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San Antonio's Old Franciscan Missions: Material Decline and Secular Avarice in the Transition from Hispanic to Mexican Control
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 11 December 2015
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In the twilight years of the eighteenth century, Spanish authorities of church and state resolved that the original Franciscan missions of Texas had achieved the goal of their early foundation, namely conversion of indigenous cultures to an Hispano-European lifestyle. Cognizant that the mission as a frontier agency had gained souls for the Catholic faith and citizens for the empire, Hispanic officials initiated secularization of the Texas establishments with the longest tenure, beginning with the missions along the upper San Antonio River. Less than a generation later, in the transition from Spanish dominion to Mexican rule in the nineteenth century, the Franciscan institutions, woefully in a condition of material neglect, engendered widespread secular avarice as numerous applicants with political contact in municipal government energetically competed to obtain land grants among the former mission temporalities.
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- Copyright © Academy of American Franciscan History 1987
References
* A version of this paper was presented at a joint session of The Texas Catholic Historical Society and The Texas State Historical Association in 1979. The author gratefully acknowledges the generous support provided by the UTSA Research Center for the Arts and Humanities, The San Antonio Project, an educational experiment funded by The National Endowment for the Humanities, and The Bexar County Historical Commission.
1 Castañeda, Carlos E. Our Catholic Heritage in Texas, 1519–1936 (7 vols.; Austin: Von Boeckmann-Jones Company, 1936–1958), V, 40.Google Scholar The history of the missions along the San Antonio River originated in 1718 when friars of the Apostolic College of Santa Cruz de Querétaro founded San Antonio de Valero with the assistance of soldiers who subsequently established Presidio San Antonio de Béxar in the immediate vicinity. Next, in 1731, the fledgling frontier community received vital reinforcement with the arrival of settlers from the Canary Islands (who promptly inaugurated a civil town and government) and the transfer of three Queretaran missions from the pine forests of east Texas to the Río San Antonio. Depending on circumstances and personalities, throughout the entire colonial period the proximity of church and state institutions in a riparian environment contributed to an atmosphere of cooperation and conflict. The benchmark year of 1772 was a pivotal juncture in church-state relations in the borderlands. First, the friars of Querétaro voluntarily relinquished administration of their Texas missions to Franciscans of the College of Zacatecas. Secondly, in response to an invitation from the viceregal government, the Querétaro friars assumed responsibility of former Jesuit missions in Sinaloa, Sonora, and Arizona. Thirdly, in the wake of the Marqués de Rubí’s compreshensive inspection of military fortifications in the north, Hispanic Bourbon reformers designated San Antonio de Béxar as the provincial capital of Texas. The designation simultaneously enhanced the geopolitical importance of the region and accelerated human demands upon available resources, but the presence of the provincial governor was a moderating influence that safeguarded the missions. Consult Benedict Leutenegger [trans.] Habig, Marion A. and Diekemper, Barnabas [eds.], “Memorial of Father Benito Fernández Concerning the Canary Islanders, 1741,” Southwestern Historical Quarterly, 82 [January 1979], 265–296 Google Scholar; Castañeda, , Our Catholic Heritage, 4, 266–267 Google Scholar; Almaráz, Félix D. Jr., Crossroad of Empire: The Church and State in the Río Grande Frontier of Coahuila and Texas, 1700–1821 [San Antonio: University of Texas at San Antonio Center for Archaeoligical Research, 1979], p. 29 Google Scholar; Webb, Walter Prescott, Carroll, H. Bailey and Branda, Eldon S. [eds.], The Handbook of Texas [3 vols.; Austin: Texas State Historical Association, 1952–1976],2, 542.Google Scholar
2 M’Caleb, Walter Flavius “Some Obscure Points in the Mission Period of Texas History,” Southwestern Historical Quarterly, 1 (January 1898), 227 Google Scholar; Arneson, Edwin P. “The Early Art of Terrestrial Measurement and its Practice in Texas,” Southwestern Historical Quarterly, 29 (October 1925), 85.Google Scholar
3 Castañeda, , Our Catholic Heritage, 5, 40–64.Google Scholar
Exempted from the 1794 secularization decree were three missions near the Gulf coast — Nuestra Señora del Espíritu Santo, Nuestra Señora del Rosario, and Nuestra Señora del Refugio ( Walters, Paul H. “Secularization of the La Bahía Missions,” Southwestern Historical Quarterly, 54 [January 1951], 387).Google Scholar
4 Castañeda, , Our Catholic Heritage, 5, 115–116.Google Scholar
5 Habig, Marion A. The Alamo Chain of Missions: A History of San Antonio’s five Old Missions (Chicago: Franciscan Herald Press, 1968), pp. 220–221.Google Scholar In the last quarter of the 18th and the beginning of the 19th century, authorities of church and state introduced changes that affected the province of Texas. In the political-military realm, Bourbon reformers experimented with a defensive measure called the Commandancy General of the Interior Provinces. Originally instituted in 1776 to control native aggression and foreign encroachment in the northern borderlands, the Commandancy General in the initial phase encompassed the territory from Texas to the Californias. In the second phase, the harsh realities of maintaining frontier security convinced Spanish officials to modify the administrative structure to a more manageable level, with the Texas gubernatorial office operating as a subordinate unit of the Commandancy General.
Meanwhile, in ecclesiastical affairs, in 1777 the Vatican, in consort with the Spanish monarchy, authorized the creation of the Diocese of Monterrey in New Spain, comprising the provinces of Nuevo León, Nuevo Santander, Coahuila, and Texas. After assuming office as the fourth bishop of Monterrey, Marín de Porras in 1805 became the first episcopal leader to inspect the principal towns in Texas in anticipation of assigning diocesan priests to parish chruches. Notwithstanding Bishop Marín de Porras’ inspection and intention, as late as 1809 he lamented being unable to staff all parishes. The significance of these developments is that in spite of partial secularization, Texas, with an aggregate population of 6,400 (most of whom resided in San Antonio), remained under the spiritual care of a few itinerant Franciscan missionaries. Consult Simmons, Marc Spanish Government in New Mexico [Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 1968], pp. 25–32 Google Scholar; Almaráz, Félix D. Jr., Tragic Cavalier: Governor Manuel Salcedo of Texas, 1808–1813 [Austin: University of Texas Press 1971], p. 14 Google Scholar; Ugarte, José Bravo Diócesis y Obispos de la Iglesia Mexicana (1519–1965) [Mexico: Editorial Jus, 1965], p. 65 Google Scholar; Benson, Nettie Lee “Bishop Marín de Porras and Texas,” Southwestern Historical Quarterly, 51 [July 1947], 37 Google Scholar; Castan, Carlos E.[rteda ans.], “Statistical Report on Texas by Juan N. Almonte,” Southwestern Historical Quarterly, 28 [January 1925], 186.Google Scholar
6 Habig, , Alamo Chain of Missions, pp. 220–221.Google Scholar
7 For example, see Petition for Land by Manuel Sarcho, 1806; Grant of Land and Granary of Mission Concepción to José Antonio Huízar, 1806; Petition for Land by Ygnacio Calvillo, 1809; Petition for Land by Subdeacon Juan Manuel Zambrano, 1809; Grant of Land and House to José Antonio Huízar, 1815; Grant of Land at Mission San José to José Julián Reyes, 1818; Mission Records 29–37, 62–70, and 71–74, Archives of the County Clerk, Bexar County Courthouse, San Antonio, Texas. [Mission records hereinafter referred to as MR.]
8 Antonio Martínez to de Arredondo, Joaquín June 6, 1819, Letter No. 505, in Taylor, Virginia H. (trans, and ed.), The Letters of Antonio Martínez: Last Spanish Governor of Texas, 1817–1822 (Austin; Texas State Library, 1957), pp. 234–235.Google Scholar
9 Martínez to de Apodaca, Viceroy Juan Ruiz June 7, 1819, Letter No. 103, in Letters from Gov. Antonio Martínez to the Viceroy Juan Ruiz de Apodaca, trans, by Taylor, Virginia H. and ed. by Almaráz, Félix D. Jr. (San Antonio: The University of Texas at San Antonio Research Center for the Arts and Humanities, 1983), p. 33.Google Scholar
10 Martínez to Apodaca, February 16, 1820, Letter No. 137, in Ibid., 41.
11 Hatcher, Mattie Austin (trans.), “Texas in 1820 [by Juan Antonio Padilla],” Southwestern Historical Quarterly, 23 (July 1919), 59.Google Scholar
12 Ibid., 59–60.
13 Ibid., 60.
14 Ibid.
15 Ibid.
16 Almaráz, Félix D. Jr., “Aspects of Mexican Texas: A Focal Point in Southwest History,” Red River Valley Historical Review, 2 (Fall 1975), p. 370 Google Scholar; Walters, , “Secularization of the La Bahía Missions,” SHQ, 54: 291.Google Scholar
17 Francisco de Herrera, Petition for Land and Water, October 24, 1823; Decree of José Antonio Saucedo and the Ayuntamiento of San Fernando de Béxar, December 4, 1823 (quotation); MR 29–37.
18 Juan Montes, Petition for Land and Water, October 26, 1823; Ayuntamiento to Saucedo, November 10, 1823; Decree of Saucedo, December 4, 1823; Saucedo, Ylario de la Garza, and Victoriano Zepeda, December 6, 1823 (quotations); MR 29–37.
Other individuals who received land around Mission Concepción in the initial post-independence period included José Farías (1 suerte and 1 dula), Baltazar Calvo (1 suerte and 1 dula), Manuel Yturri Castillo (3 suertes of wooded land and 3 dulas), and Tiburcio Ruiz (2 suertes and 2 dulas) nd Grant to José Fanas from the Mexican Government, 1823; Grant of Land and Water to Baltazar Calvo, 1823; Grant of Land and Water to Manuel Yturri Castillo, 1823; MR 29–37; and Donation of Land and Water to Tiburcio Ruiz, 1823; MR-76–85].
For an analysis of the dula and its relationship to frontier society, see Glick, Thomas F. The Old World Background of the Irrigation System of San Antonio, Texas (El Paso: Texas Western Press, 1972).Google Scholar
19 Juan Martín de Beramendi to Señor Gefe Político, February 5, 1822 (quotation); Beramendi to Gefe Político, November 1, 1823; MR 76–85. [Hereinafter, due to the frequency of the citation to Señor Gefe Político, the abbreviation SGP is used.]
For details of early banking operations in Mexican Texas, see Castañeda, Carlos E. “The First Chartered Bank West of the Mississippi: Banco Nacional de Texas,” Bulletin of Business Historical Society [Business History Review], 25 (December 1951), 242–256.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
20 Manuel Yturri Castillo [Hereinafter MYC.] et al. to SGP, November 10, 1823; MR 76–85.
21 Saucedo to the Ayuntamiento of San Antonio, December 1, 1823; MYC et al. to SGP, December 1, 1823 (quotation); MR 76–85.
22 Decree of José Antonio Saucedo, december 4, 1823; Saucedo, Land Grant to Beramendi, December 6, 1823 (quotation); MR 76–85.
23 Miguel Menchaca to SGP, November 8, 1823; Vicente Gortari et al. to SGP, December 1, 1823; Saucedo et al., Grant of Land and Water to Menchaca, December 6, 1823; MR 71–75.
24 Eustaquio Sierra to SGP, November 14, 1823; Saucedo to the Ayuntamiento, December 1, 1823; Grant of Land and Water to Sierra, December 6, 1823; MR 86–96.
25 Felipe Casillas to SGP, December 1, 1823; MYC to SGP, December 1, 1823; Decree of Saucedo, December 4, 1823; Donation of Land and Water to Casillas, December 6, 1823; MR 76–85.
26 Antonio García to SGP, November 15, 1823; MYC to [SGP], December 1, 1823; Decree of Saucedo, December 4, 1823; Donation of Land and Water to Garcí, December 6, 1823; MR 76–85.
27 José María Ruiz to SGP, December 1, 1823 ; MYC to [SGP], December 1, 1823 ; Donation of Land and Water to Ruiz, December 6, 1823; MR 76–85.
28 José Padilla de Luna to SGP, December 3, 1823; Saucedo to Yltre. Ayuntamiento, December 3, 1823; José Antonio de la Garza et al. to SGP, December 4, 1823; Grant of Land and Water to Padilla de Luna, December 6, 1823; MR 86–93.
29 María de Jesús Treviño to SGP, December 22, 1823; Vicente Gortari et al. to SGP, January 22, 1824; Grant of Land to José Eusebio Anzures, December 6, 1823; MR 86–93.
30 José Eligio de Alvarado for José de la Garza [to the Ayuntamiento of San Antonio], November 6, 1823; Vicente Gortari et al. to SGP, December 1, 1823; Grant of Land and Water to De la Garza, December 6, 1823; MR 71–75.
31 María de la Trinidad Guerrero to SGP, November 8, 1823; MYC to SGP, December 1, 1823; Decree of Saucedo, December 4, 1823; Donation of Land and Water to Guerrero, December 6, 1823; MR 76–85.
32 Juan Martín de Beramendi for Fulgencio Bueno, [November 11, 1823]; MYC [to Saucedo], December 1, 1823; Donation of Land and Water to Juan Francisco Bueno, December 6, 1823; MR 76–85.
33 José María Ureña to SGP, November 11, 1823 (quotation); MYC [to Saucedo], December 1, 1823; Donation of Land and Water to Ureña, December 6, 1823; MR 76–85.
34 José Antonio Navarro to SGP, November 11, 1823; MYC to SGP, December 1, 1823; Donation of land and Water to José Antonio Navarro, December 6, 1823; MR 76–85.
For details of Navarro’s involvement with the movement for Mexican independence in Texas, see Bueno, Anastacio Jr., “In Storms of Fortune: José Antonio Navarro of Texas, 1821–1846” (M.S. Thesis, University of Texas at San Antonio, 1978), pp.22–51.Google Scholar
35 Almaráz, , Tragic Cavalier, pp. 53–54 Google Scholar; Habig, , Alamo Chain of Missions, pp. 108–109,Google Scholar 146; Bachiller Francisco Maynes to SGP, November 3, 1823; Gaspar Flores et al. to SGP, January 10, 1824; Grant of Land and Irrigation Water to Maynes, February 7, 1824; MR 4–10.
36 José Antonio Saucedo to His Excellency [the Office of Jefe Político], November 15, 1823; Ramón Músquiz et al. to the Ayuntamiento, January 8, 1824; Gaspar Flores et al., January 10, 1824; Miguel Arciniega et al., March 6, 1824; El Barón de Bastrop et al., March 8, 1834; MR 4–10.
37 Josef Nicolás Páez y Colomo to the Very Excellent Deputation [the Ayuntamiento], October 30, 1823; Gaspar Flores et al. to SGP, January 10, 1824; Grant of Land and Water to Páez y Colomo, February 6, 1824; MR 48–54.
38 Rafael Casillas to Excellent Deputation, October 30, 1823; Gaspar Flores et al. to SGP, January 10, 1824; Donation of Land and Water to Rafael Casillas, February 6, 1824; MR 38–47.
39 Juan Cortina to SGP, October 31, 1823; Gaspar Flores et al., January 10, 1824; Donation of Land and Water to Cortina, February 6, 1824; MR 38–47.
40 Index of Houses Sold in the Mission of San Francisco de la Espada by Gaspar Flores, 1823; MR 62–70.