1838, I find no mention of any minister, but Ibarra may possibly have served. Then came Blas Ordaz, who remained during the rest of the decade. Down to 1834 the decrease in neophyte population was less than 100; in live-stock there was no falling-off whatever if the registers may be trusted; and the crops were still good. Thus this mission was exceptionally prosperous at this period; and at the end of the decade there were still about 400 Indians in the ex-mission community, statistics being more voluminous than at the missions further south.[1] Lieutenant Antonio del Valle was commissioned to secularize the establishment in 1834, and the next year became
- ↑ Statistics of S. Fernando 1831-4. Decrease in pop. 827 to 792. Baptisms 89; largest no. 36 in 1834; smallest 16 in 1832. Deaths 124; largest no. 45 in 1832; smallest 19 in 1834. Cattle remained at 6,000 while horses and mules decreased from 560 to 520 by the loss of 40 mules; sheep remaining at 3,000. Largest crop 2,370 bush. in 1834; smallest 830 in 1831; average 1,530 bush., of which 940 wheat, yield 12 fold; 470 corn, yield 80 fold; beans 45, yield 9 fold.
Stat. for 1797–1834. Total of baptisms 2,839, of which 1,415 adult Ind., 1,367 Ind. children, 57 child. de razon; average per year 74. Total of marriages 849, of which 15 gente de razon. Deaths 2,028, of which 1,036 Ind. adults, 965 Ind. children, 12 and 15 de razon. Annual average 54; death rate 6.61 per cent. of pop. Largest pop. 1,080 in 1819 (or 1,100 in 1805, which may be an error). Sexes nearly equal; children from ¼ to ⅓. Largest no. of cattle 12,800 in 1819; horses 1,320 in 1822; mules 340 in 1812; asses 1 to 3 every year till 1819; sheep 7,800 in 1819; goats 600 in 1816; swine 250 in 1814; all kinds 21,745 animals in 1819. Total product of wheat 119,000 bush., yield 19 fold; barley, only raised in 6 years, 3,070 bush., 14 fold; maize 27,750 bush., 83 fold; beans 3,624 bush., 14 fold.
Miscell. stat. of 1834-40. 1834, P. Ibarra delivered to comisionado $20,000
sionary service was at S. Antonio in 1804-28, and again in 1829-34; at Soledad in 1828-9; and at San Fernando in 1835-6. He was rated by his superiors as of distinguished merit and scholarship, well qualified for any position in Cal., even the prelacy. Autobiog. Autog. de los Padres, MS.; Sarria, Informe sobre Frailes, 1817, MS., 59-60; Payeras in Arch. Sta B., MS., iii. 133. Fray Pedro was known as a dignified, scholarly, courteous man, nicknamed El Caballero in contradistinction to his rougher brother Juan, nicknamed El Marinero, than whom, however, he was hardly less popular. Both were noted for their hospitality at S. Antonio and S. Miguel, their adjoining missions, and were beloved by all classes, notwithstanding Pedro's polished manners, retiring disposition, and tendency to asceticism. He gave much attention to the language of his neophytes, and he was an uncompromising royalist, declining to take the oath to republicanism in 1825-9. In July 1836 he was determined to quit the country and to persevere in his demands for a passport; and declined most positively Duran's request to serve as president in case of his (D.'s) departure. In Aug. he was called to shrive the victims of the vigilantes at Angeles, but declined to come. His remains were interred in the mission cemetery on Oct. 12th, by Padre Ibarra. Copy of the burial register by Taylor in S. F. Bulletin, Apr. 23, 1864. Money due him is said to have been paid to a nephew who came from Spain.
