Catalog Search Results
Fernando de Rivera y Moncada letters to Antonio María Bucareli y Ursúa
Title
Fernando de Rivera y Moncada letters to Antonio María Bucareli y Ursúa, 1776-1777.
Physical Description
5 items.
Language
Spanish
Notes
Accompanied by typescript English translations made by a former owner for four of the letters.
In Spanish.
Provenance
Formerly owned by James Strohn Copley. Purchased from Sotheby's (James S. Copley Library sale, 2010 October 15, lot 720) on the Frederick W. and Carrie S. Beinecke Fund for Western Americana, 2010.
Access and use
This material is open for research.
Biographical / Historical Note
Fernando de Rivera y Moncada was born in 1711 in Compostela, Mexico. By 1742 he was a member of the military in Loreto, Baja California. As a commander, he assisted in founding the missions of Santa Gertrudis and San Francisco Borja. In 1768, Rivera aided Gaspar de Portolá in expelling the Jesuits from California. In 1769-1770 he joined Portolá in exploring the Monterey Bay area. Rivera retired in 1772, but returned to service as military commander of Alta California, where he dealt with the 1775 attack on the San Diego mission. In February 1776, one of the Indian neophytes involved in the attack confessed and took sanctuary in the building being used as a chapel. Rivera did not recognize this as sanctuary, and was excommunicated by the Franciscans when he removed the neophyte by force. Following a meeting with Father Junípero Serra in Monterey, the issued was resolved and the excommunication was lifted. He was assigned as commander of Loreto for 1777-1779. Rivera was killed on 18 July 1781 during an uprising of the Yuma Indians.
The Misión San Diego de Alcalá was founded on 16 July 1769 as the first of the Franciscan missions in the Alta California region of New Spain by Father Junípero Serra. In 1774 it was relocated six miles away at the recommendation of Father Luís Jayme. The San Diego mission was plundered and burned down by local Indians the night of 4 November 1775; Father Jayme was killed during the attack.
Antonio María de Bucareli y Ursúa was born in Seville in 1717. He served Spain as a military commander in Cuba (1766-1771), before becoming Viceroy of New Spain (1771-1779).
Summary
Four autograph letters and one manuscript letter in an unidentified hand, signed, dated from 3 January 1776 to 19 November 1777. The first four letters (autograph, dated January 3-October 4, 1776) were written from San Diego, and are primarily concerned with the aftermath of the November 1775 attack on the mission, the death of Father Jayme, and the difficulties of fortifying the garrison due to the lack of wood. Rivera reiterates his opinion that the mission not be relocated to Monterey, adding that Lieutenant Colonel Anza (whom he consults on various matters) is in agreement. The fourth letter summarizes Rivera's actions in the eleven months since the attack, noting that, despite having lived in "reduciones" for 34 years, he still cannot decide on how best to rule them. The final letter (in an unidentified hand), written more than a year later, from Loreto, confirms the arrival by ship of horses and mules, and Rivera's purchase of cattle, the latter being sent on to Monterey.
Format
Archives or Manuscripts
Added to Catalog
February 21, 2013
References
Fernando de Rivera y Moncada Letters to Antonio María Bucareli y Ursúa. Yale Collection of Western Americana, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.
Cite as
Fernando de Rivera y Moncada Letters to Antonio María Bucareli y Ursúa. Yale Collection of Western Americana, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.
Subjects
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