California Genealogy

Franciscana y la Ocupación Dominicana de Baja California

After 1767 the Spanish Viceroy gave the administration of the government in La Baja to the commandant of the presidio troops, who acquired the title of governor. The capital was at Loreto, commonly called Presidio de Californias. In Jane, 1767, when the Jesuits were expelled from Mexico, the charge of the California missions was offered to the Franciscan College of San Fernando, in the Mexican capital; and, the proffer being accepted, seven friars from the establishment set forth for the peninsula, to be joined by five from the Sierra Gordo missions. Their progress was delayed, first, by contrary seas and … Read more

Descubrimiento y Primeras Exploraciones de Baja California

Pronto después de la conquista de México, a Cortez le llamó la atención ciertos relatos que contaban varios de los tribus conquistados con respecto a un país misterioso pero maravilloso que se encontraba lejos, hacia el noroeste. A esta tierra le llamaban Ciguatan, o El Reino de las Mujeres; y declaraban que estaba lleno de oro, de perlas, rubíes, granates, turquesas y muchos otros productos ricos y preciosos. Decian cosas maravillosas con respecto a la gente, las costumbres y la apariencia de esa tierra lejana. Aproximadamente durante ese mismo tiempo (en 1530) un esclavo indio le dijo a Nuño de … Read more

Emigración Mexicana

Búsqueda de Familias para los Nacidos en México Pasajeros Méxicanos a Nueva York 1892-1924

Mexican Church Records

Un directorio de la Iglesia Católica pone en una lista a los funcionarios del archidiócesis de la iglesia, a los diócesis, y a las parroquias. Los directorios de la iglesia: Ponen en una lista a las parroquias de cada diócesis para que usted pueda determinar si el pueblo de su antepasado ten ía una parroquia establecida. Esto también puede indicar si el pueblo tenía una capilla que aún no era una parroquia. A veces proveen las fechas más tempranas en las cuales existen los archivos de iglesia de cada parroquia. Pueden incluir la información histórica sobre cada parroquia. Usualmente agrupan … Read more

Anales de Baja California de 1854-1889

Varios de los soldados que tomaron parte en la invasión de 1847-’48 conservaron impresiones tan agradables de la península que después regresaron para establecerse como granjeros, mineros y comerciantes. Había, además, una convicción profunda que Baja California tenía que pertenecerle a los Estados Unidos y en esto, como siempre, la especulación estaba impaciente para compartir con el premio. Sobre los grupos buscando obtener subvenciones de tierra, el gobierno impusó una condición para la fundación de colonias, dandose cuenta quel desarrollo de los recursos naturales del país dependía principalmente en la inmigración extranjera. Por otra parte, los habitantes no aceptaban de … Read more

Pomponio

Liberty! Liberty! For a half-century we have done nothing but repeat this word, and one would say that those mouths which pronounce it belong to the heads which are ignorant of its meaning, or rather that it has no meaning; for, if one says: ‘We are free!’ ten others cry out at once: ‘We, we are oppressed!’ Such an one who found, a few years ago, too great a freedom, to-day demands very much more; and this is, doubtless, because each one has his own idea of liberty, and it is impossible to create a liberty for each one. – … Read more

The Flight of Padre Peyri

One of the few settlements of the old mission Indians remaining in California is Pala, a little village tucked away amidst some of the most charming scenery to be found in the southern part of the state. It is twenty miles east from Mission San Luis Rey, of which mission it was an asistencia, or branch, and twenty-four miles from Oceanside, the nearest point on the coast. The village stands in a valley which is completely surrounded by mountains, high and low, far and near, uniting with it in a succession of beautiful pictures around the entire horizon. To the … Read more

Juana

The overland mail-tram from San Francisco, on the way to New Orleans, came to a stop for a minute or two at the little old town of San Gabriel, ten miles east of Los Angeles. It was a hot July afternoon, in the year 1890; the car windows were open, and the passengers were gazing out listlessly at the few signs of animation about the station and town. San Gabriel is a sleepy old place, with little to interest the ordinary person. A traveler, passing through it, sees nothing to attract his notice as the train pauses at the station, … Read more

The Indian Sibyl’s Prophecy

In the southern part of the Mojave Desert a low hill stands somewhat apart from the foot-hills beyond, and back of it. Although not more than two hundred feet above the surrounding plateau, on account of its peculiar location, a commanding view may be had from its top. In front, toward the south, and extending all the way from east to west, the plain stretches off for many miles, until it approaches the distant horizon, where it is merged into lofty mountains, forming a tumultuous, serrated sky-line. Midway between the hill and the distant mountains, lie the beds, sharply defined, … Read more

Father Zalvidea’s Money

Father Zalvidea was in despair! After having lived for twenty years at Mission San Gabriel, devoting himself all that time to bringing the mission to a condition of so great size and wealth that it took its place at the head of nearly all of the missions of Nueva California, toiling from morning until night with untutored neophytes and striving to hammer something of civilization into their heads – now he was to be removed. He had seen this very thing threatening for many days, but had hoped and prayed that it might not be; he had mustered up boldness … Read more