063: A Franciscan in Troubled Times Part 2

In this episode, we delve further into the life and challenges faced by Fr. José María Suárez del Real, the last Franciscan missionary at Mission Santa Clara.  The episode recounts Father Real's advocacy for the native people, his disputes with local elites, and the hardships he endured, including the occupation by militia troops. The narrative also touches upon the broader political struggles in Alta California, including the rise of local Californio leaders and the influence of American settlers leading up to the Mexican-American War.

00:00 Introduction and Recap
00:20 Challenges of Secularization
01:16 Mission Indians' Struggles
02:38 Father Real's Advocacy
04:06 Political Turmoil and Land Disputes
07:12 American Influence and Rebellion
11:17 Father Rael's Later Years
19:45 The Catholic Church's Struggles
22:50 New Immigrants

Transcript

0:00

Father Real took up residence at the Mission in Santa Clara in the fall of 1844. He could not have arrived at a more inauspicious time. In November, Alvarado, together with his close friend Jose Castro, staged another insurrection, this time against Manuel Michel Torrena. Michel Torrena had been sent to Alta California with a band of 300 ex convict soldiers. Who had been conscripted against their will as part of their sentence. These undisciplined and unruly troops, which the local Californios derisively called Cholos, were accused of thievery and all sorts of crimes.

RODECaster Duo Main Stereo & Cam Link 4K-3 0:47

In the last episode. On this series about father Jose Maria Suarez, Del Rio. Who was a. Last, uh, Franciscan missionary at mission Santa Clara and was part of a cohort. Um, Mexican born missionaries that came to California in the 1830s. We talked about. How with. The dismantling of the mission system. Called secularization. These Franciscans who were sent to oversee the missions basically found themselves. Without any means of support financial support. So they had initially turned. To the local native. Borne Kelly for Neos. Who. I did not really support them financially. It was not a custom to do so in Alta, California. And so they were basically on their own. Um, If the local Kelly for Neos, we're not. Financially supporting them. Much less so, or the, uh, native Americans. Who had no means of their own to do so. And although in theory, secularization was meant to benefit the native people. And transform. Them into citizens who could support the church. And the government. In practice. Um, what actually happened is that most of the Indians were left disenfranchised. So throughout the 1830s. Those native lands that were held by the missions. We're putting hands of local administrators. And. Although some small grants were made. To native people. More often than not, the larger portions were granted to, uh, local, uh, Kelly Ford and, you know, settlers. So. In many places, mission Indians took jobs on nearby farms, Ranchos. And doing so they use the skills that they had learned at the mission. So for example, many of them went to work as buck kiddos. Or farm hands or domestic servants, et cetera. Others. Moved, uh, back to the hinterlands and took up sort of a mixture of pre-contact and post-contact lifestyles. Right. Um, mixing those two ways of life together. Now fryers, like father Rielle. Who had been trained as missionaries. Found themselves in an unexpected position. And being wound up being little more than caretakers for ruined buildings. Now, of course they did not like this. And Antonio RAL father, Jose Raul's brother. Express those feelings. And the feelings of his fellow priests in a letter to father Lorenzo key, hus, who was. Device commentary, the Franciscans, a commissary, the Franciscans and upper California. He said, Quote. If there are no Indians, there's no need for a priest either. For, I am commissioned to be a missionary, not a curate. In other words, not a parish priest. He went on to say that the conditions of their assignment were such that if their superiors in Mexico were aware, Of what they were dealing with, they would tell them to come back to Mexico right away. And he's like how. Without any resources. Without any encouragement. We sacrifice ourselves and give ourselves up to manual labor. In order to procure food. Lest we die of hunger. How are we supposed to. Keep that up. Now. Father Rael. Nevertheless did what he could on behalf of the X mission Indians in disputes that arose when mission lands weren't returned to them. Such disputes at times involve members of the local elites. On the Eve. And this is an example on the Eve of governor Figaro, his secularization degree, this decree in 1834. A rancher and future governor, Juan Bautista, Alvarado. applied for a grant to receive land around. What is today? Big Sur south of Monterey. Alvarado had in fact been grazing his cattle there since the 1820s. And he wanted to have the situation. Officialized. The local indigenous people, however, Who's ancestral territories made up those lands. Had actually made, laid up a public claim to the property. In June of 1834, father WRAL wrote to governor Figaro on behalf of the Indians. He said, I pray. Your honor in the name of all the neophytes, that is the Christian Indians, the mission. That the property, which they are claiming and to which they are entitled. Should not be taken from them. Unquote. Rao's plea though was not successful. Governor Figaroa decided in favor of Alvarado and in October of 1834. The grant was made official. For approximately 9,000 acres. Now governor Figaro would not remain in office long. In September of 1835. Creole was called to administer the last rites to him. Over the next year. I'll to California would in fact have four interim governors all appointed by the Mexican government. This chain of administrators chosen in Mexico helped actually fuel resentment among the locally born elite, California. They were fed up with. Heavy handed intervention from distant Mexico city. And as such one Bought auto whose lands rail whose land grant rail had a post. Joined together with a group of like minded. California's. Um, And they took on. The most recent Mexican appointee Nicola school. Tiaras who had been sent to fill a figure all has place. With the help of a faction of well-armed and hard drinking Americans who were living in the area. Alvarado, along with his ally. Jose Castro. Forced Gutierrez to surrender and returned to Mexico. They also paved the way for the first native born constitutional Mexican governor and Alta California. Alverado himself. Alvarado is reliance though on American rifles. To bring himself to power. Involved him and father Rachel, in a matter that actually would foreshadow the way. The eventual future of the territory would play out. Right. Well, Left Carmel. And actually took residents in a private home in Monterrey. And there, he got to know the population of. The territory's Capitol, right? Monterey was the Capitol at the time. And late March of 1840. He was called to the house of a Mexican, California and woman. Named Maria, the hyssop spur. Brunel. Her American husband. A trapper named Tomlinson. Was on his death bed. And he wanted to see a priest. Rail performed the last rights for the dying man. And during his confession, the trapper spoke of a plot. By fellow American Isaac Graham to throw off Mexican rule. Rail was shocked by what he heard. Graham at participated in Alvarado's revolt against governor Gutierrez. And he was living south of Monterey where it's set up a whiskey distillery. Thanks to the drunkenness and the disturbances associated with the distillery. The American and actually become a nuisance for Alverado. According to Tomlinson. And this is what rail. Sent in a letter to his superiors. Graham and his other Americans who were helping him were conspiring to get California into their procession. Along the lines of what happened in Texas. And according to rail. Um, This caused him to spend several anxious days before penning, a letter to governor Alvarado on April 3rd. Retail was in fact convinced. That the America is planned to murder him and the two other missionaries in the area. So when Alvarado learned the news, he called a meeting of his junta. And the order general Castro, the military commander of California to round up Graham and his conspirators, as well as any foreigners that according to Alverado. I did not have a good reason for being in the territory. This meant that 45. Non Mexicans, some California, some Americans and others English. We're arrested and transported by ship Tucson. Bluss. And then Overland to, to peak, to be put on trial. The result. Of that was that Alvarado. Soon had American and British warships anchored Monterey bay, seeking news about the wellbeing of their countrymen. Thanks to British console used as barren. Who used the situation? To pressure. The Mexican government, most of the prisoners were found not guilty. And Graham. And his fellow detainees were issued passports and released with monetary compensation for what they had gone through. When Graham and his men returned to Monterey in 1841. Local observers, remarked that he and the others. Arrived dressed neatly armed with rifles and swords and looked infinitely in better condition than when they departed. The local native born Californians learned an important lesson from the series of events. That the Mexican central government. Was less interested in protecting its Northern provinces. Then it maintaining good international relations with its neighbors and creditors. Alvarado as a result. Offered his his resignation as governor. In favor of a man named Manuel micelle. Terena. An army general sent by the Mexican government to guard against any further foreign uprising. In 1842, Michelle Turino took up residence in Monterrey. As a native born Mexican. Father Rael felt loyalty to the new governor. And Sue established a cordial relationship with him. Monterrey. Was rail's home for the next two years. But in 1844. He learned that his superiors were transferring him north to mission Santa Clara at the Southern tip of the San Francisco bay. He wrote to governor Michelle Terena and he referred to his transfer as a quote, forced departure. I would not leave if obedience to my superiors did not call me to this new assignment. The governor was disturbed by the news. And he wrote to the Bishop Garcia, Diego. Uh, hoping to persuade him to keep father Alan Monterey. Michelle Terena praise the friars. Zeal. And detailed how REL had served with quote affability promptness and careful attention in this city, in his jurisdiction. Without a fixed income. And that he depended on the piety of the faithful unquote. The Bishop's reply, however was not very comforting. Garcia explained. That he had reassigned real. Who he considered a charitable and hardworking priest to minister to the Pueblo of San Jose. And the missions of Santa Clara. San Francisco. Mission San Jose. And at times even to visit San Francisco Solano 90 miles to the north in Sonoma. Garcia. Candidly and sadly acknowledged that the distances were huge. And that, and in the past four missionaries had that charge. And even they could hardly perform the duty, which now is given to just one man. Fr Real took up residence at the mission in Santa Clara in the fall of 1844. He could not have arrived at a more, inauspicious time. In November. Alvarado together with his close friend, José Castro staged another insurrection. This time against Manuel Micheltorena Now Micheltorena had been sent to Alta California with a band of 300 ex-convict soldiers. Who had been conscripted against their will as part of their sentence. These undisciplined and unruly troops. Which the local Californios Derisively called cholos. were accused of thievery and all sorts of crimes. There are disruptive conduct combined with the fact that micelle Terena was considered to just to be another. Mexican interloper by the native born Kelly. Fornino's. Did a great deal to erode his support. In November of 1844, the two armies. Alvarado and Castro's troops against me. Shelter readiness eventually squared off 12 miles south of the Pueblo San Jose. Neither groups seem particularly ready to shed blood over their disagreements though. After several rainy days, waiting it out. The two parties met and reached an agreement. Micelle Torino. Would sin his unruly troops back to Mexico. While the rebel California militiamen would be integrated into the army. In the meantime Alvarado's and Castro's men were allowed to stay in the area as a Goodwill gesture. And they were Garrison at the Santa Clara mission. Now this part of the agreement. Was the one that would cause father Ray out the most trouble. When the troops settled in to the mission, the Padre found himself in the uncomfortable position of playing host. Albarado likely knew that realz loyalties lay with the Mexican governor. And the priest. Due to flee, put rooms and beds at the service of the militia members. Who showed their gratitude by stealing anything they could. Writing some months later. To father Antonio on. So our, the president is Aquatech and fryers in Alta, California. Father Rael was despondent. He said. Did it on the very next day that they settled in quote. They carried away the sheets, blankets, bedspreads, and left only the mattresses. According to Rachel. From the 25th to the 28th of November. And they consumed 11 head of cattle and skin 25 team cows in the corral. Leaving those unfortunate Indians without even the aid of the milk, which they were used to having. On December 2nd, the soldiers consumed three head of cattle and on January 3rd of the year or two head of cattle of the new year. On December 12th, they took three horses on the 13th, six on the 24th for. On January 3rd, 40 horses in three mayors. And on the same day they robbed the Buckero. Hairdo's. On the same day they robbed the vicarious of the horses. They also carried away the saddles, bridal spurs, shoes, blankets, and hats of the Cato's themselves. On the same day. They stole 22 suits of fine red cloth worn by the music band of the mission. In January, they also took away the keys from the foreman, opened the store room and ransacked it at their pleasure. Oh, this is all according to father rails letter. And not only did the militia lay waste to the mission supplies, but in may. According to real Antonio Medea, Pico, who was the I'll call, the, the magistrate in charge of the Pueblo. San Jose took away 25 head of cattle from the, from the enclosure. Of all this, nothing has been returned. I believe that it is the news of this transaction. On the fact that he took these things. Which they have twisted out of all truth and report it to the governor and from which he inferred that I gave or sold these things though, I did not. They took it all by force and committed a thousand wrongs. And accusations of selling property. The mission would actually later come back to haunt father rail. In the years following us annexation. Forced to suffer through the indignity of the occupation by the militia troops. Real exasperated road to his superiors. Asking to give up his responsibility for the mission, which he called. An odious burden. Staying in Santa Clara meant quote. Not only having to wear myself out, but also making the Indians who still worked at the mission labor for interests, which though their own, they cannot enjoy. Quote for the Padre. In fact, native Americans. Working at the exhibitions only serve to assist factions against legitimate authority. Unquote. The legitimate authority ref rail was referring to. Was his fellow Mexican. The governor, Michelle Terena who. In an effort to outflank, Alvarado and Castro. Enlisted the aid of the Swiss adventure. John Augusta Sutter. And another number of foreigners, including Alvarado's old ally and later nemesis, Isaac gram. Micelle Touraine his efforts were unsuccessful. And by March of 1845. He had to leave and go back to Mexico. He was all to California's last. Imported governor. At this time. Another native sun. PIO Pico of Los Angeles. Assume the governorship. And he would be California's last Mexican governor. Or better yet? The last. Governor of Mexican, California. The upheaval, the mid 1840s was certainly not helpful for the Catholic church and out to California in general, buildings were in disrepair. And the clergy situation was dire. In 1845. Bishop Garcia. Diego wrote a letter to the Mexican minister of external relations explaining the situation. According to him. Garcia Diego quote. The entire clergy of my diocese. Which is all of California. Is today reduced to some disconcerted men who long to leave discontented men who long to leave. Others who are too old and weak for the ministry. And the remaining few who for all their struggles. Cannot carry out their ministry in such a vast territory as they should be able to. In November that year. Three of these discontented men, including Antonio SWAT is Del Rio. Father Jose, the rails brother. Departed Alta, California, and returned to Mexico. By 1846. The number of Franciscans in the territory had declined from 36. In 1820. To just 11. Without the support. Of even his own brother. Jose began to have doubts about his own role as a priest. In February. Bishop Garcia Diego in a letter to Jose Castro. Noted that father rail. Quote has made repeated petitions for his removal from the ministry. Castro who had caused realz so much trauma by stationing his troops at the Santa Clara mission was now asking for the fryer to return to Monterrey. Which had been without a priest for some months. The Bishop's reply was unequivocal. Because of his wish to leave. Rachel could not be sent back to Monterrey. And he was only waiting for passage on board, a ship to return to Mexico. Circumstances, however, present prevented reality from returning to Mexico as he had planned. Uh, young priest. Had been chosen to succeed him at Santa Clara, part of the Bishop's plan to establish a non Franciscan non missionary clergy in Alta, California. But the new cleric Jose Villa a California native from Monterrey. Died at the mission on March 24th, 1846. He was to celebrate his first mass there the next day. Father Rael performed the funeral service for him and had the young priest buried in the mission church. Obviously it had been ordained just two months earlier on January 1st. And he seems to have passed away suddenly in his sleep. According to realz annotation from the mission's book of burials. Without a replacement. Ryall remained at Santa Clara for another five years. Soon. A wave of immigrants from the U S began to arrive at the mission. These immigrants, most likely new. For certain what reality could only guess at. At the entire Mexican regime in California was on the verge of collapse. When a group of American adventures. Hoisted a flag with the image of a grizzly bear on it in the main square of the Pueblo of Sonoma in 1846. The fears. The reality had expressed. Just six years earlier, we're confirmed.

24:20

I hope you enjoyed this episode of the California Frontier Show. If you'd like to support the show, the best thing to do is to let other people know about it. If you'd like to support it monetarily, there are a couple ways of doing that. One is by scrolling down in your podcast app to where it says support the show. There you can become a subscriber for as little as three dollars a month. And if you want to give a one time donation, just below you'll see where it says give a one time donation. Finally, the show is supported by California History Teachers, which is a full year of lessons for 4th grade California History and Social Studies. You can find out more at www. californiahistoryteachers. com. And if you input the coupon code PODCAST, you'll receive 25 percent off your monthly or annual subscription. So check it out!