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Provincias Internas - Research, 1604-1821

 File — Box: 8

Scope and Contents

From the Series: This ramo deals with various issues concerning the Northern provinces, known as Provincias Internas. In 1776 Carlos III authorized a large semiautonomous unit to be carved from the viceroyalty of New Spain. The proposal had been proposed by José de Gálvez during his 1765-71 inspection of the viceroyalty. This new unit included the provinces of New Mexico, Texas, Coahuila, Nueva Vizcaya, Nuevo Reino de León, Nuevo Santander, Nayarit, Sinaloa, Sonora, and Alta and Baja Californias. The reasons for creating Provincias Internas included a desire to promote administrative efficiency on a frontier that was far removed from Mexico City, to stimulate economic development, and to protect Spanish territories from the imperialist actions of other European powers such as Russia and England as well as the United States. Important among the concerns of the commanders of the provinces were Indian raids and warfare, relations with peaceful Indians, financial matters including misuse of funds, tax collection and salaries, troop administration, requests for promotions, retirements and replacements, establishment of new presidios and towns, construction of churches, prisoners of war, desertion and treason, and getting troops, supplies, and weapons to the provinces.

During this time there were several visits by visitadores - visitors or inspectors - who were representatives of the Spanish crown. Their function was to inspect the administration of the provinces and the actions of the viceroy. The major ones encountered in the provinces were Pedro de Rivera, approximately 1728-1735 and José de Gálvez, approximately 1767-1779.

The first capital was the town of Arizpe. The Provincias Internas was restructured several times between its inception and Mexico’s independence from Spain in 1821. In 1786 they were split into three military regions: the western provinces (Sonora y Sinaloa) under the commander general, the central provinces (Nueva Vizcaya and New Mexico) under the viceroy, and the eastern provinces (Coahuilla, Texas, Nuevo Leon and Nuevo Santander) also under the viceroy. In 1787 they were re-consolidated into two districts: Western and Eastern. In 1792 the two regions were restructured again under orders of Carlos IV into a single unit. The arrangement remained until 1804 when the king again ordered two separate divisions. The actual consolidation was finalized in 1813 and remained until 1821.

Sources: http://www.agn.gob.mx/guiageneral/ and http://207.200.58.4/handbook/online/articles/PP/nfp1.html.

Among the themes - administration, appointments, jurisdiction, finances, asientos, taxes, expeditions, reports, diaries. Funds, supplies for settlers, troops, Indians, Negro slaves. Incompatibility between the Intendent system and the Commander of the Provincias Internas. Reforms, reorganization, how the revisions would be implemented to the militias of Buenos Aires, Cuba and Peru. Frontier defense, military training, escorts. Need for more missionaries, reorganization, new buildings, secularizing, conversion, idolatry. Conditions of Sonora missions. Mismanagement of Bishop of Nuevo Leon, construction of cathedral of Monterrey, tithes. Indian tribute, rebellion, depredations, campaigns, casualties. Indian and Negro prisoners, labor, Indian poverty, relocation, peace efforts, help from peaceful Indians. Apaches, Chichimecas. Personnel lists for presidios in New Mexico, Nueva Vizcaya, Sonora, etc. - muster rolls, names, invalids, and Comanche and Apache interpreters. Life of officers, soldiers, marriages, promotions, retirement, invalids, widows. Lawsuits, abuse of troops by officers, hospitals, epidemics, deaths, interims, prisons, alcohol, gambling, horse thefts, embezzlement, murder, assault. Death of Antonio Bustamante, Felipe, will. Conditions, censuses, mail service, paper, roads, public works, floods, drought.

Conquest of Nayarit. Expeditions to California, Alaska, Texas, Sonora. De Anza, Garces, Vial. Mining in Chihuahua, azogue, regulations. Pearls in California. Expropriation of cattle ranches. Land and water conflicts, Canary Islanders in Texas. Education of Negro slaves by clerics, flight of slaves from Louisiana and Nacogdoches, fugitive African slaves in Mexico, Cimarrones.

French and English relations, activities. Spanish sovereignty in Texas and Louisiana. Foreigners in Texas, Florida, Louisiana, New Mexico, California, the Mississippi River, the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, Veracruz, and Cuba. Contraband from French, North Americans. Austria’s involvement. United States intrusions, encroachment. Surveillance, defense, passports, contraband, warfare, peace treaties. Americans and independence of Texas. Activities of Aaron Burr and his supporters. Pirates on Galveston Island, in Sinaloa.

New Mexico, Complains of the citizens of New Mexico about the tyranny of the missionaries, 1617. Church state conflict in 1630s, conflicts 1670s between governors Villanueva, Miranda, Manso. Pueblo Revolt 1680, conditions El Paso, Jironza entrada, attempts to recover New Mexico, events, supplies El Paso. Correspondence and actions of various New Mexico governors over the decades. Hopi revolt 1708, Spanish campaign 1716. Obraje in Santa Fe, 1788. Conditions of New Mexico missions over years, particularly 1790s. French traders in New Mexico, Pecos Pueblo, Taos Pueblo, ties to Comanches. Many details on New Mexico military, presidio, lists of troops, cavalry, horses, wages ,conditions. Crown funds for construction in Santa Fe, cabildo, presidio, churches. Census 1775 of Santa Fe presidio, residents, Indians, and livestock. Details of New Mexico Indian policy, campaigns, Anza, Concha, other governors, peace, gifts, expenses, Utes, Navajo, Apache, Comanches. Anza expeditions to California. Many details on El Paso presidio, mission, conditions, Mansos Indians. Juan de Ulibarri (Uribarri) 1706 expedition to Cuartelejo, Kansas, Missouri, and rescue of Picuris Pueblo. Founding of Albuquerque, 1706. Pedro Vial various expeditions to Missouri, Louisiana, Texas, 1789-1793

People - Indigenous Groups - Apaches, Mescalero Apaches, Babosirigames, Caracacaguaces (caracaguases/caracaguazes/carancahuazes/karankawa), Caudachos, Chichimecas, Chiricahua Apaches, Comanches, Coras, Gila Apaches, Apaches Gileños, Huicholes, Julimeños, Jumanos - Humanos, Linderos, Lipan Apaches, Apaches Lipanes, Lipiyanes, Mansos, Mecos, Moquis - Hopi, Navajo, Nayarit, Palalgueques, Pames, Pecuris Pueblo, Piatos, Salineros, Salinas, Seri, Sibubapas, Sobaipuri, Suaquis (Zuaqui), Tahuacanes, Tanambres, Tamaulipas, Tarahumaras, Taymayes, Tepehuanes, Tiburones, Tigua, Tlaxcalanes, Tlaxcala, Taos Pueblo, Topocas, Utes, Xanambres, Xicariya Apache, Jicarilla Apache, Xichú, Yaquis, Yumas, Yuta, Zuni Pueblo.

Viceroys - Juan de Acuña y Bejarano, Second Marquis of Casa Fuerte; Agustín de Ahumada, Marques de las Amarillas; Fernando de Alencastre Noroña y Silva, First Duke of Linares and Marquis of Valdefuentes; Miguel José de Azanza, Duke of Santa Fe; Félix Berenguer de Marquina; Antonio Bucareli; Felix María Calleja del Rey; Carlos Francisco de Croix (marques de Croix); Diego Fernández de Córdoba, Marquis of Guadalcázar and Count of Posadas; Francisco Fernández de la Cueva, Tenth Duke of Alburquerque and Marquis of Cuéllar; Manuel Antonio Flores Maldonado Martinez Angulo y Bodquín; Matías de Gálvez y Gallardo, Captain General of Guatemala; Miguel de la Grúa Talamanca de Carini y Branciforte; Juan Vicente de Güemes Pacheco de Padilla y Horcasitas, Segundo Conde de Revillagigedo; Jose de Iturrigaray; Bernardo de Gálvez y Madrid (conde de Gálvez); Martín de Mayorga Ferrer, Captain General of Guatemala; Joaquín de Montserrat, Marqués de Cruillas; Alonso Núñez de Haro y Peralta; Juan Ruiz de Apodaca, Conde de Venadito; José Sarmiento y Valladares, Count of Moctezuma and of Tula; Juan Antonio de Vizarrón y Eguiarreta, (Archbishop of Mexico); Francisco Xaviar Venegas

Governors of New Mexico - Juan Bautista de Anza, Fernando Chacón, José Chacón, Marqués de la Peñuela, Fernando de la Concha, Pedro Fermín de Mendinueta, Francisco Antonio Marín del Valle, Antonio de Otermin, Manuel Portilla Urrisola, Joaquín de Real Alencaster, Pedro Reneros Posada, Pedro Rodríguez Cubero, Diego de Vargas Zapata y Lujan, Tomás Véles (Vélez) Cachupin, Fernando de Villanueva.

Governors of Texas - Benito de Armiñan, Domingo Cabello, Justo Boneo y Morales, José de Irigoyen, Antonio Martinez, Hugo O’Conor, Prudencio de Orobio Bazterra, Fernando Pérez de Almazan, Juan Maria Vicencio (Barón) de Ripperdá, Nemesio Salcedo, Tomas Felipe de Wintuisen,

Governors of Coahuila - Jacinto de Barrios y Jáuregui, Francisco Cuervo y Valdés, Miguel Emparan, Miguel José Empáran, Pedro Fueros, Antonio García de Tejada (Texada), Alonso de León, Diego Ortiz Parrilla, Manuel Pardo, Miguel de Sesma y Escudero, Juan de Ugalde, Jacobo Ugarte y Loyola,

Governors of Sonora - Antonio Bustamante, Francisco Antonio Crespo, Mateo Sastre, Bernardo de Urrea

Governors of Sonora and Sinaloa - Antonio Cordero, Enrique de Grimarest, Juan de Mendoza, Juan de Pineda

Governors of Nuevo León - Francisco Echegaray, Vicente González Santibáñes (Santibáñez), Simón de Herrera, Manuel Vaamonde (Bahamonde), Melchor Vidal de Lorca y Villena, Bernardo Villamil (coronel),

Governors of Nueva Vizcaya - José Carlos Agüero, Mateo Antonio de Mendoza, Juan Isidro de Pardiñas Villar de Francos,

Governors of Nuevo Santander - José de Escandón (conde de Sierra Gorda), Diego Lasaga (Lazaga), Juan Fernando de Palacio, José Rubio,

Other Governors Juan Flores de San Pedro (Nayarit), Domingo de Luna (Nayarit), Felipe(Phelipe) de Neve (Puebla)

Clerics - Fray José Alejo Cuevas, ministro de la misión del Nobre de Dios (Chihuahua); Juan Alvarez, custodio franciscano de Nuevo México; Fray Francisco Antonio Barbastro; Padre Francisco Garces; ; Andres Llanos y Valdes, bishop of Nuevo León; Fray Junipero Serra ; Fray Mariano de los Dolores, missionary;

Military and other government officials - Pedro de Alberni, commander of presidio of Nayarit; Vicente de Alderete, commander of Presidio de Santa Rosa; Pedro Allende y Saavedra, capitan of the Presidio of Tucson; José de Areche, attorney general of Nuevo León; Joaquín de Arredondo, commander of the Provincias Internas de Oriente; Bernardo Bonavía, commander of the western provinces; Félix María Calleja; Vicente Cañaveral, commander of presidio of Nayarit; Ramón de Castro, commander of las provincias internas del oriente; Pedro Corvalán (Corvalan), intendente of Sonora; Teodoro de Croix (Caballero de Croix), commander general of Provincias Internas; Lope de Cuéllar, commander; Felipe Díaz de Ortega, intendant of Durango; Francisco Domingo de Laba, alcalde mayor de Cuautitlán; Juan Domínguez de Mendoza; Guillermo Dufay, first lieutenant of Punta Lampazos; Fernando Durán; Manuel de Echegaray, leader of campaign against the Apaches and commander of the Presidio of Santa Cruz; José María de Echegaray, commander of valle de Santa Rosa; Leonardo Escalante, commissioner; Bernardo Fajardo Covarrubias; Mauricio Faulia, commander of presidio of Nayarit; José Faustino Ruiz, commissioner; Alejo García Conde, intendant of Sonora y Sinaloa; Fray García de Esparza; Alejo de la Garza Falcón; Domingo Gironza (Jironza) Petris de Cruzate; Antonio Ladrón de Guevara Diego López Zarhano; Juan María Murgier, capitan of the second calvary Company of Nuevo Santander; Pedro de Nava (commander of Provincias Internas; Manuel Antonio de Oca, commander of presidio of Nayarit and of the villa de San Fernando de Austria; Alejandro O'Reilly, inspector general of his majesty’s infantry; Martín Orozco, armero mayor de las tropas of Nueva Vizcaya; Antonio Patau, intendant of Durango; Ramón de Posada, attorney general; Pedro Primo de Rivera, commander of presidio of Santa Rosa; Joseph Antonio Rengel, commander inspector; Juan Antonio Riaño , intendant of Durango Vicente Rodríguez, capitán of the presidio of Río Grande; Hermengildo Sal, commander of the Presidio of San Francisco; Fray Diego de San Buenaventura y Salazar; José Antonio Sierra, provincial cavalry captain of Nuevo Santander; Pedro Tamaron y Romeral, bishop of Durango; José de Urrutia, captain of the missions of Coahuila; Toribio de Urrutia, captain of the presidio San Antonio de Béjar; Antonio Valverde, commander of presidio de El Paso; Eusebia Ventura Beleña ; Pedro Velásquez de la Cadena; Antonio de Villaurrutia, intendant of Guadalajara.

Others - Moses Austin; Aaron Burr; Jacinto Camaño, leader of Alaska expedition; Juan José Echeveste, treasurer of the expedition to California; Domingo Elizando, visitor; José de Gálvez, visitador general; Agustín de Iturbide; Jean LaFitte, pirate; Meriwether Lewis; Pedro de Rivera, visitador; Pedro Vial, explorer and interpreter.

Places - presidios: Adais (Adaes), Buenavista, Carrizal, Cerro Gordo, Colotlan, Cumana, Espíritu Santo, Fronteras, Horcasitas, Huejuquilla, Janos, Julimes, La Habana (Havana), La Mesa del Tonati, Loreto, los Conchos, Mapimi, Monclova, Nuestra Señora del Pilar, Paso del Norte, Pilar de Conchos, Pilares, Pitic, Pueblo del Paso del Norte, Río Grande, San Antonio Bucareli de la Babia, San Antonio de Tula, San Antonio Menchaca, San Elizario, San Juan Bautista del Río Grande del Norte, San Pedro, San Saba, San Salvador de Berde (Verde), Santa Rosa del Sacramento, Terrente, Tubac.

Places - missions: Angosture, Cucurpe, Cumuripa, El Nombre de Dios, La Concepción, Onavas, Opodepe, Pánuco, Pecos, Purísima Concepción de Arnedo, Purísima Concepción de Bucareli, San Antonio, San Bernardo, San Cristóbal, San Francisco del Ati, San Francisco Solano, San Ignacio, San José de Pimaas, San Juan Bautista, Santiago Cocospera, Santo Nombre de Jesús, Tamapache, Tampico, Tecoripa, Tubutama, Tumacácori, Valladares, Xavier del Bac

Places - general: Aborca, Alamo, Albuquerque, Alta California, Altar, Arizpe (capital of Provincias Internas), Bahía del Espíritu Santo (Texas), Baja California, Bocoachi, Bolsón de Mapimi, Caborca, Californias, Camargo, Carrizal, Cerro Prieto, Cieneguilla, Ciudad de México, Coahuila, Cochiti, Colotlán, Copala, Copola, Cuautitlán, Cuencameé, Chihuahua, Chiricahua (Chiricagui), Durango, El Paso, Extremadura, Galisteo, Galveston, Gran Quivira, Guadalupe (Nuevo Reino de León), Guanajuato, Horcasitas, Huejúcar, Laredo, Louisiana (Luisiana), Llera, Maloya, Mazatlan, Mier, Minas de Cieneguilla, Monclova, Monterrey, Nacogdoches, Nayarit, Nootka (Alaska), Nueva Galicia, Nueva Tlaxcala, Nuevo México, Nuevo Reino de León, Nuevo Santander, Ostimuri, Parral, Parras, Paso del Río del Norte, Patzcuaro (Michoacán), Principe (Chihuahua), Provincias Internas de Oriente, Provincias Internas del Poniente, Punta de Lampazos, Punta de Sigüenza, Querétaro, Real de Bolaños, Real de Cieneguillas, Reinosa, Revilla, Río Colorado, Río Salado, Río Verde, Rosario, Saltillo, San Antonio de Béjar, San Antonio Galindo de Moctezuma (Montezuma), San Antonio Huayabos (Guayabos), San Blas, San Buenaventura, San Diego, San Felipe, San Felipe de Valladares, San Fernando, San Fernando de Austria, San Francisco Javier, San Gabriel, San Hipólito, San Ildefonso, San José, San José de Guadalupe, San Juan de Ulúa, San Lorenzo, San Luís de Potosí, San Marcial, San Miguel, San Pedro Chametla, Sandia, Santa Cruz, Santa Eulalia, Santa Fe, Santa Maria de los Angeles de Teúl, Santa Rosa, Santo Domingo, Santo Nombre de Jesús, Sayula, Seminario de la Santa Cruz de Querétaro, Sierra Tamaulipa, Sinaloa, Sombrerete, Sonora, Straight (Estrecho) of Juan de Fuca, Tampico, Taos, Tarahumara y Tepehuanes (Chihuahua), Teúl, Texas, Toluca, Topago, Tubac de Terrenate, Tucson, Valladolid (Yucatán), Valle Viejo (Nuevo León), Vallecillo (Nuevo León), Veracruz, Villa de Aguayo, Villa de Güemes, Villa de San Fernando (Texas), Villa de Santa Maria de Agreda, Villa de Valles, Villa San Juan, Windward Islands (Islas de Barlovento), Xalpa, Xichú, Ysleta (Isleta), Yucatán, Zacatecas.

Dates

  • 1604-1821

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English, Spanish, French, Mayan, Latin

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Extent

From the Collection: 23 boxes (16.5 cu. ft.), 267 volumes, 322 microfilm reels (masters in cabinets), 322 CDs

Creator

Repository Details

Part of the UNM Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections Repository

Contact:
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451