Heirs of Rivera y Moncada in 1796 use procurador to form strongly worded petition to be presented to king to speed their claims for payment of inheritance, pension and past due salary of captain massacred by Yumas in expedition to California with recruits and settlers in 1781. Delays in processing blamed on bureaucracy and unrealiable testimony from survivors and prisoners. Palou certifies legitimacy of three sons; testimony also taken from neighbors and past military officials to determine inventory of personal effects and amount of past salaries for various positions he held in New Spain. Many references to past reglamentos in determining amount due heirs of salary and Monte Pio militar. Final determination of claim made in Spain and Mexico in 1798; authorized to be paid in 1800. Interesting review of Rivera y Moncada's service record with amount of salary for each advancement. Emotional appeal describing hardships on widow and sons due to lengthy delays in process to recover funds owed them.(J. M. Johnson, October 1988)

Discussion of difficulties in resolving questions of Rivera y Moncada's accounts and past salary to recompense his heirs and settle debts owed to surviving families and recruits of 1781 massacre. References to many past conflicting orders and reglamentos. Interesting for tracing progress of transactions from local civil and military officials, through those of real hacienda, up to final decision by king. (J. M. Johnson, October 1988)

Summaries of informes concerning civil donations from Arguelles to haciendas de California. Includes list of quadernos describing legal processes for enacting Arguelles' will. A few documents deal with Gonzalez del Castillo's concern in renting la noria ranch at Nuevo Santander. (R. Gomez, October 1989)

Includes 4 unrelated expedientes, numeros 22-25. Numero 22 concerns claim made by teniente de justicia that administrador de Alcavalas has used position to inherit valuable 'alhajas' from deceased 'tio,' official of the real; teniente addresses complaint to virrey, as governor off fighting Indians; 'alhajas' were to be given to Senora Garza, whom official planned to marry. In 23, Quixas requests 'licencia' to leave company for short while and travel to Mexico City; offers history of loyal military service, participation in campaigns, in defense of solicitation. In 24, Hoz, captain whom Lasaga says served province, country well defending citizens against Chichimecos, others, requests permission from governor and virrey to return to Spain because of poor health. In 25, 2 Indians, anacana and Aretin, escape from San Juan de Ulua, are referred to by Lasaga as 'desertores...y notoriamente perversos.' (L. Kerr, June 1989)

Case against Morales for murder of Garza in Aguayo. Testimonies from witnesses who find Garza's body, describe murder and robbery. Lists contents of Garza's house to be given to his widow. Confession of Morales, escape of Morales from prison, character witnesses; receives 10 year sentence. (L. L. Woodward, October 1988)

Palacio and Osorio's visit to Nuevo Santander to investigate Escandon's conduct, operations, state of colony. Discusses measures taken to protect colony from Indian horse thefts and murders. Discussion on Manuel de Escandon's merit and success in defending and populating settlement compared with that of his Father Joseph Escandon. Manuel Escandon given title conde de la Sierra Gorda due to inheritance and merit. Brief description of Joseph Escandon's service record including reducciones. Description of estate and lands of Escandon to be left to descendants and free of Media anata. Escandon's success at liberating Nuevo Santander from Chichimecs; establishment of 14 settlements, missions. Miguel Escandon accompanied Father on campaigns at age 16 as teniente; service record described. Total of 24 settlements established by Joseph Escandon with 1245 Spanish families. Manuel Escandon's detachment sent to Potrero de Campana to retrieve stolen horses and punish rebel Indians. (L. L. Woodward, November 1988)

Autos by Perez and Soler to virrey and response by Navarro regarding distribution of masses and wealth of deceased soldiers if no will has been made and no inheritors have been each deceased. The residue is to be distributed in varying manners to finance funeral costs and to pay company chaplain and intercession for souls. Includes listing of moneys received for different deceased soldiers from San Francisco and Monterrey. (J. Hiller, January 1989)

Concerns petition in favor of Ripperda's sons regarding need for money and trip to la Habana, and petition of money left to Ripperda's widow. (M. Vasquez, may 1988)

Letters to and from Aguero concerning administrative issues in mail between Zacatecas and Durango, disposition of the deceased's wealth.

Administrative correspondence of intendente Corbalan, primarily brief commentary on ongoing communication between him and viceroy as summarized in the superiores Ordenes and representaciones. Viceroy's responses, dated several months later, directly follow intendente's comments/inquiries. Ff. 81 reorganization of intendency, intendente's duties and salary; distribution of land, water rights, irrigation and religious education of Seris on Tiburon. Ff. 84-86 relate death of governor Sastre, execution of his will (Albacea), and responsibility of real Casa to determine amount of king's fifth on a gold nugget found in his possession. Ff. 94-95 are taxes on tobacco, playing cards and gunpowder; salaries for religious from Jalisco serving in Sonora; collection of tribute from Indians; need for better accounting for collecting royal fifth on ore mined in province; scarcity of Moneda sellada in circulation; and status of crops, workshops and personnel assigned to Indians in reduccion. Ff. 122-123 is certificate of death of Alfonso Ruiz Zorzano. Other documents briefly general of mines to be postponed due to illness and bad Weather; reduccion of Hiaques on Tiburon, recommends pardon of capitan Calisto for good behaviour, after involvement in uprising; gold nugget of Sastre not found among his possessions. Ff. 136 & 138 are superiores Ordenes from Bucareli for February-March, 1773. Ff. 142-144 are representacions of intendente to viceroy for April-June, 1773 which include fishing; rebuilding mission churches in Suaqui and Charay and completion of irrigation (acequia) for Seris in Pitic. (J. M. Johnson, March 1988)