064: A Franciscan in Troubled Times Part 3

In this episode, we conclude the story of Fr. José María del Real. We cover the U.S. annexation and occupation of California and the tensions between new American settlers and the local population. We delve into Father Real's efforts to accommodate new immigrants, his rumored illegal sales of mission property, and his eventual departure from the mission. We also highlight Fr. Real's involvement in discovering a mercury mine and his life after leaving Alta California.

00:00 Overiew of Prior Episodes
01:47 The Arrival of American Settlers in California
04:15 Tensions Between Immigrants and Native Californians
07:36 Religious and Social Conflicts
14:12 Father Real's Involvement in Local Developments
20:19 The Catholic Church in California: A New Era
20:42 Bishop Joseph Alemany: A New Leader
21:32 Challenges and Changes: The Arrival of the Jesuits
23:21 The Controversial Transfer of Mission Santa Clara
26:05 Disputes and Legal Battles Over Mission Property
31:06 Father Real's Departure and Final Days
37:18 Legacy and Reflections on Father Real's Life

Transcript

RODECaster Duo Main Stereo & Cam Link 4K-1 0:27

Today, we're going to finish up the series on. Father, Jose Maria SWAT is the reality. Who was the last Franciscan missionary? To be stationed at mission Santa Clara. And Alta California. If you remember, if you've listened to the other two, installments of this and you should go back. If you haven't. Father Rael was part of a group of Mexican born Franciscans who were sent. To California in the early 1830s. Because the Mexican Republic had ordered. Spanish citizens to return to Spain. Because the Spanish born missionaries. And they were all Spanish. The first cohort. A lot of them left. And left emissions in Northern California, Northern Alta, California without missionaries. So. A a group of them were sent to from Mexico, Mexican born missionaries. To Alto, California and father rail was one of them. It served as several of the missions. He had a very difficult time as did all of these missionaries, because the missions themselves had, had basically been liquidated and they found themselves in a situation of having to sort of. Scrape together. A living a way of surviving. This also. This new situation also put them sort of in conflict with some of the, the elite members of society, but it also gained them friends as well. So today we're going to finish up. With the story of father rail and Alta California. And we are going to begin. In July of 1846, right? That is when the us Navy anchored its vessels. In Monterey bay. After this time articles began to appear in east coast newspapers, encouraging Americans to settle in California. These articles talked about the mission buildings, many of which were abandoned or semi abandoned. And talked about them as ideal spots to seek shelter in. Pretty soon, a large number of immigrants begin to arrive. And in fact, John C Fremont, the R the army Colonel, who was helping support that the U S. Takeover of California recommended that some of these people. Whom he had met near Sutter's Fort take up residence and the MIS the buildings in mission Santa Clara. So during the fall and winter of 1846, a whole bunch of these. Immigrants settled in to the mission buildings in Santa Clara, where father resale was living. Now. Contrary to what earlier. Anglo American immigrants had done in Alta California, which was sort of. Move settle into the society. Maybe obviously learn Spanish, maybe marry someone. From one of the local families become Catholic, become Mexican citizens. None of these new residents were interested in doing that. They didn't speak Spanish and most of them were not Roman Catholics. And so. They were sort of. Outsiders in this new society. No. Father Al did his best to accommodate the people who had settled into the mission there. Even with the scarce resources he had available. He even went so far as to allow the families to set up a school in the mission. Which by the way. Was the first English language school in California. He also allowed him to hold Protestant worship services. Which might've been seen as, as awkward. At a time when religious differences were still a big deal. Right. Nevertheless these new immigrants still did not feel. Themselves at home or. Or at ease. In Alta, California. In fact. That November was particularly rainy November in Santa Clara in the Santa Clara valley. And on one particularly rainy day. Father Rael asked some of the native Americans working at the mission to climb onto the steep tile roof of the grainery. Where. These people were living to try and, Stop some of the leaks. Now. These immigrants misinterpreted that. And pulled out guns. And brandish them at the Indians. So this gives you an idea of how well his, his attempts to accommodate the newcomers went over. Of course with Mexico. And the United States. At war. Real of course was the spiritual leader of the local Kelly Ford, Neo Hispanic population. And rumors about him because of the language barrier between him and the Americans, rumors about him began to spread. And it was even risk whispered that he had promised absolution that is forgiveness of sins to anyone who would injure or kill an American. Right. Another rumor that was told as a fact in later years. Was that. California's plan to massacre. The immigrants living there. Right. So. Living at Santa Clara. So this was a, it was, it was quite a crazy situation. So let's see what else was going on at that time? That, that. That kind of heightened the tensions. So, as I mentioned, these rumors were going around at the California was we're going to come during the nighttime and kill the sleeping immigrants. So the U S army. Heard these reports, right? And they sent a detachment. Actually it was the us Navy sent a detachment to search the mission. And they did find a guns there that had been stored by Salamone Pico. One of the relatives appeal Pico, but who was actually in Mexico at the time. Okay. So. Who did the Lieutenant in charge go after. Father Rielle. He said a letter to father. Who by that time had been reduced to living into just two rooms and the mission buildings. Threatening him with the same punishment. That would be a flicked ID. On any other secret enemy that might fall into my hands, unquote. So what was realz response to this situation? He decided to go to Monterey for some weeks. Until the tensions subsided. And he felt that he wasn't in immediate danger. Of course. As the occupation war on. Tensions provoked by the occupation forces. Manifested themselves in other ways that were perhaps less violent. One. Thorny issue. That came up was, you know, the topic of how religion was going to be dealt with religious matters, which included marriage. Right. So by the end of the Mexican era. The issue of marriage is between Catholics and non-Catholics had already become a hot button issue. Mexican law. As I mentioned before, another podcast had required. That non-Catholics who arrived in Alta California had to convert to Catholicism in order to marry local women. And in order to obtain citizenship and all the rights that went with it, right. But this influx of foreigners arriving in Alta, California. Made the situation much more fluid. You began to see cases, a number of cases of civil marriages that is not marriage is in the church with a Catholic priest present. Taking place. Right. In fact in January already in January of 1846. Bishop Garcia Diego. Wrote a scathing letter, denouncing the irregularities. Of the application of Mexican marriage law in California. He wrote that to governor PO Pico. So even. And early 1846 before, you know, the whole, the real influx of foreigners came into California. The Catholic clergy, we're already beginning to see problems with this. So in June. So in a specific case, In June of 1847. Father Rielle wrote his own complaint to John Burton, who was the Al call day. Of the Pueblo of San Jose. Remember I'll call the, is both. It doesn't translate exactly to mayor, right? Oftentimes you'll see. I'll call day, especially a few. Use online translation. We'll just translate it as mayor, but in 19th century, California. And in other parts of, the old Spanish territory is y'all called is, is. Both mayor justice of the peace. City magistrate. So he had a lot of, a lot of responsibilities, right? And so John Burton. The Al call day of San Jose in 1847 under us occupation. He was a new Englander who had settled in Alta California. Right. And had gone through. The different requirements to become a Mexican citizen? Well, It seems that he performed a civil marriage of two local California's right. Not. Not a Mexican, California and an Anglo. Person who came, but to local Hispanic Californians. And so this actually. Attracted the Padres anger. He wrote a letter accusing Burton of undermining his authority. The Padres authority as the religious leader of the local population. And in reality view, Burton had violated the religious norms and actually broken American law. Since president Polk. Had ordered that the religious institutions and rights and practices. Of Mexican, California is B. Respected and protected in the broadest possible way. Now. The Padre, you know, Rail. Didn't just stick with talking about the law. He also. Put Burton on notice that his own eternal soul might be in danger. Right? So Burton. Being a Mexican citizen. And I guess a Roman Catholic, he was either a con I don't know much about him, that he was either a convert or. He may have been an Irishman who came to California, but in any case, REL. Knew him to be a Catholic and said he was not above church law. And even went so far rail said that he had the right and the duty. To excommunicate Burton. If he were to keep on doing these sorts of civil marriages. He then. Real then not only wrote a letter to Burton, but he wrote a letter to the U S military governor. James B. Mason. Talking about. Burton's actions, which he said filled the whole Pueblo with scandal. And he all, this is an interesting note. He reminded Burton who evidently was a fluent Spanish speaker. Remember this letter is written in Spanish to Burton. Who's a new Englander. And. He. Says that I remind you that every magistrate. Has the duty, the obligation to answer in the language in which he is written. So. Evidently. Burton. It had been replying. To father out in English. I guess since they were under us occupation. Well, The us military authorities wanted to keep. Confrontations with the local population to a minimum. In fact, governor Mason. Replied to father L's letter. And his message. He said that he would instruct Burton to refrain from performing any marriages during the military occupation of California. Where either party is a member of the Catholic church. So they basically said, okay, Burton can perform marriages, but not between Catholics or between Catholics and other people. He actually. Made an executive order forbidding. Civil marriage is for Catholics and this was to be applied all over California. So father RAL. Felt himself to be vindicated. No. He had these sorts of issues going on. But he also rail also began to involve himself in other activities. Thanks. In fact, this is, this is a very interesting couple of side notes. Thanks to his relation with the local native Americans is good relationship with the local, may it native Americans. He actually played a key role. In the discovery of a mercury mine, what they called Quicksilver at the time. Near San Jose, which the new Almaden mine. Right. This is very important because mercury or quick silver. Was a very important. Chemical for refining silver. And as you probably know, silver. Was extremely important. Especially in the Spanish empire in north America. And it continued to be so. In. Mexican Alta, California, and in the Southwest. So to find a quick silver mine was extremely important. Development, of course the Indians knew about it. All along. They used the, the, or from that area to as paint for themselves and for You know, For art pottery, et cetera. So he was involved in this. And it was became a shareholder in the mine actually. And the story of that mine is very interesting without, Without deviating too much. That mine eventually was nationalized. There was a long lawsuit. It was eventually nationalized by president Lincoln. So the U S government took it over in 1860s. Now not only was he involved in a Quicksilver. Antonio Coronel another, Mexican. Immigrant who came to California in 1830s, settled in Southern California, but quota. Now a really important. Figure in the history of Southern California. And in fact, I should probably dedicate an article. A podcast to him. Koto now. Antonio Corta now. claimed to have run into Fr Real Near the San Joaquin river in August of 1848. He said that the friar actually had a fair amount of gold with him. And said he was coming from the fields of the Stanislaus river. Recently discovered. The Goldfields there. That we're very rich in or. Another aspect of rail's personality that gained him. A good reputation. Was that of being an accomplished horseman? Lorenzo C-SAT. Sarah a. A native American from the Santa Cruz area. Because probably best known for his account. Of the murder. Of one of the missionaries there. Father Lorenzo key has, excuse me. Kitana. And risking Tana, sorry. He uh, is best known for that account, that Bancroft. Recording cops, men recorded. So you sorta mentioned in his testimony. That he knew. Father Al's brother Antonio at mission Santa Cruz and said that both the, both the SWAT as brothers. SWAT as Dirrell brothers. We're very good horseman. And could quote, play with a bull as would the best buck Cato. No. Unquote. Rouse appreciation for the lifestyle of the California Ranchos. Surely endeared him to the Spanish speaking population. Especially in the time period when they saw their way of life eroding. One American visited Santa Clara in 1850. In the summer. Had this to say, I heard him highly spoken of as one who did much for the amusement of his people. And. This person also mentioned that they watch the celebrations. In August of that year. Of the missions of patron, Saint, Saint, Claire of a CZ. And during the celebrations. The pod reorganized a portion of the Plaza, joining the church to be enclosed by a strong fence. And seats for the ladies were put up under the projecting roof. Have a house. The now forms part of Santa Clara college. And a series of bull fights was inaugurated. So father Al was putting on bull fights. To help keep people's spirits up during these. The years. After the U S annexation and leading into statehood. Of course while putting on bull flights in the main square of Santa Clara of the Pueblo scent or the town of Santa Clara may have helped Hispanic Californians. To maintain their identity. It certainly didn't hold back time. By the beginning of the 1850s. The old order was coming to an end. So the war is, you know, ended in 1848 with the signing of the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. And in 1850, of course. California Alta California was incorporated into the United States. As the state of California. The scholar, David Weber. Southwestern scholar. David Weber said that this, you know, he had a great phrase, which was at a certain point now. The Hispanic. Residents. Of the Southwest California. Inclusive. We're beginning to feel like strangers in their own land. Now the Catholic church. In California, that the hierarchy, the bishops. The clergy. Began to also recognize this reality. And of course now. The Catholics in California, no longer part of. The church Catholic church of Mexico. Now part of the Catholic church of the United States. And so in 1850 also, The first Bishop. Of the Catholic church in American, California was appointed. His name was Joseph Alimony. Or alimony. He, Was a Spanish, a Spaniard, ironically. Of the Dominican order, another church, religious order. Somewhat similar. To the Franciscans, but different in its own ways. So. He set up. His diocese and Monterey has headquarters in Monterrey. And. He actually wanted to try and rebuild recuperate. The church has positioned in society that had been eroded so much, especially in 1830s and forties. And one of his first goals was to attract priests who were fluent in English. For him, like I said, he was a Spaniard born in Spain. What was most needed were to bring priests capable of ministering, to. English speaking Catholics of which there were now a growing number who had come to California as the result. Of the gold rush. So Ralph found himself more and more at the margins, both as a. non-English speaker and as a Franciscan. BJ Reed. An American who arrived in California in 1850, also. He actually wound up teaching. At. Santa Clara university, which. Was what became of the, the old mission at Santa Clara BJ read, observed father rail. During Sunday mass services, he said, quote, The Padre here is a Franciscan who seldom preaches. That is he seldom gives a homily. He actually read express surprise that Ryall did not speak English at all. He nevertheless, Reed was hopeful that things would soon change. He said. I understand the old Franciscan friar here is soon to give place to a Jesuit priest. I think the change will do you do. Excuse me. I think the change will do good. The new Jesuit priest will be able to preach in English and other tongues. Now the Jesuits had been in Oregon since 1844. They were operating missions among the native people there and their headquarters were in the Willamette valley. And. Northwestern, Oregon. As you may recall, the Jesuits were expelled from all Spanish territories in 1867. And of course it was the Franciscans. Who took over their missions in. Baja California. And then I came up north. To upper California to California, right. But by 1814. The Pope had restored the Jesuit order and re and they were being brought back. So one of Bishop Allah These early actions was to request that the Jesuits help in establishing an educational outreach. Because they were known. For having started universities and teaching all Europe and Latin America. And so the Bishop's idea was to convert. The mission at Santa Clara into a. High school slash college. To educate young men, especially the young men of the people that were moving into California. So on March 4th, 1851, he appointed father John. Nobili an Italian Jesuit. To become the permanent pastor of Santa Clara of the Santa Clara mission. When. The Jesuit arrived. Father, no, Billy on March 19th, the Bishop himself was also there, which happened to be the feast day of Saint Joseph and the Pueblo of San Jose's patronal feast. And two days later. Father rail transferred the property of the mission. Santa Clara. To father Nobili. As ironic. Right. And what is this? 150 years to a hundred years later, more or less? The. Franciscan is now transferring property over to the Jesuit, right? It's sort of a reverse of what had happened a hundred years earlier. Now. According to a Jesuit historian, one of the historians father spearmint and who was a historian at Santa Clara university. He said real turned the church over in fair condition and reasonably well equipped with church vessels, vestments and ornaments for the service. Of the mass. But the. The new Jesuits who were taking over the mission at the time were not aware. Of what had happened. During the looting. And the deterioration. Of the mission and the 1840s that, that I mentioned on the previous episode. They were not happy with the shape. The mission was in. In fact father Nobili later wrote quote. I found the state of affairs here, anything but prosperous and encouraging. He. Later in other documents. Uh, During a court case. In which no, Billy was trying to get back some of the mission properties. He bitterly denounced father rail. And this is many, several years later. For transferring mission real estate to others. Without authorization from either political or religious authorities. And this is what I mentioned. Earlier that there were rumors. The father Al had. Had. Given away or sold properties at the mission to other people. Well, one case in particular. That really caused a lot of problems was the orchard, the mission orchard. Which had been. And object of dispute for many years. It seems that. Thomas Oliver Larkin. Who. Was the U S. Consul. Agent. He was a merchant financier and Mexican, California, right? Thomas old Larkin. Larkin street in San Francisco named after him. It seems that the Larkin had paid PO Pico.$1,200 for the Santa Clara mission orchard. Some years earlier. In partnership with a Mexican citizen named Benito. so father Al actually wrote a letter to Larkin that was published in the English language, California paper out of San Francisco called the California star. And he. Clearly these rumors had gotten around and Ryall was trying to defend himself. He alleged that this Benito. had written. To rail on Larkin's behalf. In order to arrange for quote. A substantial gratification to be given to the Indians to make the title to the orchard disappear. Unquote that is. The title belong to them. And Larkin had written to try and make that title disappear so he could get his hands on the orchard, according to reality. So for rail and these are rails words. Such an idea was so mean and insolent. That he was convinced. That there's no decency or honor in him in the priest that, that, that Larkin and Diaz had. No, we're convinced that he had no sense of decency. He accused both of them of conspiring to cause reality to quote. Sell the interest of innocence. He referred, he's referring to the native people. There is his innocence. And the honor of the church, which it is my right to defend. And which I will never cease to do unquote. Real then an order which gave him possession of the orchards of Santa Clara by direct. By the direction of the governor and commandant of this district. Of course. LARC and did not take that letter very well. And he fired back. Letter claiming ignorance. Diaz letter. And he and taking offense at rail's tone, he wrote quote. I would also inform you that no merchant should in this manner, write to me much less should a clergyman. Unquote. The dispute actually wound up going before the American occupation authorities and much to Larkin's embarrassment. Father Eyal was vindicated. In fact, the orchard. Santa Clara mission orchard. Was. Central to many lawsuits that took place during the 1850s about real estate in Santa Clara. Father know, Billy. The accused rail of granting the title of the orchard to a man named Antonio muddy. OCO. Who. Wrote a history of Alta California. And he claimed that he was rail's intimate friend. And so that's why he gave him the orchard. And in fact, in a letter to Jesuit superiors in Rome, Father, no Billy's superior father Michael, a Cole team blamed Rachel for having squandered the majority of the real estate of the parish. Unquote. No. We talked in the last episode about how father Al was, was already trying to leave California. And in fact, he actually wound up leaving Santa Clara. And heading Overland. To Mexico not taking a shit, but. Heading to Mexico. Within two months. Of that transfer of the mission. So April, may. Of 1851. On the way. He likely stopped in to Santa Barbara to see his old friend, father, Jose Maria Gonzalez Rubio. Who was, Leading up the, Or it was kind of heading up some of the leadership of the order of the Franciscan order in California. And he was one of the last members of the original group. That it's set out from tip peak. With father rail. So what happened to father Rael after he left out to California? Well, He arrived in Baja, California. In late June of 1851. But instead of continuing on. To Zika. is the headquarters of his Franciscan college. You actually took up residence in the military call colony there. I'd love Frontera. Which was just south. Of the recently drawn border with the United States. When word reached. The Franciscan superiors in Zacatecas. That Rachel I decided to become the. The chaplain of the military colony there. The father guardian of the colleges I could take us wrote. To the minister of justice in ecclesiastical affairs in Mexico. Refusing to permit the reality, appointed the chaplain there. And his letter. He actually said that rail was disobedient. And declared that the fryer had been stripped of all his spiritual authorities. So. Reality. Who wanted to leave the order? Who. Seemingly has been stripped of his authorities. And in June of 1852, The guardian of the college who sort of in charge of personnel there Diego, the locker room. wrote to father Gonzalez, Rubio and Santa Barbara. Right. Rails old friend. And. Console is Rubio had actually been sort of administering all the spiritual affairs of both. California's. Between the time that Bishop Garcia Diego. Who was the fryer that came with the original group. With rail. And eventually was made first Bishop of the In Baja, California. Between the time he died. And the appointment. Of Bishop alimony. Right? So. In that interim period. Father Gonzales, Rubio had been overseeing things. So. In his letter. To father Gonzales, Rubio. The guardian of the college. I actually asked him to use all of his influence to persuade. Reality to return to Zacatecas. He said, in fact, That despite the friction caused by WRAL becoming chaplain at He insisted. He asked Gonzalez Rubio to quote, paint the liveliest possible of how well disposed I am to him. And to convey to him that I will do my best to do whatever good I can for him. And we'll take into consideration all his services to the college unquote. According to guardian polo mode. The point was simple. In no way. His father rails remaining in either of the Californias. Good for him. Unquote. Rail was not persuaded to return to his Equitech. However. The events of the previous years had really taken a toll on him. And he was really sort of. Burned out and no mood to return to the order. Which from which she had become distanced. In 1853, he wrote to Manuel Castro, the cousin of Jose Castro who had been the military commander of all to California. And when he wrote to him, He was riding from San Jose that cobble, this is an 1853. So. San Jose Del Cabo is, is. You know, Southern. Down south. Southern part of Baja, California. And. He basically said that he had requested to leave the Franciscan order. And he hoped. That his request as soon be formalized. His only desire was to become a parish priest. To rest. And have complete Liberty. To live in tranquility, alongside friends, unquote. Unsure of where to settle down. Father RAL intended to await. The rumored confirmation of his friend, Gonzalez, Rubio as Bishop of Baja, California. In hopes of continuing to live down there. But. Rao's wish was not granted. Father Gonzalez Rubio finished his days in Alta, California. And real, eventually settled. In the coastal city of Mazda. in 1855. He was finally granted permission to lead the Franciscans and was incorporated into the diocese of Sonora. Though he kept up correspondence with friends in California and I've read. A number of these letters. Over the next several years. WRAL express bitterness about his time in California. Calling it quote. A foreign country. That I have whore. Unquote. So rail spent his last days down in LUN to the best of our knowledge. And he. Left a legacy and Alta California. Of service of. Of involvement in politics involvement in different issues. Of course rumors, other rumors about him. That I didn't go into here. And in fact, if you want to know more about his final days, I'm going to post a copy. Of the article I wrote about him for the journal, California history. I'll post a copy. And if you sign up. To receive our newsletter. You can, you can get a copy of that or have access to it. And. I think that, that by sharing the story of father rail, You know, It helps to give. A picture of the, the intrigues, the difficulties. The strategies. And the hard times that people live through. Especially in the last decades. Of. Mexican rule in California in those first decades of us. Statehood. And I think it helps to paint a portrait of a time that's that's multilayered multifaceted and for my money really interesting and fascinating, and that not enough people know about or know about in depth.