacraments to Seris in absence of real missionary, but one is needed soon at Pitic. Description of sacraments. now that mission San Ignacio de Onavas has been established for Seris, reduccion should begin in earnest to rid them of their depraved customs. Martinez is named missionary, plans to start baptisms, formal services, breeding livestock at mission to feed Seris, building Adobe houses for them, clothing them properly. Claims Seris readily accept christianity. Mentions fiscal matters of mission, transactions with treasury. (A. Dean, may 1989)

Concerns need to find missionary who has same zeal for conversion as Granados for Bacoachi Apaches. Suggests using some of religious paraphernalia meant for Seris to supply Apaches. Need for support for establishment of mission at Bacoachi. Wants money from treasury to get tools to teach agriculture (with ploughs) to Indians. Granados tells that Jacinto, Chacho asked him personally for minister for all Apaches there; mention of petition to same effect. Pau reports there isn't enough money in religious funds to afford a new missionary. Suggests asking for priest from apostolic colleges. Grimarest speaks of 200 pesos to be paid in charity to Pima missionaries; says some of that could go toward Bacoachi mission. Also willing to allow some auxiliaries to work in fields to support mission, but doubts Indians would be good at it; it isn't in their character to be industrious, only warlike. Granados brags of turning fierce Seris from wolves into lambs, baptising them himself. Nava speaks of granting parcels of land to Apaches to make them self sufficient, at same time sell them livestock for ranching, using profits to build mission so that it's not so expensive. Mention of Jacinto, Alexandro planting corn. (A. Dean, April 1989)

Concerns fiscal matters of missions at Pitic, Bacoachi; religious paraphernalia, livestock being sent. Summary of affairs at Bacoachi, Apaches in reduccion, rations. Mention of campaign with Opata auxiliaries to capture Apaches, take them to Bacoachi. Lists of all Apaches in reduccion there. Brief summary of Ansa's campaign, number of Apaches, Tarahumares captured, killed. (A. Dean, April 1989)

(J. H. Ochs, December 1987)

Record of salary payments (numbered 14 to 40) received for Echarte, Cubas (Cubas as secretaria del virreynato). Receipt for rent of several places paid to Castillo. Payment for Henrriquez to be titled conde de Santiago, Alias marques de Salvatierra. voucher, receipts, statement of expenses for operation of new mission. Castillo orders ornaments to be made for missions; receipts for payment for ornaments (oil painting, bells and clappers). (D. Bautista, December 1989)