USA > New Mexico > Historical sketches of New Mexico : from the earliest records to the American occupation > Part 17
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EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
de 1710."-" His Lordship, the Marquis de la Peñuela, erected this building ; the Royal Ensign Don Augustin Flores Vergara, his servant. A. D. 1710." At this period all the principal churches in the "kingdom " were rebuilt, including many that are now standing. The register of deaths, " Libro de Difuntos," of the mission of San Diego, of Jemez, commences in August, 1720, when Francisco Carlos Joseph Delgado, " Preacher of the Holy Office of the Inquisition," was the priest in charge.
The great church at Santa Cruz, which was the center of an enormous parish in the north, has records anterior to 1720; and its Register of Marriages, with a curious pen-picture of the marriage of the Blessed Virgin to Saint Joseph as a frontispiece, bears date 1726, the first part being written by Padre Predicador Fray Man- uel de Sopeña. The baptismal register in the church at Albuquerque commences in 1743. Governor Peñuela was an active official in many ways, and during his administration made three campaigns into the Navajo country, to subdue those Indians. He was afterwards Viceroy of New Spain.
FERNANDO DE ALENCASTER NOREÑO Y SILVA, Duke of Lenares, Marquis of Valdefuentes and of Govea, Count of Portoalegre, Grand Commander of the Order of San- tiago of Portugal, etc., was Governor in 1712. He was afterwards made Viceroy of New Spain, and held that office in 1714 and 1715.
JUAN IGNACIO FLORES MOGOLLON was commissioned as Civil and Military Governor by Philip V., at Madrid, September 27, 1707, for five years, and qualified October 9 ; but did not arrive in Mexico till long after, being recommissioned by the Viceroy, February 9, 1712, and installed in office in Santa Fé, October 5, 1712. His salary, as fixed by the King, was $2,000 per annum. He was accused of malfeasance in office, but the case did not come on for trial until after a delay of some years. By the King's command he was relieved from his posi-
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EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
tion, October 5, 1715, after serving exactly three years. His trial was had at Santa Fé in 1721, long after he had left New Mexico; and his sentence was sent to the Viceroy for confirmation, the costs being adjudged against him. The officer charged with their collection reported that neither the accused nor any of his prop- erty could be found.
ANTONIO VALVERDE COSSIO was appointed Governor, ad interim, for a period in 1714, and again in 1718.
FELIX MARTINEZ, was appointed by the Viceroy to succeed Governor Mogollon, and qualified at Santa Fé, December 1, 1715. In the succeeding year he led an ex- pedition to the western confines of the kingdom as far as the Moqui province, in order to bring those freedom- loving cities into subjection. On the north wall of the Inscription Rock, which is an invaluable historical tablet, appears the record of his passage, as follows : " In the year 1716, upon the 26th day of August, passed by this place Don Felix Martinez, Governor and Captain- General of this kingdom, for the purpose of reducing and uniting Moqui." On another part of the rock are the inscriptions of some of the companions of the Gov- ernor on this expedition, as follows: "Juan Garcia de la Revas, Chief Alcalde, and the first elected, of the town of Santa Fé, in the year 1716, on the 26th of August. By the hand of Bartolo Fernandez, Antonio Fernandez. " In 1719 an expedition under Villaza started from Santa Fé, guided by a Frenchman, and succeeded in reaching the banks of the Missouri River, opposite the towns of the Pawnees (called Pananas); but the Indians crossed in the night, surprised the Spaniards, killed the com- mander and guide, and also Father Juan Dominguez, the chaplain.
JUAN DE ESTRADA Y AUSTRIA, His Majesty's Resid- uary Judge, Acting-Governor and Captain-General, dur- ing the trial of Ex-Governor Mogollon, 1721
JUAN DOMINGO DE BUSTAMANTE .- He was Governor
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EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
for nearly or all the period from 1721 to 1731, and again in 1738.
GERVACIO CRUZAT Y GONGORA was Governor from 1731 to 1737. In the latter year the Bishop of Durango, whose diocese included New Mexico, made the first episcopal visitation ever had in the territory. He vis- ited all parts of New Mexico, going even as far west as Zuñi, and left on the Inscription Rock the following memorial: "On the 28th day of September, of the year 1737, arrived at this place the Illustrious Don Martin de Liza Cochea, Bishop of Durango; and on the 29th left for Zuñi." On this trip he was accompanied by the Batchelor Don Juan Ignacio de Arrasain, whose name appears on the rock, on the same date.
HENRIQUE DE OLAVIDE Y MICHELENA .- 1738.
GASPAR DOMINGO Y MENDOZA .- He was Governor from 1739 to 1743.
JOAQUIN CODALLOS Y REBAL was Governor from 1744 to 1749, except in 1747 when-
FRANCISCO HUEMES Y HORCASITAS was Governor ad in- terim.
TOMAS VELES CACHUPIN was Governor for many years, embracing the periods from 1749 to 1754, and probably to 1758; from 1762 to 1767, and again in 1773.
MANUEL PORTILLO URRISOLA appears to have been Governor for a short time in 1761, and-
FRANCISCO ANTONIO MARIN DEL VALLE was Acting- Governor in that year and 1762. He and his wife pre- sented to the Church the great carved stone Reredos now in the cathedral at Santa Fé, as appears from the inscription thereon.
PEDRO FERMIN DE MENDINUETA held office several times, and was the last of the officials having the title of "Captain-General." He was a Colonel in the Royal army, and Knight of the Order of Santiago; and was first Governor in 1759, then for a short term in 1762, when he was succeeded by Cachupin, and afterwards succeeded the latter in 1767, and held the position until
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EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
1778,except a brief interval in 1773, when Cachupin again acted.
JUAN BAUTISTA DE ANSA was appointed as "Civil and Military Governor" in 1780, and held office until 1787 or 1788, when he was succeeded by-
FERNANDO DE LA CONCHA, who held the position until 1794, and again for a short time in 1800.
FERNANDO CHACON was appointed in 1794 and con- tinued in office for eleven years, until 1805, except an interval in 1800 and 1801.
These breaks in official tenure, and the appearance of so many ad interim officials, is in a great measure ac- counted for by visits of the Governors to the City of Mexico, which at that period required a large amount of time.
During all of this century, New Mexico was the extreme outpost of Mexican authority and colonization, receiving all its supplies of articles not produced at home, by the long routes from the south, through Durango and Chihuahua. The time was very shortly to come when by the opening of communication with the American States to the eastward, it was to become of itself a great point of trade and distribution for the northern portions of Mexico.
In 1796 a census was taken by the Franciscan Fathers, which showed a population of 14,167 whites and 9,453 Indians-only the civilized Pueblos being enumerated. This is exclusive of the City of Santa Fé, which for some reason is omitted in the computation. In 1798 a similar census showed a slight increase, there being 15,031 whites and 9,732 Indians. These reports are signed by Father Francisco de Hezio, Custo. In 1799 Governor Chacon made an official report of the last census, in accordance with a royal decree, making the population, including Santa Fé and its garrison-white, 18,826 ; Pueblo, 9,732 ; or counting the jurisdiction of El Paso-white, 23,769 ; Indian, 10,369. This showed the population of Santa Fé to be at that time 3,795.
CHAPTER XVI.
FROM 1800 TO 1846.
A .- THE GOVERNORS.
TN Chapter XV., on the Eighteenth Century, the line of Governors ended with Fernando Chacon, who re- mained in office till 1805. This list then continues as follows,-
JOAQUIN DEL REAL ALENCASTER .- He was in office from 1805 to 1808.
JOSÉ MANRIQUE .- He was a Lieutenant-Colonel in the army, and was Governor or Governor ad interim from 1808 to 1814; and again for a short time in 1819. In 1811 General Nemecio Salcedo, General of the Department, with head-quarters at Chihuahua, made certain orders respecting lands in New Mexico, which have led to his name being placed in some lists of Governors ; but he never seems to have had that or any other civil title, and the powers he exercised he probably assumed by virtue of his military authority.
ALBERTO MAYNEZ was the next executive, with the title of Civil and Military Governor. He served in 1814 and 1815, and again in 1817.
PEDRO MARIA DE ALLANDE succeeded to the title in 1816, and again in 1818, after the second period of Maynez's authority.
FACUNDO MELGARES .- He was the last of the Spanish Governors, the revolution of 1821 being successful in establishing Mexican independence. By the law of May 6, 1822, his term as Governor expired on the succeeding 5th of July. It was Governor Melgares who, as Lieutenant, commanded the brilliant expedition into the Indian
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1800 TO 1846.
Territory in 1806; and subsequently had charge of the escort of Pike, to Chihuahua, in 1807. During the year 1821, from certain documents it appears that-
ALEJO GARCIA CONDE, Inspector-General, acted as Governor for a time, with the title of " Superior Politi- cal Chief of the four Internal Provinces." This was probably in the revolutionary days, before the arrange- ments under the Mexican regime became settled.
FRANCISCO XAVIER CHAVEZ was the first regular executive under Mexican authority. The title was now changed from Governor to " Political Chief." Governor Chavez succeeded Melgares on July 5, 1822, and was also Acting Civil Governor from June 17 to July 21, 1823.
ANTONIO VISCARA quickly succeeded Chavez in 1822, holding office but a short time ; but was again in power for a brief period, in 1828.
BARTOLOMÉ BACA was in authority in 1824, and until September 13, 1825, when he was succeeded by-
ANTONIO NARBONA, who held the office until May 20, 1827. He was a Canadian.
MANUEL ARMIJO then obtained the position, holding it at this time but about a year, when-
JOSÉ ANTONIO CHAVEZ succeeded, and held the office for three years, a long period in those days of rapid changes and short administrations.
SANTIAGO ABREU became Political Chief in 1831, and continued until some time in 1832. He and his two brothers, Ramon and Marcelino, all came from Mexico shortly before, and all were killed in the revolution of 1837. Governor Abreu was Chief Justice down to the time of that revolution.
FRANCISCO SARRACINO .- Political Chief, 1833 to May 14, 1835, when-
MARIANO CHAVEZ became Acting Jefe Politico for three months, until the arrival from Mexico of-
ALBINO PEREZ, who served as Political Chief until the new Mexican constitution went into effect and New
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1800 To 1846.
Mexico was changed from a Territory into a Department, and its executive from a Political Chief to a Governor. The new arrangement went into operation in May 1837, Perez being appointed the first Governor, and holding the position until he was cruelly murdered in the rey- olution of that year. During the insurrection, and while Gonzales was claiming to be governor, the legiti- mate authority was held by-
PEDRO MUÑOZ, a Colonel in the army, as Acting-Gov- ernor, until the executive power was assumed by-
MANUEL ARMIJO, first as Commanding General, and after the execution of Gonzales in January 1838, as Gov- ernor. He was soon after regularly appointed to the latter office, and held it until January 1845, when he was suspended by the Inspector General. For a brief time in 1841-
ANTONIO SANDOVAL appears as Acting-Governor ; and during the suspension of Armijo-
MARIANO MARTINEZ DE LEJANZA was Acting Governor from some time in 1844 to September 18, 1845, and-
JOSÉ CHAVEZ from the latter date to December, when Armijo was elected to the executive office, and again assumed its duties.
MANUEL ARMIJO was the last Mexican Governor, holding the position until the American occupation.
JUAN BAUTISTA VIGIL Y ALARID appears as Acting- Governor for a short time after Armijo's retreat, and as such delivered the capital to General Kearney, August 18, 1846.
B. - PRINCIPAL EVENTS.
In 1805 a census was taken, the report of which signed by Governor Alencaster, under date of Nov. 20, 1805, shows a population (exclusive of El Paso and its surroundings not now included in the territory), of Spaniards: Male, 10,390; female, 10,236 ; total, 20,626. Pueblo Indians : Male, 4,094 ; female, 4,078 ; total, 8,172. Total population, 28,798, exclusive of wild tribes.
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1800 то 1846.
The population of the Pueblo towns was as follows: Taos 508, Picuris 250, San Juan 194, Santa Clara 186. San Yldefonso 175, Nambé 143, Pojuaque 100, Tesuque 131, Pecos 104, Cochití 656, Santo Domingo 333, San Felipe 289, Sandia 314, Jemez 264, Zia 254, Santa Ana 450, Isleta 419, Acoma 731, Laguna 940, Zuñi 1,470, Abiquiu 134, Belem (so spelled) 107. From this it will be seen that though the aggregate number has not greatly varied in three-quarters of a century, yet con- siderable changes have taken place in particular pueblos.
In the year 1806, during the same administration, much excitement was caused by the belief that an in- vasion from the United States was contemplated. Rumors of Burr's conspiracy had been received, at the same time that information came of the fitting out of government expeditions to explore the territory newly acquired by the Americans by the purchase of Lou- isiana. In consequence of this, Lieutenant Facundo Mel- gares was sent with 600 men to descend Red River and make treaties with the Indian tribes to the eastward, a duty which he performed most admirably. Early in the next year, the expedition of Lieutenant Pike, which had been sent to explore the south-western United States territory, was found encamped by mistake on Mexican soil, and was brought in to Santa Fé. As this consti- tutes the first historical connection between the United States and New Mexico, a separate chapter has been de- voted to the subject. (See Chap. XVII).
In 1810 came the first revolutionary attempt in Mexico, under Hidalgo, commencing at Dolores on September 16th, and ending with the execution of the great leader at Chihuahua, in the ensuing year. But New Mexico was so isolated by its geographical position that the stirring events to the south scarcely caused a ripple of excitement in the territory. In 1814 a con- spiracy against the authority of the Governor, Alberto
s
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1800 To 1846.
Maynez, was arranged by Dionicio Valdez and Antonio Armijo; but it was discovered before the plans were fully matured, or any active steps taken, and the pro- jectors were sentenced to ten years' imprisonment at the well known " Trias 'Hacienda," at Encinillas, north of Chihuahua.
All through this period, down to the final overthrow of the Navajoes long after the American occupation, there existed an almost constant condition of warfare with that powerful tribe. They made frequent incur- sions into the settlements-much as the Comanches did in the preceding century; and in turn armed expedi- tions were made into their country, with a view to their punishment and the destruction of their villages and property. The military reputation of Melgares was won in such expeditions, before he was sent to negotiate with the Pawnees in the east. They served as a school of military experience. Governor Vigil took part in no less than four of these campaigns, in 1823, 1833, 1836, and 1838. The hostility of these Indians was intensified by instances of bad faith on the part of the whites. A notable case of this kind occurred in 1820, when a party of Navajo Indians came into the village of Jemez for the purpose of concluding a peace. They were received in a friendly manner, but after a short time the authorities of the town determined to put them to death; so the people were secretly arranged in position so as to sur- round them while they were unarmed, and cruelly killed them with clubs. Complaint of this outrage was made to the government, and the leaders were arrested; but the cases dragged along until 1824, when they were all set at liberty. Ten years after, the principal perpetra- tors of this cruelty fell by the hands of other members of this same tribe, it seeming as if Providence would not allow the crime to pass without retribution. Gregg speaks of a similar outrage, which occurred at Cochití.
About the year 1830 the Navajoes were kept in very
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1800 TO 1846.
good order for a time by the energy of Colonel Vizcarra, but after his departure no one arose capable of inspiring them with fear. The ordinary custom was for peace to be made in the spring, which permitted the sowing of grain to be done without danger; but the fall was very likely to see a renewal of hostilities. An expedition organized in 1835, in which most of the leading men of the territory enlisted as volunteers, was surprised by an ambush in a narrow defile, and forced to retreat with some loss. The Apaches also made periodical raids into certain parts of the territory, and by attacks on frontier settlements prevented to a great extent the spread of population. They were more troublesome, however, in Chihuahua than in New Mexico.
On the 28th day of September, 1821, Mexico declared its independence of the mother country, and shortly afterwards succeeded in making it a reality. This nec- essarily caused an entire change in the relations of New Mexico, which became a part of the new country-an empire under Iturbide, and a republic after his fall. One principle of the new government of Mexico was popular education; and accordingly, in 1822, we find the first steps taken in the Territory towards the establish- ment of public schools.
In 1824, Durango, Chihuahua, and New Mexico were united in constituting a State of the Mexican Union ; but this arrangement did not last for any great length of time.
In 1828 the Mexican Congress passed a law expelling all native-born Spaniards (called Cachupines) from the republic. This of course affected a number in New Mexico, including several Franciscan Friars, who were all forced to leave, with the exception of two, named Albino and Castro, who were permitted to remain on account of their advanced age-and the payment of $500 each! It was not believed that any large proportion of this sum reached the official treasury.
234
1800 то 1846.
In 1833 the Bishop of Durango made a visitation throughout New Mexico, and was received with great enthusiasm. Special preparations were made at all points for his reception; the roads and bridges on the route were repaired and decorated, and the houses decked with flags, colored cloths, and flowers, in profusion. He made quite a protracted stay in Santa Fé, and visited a number of towns in the territory. A year before, Padre Ortiz (Juan Felipe) had been appointed as Vicar-general of New Mexico.
In 1835 the first newspaper enterprise was attempted -Padre Martinez, of Taos, issuing a paper, of the size of foolscap, entitled "El Crepúsculo" (meaning " The Dawn"), weekly for about a month, when its particular mission being accomplished, and the number of its sub- scribers (about fifty) not justifying a continuance, it was abandoned. This was the only attempt at a news- paper while the territory was under Mexican control.
In 1837 occurred the change in the general system of government throughout the republic, which meta- morphosed New Mexico from a Territory into a Depart- ment, and by its augmented taxation and other unpop- ular features led to an insurrection of large importance, and at the time, of very doubtful result. This was the first revolution, of any real moment, in a century and a half; for which reason it has appeared best to treat it briefly in a separate chapter. (See Chap. XIX.)
Through many years, since the first passage across the plains in the early part of the century, the traffic with the United States had been steadily increasing, until it had grown to very large proportions, and the goods thus brought to Santa Fé were distributed over a large part of northern Mexico. The importance of this business and the general interest attached to the history of the "Santa Fé Trail," has caused that subject also to have a separate chapter devoted to it. (See Chap. XVIII.) This intercourse between the valleys of the Mississippi
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1800 TO 1846.
and the Rio Grande, naturally brought into New Mex- ico merchants and traders from the East, and they, together with trappers and hunters who gradually accumulated a competence and settled down near the scenes of their active life, constituted a population now generally known as the "Pioneers." Their history should be separately written, and when their adventures and exploits are faithfully recorded, will be as interest- ing as the most fascinating romance. Many of the first of them to settle on the western border of the plains were of the parentage known as "St. Louis French ; " and hence come the French names which exist through- out the north of the Territory, whose existence would otherwise be a mystery.
First among those thus to establish a business in New Mexico was Mr. Roubidoux, who settled at Taos in 1822. Charles Beaubien came to the same town in 1827, and a year later married the sister of Don Pedro Valdez. He was one of the grantees of the enormous " Beaubien and Miranda Grant," to which his son-in-law gave the name of the " Maxwell Grant." His daughters married respectively Lucien B. Maxwell, Jesus G. Abreu, Joseph Clouthier, and Frederick Müller. Colonel Ceran St. Vrain, perhaps the most celebrated of south-western pioneers, lived for many years at Taos, and subsequently at Mora, where he owned a large mill, and where his grave now is. The Bents built "Bents' Fort " in 1829, and in 1832 Bent and St. Vrain commenced business at Taos. There Charles Bent married, and lived until his appointment as Governor, and violent death in 1847. Kit Carson first came from Missouri to Santa Fé in 1826; afterwards going to Taos, where he studied Spanish with Kinkead, and through all the travels and vicissi- tudes of his after life, retained that as his home. Maxwell, on his " Home Ranch " on the Cimarron, lived like a feudal chief, dispensing a lavish hospitality, and literally "lord of all he surveyed." He employed 500
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1800 TO 1846.
men, had 1,000 horses, 10,000 cattle, and 40,000 sheep; and after the hardships of early frontier life, enjoyed leisure and profusion in his later days. The oldest living " American " in Santa Fé for many years was James Conklin, who came in 1825, and died in June, 1883. Samuel B. Watrous, now the father of the town of that name, arrived in 1835, and for a considerable time lived at the Placers. James Bonney, whose hos- pitality both Emory and Abert record, was the original settler at La Junta, in 1842, his house being the first one seen in 1846 for a distance of 775 miles in com- ing from the east. Peter Joseph, a native of the Azores, came to Taos in 1844, and established himself in bus- iness.
In the year 1841 great excitement was produced by reports of the coming of an invading army from Texas, for the purpose of conquering the territory. George W. Kendall, the editor of the New Orleans " Picayune," who accompanied this expedition simply as a traveller, has left a very graphic account of its history in his " Santa Fé Expedition," published in 1844. According to his statement, it had no intention of making war; it was believed in Texas, which claimed all the country east of the Rio Grande as part of her territory, that the majority of the New Mexican people were dissatisfied with the government of Mexico, and would gladly unite with the Texans, if not overawed by military power. The intention of the expedition, then, was to ascertain with regard to this feeling, and if the people so desired, to raise the "Lone Star" flag, and protect them against Mexican coercion ; but if there was no such popular feel- ing, then simply to endeavor to open a mercantile trade. The Mexican authorities, however, naturally regarded it as a direct invasion of their territory ; and terrible stories were circulated as to the ferocity of the Texans, who, it was said, would burn, slay, and destroy wherever they went.
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1800 TO 1846.
The expedition set out from Austin on the 18th of June, 1841, under command of General McLeod; and consisted of 270 mounted volunteers, divided into six companies, of which one was of artillery and pro- vided with a brass six-pounder; and about fifty others, including commissioners, merchants, tourists, and servants. Their march was a very dangerous and arduous one, as it passed through a country entirely untravelled ; and of the rivers, deserts, ravines, and other obstacles to be encountered, those in the expedi- tion knew nothing. When a long distance out on the plains, Lieutenant Hull and four men were killed by the Caygua Indians ; and soon, on account of the diffi- culty in finding water, it was determined to divide the party, Captain Sutton, with eighty-seven soldiers and twelve civilians, being sent in advance on the best horses to find the nearest settlements and send word back to the remainder. They took rations for five days, but owing to their lack of knowledge of the country, and the time lost in trying to cross a very deep and perpendicular cañon, it was thirteen before they met any human beings, when they fell in with a party of Mexicans returning from trading with the Indians, at a point in the vicinity of the present Fort Bascom. Near the Gallinas they found a sheep ranch, and for the first time in many days had enough food to eat. From here two of the party, Captain Lewis and Mr. Van Ness, who spoke Spanish, were sent ahead to confer with the authorities, and two merchants with Mr. Ken- dall accompanied them. At Anton Chico they found the people in a terrible condition of fear and excitement, owing to the stories that had been circulated of Texan ferocity and cruelty ; and were informed that the whole country was in arms, and that they would no doubt be taken prisoners the next day and be shot.
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