Causa criminal brought against Juan Pedro Santiago, servant, by his employer, Parral merchant Joseph Gomez, for stealing 14 Marcos de Plata. One merchant accused of receiving stolen silver says that all such business is conducted with sirvientes, y gente Inferior, como Es Yndios, mulatos, mestizos y coiotes. (0251b) (T. Sheridan) (1977)

An order to all the townspeople including the mestizos, mulatos, and people of other mixtures to arm themselves and join in the guarding of the body of christ on good friday. Failure to comply results in a fine and 15 days in the jail. (R. Perez) (1977)

Gobernador Carvajal orders all mine, hacienda owners in minas Nuevas, Santa Barbara, real de oro to provide him with list of employees (minuta), espanoles, Negros, mulatos, Mestisos, coiotes, Yndios, Lobos y otros, both men and women, within 15 days, as well as estimations of the number of additional laborers they need. (T. Sheridan) (1977)

Standard petition with supporting testimony - including that of Indians and Negro slaves - to establish rights to a mining concession. (C. Needham) (1975)

Letter from Barragan, comandante de Cuerpo de Cavalleria de frontera, requests Gracia of use of military standards and insignia as reward for company's brave and loyal service. Barragan provides excellent geographic, demographic, and economic portrait of towns of Valles, maiz, and Rioverde. Military companies and campaigns against Indians mentioned. F. 223 mentions the extinguishing of part of Chichimeco population. Process of pacification said to be impeded by the vastness of the territory and scarce population upon it. Ff. 223-224 speaks of vasallos americanos and their superiority en los Ramos de industria y agricultura F. 224 speaks of Villa de Valles, its social organization, quantity of haciendas and ranches, occupations of inhabitants, pacification of Chichimecos, and taxes and tribute. F. 225 mentions Valle de maiz, its military settlers intent solely on destroying Indians, and the granting of land grants to these settlers. F. 225 deals with Rioverde, the pacification of the Chichimecos, their incorporation into life of San Luis Potosi. Mixed Spanish, Indian, and caste population of town mentioned and the number and income of its missions. Reasons for establishment of military companies, their size and quality stated. Finally, granting of estandartes y insignia granted to Barragan and his company. (P. Lenz, may 1990)

Letters to, from, concerning Casimiro, who has asked to resign as gobernador, citing chaotic state of province, military misconduct as reasons. Cancio complains of milicious treatment of hito, general meanness of residents in province. F.267 gives populations of laborios, mulatos, Negros, indios fixos in Ostimuri. (A. Dean, August 1989)

Arredondo proposes the selection of two judges to replace captains in the trials of persons; one judge for trials of people of reason, and one judge for indios y de Bajo color and thereby avoid the abuses of the captains as jueces. (D. Bautista, February 1990)

Most important documents will be referenced below by folio no. Most unusual document is letter to Pison signed and likely written by his wife regarding his importance to family (f. 308). Incredibly filthy swear words attributed to him, directed against priest during mass, quoted and underlined in ff. 244-245. Useful diagnosis of ailment (sinocat putrida) and simple treatment prescribed of better diet, sleep, exercise by surgeon (f. 316 ?) Traces processes of judicial procedure in determination of charges of other bad conduct on Pison's part, brought by teniente de gobernador Moreno in Loreto. Included is detailed service and conduct record and witnessed testimonies of Pison's past military service; and other biographical information. Accused of years of drunkenness, womanizing, thievery, setting bad examples for mission Indians. Jailed at mission; some witnesses testify that he reacted to provocation by others; Pison requests change of venue for unbiased trial and accessibility to witnesses for his defense who are themselves in prison in Guadalajara. Released by authorities on bail paid by Ramon Espinosa; although his mine personal effects are kept. At trial, jailed prisoners clear him of murder of Osio, by swearing latter died by drowning. Pison countercharges Moreno with beating and refusal to allow his case to go before Barri. Provides motive for Moreno's silencing him by citing evidence of Former's absconding with treasury funds and illegal trade in alcoholic beverages. Missionaries and Armona testify to his generally good character, despite drinking bouts. Final decision, however, by Valcarcel; approved by viceroy is that Pison must be punished by losing personal effects, mine, military title and lifetime banishment from Californias. Ff. 328-331, when punishment given, Pison petitions Bucareli to allow him for temporary stay in Loreto with family to make financial arrangements before his expulsion. (J. M. Johnson, July 1989)

Letters describing Nuevo Santander -- tierra incognita full of rebels, Gentiles. Describes beginning of organization of troops, patrol areas, etc. F.307 mentions plan to place all Huastecos rebels on Tamatan Island. F.308 speaks of admiration for settlers managing to pacify frontier in short time despite lack of supplies, small pox epidemics. F.312 Torquemada distinguishes Indians into 3 classes, Chichimecas, Apostatas, Gentiles; converted Indians seem to be generally regarded as lowest caste of society, but above barbarians. (A. Dean, may 1990)

Copied and original informes which provide excellent source of description of missionaries and christianization of Indians. Establishment of new bishopric in Nuevo Santander and administration of bishorpric (Obispado) in Provincias Internas. Vassels, tribute paying towns, missions, and tithes listed in detail as well as Indians populations that inhabit adjacent regions. Establishment of new bishopric serves regions of Santander, Nueva Estremadura, Coaguila, Texas, and Nueva Philipinas. Mission details consist of dotacion, mission goods, land owned, horses and cattle owned, lists of finances and expenses. Establishment of Indian and Ladino towns, Indian gender, work distribution of Indians, many other rich details are present. (J. Acheson, March 1988)