USA > California > History of California, Volume I > Part 63
USA > California > History of California, Volume I > Part 63
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23 There is much doubt about this aboriginal name. Different copyists from Lasnen's original letters and entries in the mission-books make it: Vatieá, Savage, in title-page of S. Miguel, Lib. de Mision, MS .; Vahca, another from
560
EXPLORATIONS AND NEW FOUNDATIONS.
Lasuen on July 25, 1797, "with the assistance of the Reverend Padre Apostolic Preacher, Fr. Buenaven- tura Sitjar, and of the troop destined to guard the new establishment, in presence of a great multitude of gentiles of both sexes and of all ages, whose pleas- ure and rejoicing exceeded even our desires, thanks to God, I blessed water, the place, and a great cross, which we adored and raised. Immediately I intoned the litany of the saints, and after it chanted the mass, in which I preached, and we concluded the ceremony by solemnly singing the te deum. May it all be for the greater honor and glory of God our Lord. Amen." Thus was founded the mission of San Miguel, in honor of "the most glorious prince of the heavenly militia," the archangel Saint Michael, for which Sitjar and Antonio de la Concepcion Horra, a new-comer of 1796, were appointed ministers. José Antonio Ro- driguez was corporal of the guard.24
A beginning of missionary work was made by the baptism of 15 children on the day of foundation; at the end of 1800 the number had increased to 385, of whom 53 had died and 362 were on the registers as neophytes. 25 The number of horses and cattle was 372, while small animals numbered 1,582. The crop of 1800 was 1,900 bushels; and the total product of the three years, 3,700 bushels.26 Sitjar left San Miguel and returned to his old mission of San Antonio in
same original; Vahiá, Murray, from Lasnen's letters of July 25th, in Arch. Sta Bárbara, MS., vi. 23-4; Vaheá, Piña, from Borica, July 31st, in Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 94-6.
24 San Miguel, Lib. de Mision, MS .; Rodriguez' letter of July 25th. St. Pap., Sar., MS., xviii. 27-8; Lasuen's letter of Aug. 5th, referring to the un- usually favorable disposition of the natives, but suggesting caution. Id., vi. 96-7; Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 193. See also references of preceding note. Con- tributions from San Antonio, San Luis, and Purísima were 8 mules, 23 horses, 8 yoke of oxen, 128 cattle, 184 sheep. Arch. Misiones, MS., i. 201.
25 I give the figures as they stand on the records. The sum of the deaths and existentes is rarely the same as the baptisms. When less, the deficiency may be attributed to runaways; but when greater it is inexplicable save on the theory of an error in the register.
26 The soldiers of the guard were José Antonio Rodriguez, corporal, Man- nel Montero, José María Guadalupe, and Juan Maria Pinto, according to the mission-book. According to the report of 1797-8, the bell at San Miguel was soon after its hanging found to be cracked and worthless. Arch. Sta Bárbara, MS., xii. C6.
561
FOUNDING OF SAN FERNANDO.
August 1798. Juan Martin began a very long term of ministry in September 1797, and Baltasar Car- nieer a short one in May 1799. Horra, better known by the name of Concepcion, served only about two months, when, being charged with insanity, he was enticed to visit Monterey on some pretended busi- ness of importance and sent to his college by order of Lasuen and consent of the governor, sailing on the Concepcion or Princesa, which left Monterey in Sep- tember.27 He is said to have been a very able and worthy friar before he came to California; and in proof of his insanity nothing more serious is recorded than baptizing natives without sufficient preparation and neglecting to keep a proper register. There is no special reason to doubt, however, that the charge was well founded. After his return to the college, on July 12, 1798, he made a long report in which he charged the California friars with gross mismanage- ment, with cruelty to the natives, and with inhuman treatment of himself. This report I shall have occasion to notice more fully elsewhere. In the mission-books of San Miguel this padre's signature appears but once-on the title of the death-register, where his statement that he was one of the founders was sub- sequently struck out. The original mud-roofed wood- en church was not replaced by a better structure until after 1800.
For the fourth mission, between San Buenaventura and San Gabriel, additional exploration revealed no better location than that of Reyes' rancho in Encino Valley, called by the natives Achois Comihavit. A quarrel between Reyes and the friars respecting the ownership of the land would be an appropriate intro- duction to the narrative of this foundation; but no
27 Aug. 20th, Lasnen to governor in St. Pap., Sac., MS., vi. 93-4. Sept. 4th, governor to viceroy. Id., viii. 4. Sept. 2d, Gov. to Lasuen. Pror. Rer., MS., vi. 196. Horra seems to have been transferred subsequently to the Querétaro college, for which the guardian thanks God in a letter to Lasuen, May 14, 1799. Arch. Sta Bárbara, MS., xi. 280-1.
HIST. CAL., VOL. I, 36
502
EXPLORATIONS AND NEW FOUNDATIONS.
such controversy is recorded, though the ranchero's house was appropriated as a dwelling for the mission- aries. Lasuen had gone down from San Miguel to Santa Bárbara, whence he started at the end of August with Sergeant Olivera and an escort. With the aid of Father Francisco Dumetz, on the 8th of September, in the presence of the troops and a great crowd of natives, he performed the usual ceremonies, and dedicated the new mission, as required by instructions from Mexico, to San Fernando, Rey de España.28 Francisco Javier Uría was the associate of Dumetz, and both served until the end of 1800 and later. Ten children were bap- tized the first day, and thirteen adults had been added to the list early in October. There were 55 neophytes at the end of 1797, and 310 at the end of 1800, bap- tisms having amounted to 352 and deaths to 70. Five hundred and twenty-six was the number of cattle, mules, and horses; and 600 that of sheep. Products of the soil in 1800 were about 1,000 bushels, though they had amounted to 1,200 bushels the year before, the total yield for three years being 4,700 bushels.
The fifth and last of the new establishments was not founded until the next year. In October 1797 a new exploration was made between San Juan Capistrano and San Diego by Corporal Lisalde, with seven sol- diers and five Indians, escorting fathers Lasuen and
28 St Ferdinand was Fernando III., King of Spain, who reigned from 1217 to 1251, under whose rule the crowns of Castile and Leon were united. He was canonized in 1671 by Clement X. Aug. 28th, Goycoechea to Borica an- nouneing Lasuen's departure for Reyes' rancho. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xv. 82. Sept. Sth, Lasuen's report of foundation. St. Pap., Sac., MS., xviii. 26-7; Arch. Sta Bárbara, MS., vi. 24-5. Sept. Sth, certificate of Sergt. Olivera; he calls the site Achoic. Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 92; vi. 191, 196. Oet. 4th, Goycoe- chea to Borica, sends Olivera's diary. Guard-house and store-house finished. Two houses begun, church soon to be begun. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvi. 246-7; Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 92. Contributions from Santa Bárbara, San Buenaven- tura, San Gabriel, and San Juan were 18 mules, 46 horses, 16 yoke of oxeu, 310 cattle, 508 sheep. Arch. Misiones, MS., i. 202. The mission-books of San Fernando I examined at the mission in 1874. They consisted of baptismal register 1 vol., 1798-1832, Ist entry April 28, 1798, signed by Dumetz; mar- riage register, 1 vol. 1797-1847, first entry, Oct. S, 1797; and the Libro de Patentes y de Inventarios. In the legal difficulties that followed the death of Andrés Pico the books disappeared and could not be found by Mr Savage in 1877.
563
FOUNDING OF SAN LUIS REY.
Santiago from San Juan. The party separated to return north and south at the old Capistrano, which they doubtless selected at the time, October 6th, as the best mission site, for we hear no more of the Palé of former expeditions.20 During December there was a correspondence between Borica and Lasuen on the subject, by which it appears that the large number of docile natives was the chief inducement to found a mission in this region, but that agricultural and other advantages were believed to be lacking. The gov- ernor insisted on the foundation, and prophesied that difficulties in the future would be less serious.30
The governor issued orders the 27th of February 1798 to the commandant of San Diego, who was to furnish an escolta and to require from the soldiers personal labor in erecting the necessary buildings, without murmuring at site or work, and with implicit obedience to Lasuen.31 The records show no subse- quent proceedings till the 13th of June. On that date at the spot called by the natives Tacayme, and by the Spaniards in the first expedition of 1769 San Juan Capistrano, or later, Capistrano el Viejo, in the presence of Captain Grajera, the soldiers of the guard, a few neophytes from San Juan, and a multitude of gentiles, and with the aid of fathers Santiago and Peyri, President Lasuen with all due solemnity, sup- plemented by the baptism of fifty-four children, ushered into existence the mission of San Luis, Rey de Francia, it being necessary hereafter to distinguislı
29 Lisalde, Reconocimiento de las tierras para situar la Mision de San Luis, 1797, MS. The places named are Las Animas, Las Lagunitas, Temeca rau- chería, Pauma, Pullala, and San Juan Capistrano. In Grijalva, Informe sobre las rancherías que se hallan en las tierras exploradas por el Padre Mari- ner, 1795, MS., there are named the following rancherías: Mescuanal, To- napa, Ganal, Mocoquil, and Cuami, in a little valley called Eschá; Tagui, Gante, Algualcapa, Capatay, Tacupin, Quguas, Calagua, Matagua, and Atá, in another valley three leagues distant; Curila, Topame, Luque, Cupamc, Pánme, and Palé, three leagues from former valley, and speaking language of San Juan; Palin, Pamame, Pamua, aud Asichiqmes, lower down; Chacape and Pamamelli in Santa Margarita Valley; Chumelle and Quesinille in Las Flores.
30 Lasuen to Borica. Arch. Arzobispado, MS., i. 44; to Lasuca, Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 201.
31 Prov. Rec., MS., v. 273-4.
564
EXPLORATIONS AND NEW FOUNDATIONS.
between the establishment of San Luis, king, and San Luis, bishop.32 All was prosperity at first. In a week Antonio Peyri, the energetic founder, had seventy-seven children baptized and twenty-three catechumens under instruction. By the first of July he had six thousand adobes made for the mission buildings. In July he was joined by José Faura, who was succeeded in the autumn of 1800 by José García. José Panella was assigned to this mission, and served for a short time in 1798, during the ab- sence of one of the ministers, who went to the baths of San Juan Capistrano for his health. Panella made himself unpopular by his harsh treatment, and so great was the discontent of the natives and the clamor for a change, that Lasuen was obliged to send him away and promise the return of the other padre, probably Peyri, who was greatly beloved.33 The bap- tisms in 1798 were 214; before the end of 1800 there were 337 neophytes, 371 having been baptized, and 56 being the number of burials. There were 617 horses, mules, and cattle in 1800, besides 1,600 sheep. Products of the soil were 2,000 bushels of wheat, 120 of barley, and six of maize, the latter being just the amount sown, while eight bushels of beans produced nothing. The mission-books of San Luis Rey are the only ones in California which I have not exam- ined. Their whereabouts is not known.
It had long been deemed desirable to promote colonization in California, and the prevalent fears of foreign aggression did much to cause definite action
32 Saint Louis was Louis IX., king of France, who reigned from 1226 to 1270, and earned his reputation for piety both at home and in the crusades. June 13th, Lasuen to Borica reporting the foundation. Arch. Sta Bárbara, MS., vi. 25-7; xi. 11; Arch. Arzobispado, MS., i. 47-9. July 12th, B. to Lasuen. Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 218-19. Aug. Ist, B. to viceroy. Id., v. 279; vi. 98-9. Contributions of Santa Bárbara, San Gabriel, San Juan, San Diego, and San Luis Rey: 64 horses, 28 yoke of oxen, 310 head of cattle, 508 sheep. Arch. Misiones, MS., i. 202.
33 The governor in a communication to Lasuen on the subject calls the ab- sent missionary Juan Martincz, but there was no such padre in California. Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 222-3. Dec. 7, 1798, Borica also writes a letter of warn- ing and advice to the friar. Id., 227-8.
565
A NEW PUEBLO.
to be taken at this epoch. The completed line of missions as planned was rapidly to civilize the natives, but a larger Spanish population was desirable and new pueblos of gente de razon were to be founded as well as new missions. This subject was doubtless included in a general sense in Borica's original instructions; but the first definite action is seen in a report of the royal tribunal of accounts to the viceroy, dated November 18, 1795. In this document it is recommended as a most important measure for the welfare and protection of the Spanish possessions in California that the gov- ernor, with the aid of Engineer Córdoba and other officers, proceed to select a site and to found a pueblo, or villa, to be called Branciforte in honor of the viceroy. This establishment as a coast defence should be put on a military basis, securely fortified, and settled with soldiers as pobladores. The site must be selected and the lands divided according to existing pueblo regulations and the laws of the Indies. Each officer and soldier is to have a house-lot, and between those of the officers lots are to be assigned to chieftains of rancherías who may be indueed to live with the Span- iards, thus assuring the loyalty of their subjects. Live-stock and implements may be furnished by the government as hitherto. Instead of an habilitado there is to be a town-treasurer; and Alberni may com- mand, acting as lieutenant-governor. As the time of the infantry soldiers expires they are not to be reënlisted, but new recruits obtained from New Spain will create an immigration without the heavy cost of bringing in settlers as such.34
It is to be supposed that the vieeroy approved this plan in its main features at least, and sent correspond- ing orders to Borica, though no such order appears in the archives.35 It had been indicated in the plan
34 Branciforte, Informe del Real Tribunal sobre fundacion de un pueblo que se llamará Branciforte, 1795, MS. This report was prepared by Beltran on Nov. 17th, and approved by the tribunal Nov. 18th.
35 The order dated Dec. 15, 1795, and enclosing the auditor's report given above is alluded to by Borica on June 16, 1796. St. Pap., Miss. and Colon., MS., i. 364.
566
EXPLORATIONS AND NEW FOUNDATIONS.
that the new establishment should be on or near San Francisco Bay, and in the spring of 1796, on receipt of the viceroy's instructions, whatever they may have been, the governor began to move in the matter, though in January 1795 he had instructed the com- mandants to report on suitable sites for new pueblos, and though Sergeant Amador seems to have explored with the same view as early as July of the same year the coast region from San Francisco to Santa Cruz.33. On May 21st Borica requested Alberni and Córdoba with an escort of six men to meet him at Santa Cruz on the 28th. During the next few weeks, the three made some personal explorations not described in detail, and June 16th the governor asked the others to report on the best place for the town, and to give their ideas generally in connection with the plan of foundation. Private letters of similar purport were written on the 17th and 18th.37
Alberni's report was dated at San Francisco July 1st, and that of Córdoba the 20th, the two being in substance identical. Three sites were considered: the Alameda, San Francisco, and Santa Cruz. The first was pronounced unsuitable for a pueblo, not only be- cause the bed of the creek was so low as to prevent irrigation, but because there was no wood, timber, stone, or pasturage, except at a great distance. San Francisco was declared to be the very worst place in
36 Jan. 9, 1795, Borica to commandants. Prov. Rec., iv. 126-7. Amador, Reconocimiento de Terreno desde Santa Cruz hasta San Francisco, 1795, MS. Dated July 4th, he describes particularly four fertile spots with more or less advantages for settlements at distances of 8, 12, 153, and 20 leagues from San Francisco, the last being 5 leagues from Santa Cruz. July 23d, has received the report of July 4th, and orders Amador to improve the road with the aid of commandants at Santa Cruz and Santa Clara (San Francisco ?). Prov. Rec., MS., v. 57-8. May 11, 1796, Salazar in his report to the viceroy mentioned a spot suitable for a pueblo about midway between San Francisco and Santa Cruz where there is an anchorage. San Benito was also a good site, but there were many Indians requiring a mission, as there were not at the former spot. Arch. Sta Bárbara, MS., ii. 75-7.
37 Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xxiv. 6, 7; St. Pap., Miss. and Colon., MS., i. 364-5, 374-5; Translation in Sta Cruz, Peep, 51; Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxi. 241. In his letter to Córdoba, Borica says that the viceroy eannot entertain the request of the Catalan volunteers to have lands granted them, but instead will found a new town and give them lands therein as a recom- pense when their term expires.
567
A SITE FOR THE VILLA.
all California for the purpose in view, since the pen- insula afforded neither lands, timber, wood, nor water, nothing but sand and brambles and raging winds. The Santa Cruz site, across the river from the mis- sion, had all the advantages which the others lacked, and had besides proximity to the sea, affording facili- ties for export, plenty of fish, with an abundance of stone, lime, and clay for building. The establishment of a town here could moreover do no possible harm to the mission. The settlers should be practical farmers from a cold or temperate climate, and should have houses and a granary built for them at expense of the government in order that they might apply them- selves at once to agriculture. The soldiers and inva- lids are entitled to more assistance than other settlers by reason of their past services. The scheme of add- ing Indian chiefs to the town is impracticable, since there are no chiefs; some mission Indians, however, might be profitably attached to the settlement to work and learn in company with Spaniards.38
August 4th Borica transmitted these reports to the viceroy with his own enthusiastic approval, pronounc- ing the Santa Cruz site the best between Cape San Lúcas and San Francisco, and giving some additional particulars about the anchorage. He recommends that an adobe house be built for each settler so that the prevalent state of things in San José and Los Angeles, where the settlers still live in tule huts, being unable to build better dwellings without neg- lecting their fields, may be prevented, the houses to cost not over two hundred dollars each.39 On Sep- tember 23d another communication of the governor
38 Alberni, Parecer sobre el sitio en que debe fundarse el nuevo Pueblo de Branciforte, 1796, MS. A part is translated in Dwinelle's Col. Ilist. S. Fran- cisco, App. 18. Córdoba, Informe acerca del sitio de Branciforte, 1796, MS. Very inaccurately translated, and dated July 2d, in Sta Cruz, Prep, 53-5. Brief mention of the decision against San Francisco in Randolph's Oration, 309; Tuthill's Hist. Cal., 105; Elliot, in Overland Monthly, iv. 337-8.
39 St. Pap., Miss. and Colon., MS., i. 258-60. The volunteers should have a year's pay, and as a reintegro, 2 mares, 2 cows, 2 sheep, 2 goats, a yokc of oxen, plough, harrow, hoe, axe, knife, musket, and 2 horses; other vecinos besides the house, stock, tools, etc., and $10 per month for a year.
568
EXPLORATIONS AND NEW FOUNDATIONS.
to the viceroy contained suggestions of similar pur- port, and asked for four classes of settlers: first, robust country people from cold or temperate climes; second, carpenters, smiths, stone-cutters, and masons; third, tailors, tanners, shoemakers, and tile-makers; and fourth, shipwrights, and a few sailors, to take advan- tage of the abundance of whales.40 Having received Borica's report and also the opinion of the legal adviser of the royal treasury, the viceroy on January 25, 1797, in accordance with that opinion, ordered Borica to proceed immediately with the foundation. He had already sent a list of eight men who had volunteered at Guadalajara as settlers." The begin- ning was to be made with such settlers at San José or Angeles as had no lands and might be induced to change their residence to Branciforte. New settlers and artisans were to be sent as soon as possible; in fact, orders had already been issued for the collection of vagrants and minor criminals to be shipped to Cali- fornia. The president of the missions was ordered to render all possible assistance; and Borica must for- ward at once an estimate of cost and a memorandum of needed implements and other articles. 42
The receipt of the viceroy's orders was acknowledged by Borica on April 29, 1797, and three days later he sent the necessary orders to the commandant of Santa Bárbara and the comisionado of San José in order that recruits for the new establishment might be ob- tained from the settlers and rancheros at and near the two old pueblos. At the same time Lasuen directed his friars to afford the required aid, though he had received no instructions on the subject from his college, and deemed it strange that the king should have per- mitted the foundation of a villa so near a mission
40 St. Pap., Sac., MS., iv. 57-8.
41 Oct. 24, 1796. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiv. 169.
42 Branciforte, Dictamen del Fiscal de Real Audiencia sobre la fundacion de la Villa de Branciforte, Aprobado por el Virrey en 25 de Enero 1797, MS .; inaccurate translation of copy certified by Borica May 9th in Sta Cruz, Peep, 57. Mention in Dept. St. Pap., S. José, MS., i. 76-7.
569
FOUNDING OF BRANCIFORTE.
established with royal approval.43 The Concepcion arrived at Monterey May 12th with a party of col- onists on board in a pitiable state of destitution and ill-health.“ It was necessary to provide some kind of a home for them; and before the end of May Ga- briel Moraga was sent as commissioner to erect tem- porary shelters at Branciforte, since Córdoba, who was to superintend the formal establishment, had other duties which would keep him busy for a time. It is impossible to give the exact date when Moraga began his work, when the first settlers took possession of their new homes, or when the formal foundation oc- curred.45
The 17th of July, possibly at or about the time that the settlers left Monterey for Branciforte, Borica issued instructions to Comisionado Moraga for the internal management of the villa. The townsmen must be made to live in peace and harmony; no concubin- age, gambling, or drunkenness, which offences, like
43 April 20th, Borica to viceroy. Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 91-2. May 2d, B. to commandant. Id., iv. 89-90. B. to comisionado S. José. Id., iv. 211-12. May 5th, Lasuen to B. St. Pap., Sac., MS., vii. 27-8.
44 They were José Antonio Robles, Fermin Cordero, José Vicente Mojiea (or Morico), wife and five children, José María Arceo, José Barbosa and wife, José Silvestre Machuca and wife, José Acevedo, José Miguel Uribes, José Agustin Narvaez. The different lists of arrival, departure, and settlement differ somewhat. The first lacks the last four names and has Gallardo and Guzman which never appear again. The nine colonists with their families, 17 persons, were of the vagabond and criminal class, but they differed from the first settlers of the other pueblos in being for the most part so-called Spaniards. They included 2 farmers, 2 tailors, 1 carpenter, 1 miner, 1 mer- ehant, 1 engraver, and I with no trade. St. Pap. Miss. and Colon., MS., i. 384- 5; Prov. Rec., vi. 92; Prov. St. Pap., MS., xv. 223-4; xiii. 277-8; xvii. 31, 89-90; xxi. 236.
45 May 12, 1797. Borica to commandant. When the settlers go to Branci- forte, cattle, implements, etc., will be furnished, an account being opened with each. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvii. 31. May 15th, B. to Córdoba. Directs him after completing the work at S. Francisco, the survey of the Sta Clara bonn- dary, and that for a removal of S. José, to go to Sta Cruz and make careful surveys and plans for the town of Branciforte and its buildings public and private, with an estimate of expenses. Id., xxi. 260-1. May 26th, B. to Moraga.
Instructions to build some temporary huts for himself and the guard and to take his family there to live; then to build some large huts to accommodate 15 or 20 families each, also temporary. The soldiers must work and the colonists also if they arrive before the work is done. Implements, stock, etc., will be sent by Sal. Córdoba is to be obeyed when he comes. Sta Cruz, Arch., MS., 67-8; Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 247; Sta Cruz, Peep, 3, 5. May 27th, Sal acting as secretary for Borica forwards blank-books, paper, and ma- terials for making ink. Sta Cruz, Arch., MS., 69.
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