History of California, Volume I, Part 71

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers
Number of Pages: 852

USA > California > History of California, Volume I > Part 71
USA > California > History of California, Volume I > Part 71

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

On the administration of justice, we learn that in 1794 Ignacio Rochin was shot for murder at Santa Bárbara, on a sentence coming from the audiencia of Guadalajara.31 A soldier was sentenced to ten years public labor at San Blas for incest in 1799, while his daughter and accomplice was condemned to seelusion for two years.32 There were six or seven cases of murder among the natives, the culprits being eon- demned by the viceroy to terms of four to eight years of presidio work or imprisonment together with flog- gings.33

30 March 7, 1796, Beltran's proposition. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiv. 140-4. March 21st, viceroy to Borica transmitting the proposition. Id., 140; Prov. Rec., MS., v. 344; viii. 159. July 11th, Borica to Arrillaga on the subject, in which he calls Beltran 'El Tuerto.' Id., v. 343. Aug. 18th, Arrillaga favors the change. Id., iii. 268. Sept. 11th, Borica's report to viceroy. Borica, Proyecto sobre division de las Californias en dos provincias, 1796, MS.

31 See chapter xxx. In 1801 Cristóbal Simental is mentioned as having arrived at Monterey for the audiencia of Guadalajara; but nothing is known of his business. Prov. Rec., MS., x. 11.

32 St. Pap., Sac., MS., i. 122; Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 109; viii. 187.

33 1796, four natives for murder of another, four years of prison with 50 to 100 lashes. Prov. Rec., MS., iv.43-4, 84. 1797, Indian who undertook to punish his wife and through ignorance 'overdid it,' four years on publie works. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xv. 277. 1799, wife-murderer at Santa Bárbara, eight years of hard labor in chains. I append some minor cases of interest: 1800, Rafael Gomez, apparently for lying, condemned by P. Catalá, commissioned by Lasuen, to sweep the church daily and attend mass, besides asking a padre's pardon, being put in irons to await the governor's approval of this sentence. San Joss, Arch., MS., iii. 53-7. 1799, no cases peuding which belong to the

639

CRIMINAL RECORD.

The most striking criminal case of the period, though by no means a pleasing one to describe, was that of José Antonio Rosas. He was a native of Los An- geles, only eighteen years of age, and a private soldier in the Santa Barbara company in the guard of San Buenaventura. In June 1800, while in charge of the animals at La Mesa, he was seen to commit a crimen nefando by two Indian girls, who reported the mat- ter. Criminal proceedings were at once instituted by order of Comandante Goycoechea, Alférez Pablo Cota being prosecuting attorney, the cadet Ignacio Mar- tinez acting as clerk, the soldier José María Domin- guez as interpreter, and the retired sergeant José María Ortega as defender of the accused. Rosas made a confession, pleading only that he was tempted by El Demonio. Cota demanded the death penalty, Ortega made an eloquent appeal for mercy, and in July the case went to the viceroy. The sentence ren- dered in September, after consultation with the audi- tor de guerra, was that Rosas must be hanged and the body burned together with that of the mule, "en quien cometió tan horrible delito." The execution took place on Feb. 11, 1801, at Santa Bárbara presi- dio in the presence of the whole garrison; but there being no hangman in California, the boy had to be

andiencia. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxi. 290. 1797, natives for assault on neo- phytes sentenced to work on presidio in shackles for a month or two. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvi. 77-8. 1796, carpenter Martinez exiled to San José for eight years for assault and wounding. Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 198. 1797, Cristobal Rey prosecuted for assault, with some details of procccdings. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvi. 251-2. Natives sentenced by Borica to from 10 to 30 lashes for steal- ing. Id., Ben. Mil., MS., xxvii. 4. 1799, slave Máximo sentenced to four years service on the royal vessels for stealing silver-ware from his master Alberni; and the soldier Oseguera to five years for recciving the goods. Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 119. Four hundred dollars stolen from the warehouse at Monterey. Id., iv. 171. 1798, two soldiers at San Francisco put in irons for stealing a calf and sheep from the mission. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvii. 111. 1795, twenty- five lashes and three months' work in shackles for stealing clothes. A Sina- loa Indian at San José. Prov. Rec., MS., v. 49. 1800, two soldiers sentenced to a year's presidio work for breaking open a trunk. Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xxix. 1. 1796, viceroy sends sentence of 50 lashes and 4 years' labor against three neophytes and a pagan. St. Pop., Sac., MS., xiv. 13. A settler of San Jose received 25 blows with a stick. Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xxvi. 14. Cordero, a settler of Branciforte, sentenced to a month of hard work for striking the commandant, who was reprimanded for his hasty action. Santa Cruz, Arch., MS., 69-70.

640

INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS.

shot after receiving from Father Tapia the last com- forts of religion and reciting the service in a firm voice. On a burning heap of wood near at hand the rest of the sentence was carried out, and the charred remains of the victim, fitted by the purification of flame for rest in consecrated ground, was buried in the presidio cemetery.34

Thus we see that the morality of the Californians was somewhat closely looked after by the authorities. The settlers at the pueblos gave more trouble than any other class, being free from military discipline and enjoying greater facilities for sinful dissipations. Se- bastian Alvitre of Los Angeles and Francisco Avila of San José were usually in prison, in exile, or at forced work for their excesses with Indian women and with the wives of their neighbors; and there were other settlers who were scarcely less incorrigible. Concu- binage and all irregular sexual relations were strictly prohibited and the authorities seem to have worked earnestly in aid of the friars to enforce the laws.35

34 Rosas, Causa Criminal, MS., 1800-1. Certificate of execution. Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mal., xxviii. 17. Goycoechea begs the governor for a postpone- ment on account of a prevailing illness which renders it difficult to spare a man. Id., xxix. 4. Burial. Sta. Bárbara, Lib. Mision, MS., 23. Aug. 11, 1804, governor says a mule is to be given to the owner of the one burned. Prov. Rec., MS., xi. 102. The author of Romero, Memorias, MS., was present at the execution. He says the boy's body was merely passed through the flames as a formality of purification; while the mule was entirely consumed.

35 Shortcomings of Alvitre and Avila. Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xiv. 6; Prov. St. Pop., MS., ix. 215-16; x. 161. Navarro exiled from Los Angeles to San José, and relapsing, to San Francisco. Id., x. 160-1. 1793, Higuera living improperly. Men in such cases to be handcuffed; women must not go to the pueblo when their husbands were absent; men and women who go to the mission without leave to sleep to be put in the stock. St. Pap., Sac., MS., iii. 2. 1795, Goycoechea to Borica, 'Como solo se castiga á los hombres amancebados, que se ha de hacer con las mugeres que hacen gala de ello?' Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiv. 33. Borica replies-warnings, threats, exposure to husbands, and finally seclusion in respectable houses with hard work. Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 38. 1797, concubinage strictly forbidden. St. Pap., Miss. and Colon., MS., i. 360. 1798, adulterers to be warned and then pun- ished. The governor will decide about the women. Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 277. 1799, 30 lashes for a man who abused Indian women. Id., v. 114. Adultery case at San Mignel. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvii. 230. Ruiz found in bed with his corporal's wife at San Diego. Put in irons and the woman sent to Los Angeles. Id., xvii. 253. Investigation of the case of an Indian woman at San Juan Capistrano who gave birth to a dog. Id., xvii. 239; Prov. Rec. MS., v. 286-7.

641

SPIRITUOUS LIQUORS.

The people were also closely restricted in the use of intoxicating liquors. Borica not only exercised his authority through his commandants to prevent and punish excesses and drunkenness, but restricted the introduction and sale of liquors so far as was possible under national commercial regulations. Wine and brandy made in either Upper or Lower California were of free sale. There is no positive proof that any brandy was manufactured in Upper California before 1800; but Ortega had a still, and it is probable that a beginning was made in this deadly industry. Toward the close of the decade it was decided that the intro- duction of brandy and mescal from abroad could not be prevented, but the governor could still regulate the sale to soldiers and others under government pay.36 Gambling was another weakness prevalent in Cali- fornia as elsewhere in Spanish America, and requiring frequent attention from the authorities.87

36 1794, no mescal or even permitted liquors to be introduced by traders who barter at the missions. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xii. 111. 1795, two barrels of wine brought from Santa Bárbara to Monterey. Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 13. Borica to commandants, drinking and gambling must be stopped. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiii. 240; San José, Arch., MS., iv. 24. 1796, sergeant at Mon- terey has some Spanish brandy for sale. Can only sell two reals worth in morning and one real in evening to one person, to be drunk in his presence. Prov. Rec., MS., v. 333. 1797, commandants must promote manufacture of brandy from sugar-cane. Id., iv. 90. Free introduction since Nov. 1797 of home-made liquors; but no debt ean be collected for liquor furnished to troops, etc. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xv. 112; xvi. ISO; Prov. Rec., iv. 163. Jan. 1797, general pardon to all imprisoned for contraband making of chinquirito, prob- ably of no effect in California. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xv. 18, 217-18. April, 1797, Brandy 'es de venta lieita.' Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 158. Oct. 1798, Bo- riea solicited a provision forbidding the introduction of meseal on account of the inconvenientes y escándalos resulting; but the viceroy in May 1799 declared that trade in mescal and aguardiente (Californian aguardiente was brandy; but the imported artiele may have been-though it probably was not-rum, whis- key, or other aleoholic liquor, the name being common to all) was free, and therefore other ways must be devised to stop drunkenness. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xviii. 309; xvii. 209; Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 104. 1799, some wine made at southern missions, and soon brandy enough will be produced for moderate eon- sumption. Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 130. Padres receive from San Blas the meseal they need. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvii. 78-9, 195. Sept. 3, 1799, Borica prohibits selling meseal. Dept. St. Pap., San José, MS., i. 96. Aug. 29, Boriea asks that only two barrels of mescal be imported for each mission. Eighteen barrels of aguardiente from Baja California imported this year. Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 130. Sī Miscellaneous communications, nothing important. Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 128; Sun Josć, Arch., MS., ii. 78; iv. 23; Prov. St. Pap., MS., xv. 127; St. Pap., Miss. and Colon., MS., i. 360. 1798, Borica granted the petition of citizens of San José to be allowed to play malilla on Sundays in the guard-house. Dept. St.

HIST. CAL., VOL. I. 41

642

INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS.

There were no schools in California before Borica came as governor, at a time when many natives, of Spanish blood, had become parents of children grow- ing up as they had done in ignorance. Few of the soldiers could read or write, and in fact this continued to be the case throughout the whole Spanish period.33 Officers taught their children, and occasionally a woman acted as amiga, and instructed not only her own children but those of her neighbors, or even an ambitious soldier who aspired to be a corporal. In 1793 a royal order was issued and published in Cali- fornia requiring the establishment of a school in each pueblo, but referring apparently to the education of Indians only. Nothing was done under it, except to render a formal promise of compliance32 at the end of 1794.

Borica began to agitate the matter by making inquiries respecting available teachers and sources of a school fund. Before the end of December the retired sergeant Manuel Vargas had started the first school in the public granary at San José." The gov- ernor's communications continued through 1795; the old alférez Ramon Lasso de la Vega was sounded as to the terms on which he would become a teacher;

Pap., San Jose, MS., i. 139. The trader Gallego forbidden to hold raffles. Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 108. 1799, malilla and tururu to be played only on feast days; no player must lose over $2; and no credit is to be given. Id., iv. 291. Gov- ernor orders a sum lost at albures to be returned to Larios. Rebukes Comis- ionado of San José for habitual gambling at his house. Id., iv. 293-4. Por- razo, tururu, malilla, and cientos may be played Sundays, if stakes are not over $1, and the sexes are kept separate. Id., iv. 294. Children gambled for buttons, some of them cutting off the buttons from their clothing. Promi- nent men often looked on and made bets ou the children's game of tángano. Amador, Memorias, MS., 227-8.

38 1781, alcalde of San José unable to write. Pico, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., i. 13. 1785, only 14 out of 50 of the Monterey company could write. Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., vii. 1. 1786, seven out of 30 at San Francisco. Id., vii. 2. 1791, two out of 28 at San Francisco. Id., xv. 3. 1794, not a man at San Francisco can write. The commandant asks that one be sent from Santa Bárbara. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xii. 41. 1800, many soldiers acting as cor- porals could not be promoted because they could not read. Amador Mem., MS., 219.

29 Arch. Sta. Bárbara, MS., vi. 293-4; Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiv., 60; Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 128.

40 Dept. St. Pap., S. José, MS., i. 45; Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 219.

643

EDUCATION.

José Manuel Toca, apparently a grumete, or ship-boy, from one of the transports, arrived at Santa Bárbara; Vargas was offered $250 a year contributed by eiti- zens to go to San Diego; compulsory attendance and a tax of thirty-one cents a month per scholar were ordered at San José; Santa Bárbara was required to pay $125, each soldier paying one dollar; soldiers, corporals, and sergeants were ordered to go over their studies and prepare for promotion; and primary teach- ers were asked for from Mexico.41 No doubt before the end of the year Vargas was teaching at San Diego, Lasso at San José, and Toca at Santa Bárbara. The doctrina cristiana was first to receive attention by the governor's orders, and afterward reading and writing were to be taught. Paper was furnished by the habilitados, and after being covered with scholarly pothooks, was collected to be used in making car- tridges. In 1796 the above-named teachers continued their labors. Corporal Manuel Boronda, serving also as carpenter, taught the children of San Francisco gratuitously ; the soldier and carpenter José Rodri- guez did the same at Monterey, and Borica continued to interest himself greatly in the schools, requiring frequent reports to be sent him with copybooks for examination.42

In 1797 Toca was called away from Santa Bárbara to attend to his duties on board ship, being replaced by José Medina, another grumete; and Boronda was

$1 Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 31-2, 136, 221, 229; Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiii. 19, 34-5; xiv. 27; Id., Ben. Mil., MS., xxi. 11; Dept. St. Pap., San José, MS., i. 50.

42 Feb. 18, 1796, 27 children attending Lasso's school at San José: four pay nothing, and the rest two and one half reals per month. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiv. 101. Feb. 26th, Borica to Lasso, urges great care. His pay will be ad- vanced from the tobacco revenue and collected from the settlers. A house to be furnished for L. and family. Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 181. Feb. 25th, children attending Santa Barbara school, 32. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xiv. 101. May 6th, Borica speaks of Boronda and Rodriguez teaching at San Francisco and Mon- terey, Lasso at San José, a teacher at Santa Bárbara at $125 per year, and Vargas at San Diego at $100. Prov. Rec., MS., v. 338-9. Sept. 20th, San Diego school has 22 pupils. Prov. St. Pap., Presidios, MS., i. 64. Governor orders reports, copybooks, etc., to be sent him every two, three, or six months. Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 50; St. Pap. Sac., MS., vi. 7.

644

INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS.

succeeded at San Francisco by the artilleryman José Álvarez, who for his services received an addition of two dollars per month to his pay. Evidently the schools went on with considerable prosperity this year,43 but of their progress for the rest of the decade we know little or nothing.4 .

43 Prov. St. Pap., MS., xvi. 41, 168-9; xxi. 262-3; Prov. Rec., MS., v. 101, 108. Randolph, Oration, speaks of copybooks sent from Santa Bár- bara, Feb. 11, 1797, still preserved in the archives, the samples being scrip- ture texts in a fair round hand.

4 Dec. 1798, Vargas transferred to Sta Bárbara. Prov. Rec., MS., iv. 109. Borica complains that few pupils attend at San Diego. Parents must be stimulated. Id., v. 263. 1801, complaints of children growing up in ignorance, and of great need of teachers. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xviii. 54-5; xxi. 65. Says Judge Sepúlveda: 'They could learn very little in those days; schools were few, books rare, and the pursuits of the people required not a very extensive book-learning. When any writing was needed they could casily apply to the few who were the depositaries of legal form or epistolary ability.' Sepúlveda, Hist. Mem., MS., 3, 4. Many mission libraries had Palou's Life of Serra and perhaps one or two other historical works before 1800, besides a few theological books. A few French books were given to Borica by Capt. Dorr's Freuch pilot in 1797. Prov. Rec., MS., vi. 76-7.

CHAPTER XXX.

LOCAL EVENTS AND PROGRESS-SOUTHERN DISTRICT. 1791-1800.

SAN DIEGO PRESIDIO-LIEUTENANTS ZÚÑIGA AND GRAJERA-MILITARY FORCE -- POPULATION -RANCHO DEL REY-FINANCES-PRESIDIO BUILDINGS- VANCOUVER'S DESCRIPTION -FORT AT POINT GUIJARROS-INDIAN AF- FAIRS -PRECAUTIONS AGAINST FOREIGNERS-ARRIVALS OF VESSELS- MISSION SAN DIEGO-TORRENS AND MARINER-STATISTICS-SAN LUIS REY-SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO-FUSTER-BUILDINGS-PUEBLO DE LOS ANGELES-PRIVATE RANCHOS- SAN GABRIEL-ORÁMAS-SAN FERNANDO -PRESIDIO OF SANTA BÁRBARA- OFFICERS, FORCES, AND POPULATION- BUILDINGS AND INDUSTRIES-LOCAL EVENTS-FIRST EXECUTION IN CALI- FORNIA-THE 'PHENIX'-A QUICKSILVER MINE-WARLIKE PREPARA- TIONS-DEATH OF ORTEGA-MISSION OF SANTA BÁRBARA-PATERNA- RANCHERÍAS OF THE CHANNEL-NEW CHURCH-SAN BUENAVENTURA- LA PURÍSIMA CONCEPCION-ARROITA.

LIEUTENANT JOSÉ DE ZÚÑIGA remained in command of the San Diego presidio1 till October 1793. In May of the preceding year he had been promoted to cap- tain and appointed commandant of Tucson in Sonora; but he was obliged to wait the arrival of his successor, who assumed the offices of comandante and habilitado on the 19th of October. Zúñiga was preparing for departure in November when Vancouver visited this port, and but little is known of his subsequent career. He had been a faithful and efficient officer, one of the few who in the performance of military duties, and especially in keeping presidial accounts, had given no cause of complaint.2 His successor was Lieutenant

I For annals of San Diego from 1780 to 1790, which I here continue to 1800, see chap. xxii., this volume.

2 José de Zúñiga enlisted as a soldado distinguido October 18, 1772; went through the grades from corporal to alférez in 1778-9; was made lieutenant,

{ 645 )

C46

LOCAL EVENTS IN THE SOUTH.

Antonio Grajera, of the España dragoon regiment, who had arrived at San Francisco from San Blas in July, and who assumed the duties of his office on the day of his arrival at San Diego.

Though fifteen years a soldier Grajera had seen no active service, but he was an able and faithful man, and performed his official duties to the satisfaction of all during a term of six years in California. His private and social record is less favorable. He had no family, and it was not long before his liaisons with women of the presidio gave rise to scandal. His excessive use of intoxicating liquors finally affected his mind, and broke his constitution. He gave up his office temporarily in August 1799, and never resumed it, having, however, been made a brevet cap- tain in 1797. Obtaining leave of absence to visit Mexico he sailed on the Concepcion and died two days out of port January 18, 1800.3 From August 23, April 21, 1780; commandant of San Diego, Sept. 8, 1781; habilitado, Oct. 19, 1781. Before coming to California he had seen much service in Indian cam- paigns in Sonora and Chihuahua. Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xiv. 9; xvi. 1. In 1790 he was granted leave of absence on petition of his mother to visit Mexico and attend to a legacy; but seems not to have left his post. He showed much attention to Vancouver, who named Pt Zúñiga on the lower coast in his honor, and who speaks of shoals in San Diego Bay called on a Spanish chartof 1782 'Barros de Zooniga' (Bajíos de Zúñiga). Sce Pantoja's map, p. 456, this vol .; Vancouver's Voy., ii. 470, 473, 482. Letter of viceroy announcing his appointment as captain of Tucson dated May 29, 1792. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxi. 75. By a letter of May 30, 1810, it appears that he still held the same position, and had been made lieutenant-colonel. Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xliv. 1.

3 Antonio Grajera enlisted as a private Aug. 13, 1772; served 4 years as private, 4 as corporal, 7 as sergeant, and 1 as flag-bearer; was made alférez April 15, 1789; and was appointed lieutenant to command San Diego July 14, 1792. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxi. 161, 174; St. Pap., Sac., MS., iv. 18; i. 34. He arrived at San Francisco July 25, 1793, and at San Diego Oct. 15. Charges of licentiousness and drunkenness by an officer on the Con- cepcion Nov. 1794. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xii. 11, 12; xvii, 251-2. 1797, a corporal asks for transfer on account of Grajera's disgraceful connection with his wife. Id., xvi. 193. Royal order of promotion to brevet captain, June 12, and viceroy's despatch Oct. 28, 1797, acknowledged by Borica Feb. 26, 1798. Id., xv. 265; Prov. Rec., vi. 70-1; Arch. Arz., MS., i. 201. Nov. 11, 1799, permission from Borica to go to Mexico. Prov. Rec., MS., v. 236-7. Departure Jan. 16th, and death Jan. 18, 1800. Id., v. xii. 1 .; Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxi. 30, 35. Feb. 11, 1800, decree of V. R. to put Grajera on the retired list, and naming Alférez Manuel Rodriguez of the San Francisco com- pany to replace him. Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xxvi. 18; St. Pap., Sac., MS., iv. 72-3; Prov. St. Pap., MS., xxi. 36. Vancouver in November 1793 was very kindly treated by Grajera, and applied his name to a point below San Diego. Vancouver's Voyage, ii. 470-1, 478.

647

SAN DIEGO DISTRICT.

1799, by order of Borica, Alférez Manuel Rodriguez became acting commandant of the company, while Lieutenant José Font of the Catalan volunteers, rank- ing Rodriguez, was made temporary comandante of the military post. Rodriguez had been habilitado since the middle of 1798 and had really performed the functions of commander; and his regular appoint- ment, dated in Mexico Feb. 11, 1800, reached San Diego in May, though his commission as lieutenant did not leave Mexico until July 1801.4

Pablo Grijalva was alférez of the company until December 1796, when he was retired, after thirty- three years of service, on half-pay of alférez and with rank of lieutenant, spending the remaining twelve years of his life in California. His successor, who served throughout the decade, was Alférez José Lu- jan, a new-comer from Mexico. Ignacio Alvarado,5 the company sergeant, having become a pensioner of the Santa Bárbara company, was replaced in 1796 by Antonio Yorba, one of Fages' original Catalans and a son-in-law of Grijalva, who was retired as an invalid and succeeded by Francisco Acebedo in 1798. The corporals and privates, with generally an armorer and carpenter, varied but slightly in number from fifty- seven during the ten years, not including the retired soldiers, or invalids, who gradually increased from four in 1792 to fifteen in 1800.6 From this force from

4 Rodriguez habilitado from July 31, 1798. Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xvii. 1. Perhaps appointed in May. Prov. Rec., MS., v. 276. Borica's order of Aug. 23, 1799. Id., v. 293-4. Rodriguez' appointment as coman- dante by viceroy Feb. 11, 1800. Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xxviii. 15. Became full comandante May 24, 1800. Id., xxvi. IS. Commission as lieu- tenant sent from Mexico July 17, 1801. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xviii. 96. Rodriguez had never been alférez of the San Diego company, belonging nomi- nally to that of San Francisco.

" Ignacio Rafael Alvarado, not an ancestor of the later governor, enlisted in 1773 at the age of 23. He came to San Diego in 1774, was made a corpo- ral in 1781, and sergeant in 1783. In 1795 the governor complained of his lack of resolution, and in 1797 his cédula de inválido was received. He was still on the list of pensioners in 1805.

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History of California, Volume I, Part 71

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe Publication date: 1885 Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers Number of Pages: 852

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers
Number of Pages: 852