are there any local occurrences of the decade requiring further notice than that contained in the appended items.
Padre Vitoria was the minister at Purísima until August 1835; Padre Arroyo de la Cuesta served here in 1835–6; and Padre Juan Moreno in 1834. Possibly Moreno was in charge part of the time in 1836-40, but I find no definite record for these years, and there was no regular minister. In neophyte population the mission nearly held its own down to 1834, when it had 407 souls, but at the end of the decade, the number had fallen to 120 in community, with perhaps as many more scattered in the region. The falling-off in crops and in live-stock was constant for the decade, except that there was a considerable increase of horses after the secularization, if the somewhat irregular statistics may be trusted.[1] The value
- ↑ Purísima statistics 1831-4. Decrease in pop. 413 to 407. Baptisms 88, largest no. 47 in 1834, smallest 10 in 1833. Deaths, 167, largest no. 50 in 1832, 1833, smallest 28 in 1834, Decrease in large stock 13,430 to 7,470;
June, trouble between Gov. Chico and P. Jimeno, leading to secularization. This vol., p. 433-5, 426; iv. 45–6. José María Ramirez as comisionado, turning over the estate Aug. 1st to José M. Covarrubias as majordomo. Vallejo, Doc., MS., xxxii. 24; St. Pap. Miss. & Colon., MS., ii. 372; Id., Miss., vi. 27. 1837. Jan., Covarrubias delivers the property to his successor Francisco Cota. Id., 28-30. Feb., Cota complains that the no. of working horses and mules has been so reduced by supplies to the troops, that only 80 horses and 30 mules are left. Id., vii. 53-4. Trapper horse-thieves at the mission in Oct. Vol. iv., p. 113. 1838. Nothing. 1839. Cota admin., Joaquin Villa and Miguel Valencia majordomos, José Linares llavero. St. Pap. Miss., MS., vi. 32. April, Cota asks permission to spend $1,000 for clothing for the Ind., who have received none in two years, and also to slaughter 300 cattle; which is granted by Hartnell. Id., ix. 7; Vallejo, Doc., vii. 15; Hartnell, Diario, 2, 4. Hartnell's visit was on July 15th. He found the Ind. desirous of getting rid of their administrator, on whom and his dependents they claimed that all the mission revenue was spent; but H. reported Cota successful in paying off debts, Diario., MS., 82, 90. Aug., Gov, authorizes the transfer (probably temporary for repairs?) of the church to the weaving-room. Dept. Rec., MS., x. 15. Dec., Anastasio Carrillo to Hartnell about the 300 cattle promised him, the padre prefecto consenting; Letter copied in Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., iv. 83-5, to illustrate the methods of disposing of mission property. 1840. Aug. 5th, an anonymous letter in English warning Hartnell that the admin. is plundering the mission of all its property. Arch. Mis., MS., ii. 1095. Sept. 10th, Hartnell's visit, only a fragment of the record. He found the Ind. much alarmed at reports that the gov. had given orders for mission cattle in favor of private individuals. Hartnell, Diario, MS., 93. Oct. 23d, Cota resigns, and Miguel Cordero takes charge as majordomo. Dept. Rec., MS., xi. 44-5.
