USA > California > History of California, Volume II > Part 61
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One of Amador's sons, José María, who, like two of his brothers, became a soldier, was living in 1883, aged 89 years, as he was born at S. Francisco on Dec. 18, 1794. S. Francisco, Lib. Mision, MS., 28. He served as a private soldier in the S. Francisco company from about 1810 to 1827, S. Francisco, Cuentas, MS., being for the last three years in the escolta of the Sonoma mis- sion. He is proud of his experience as an Indian fighter, boasts of many acts of barbarous cruelty, shows the scars of many wounds, and declares he re- ceived for his service nothing but scanty rations and an occasional garment. Ile accompanied Capt. Arguello in his famous campaign ' to the Columbia,' and went to Bodega and Ross with Gabriel Moraga. After his discharge in 1827, he became majordomo of San Jose Mission. In 1834 he obtained the rancho of San Ramon, in the valley that bears his name, in what is now Con- tra Costa county, where he lived most of the time until after 1850. He went to the mines at the time of the gold excitement, and added to his wealth, which in his case, as in that of so many others, rapidly disappeared in later years. Ile was friendly to the Americans in the troubles of 1846. His first wife was a daughter of Francisco Alviso; and his second, Josefa Ortega, of Sta Bár- bara, whom he married in IS28. I know nothing of the reasons why his name was given to Amador county beyond Hittell's statement, Resources of C'al., 425, that in 1848 he went with a number of Indians to mine in that region. It is more agreeable, if less exact, to be reminded of his father by the name. José María is also credited by the newspapers with having named Mt Diablo in 1814, Oakland Daily News, June 19, 1874, but this is very
586
SAN FRANCISCO DISTRICT.
over 70 men, of whom 25 were absent from the pen- insula on escolta duty. The total population de razon of the presidio and mission in 1830 was at most 200, and of the whole jurisdiction, including five missions, but excluding Santa Cruz, not more than 300, a decline from 430 during the decade.4 Adding the population of San Jose we have for the presidial district of San Francisco a total of 840, a gain from 670 ten years before. Very many soldiers had left the service and gone to live at the pueblo. During the same period the neophyte population had increased slightly from 4,360 to 4,920. There were no foreigners known to have been residing on the peninsula at the end of the decade, though there were half a dozen at San José.5
doubtful. The current newspaper stories to the effect that he is a centenarian, a Spanish officer, living with his fifth wife, the first white child born at S. Francisco, the founder of Sonoma, etc., are without foundation in fact. In 1877, poor, crippled with paralysis, residing with his youngest daughter at S. Andrés-Whiskey Hill, or Liberty-near Watsonville, he dictated to Mr Savage, for my use, 229 pages of his recollections of early times, the Amador, Memorias sobre la Historia de California, a manuscript often cited in my work. The author's memory was still unimpaired and he has contributed a most valuable and interesting fund of anecdotes about events and men of the past, though as might naturally be expected the old soldier 'draws the long bow' in relating adventures of Indian warfare, and is very inaccurate in his dates.
+ There are no official figures except for 1827-8, which vary from 228 to 230. Bandini, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., 6; St. Pap. Miss., MS., v. passim; l'al- lejo, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., xiv. 209; Wilkes' Nar., U. S. Explor. Exped., v. 555, and one for 1830 in St. Pap. Miss., MS., v. 34, which makes the total 229, so that 300 may be too large a figure. See a later note for the figures of S. José, which are yet less satisfactory.
5 For the official list and statements of the presidial force from 1821-30, the best authority is the S. Francisco, Cuentas del Habilitado, MS., tom v .- xxiii., containing complete lists of men and officers each year. For similar information in company rosters, etc., as for various financial and other statis- tics for the period, I have consulted chiefly the original records of the com- pany in my possession, Vallejo, Doc. Ilist. Cal., MS., i. xvii-xx., xxix .- xxx .; but also Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., liii .- lxxii. passim; St. Pap. Sac., MS., iii. 15; x. 6-7, 87; xi. 15-18, 71; xiv. 35, 41; xviii. 23-4; St. Pap., Ben. Com. and Treas., MS., ii. 1; Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Cust. H., MS., i .- iii. pas- sim; Dept. St. Pap. Mont., MS., iv. SS; Dept. Rec., MS., i. 68, 291; vii. 187. The habilitado's accounts of revenues, or duties collected on imports on for- eign goods, with names of vessels and amounts paid by each are very com- plete in comparison with those of other presidios, in Vallejo, Doc. ITist. Cal., MS., i. xvii. xx. passim; but the statistics have been utilized as far as is prac- ticable in the chapters devoted to commercial and maritime affairs. A few items on financial affairs, gathered from records that are sufficiently volumi- nous but not equally satisfactory, are as follows: Pay-roll of the company, $15,000 to $18,000 per year; annual debt to company, from $4,000 to $10,000; total debt increased from $19,000 in 1821 to $50,000 in 1829. An invoice of
587
PRESIDIO.
In 1821 Governor Sola called upon the padres through Prefect Payeras to send a boat with timber and laborers to execute certain repairs of which the quarters and defences at San Francisco were sadly in need. The response was prompt from the five mis- sions.6 Kotzebue on entering the port in 1824 found "St Joachim on his rocky throne, truly a very peace- able and well-disposed saint; no one of his cannon in condition to fire a single shot." According to his statement he had to lend powder with which to fire a salute in his honor; but there is a record in the ar- chives that 40 kegs of powder had been received at the fort two months before.7 Kotzebue found the pre- sidio "in the same state in which I found it eight years before; and, except the republican flag, no trace of the important changes which had taken place was percep- tible. Everything was going on in the old, easy, care- less way." The Russian voyager predicted a brilliant future for San Francisco; and in connection with his trips to Santa Clara, San Rafael, and up the Sacra- mento, he gave in his book much interesting infor- mation on the whole region round about the bay.8
$3,011 received in 1825. Inventories of goods on hand in 1827 and 1829, $342 and $302. Supplies to infantry detachment very irregular, from $69 to $1,200 per year. Supplies to artillery detachment in 1830, $6,548. Received from Monterey in 1824, $3,674. Received from other presidios, 1828-30, $6,823. Average net postal revenue $16. Net proceeds of tobacco sales, 1827, $690; 1828, to March, $100; April 1828 to Nov. 1829, $587; 350 lbs. were burned as rotten this year. Liquor tax collected, 1821-4, $174; 1829-30, $24. Average yearly expense of the presidial barge, or lighter, over and above its earnings, $130. Stamped paper sent to S. Francisco in 1826, $874; in the office 1830, $109. Mission supplies were as follows: S. Francisco, 1821-30 (except 1827), $6,2SS; Sta Clara, $14,068; S. José, $15, 125; Sta Cruz, $5,690; Solano, 1828-30, $593; S. Rafael, 1822-6, 1828-30, $1,311.
6 Arch. Arzob., MS., iv. pt. i. 59-60. Two carpenters, 12 axemen, and 2 boats loaded with material were sent in May.
7 St. Pap. Sac., MS., xiv. 12 (72?).
8 Kotzebue's New Voyage, ii. 73-150. See also chap. xxiii. this vol. for an account of this visitor's observations in general. Padre Amorós in a letter of 1823, speaking of a Russian visit to the port, says: 'Puede que S. Francisco cobre fama entre muchas naciones, y asi visitas no faltarán.' Arch. Arzob., MS., iv. pt. ii. 83. Echeandía on his first visit to S. Francisco is said to have exclaimed, after gazing on the bay from the summit of Telegraphı Hill, 'Esto es muy portentoso. Mejico no sabe, no, lo que tiene!' He spent some days in making plans for fortifications-castles in the air. Vallejo, Ilist. Cal., MS., ii. 69.
588
SAN FRANCISCO DISTRICT.
Captain Morrell was here in 1825. He describes the presidio as "built in the same manner as Monterey;" that is, "surrounded by a wall of ten feet in height, built of freestone, but much smaller, comprising only about 120 houses and a church. The fort mounts 10 guns, which would be sufficient to command the pas- sage were the works kept in any kind of order." This American captain was very enthusiastic in his admira- tion of the bay region.9
In 1826 occurred the visit of the English navigator, Beechey. Of the buildings he says: "The governor's abode was in a corner of the presidio, and formed one end of a row of which the other was occupied by a chapel; the opposite side was broken down and little better than a heap of rubbish and bones, on which jackals, dogs, and vultures were constantly preying; the other two sides of the quadrangle contained store- houses, artificers' shops, and the gaol, all built in the humblest style, with badly burned bricks, and roofed with tiles. The chapel and the governor's house were distinguished by being whitewashed." Beechey made a careful survey of the bay, discovered and named Blossom rock, and in one of the books resulting from his visit there appeared a chart which I reproduce.10
9 'It presents a broad sheet of water of sufficient extent to float all the British navy without crowding; the circling grassy shores, indented with con- venient coves, and the whole surrounded by a verdant, blooming country, pleasingly diversified with cultured fields and waving forests; meadows clothed with the richest verdure in the gift of bounteous May, etc. Man, enlightened, civilized man, alone is wanting to complete the picture and give a soul, a divinity to the whole. Were these beautiful regions which have been so much libelled, and are so little known, the property of the United States, our government would never permit them to remain thus neglected. The eastern and middle states would pour out their thousands of emigrants until magnificent cities would rise on the shores of every inlet along the coast of New California, while the wilderness of the interior would be made to blossom like the rose.' Morrell's Narrative, 210-12. Morrell had evidently read Becchey before his book was published.
10 Beechey's Voyage, ii. 1-65. See also chap. v. of vol. iii., this history, for a general account of Beechey's visit. The chart intended to illustrate chiefly the geological features of the region round the bay, but which I use for geographical purposes only, is taken from Richardson's Zoology of Beechey's Voyage, p. 174. It will be noticed that the chart contains several names be- sides that of Blossom rock, which now appear for the first time in print. Such are Sanzalito, R. San Antonio, Pt San Quentin, Molate Isl., Needle Rock, Pt Diablo, Tiburones, and Pt Boneta. There is a view of Needle Rock, not copied.
5S9
BEECHEY'S CHART.
Finally the Frenchman, Duhaut-Cilly, anchored in the port in January 1827; but in his narrative he
San Rafael
Pta: San Pablo-
0
Ranchio de Don Castro O (San Pablo)
MOLATE .
1. DE LOS ANGELES
TIBURONES
900 feet
Sausalito Pt.
LOS ALCATRASSES
NEEDLE ROCK
BLOSSOMS ROCK
Pta.Diavolo
Pta Boneta
Fort
Z1. YERBA BUENA 513 fert
10 feet
Presidio
R. San Antonio
Pta.de los Lobo
lission
Pta.San Quentin
SAN FRANCISCO BAY IN 1826.
added nothing of a descriptive nature to what had preceded.11
All the navigators named moored off Yerba Buena
11 Duhaut-Cilly, Viaggio, i. 224-47. On March 11, 1828, the padre of Sta Clara is asked to send laborers to work on the presidio buildings. Dept. Rec., MS., vi. 189-90. In December 1830 the armament of San Francisco was 14 guns; 6 of brass and 8 of iron; 3 of 24 lbs. calibre, 2 of 12 lbs., S of 8 lbs., and 1 of 4 lbs. The esplanade is said to have been in good condition. Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., Ixii. 24.
590
SAN FRANCISCO DISTRICT.
in preference to the presidio anchorage. It is not quite certain from the narrative that any of them anchored within what is now North Point; yet I suppose that the Frenchman at least did so, and that the name Yerba Buena was applied after 1827 rather to the region between North Point and Rincon Point than to that between the former and Point San José as in earlier years.12 While there is some uncertainty about the date, it is certain that the change in com- mon usage was made either at the end of this or early in the following decade. It would seem that the eastern anchorage was not deemed altogether desira- ble from a revenue collector's point of view; but in November 1827 the governor gave orders for the construction of a guard-house on the beach, to be occupied by a corporal and three soldiers, after which precaution the comandante might allow vessels to anchor at Yerba Buena. This guard-house, if it was built, was probably the first structure on the site of the city of later years, though Duhaut-Cilly erected a tent and built some boats on the shore of Yerba Buena earlier in the year. Nothing is recorded in these years respecting the battery of 1797.13
12 See chap. xxxi. of vol. i., this history, for the earlier location of Yerba Buena and the battery of 1797. Kotzebue says he sailed ' some miles farther eastward into a little bay surrounded by a romantic landscape, where Van- couver formerly lay'-thus he did not go beyond North Point, or else was in error about Vancouver's anchorage-'and which is perfectly safe at all seasons; the Spaniards have named this bay Herba Buena, after a sweet- smelling herb which grows on its shores.' New Voyage, ii. 136. Morrell writes: 'The best anchorage is on the west side of the bay, in from ten to four fathoms, near the shore, and nearly abreast of the mission, which is in full view' (impossible). Narrative, 210. Beechey 'anchored off a small bay named Yerba Buena, from the luxuriance of its vegetation, about a league distant from both the presidio and the mission.' Voyage, ii. 5. Rather strangely the location of Yerba Buena is not indicated on Beechey's chart. Duhaut-Cilly was piloted by Richardson 'to Hierba Buena, situated in a bay farther inland behind a big point, which was seen a league eastward.' To reach it he 'advanced first two miles E., keeping near the shore; then one mile E. 15° s., when we arrived at the gomito (elbow-point or cove?) of the Yerba Buena, where we cast anchor in five fathoms of water, the northern point of the gomito covering entirely the entrance of the port (Golden Gate).' Duhaut-Cilly, Viaggio, i. 226, 228-9. This description applies nearly as well to the anchorage west as south of Telegraph hill.
13 Nov. 14, 1827, Echeandía's order to comandante; Nov. 15th, call on Mis- sion S. José for building material and men. Dept. Rec., MS., v. 107-8. Alfred Robinson and Charles Brown state that when they came to California in 1829
591
AFFAIRS AT SAN FRANCISCO.
There are the usual vague and fragmentary records that a school of some kind was kept up during this period, as at the other presidios." The company's stock-farm, or rancho de la nacion at Buri-buri, con- tinued to furnish meat for the soldiers, but declined rapidly in usefulness;15 until in 1827 it seems to have been granted provisionally to José Sanchez. Events of the decade at San Francisco, of minor importance except such as are presented elsewhere, I append in fine print for economy of space, including also in chronologie order some items connected with the ad- ministration of justice in this presidial district, one of these items, that of the Rubio murder case, having some historical importance in connection with the annals of the following decade.16
there was not a building at Yerba Buena, nothing but the natural chaparral; and it was not until later that vessels were allowed to anchor there. Robin- son's Statement, MS., 14-15; Brown's Statement, MS., 3-4. Beechey in 1826 saw seven whalers anchor at Sauzalito. Jose Ramon Sanchez, Notas, MS., 17-18, thinks the anchorage of Yerba Buena was first mentioned when in 1823 Gov. Arguello allowed the ships of Hartnell & Co. to anchor there.
14 José Pefia, an artilleryman, was teacher in 1822. S. Francisco, Cuentas, MS., vi. 52, 55. Sergt. José Berreyesa was paid in 1830 at the rate of $10 per month for services as teacher in 1823. Vallejo, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., xx. 221. School-master's salary ordered paid by Echeandía in 1829. Dept. Rec., MS., vii. 142.
15 Cattle at end of 1821, 749 head; 1822, 711 head; proceeds of sales-that is meat furnished to soldiers-$1,039; 1823, 336 head; proceeds, $1,365; 1824, 250 head; proceeds, $439; 1825, 158 head; proceeds, $634; 1826, 85 head; pro- ceeds, $358; 1827, procceds, $235. Vallejo, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., xvii. 113, 254; xviii. 94, 184, 325; Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., 'lxiv. S. I shall speak later in this chapter of private ranchos round the bay.
16 1821. Excessive cold in January, water freezing in the ditches. Two Russian frigates in port since December, the officers spending their money freely. A soldier was sentenced to public works at S. Blas for crim. con., the woman, his sister-in-law, being sentenced to exposure with shaven head in the plaza. In the course of the proceedings the man accused one or two of the friars of illicit relations with his wife. Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., lii. 5-6; St. Pap., Sac., MS., xiv. 33-4; Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., v. 287-9. In October Capt. Argüello with a part of the presidial company started on his famous expedition 'to the Columbia.' chap. xx., this vol.
1822. The oath to independence-the imperial regency-was taken in April; Wm. A. Richardson, who may be regarded as the first foreign resi- dent of San Francisco, landed from a whaler; the canónigo Fernandez hon- ored the presidio with a visit in October, going on to visit Ross with Capt. Argüello and Prefect Payeras; and in November the comandante left his post for Monterey to become governor. In January 4 Indian boys aged from 9 to 11 years, employed as pajareros to scare birds away from the mission fields, deliberately killed a young companion by strangling, striking with stones, jumping on his stomach, and filling his mouth with earth. They buried the body but it was dug up by wild beasts. They were sorry for the act, and
592
SAN FRANCISCO DISTRICT.
There were now several ranchos occupied by private individuals in the San Francisco district. On the peninsula was that of Las Pulgas, or San Luis, which had been granted to Don Luis Argüello before 1824. Also perhaps Buri-buri granted to José Sanchez in
the penalty is not recorded. Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., liii. 72-4. In May five adult neophytes were tried for the murder of three others; result not given. Id., liii. 75-6. In December two soldiers were sentenced to two years of hard work at Monterey for robbery. Vallejo, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., i. 47.
1823. The empire was formally proclaimed and the oath of allegiance taken on March 27th. chap. xxii., this vol. The Russians hunted otter in the bay from October under contract with Argüello; and the presence of two Russian frigates which wintered in the port caused some fear of hostile intentions. The current topic of interest at the mission was the proposed transfer of the establishment to Sonoma. The change was not entirely carried out, but over 300 neophytes were lost by the foundation of S. Francisco Solano. chap. xxii., this vol. In May an infantryman sentenced to two years' labor on the lighter for theft. Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., liv. 12. In June an infantryman killed another and was condemned by court-martial to 6 years in the chain- gang. Id., liv. 18; St. Pap. Sac., MS., x. 19.
1824. Kotzebue's visit was from October to December. chap. xxiii. Dur- ing his stay a terrific storm on Oct. 20th uprooted trees, unroofed buildings, and injured things in general. Kotzebue's New Voyage, ii. 134-5.
1825. The federal constitution of Mexico was ratified on April 24th. chap. i. of vol. iii., this history. Benjamin Morrell in the Tartar was here in May. Wmn. A. Richardson this year married the acting comandante's daughter.
1826. April 30th was a day of celebration, on which, being Sunday, de- spatches were read announcing the surrender of San Juan de Ulúa and the pope's recognition of Mexican independence. Salutes were fired and vivas shouted; but the festivities were much marred by the refusal of the padre missionary to take part in them, and by the failure to obtain $400 from the treasury for distribution among the troops. Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., Ivii. 10-11, 13-14. Beechey's visit was in Nov .- Dec. of this year. chap. v. of vol. iii.
1827. On Jan. Ist, a popular election took place for the choice of 12 muni- cipal electors. The following citizens were chosen: J. J. Estudillo, Francisco Castro, Francisco Sanchez, Pedro del Castillo, Francisco Higuera, Ignacio Peralta, José Águila, Ignacio Alviso, Francisco Soto, Francisco Haro, and Petronilo Rios; Jan. 4th, the 12 met, organized, produced credentials, and adjourned; Jan. 7th, at a new meeting the acts of the preceding were ap- proved; and finally on Jan. Sth, at the 2d ballot they elected Francisco Haro as elector de partido to vote for congressman. Comandante Martinez pre- sided at every meeting. Vallejo, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., i. 99-102. In March or on April 22d, or perhaps on both dates, there was an earthquake, throwing down statues at the mission, and damaging the presidio somewhat. Brechey's Voyage, ii. 321; Duhaut-Cilly, Viaggio, i. 246; neither writer being present at the time. The French voyager's first visit was in January. At the end of the year Gov. Echeandia is said to have made his first visit to S. Francisco. chap. ii. of vol. iii .; though there are some indications that it was in 1830. Fitch, Proceso, MS. In September a neophyte was tried for sodomy. Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., Ixviii. 5-6.
1828. In August the little daughter and infant of a soldier, aged 5 and 1 years respectively, were found by their parents returning from a fandango, dead in their bed. The little girl had been outraged, and both brutally mur- dered. Francisco Rubio, a soldier in the same company, was accused of the murder, and in the proceedings at the time the circumstantial evidence of his
593
392-
(Laguna
.Satiyomcs
Sta. Rosas
OF Jesus Maria
Bodega
SOLANO
Sonoma
Napa
Suisun
Petaluma,
Tamales
S. Antonio
Olemıpali
M
B:Redonda S Pablo
38
^S. RAFAEL O
Pinole- S. Pablo
PtaReyes
.Frar
Quintin
cisco
"ANGELES
TRAS S. Antonio
Pescadero
Presidio
Misjon o
S. FRANCISCO
Visitacion
S'. Liandro
FARALLONES
IL.S. LUTETa
lle
S.Bruno
Cemente
Duribùriy
Alaincda
MISION S. JOSE/
Pilar
Las Pulgas
Calera
Tularcitos
S.Ignacio
STA. CLARA
Calaveras
SAN JOSE
.lars
de
S. Bernardino
Ar. Coy
Tento
Las Llagas
9 Isidr
BRANCIFORTE Aptos Corralitus
Salsipuedes
Las
SANTA CRUZ
R . Pajaro
Animas
123
SAN FRANCISCO DISTRICT IN 1830. HIST. CAL., VOL. II. 33
Mt.Diablo
ALCAT
Pta.Bonete
CIMBUENA
YERCA
Novato
Rt. s Francisps or s.Judquin
Carguines
S.Tedros Mateo
ogniswung's
Guadalupe
Pta.Ano: Nuovo
MAP OF THE BAY DISTRICT.
R. Sacramento
594
SAN FRANCISCO DISTRICT.
1827.17 Across the bay Sergeant Luis Peralta had in 1820 obtained San Antonio, including the present sites of Oakland and Alameda, and had had a quarrel the same year with the padres of San Francisco who tried to encroach on his northern boundary; but he could not have resided on his rancho until 1826 when he left active military service. Francisco Castro secured the San Pablo rancho, adjoining Peralta's grant on the north, in 1823 from the diputacion, and was living there as early as 1826. El Pinole, still farther north, was held by Don Ignacio Martinez in 1829, and perhaps earlier. In the region of San José farther south the only private ranchos clearly men- tioned in the annals of this decade are those of San Isidro, owned by Ignacio Ortega, and Las Animas, or the old La Brea, owned by Mariano Castro. A rancho of San Ignacio, three leagues north of San José, is also mentioned in 1828; but I do not under- stand what tract is meant. Also Los Tularcitos was granted to José Higuera in 1821.18
guilt were strong if not conclusive, though he protested his innocence. The testimony is given in full in Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., Ixvi. 2-61. Rubio was kept in prison for three years and then shot, as we shall see in a later chapter, this case having become somewhat famous in connection with the opposition to Gov. Victoria in 1831. Another soldier was convicted of rape on a little girl in 1828, and was by some suspected of having been the guilty party instead of Rubio. Id., Ixvi. 82-9.
1829. The Solis revolt, and the surrender of the presidio to the rebels, was the leading event of this year. chap. iii. of vol. iii., this history. A neophyte was accused of having killed an American by dragging him from his saddle with the reata. Dept. Rec., MS., vii. 79.
1830. Capt. Luis Argüello died in March. Late in the year a whale-boat was capsized while crossing the bay, and three or four of the crew were drowned, as was one Californian, Francisco Higuera. Carrillo (J.), Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., 32. A neophyte of Sta Clara was arrested in September for the murder of another Indian. No evidence was found against him; but the proceedings dragged along, the Indian remaining in prison until 1833, when he was released by order of Gov. Figueroa. Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., Ixxiv. 1-4. Only one soldier and one Indian in prison Sept. 15th. Id., 1xxii. 1.
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