Social Classes

A long, wordy, repetitious - and bitterly contested - estate settlement which contains considerable information regarding legal procedures, imprisonment for debt, slavery, social relations, etc. The highly complicated settlement involves officials of the province, the Audiencia, and even appeals to the king. Account books provide insight into economic, commercial, practices. Testimony is included from a large number of people interested in the case - family, debtors, creditors, and govt. Officials. (C. Needham) (1975)

Standard petition with supporting testimony - including that of Indians and Negro slaves - to establish rights to a mining concession. (C. Needham) (1975)

An interesting document regarding the disposition of a case involving a Mulata servant left homeless by the death of the priest she previously served. (C. Needham) (1975)

Information on early settlers and their wealth. (T. Barnes) (1977)

Padre Escalona has performed a marriage ceremony between a coyota and (presumably) a Spaniard. (R. Perez) (1977)

Lengthy document by Garrido y Duran informing Revilla Gigedo on the causa de policia,judicial, economic, and military conditions of Sonora and Sinaloa up to 1790. On judicial Side, it is mentioned that province consists of 11 jurisdictions headed by a jefe de tribunal with the power to appoint local town officials; these officials operate without salary due to lack of funds caused by Apache depredations and poor harvests. Mention that in the recent past Indians were forced to work in mines, haciendas, and Ranchos, and that they were exploited and did not have time to cultivate their own land; now he has prohibited this, and that Indians will work on a voluntary Basis. Discussion that community wealth is administrated by the missionaries, and that they often are more concerned for their own interests allowing community conditions to deteriorate. It is also mentioned a lack of prisons. With respect to causa de policia, it is mentioned that Apache attacks have frightened the population and have prevented increases in commerce, mining, agriculture, and animal husbandry. Mention of lack of civil and administrative office in many towns; there is lack of hospitals, casas de Obraje, schools, and public meat and seeds stores. Mention that people are divided in two groups, one consisting of good people involved in commerce, mining, and agriculture; the other consisting of house servants and Manual laborers, who are drunkards and have other vices. Economics- list of different tax collection offices. Mention of the different partidos as well as the people holding these offices and amount of money payed for such offices. In order to attract more merchants to frontier, no tax is Charged on their goods. With respect to military affairs, it is mentioned that enemy Indians live in dispersed hamlets, lack supreme chief, and operate separately; Indians described as thieves. Mention of 6 military groups of soldiers, and 3 of Indian auxiliaries; short discussion of soldier's living conditions in presidios, as well as expenses involved for maintenance of troops. (J. Tapia, January, 1988)

Letter from Barragan, comandante de Cuerpo de Cavalleria de frontera, requests Gracia of use of military standards and insignia as reward for company's brave and loyal service. Barragan provides excellent geographic, demographic, and economic portrait of towns of Valles, maiz, and Rioverde. Military companies and campaigns against Indians mentioned. F. 223 mentions the extinguishing of part of Chichimeco population. Process of pacification said to be impeded by the vastness of the territory and scarce population upon it. Ff. 223-224 speaks of vasallos americanos and their superiority en los Ramos de industria y agricultura F. 224 speaks of Villa de Valles, its social organization, quantity of haciendas and ranches, occupations of inhabitants, pacification of Chichimecos, and taxes and tribute. F. 225 mentions Valle de maiz, its military settlers intent solely on destroying Indians, and the granting of land grants to these settlers. F. 225 deals with Rioverde, the pacification of the Chichimecos, their incorporation into life of San Luis Potosi. Mixed Spanish, Indian, and caste population of town mentioned and the number and income of its missions. Reasons for establishment of military companies, their size and quality stated. Finally, granting of estandartes y insignia granted to Barragan and his company. (P. Lenz, may 1990)

Arredondo proposes the selection of two judges to replace captains in the trials of persons; one judge for trials of people of reason, and one judge for indios y de Bajo color and thereby avoid the abuses of the captains as jueces. (D. Bautista, February 1990)

Letters relating to re-establishment of presidio and mission de la Bahia del Espiritu Santo to a healthier and better defensive place, capitan Bustillos communicates that Actual site has deteriorated to an irreparable manner lack of wood makes it impossible to repair also for fuel of families there is not enough wood, area is full of swamps and water is not as good. Capitan Bustillos also complains about lack of priest as president of missions refuse to send a religious guide to presidio. Capitan describes a new explored site with plenty of wood, water and rocks to be utilized for construction, two creeks to provide with drinking water and irrigation of lands and site being only six leagues from bay stressing defensive emplacement. If viceroy desires such move it has to be carried out before winter. Capitan also participates arrival of convoy from presidio Adays and San Antonio four months after it left due to heavy rains. Comisario general of missions sends letter to presidente of missions by order of viceroy ordering him to send a priest to take charge of new mission built in new site of presidio of Bahia. (A. Dell'acqua, January 1988)

Inventory at Jesuit college of San Andres taken after order's expulsion. Different sections clearly indicated and divided into 56 fardos. Items detailed in warehouse and for servants use clothing, household goods, food supplies, generos sueltos, spices, Chocolate, cacao, iron bars, writing paper, types and origin and manufacture of swords, merchandise, funds on hand, furniture and religious objects. All this minutely described with dimensions, quantities, prices and other details provided. (J. M. Johnson, October 1989)