Manuel Antonio Gonzalez files a complaint with de Riva against Xavier Ortega (mulato Libre) who broke his shackles and fled the Mina Fontanena. Ortegas wife (Gregoria Gonzalez, Mestiza) had previously complained to Gonzalez about the treatment her Husband was receiving. Not withstanding, Ortega is ordered to return to work for Gonzalez to pay off the price of the broken shackles, a stolen horse, and the cost of judicial proceedings. Gonzalez writes gobernador Velasquez about the incident, the latter responds that the justicia mayor should never impose prison sentences on unruly servants or even bother to hear their Cases in court. (P. Hayes) (1977)

Coronel Manuel Munoz finds Jose Agustin Peinado with a paper authorizing him to take 18 Yaquis to work on the hacienda of Pedro Porras. The justicia mayor of Parral takes the case and summons Juan Ygnacio to find why he permitted members of his tribe to leave without authorization. Ygnacio says padre Jose Ramon Velasco gave the necessary permission for the 18 to leave. de Riba meets with the padre, who says he authorized the 18 to leave in order that they could work off a debt owed to Pedro Porras. (P. Hayes) (1977)

Maria Rito de Ruiz demands compensation from Pedro de Asque y Armendariz for damages caused to the Molino, Corral and Casa of the hacienda she rented to him. Good example of the judicial workings. Information on Molinos. (P. Hayes) (1977)

Expediente file on the campaign for pacification of Sumas and other tribes by Jose de Berrotaran, comandant of presidio of San Francisco de Conchos. Contains; certified copies of initial instructions of Juan Francisco de la Puerta y Barrera, gov. Of Nueva Vizcaya (September 30, October 8, 1749), Berrotaran's campaign diary (October 5, November 24, 1749, signed January 7, 1750), testimony on Berrotaran's future to obey order as regards the line of March and the Apache chief Pascual, diary (November 27-December 15, 1749) of Cerrogordo comandant Jose Sanchez de Campillo documents concerning Berrotaran's arrest, defense and attachment of his property, the claim of his wife (Margarita de Ugarte) to the same property, and referral of the case to the viceroy. 184p. Partly on stamped pages. Written principally in San Felipe el real and the Conchos presidio. Pages tied together. With the signatures of Puerta, Berrotaran; Sanchez de Campillo; Dona Margarita; capts. Bartolome Luis Fernandez de Alcorta and Alonso Vitores Rubin de Celis; lts. Juan Jose de Basterrechea, Pedro Joaquin Diaz, and Jose de Vargas; and the notaries Juan Jose de Arespacochaga and Juan Antonio Marine. Legalistic and repetitious. Indians are mentioned but no real info. Given. Good example of sp. Bureaucracy. I would guess the ms. Was taken from Parral archives. (T.n.) (1975)

Causa criminal against Francisco Valenzuela, el bagre, for planning an uprising of 3 Indian (probably Tepehuan) pueblos. Causa criminal against his Brother, Nicolas Valenzuela, gobernador of Atontonilco, for refusing to apprehend rebels and send them to work in nearby mines. Rumors that el bagre is Mulatto. Alcalde mayor Vasques deposes, arrests Nicolas Valenzuela and gives bara of office to another Indian named barbolo. In essence, Nicolas Valenzuela Charged with failing to obey Vasques' order to supply nearby mine with Indian labor. (T. Sheridan) (1976)

(T. Sheridan) (1978)

Concerns controversy over position of justicia mayor and the sad state of Sonora province in general. Following incomplete document criticizes Tunon y Quiroz for inaction. (T. Sheridan) (1978)

In accordance with Spanish constitution, and upon request of Garcia conde, the Ayuntamiento de Durango declares that it is preparing information regarding persons capable of occupying positions of judges and magistrates in the province. (J. Hiller, April 1986)

Lengthy document by Garrido y Duran informing Revilla Gigedo on the causa de policia,judicial, economic, and military conditions of Sonora and Sinaloa up to 1790. On judicial Side, it is mentioned that province consists of 11 jurisdictions headed by a jefe de tribunal with the power to appoint local town officials; these officials operate without salary due to lack of funds caused by Apache depredations and poor harvests. Mention that in the recent past Indians were forced to work in mines, haciendas, and Ranchos, and that they were exploited and did not have time to cultivate their own land; now he has prohibited this, and that Indians will work on a voluntary Basis. Discussion that community wealth is administrated by the missionaries, and that they often are more concerned for their own interests allowing community conditions to deteriorate. It is also mentioned a lack of prisons. With respect to causa de policia, it is mentioned that Apache attacks have frightened the population and have prevented increases in commerce, mining, agriculture, and animal husbandry. Mention of lack of civil and administrative office in many towns; there is lack of hospitals, casas de Obraje, schools, and public meat and seeds stores. Mention that people are divided in two groups, one consisting of good people involved in commerce, mining, and agriculture; the other consisting of house servants and Manual laborers, who are drunkards and have other vices. Economics- list of different tax collection offices. Mention of the different partidos as well as the people holding these offices and amount of money payed for such offices. In order to attract more merchants to frontier, no tax is Charged on their goods. With respect to military affairs, it is mentioned that enemy Indians live in dispersed hamlets, lack supreme chief, and operate separately; Indians described as thieves. Mention of 6 military groups of soldiers, and 3 of Indian auxiliaries; short discussion of soldier's living conditions in presidios, as well as expenses involved for maintenance of troops. (J. Tapia, January, 1988)

Virrey orders royal meeting to determine responsibilities of Escandon in methods of conquest of new colony, attend to complaints against Escandon; letters from virrey to Palacios and Osorio puts them in charge of investigation, informs them they should write freely; letter from king to virrey telling him he is aware of Escandon situation. (D. Bautista, may 1990)