(thoric cederstrom) (1980)

Remarks, in some detail of the status of the first five missions in Alta California. Discusses foundation of the mission, its physical appearance, conversion efforts and their success, finances, and the mission economy. Also, remarks on several presidios and Indian culture in unpacified areas. (J. Grusin) (1976)

Jesuit defense against charges by presidial captains that they accumulated great Sotres grain/livestock, engaged in lucrative trade, built palaces, lived in luxury. Jesuit attack on presidial captains for abusing Indian labor, cheating own soldiers, failing to perform military duties, showing disrespect for missionaries/religion. High praise for captains Hurdaide, Borgansa Quesada. Condemnation present captain. Account civil/religious conflict Sinaloa-Sonora. Brief description agriculture, barter/exchange rates, Jesuit livestock industry, Jesuit commerce with Parral, wild food gathering (acorns, chestnuts, Quelites), Mescal making, mission architecture, settlement patterns, Indian depopulation at hands of Spaniards, Indian migration to mines/ranches outside province. Defense corporal punishment Indians. Religious/economic reasons for reduction program. Description Jesuit generosity to Indians/Spaniards during famines. Reasons why Indians should support missionaries without monetary payment. Description sad state presidial forces-untrained, cheated by captains. Abuses Sinaloa judicial system. (T. Sheridan) (1976)

The letter notifies the crown of the death of bishop Pedro de Ayala, the sending of a book printed in Mexico City to Spain, persons and the general state of affairs in the bishopric of Guadalajara including many facts on the villages north of Guadalajara. Of special interest are distances between villages, populations, biographical data on priests, mining sights and which priest lives there, errection of churches, etc. (G. Miller) (1977)

Plan of a church Nave giving dimensions of various features. (D. Deeds) (1976)

Two letters praising the 70-folio documentation of all details of five main missions in Nuevo Santander (Actual document appears on ff.336-406 of this volume), praising the missions themselves. These letters serve as annotated bibliography of preceeding document (including folio numbers for specific topics, as well as adding some further information. Concerns conversion, baptism, deaths of Indians at missions (f.409, F.415). Mentions assigning land to Conca mission (412); more than 4000 Pames at Rioverde, Tampico (414); all five missions established in 1744 (417). Frequent mention of key missionaries. (A. Dean, April 1990)

Monumental Tome detailing everything you ever wanted to know about the missions of Nuevo Santander. One document comprising many assembled, transcribed reports from missions of Jalpam, Conca, Tancoiol, Tilaco, Landa, Herrera, Rioverde. Most of first half deals with Tancoiol, second half with Conca; others interspersed. F.359 concerns Landa; F.365 Jalpam; F.374 Conca; F.386 caderreita, Sierragorda; F.387 Rioverde, Nuevo Santander. Topics shuffled together, include minutely detailed description of architecture, ornamentation, furnishing of missions; reports on population (especially ff.349, 358, 375), crops planted (f.356), Indian labor in construction (344), livestock. Occasional mention of number of weddings, deaths of Indians. F.388 mentions Guastecos at Conca deserting. F.399 Indians gathered from mission to search of deserters. Throughout document are references to various missionaries, their document appears on ff.407-417 of this volume; See next entry. (A. Dean, April 1990)

Escandon writes report regarding building of dam in Nuevo Santander for irrigation and building of a church. Aranda backs up Escandon's request mentioning need for water control during rains and cost of building dam. (L. L. Woodward, September 1989)

Report by Escandon of foundation of mission at Tancoiol, naming ff 108-109. Escandon also visits Cadereyta and Tilaco mission; provides description of 4 companies of troops and discussion of need for more troops to capture fugitive mocos jonases, as well as need for more religious personnel. Description of mission structures; provides names of Pame Meco officials and census of ignorance of Christian teachings, also example of polygamy among Indians. Establishment of San Miguel de Conca and Santa Maria de Agua de Landa misions for Mecos, describes natural resources and division of land to Indians for corn production. Ff 126-127 census of Mecos Pames from Santa Maria de Agua de Landa divided by rancherias. Establishment of San Miguel Conca mission by Escandon with help of Fernandez de la Rama, Romero, and Peruzquia; includes description of surroundings and crops, naming of civil officials, census of Mecos Pames ff. 132-136, 138-139, and list of fugitives from mission. (L. L. Woodward, September 1989)

Autos describing excandon's visit to five Sierra Gorda missions. Dismissal of missionary Cabeza de Baca for negligence of responsibilites, also discussion of need to rebuild mission structures, inventory of mission furnishings especially images of saints and religious paraphernalia, measurement of mission lands, list of Mecos Pames of Xalpa mission ff 97-100, including number of Christian converts. Auto regarding election of Alcaldes and other officials attended by Mecos Pames officials. Saldivar reports that in all missions the children and adults go to Christian doctrine classes and provide details on attendance. (L. L. Woodward, September 1989)