THE EXPLORATION AND PRELIMINARY COLONIZATION OF THE SENO MEXICANO UNDER DON JOSÉ DE ESCANDÓN (1747-1749): AN ANALYSIS BASED ON PRIMARY SPANISH MANUSCRIPTS A Dissertation by DEBBIE S. CUNNINGHAM Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY August 2010 Major Subject: Hispanic Studies THE EXPLORATION AND PRELIMINARY COLONIZATION OF THE SENO MEXICANO UNDER DON JOSÉ DE ESCANDÓN (1747-1749): AN ANALYSIS BASED ON PRIMARY SPANISH MANUSCRIPTS A Dissertation by DEBBIE S. CUNNINGHAM Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Approved by: Chair of Committee, Brian Imhoff Committee Members, Stephen Miller Nancy Joe Dyer Armando Alonzo April Hatfield Head of Department, J. Lawrence Mitchell August 2010 Major Subject: Hispanic Studies iii ABSTRACT The Exploration and Preliminary Colonization of the Seno Mexicano Under Don José de Escandón (1747-1749): An Analysis Based on Primary Spanish Manuscripts. (August 2010) Debbie S. Cunningham, B.A., The University of Texas of the Permian Basin; B.A., Texas State University; M.A., Texas A&M University; M.S., Texas State University Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Brian Imhoff In 1747, José de Escandón led an expeditionary force into the Seno Mexicano, the remote northern frontier of New Spain, which had developed into a safe haven for rebellious natives who had fled to the region as they resisted Spanish domination in the interior provinces. News of foreign encroachment into the region prompted officials in New Spain to renew their efforts to explore and pacify the region. Within three and one- half months, the area that had resisted previous attempts at exploration had been thoroughly explored and mapped. In December, 1748, Escandón set out to colonize the newly explored region, named Nuevo Santander. During the preliminary colonization of Nuevo Santander from 1748 to 1749, Escandón founded fourteen settlements along the Río Grande. iv In this study, I transcribe, translate, and study all primary Spanish manuscripts documenting the exploration of the Seno Mexicano, and the preliminary colonization of the newly founded province of Nuevo Santander. I provide the first English annotated translation of Escandón’s Informe documenting the exploration of the Seno Mexicano, and the first English-language account of the preliminary colonization of Nuevo Santander that is based on all available manuscripts documenting the event: Escandón’s Autos and Friar Simón del Hierro’s Diario. Escandón accomplished what no Spaniard before him could. He successfully explored the Seno Mexicano, and began colonizing the newly founded province of Nuevo Santander. Under Escandón’s colonization design, for the first and only time in the history of New Spain, Spanish officials relied on colonists rather than soldiers and priests to colonize a region. This colonization design had a definitive impact on the future development of the region, and provided the framework under which a civilian ranching industry would emerge and flourish. Escandón was one of the most important people in 18th century New Spain, and the impact of his accomplishments and unique colonization plan is still evident today on both sides of the Río Grande. v DEDICATION This work is dedicated to the memory of my Grandma Bales, whom I miss everyday. vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank Dr. Brian Imhoff for his guidance and support during my graduate studies at Texas A&M University. Thanks to the instruction that Professor Imhoff provided in transcribing colonial Spanish manuscripts, I have an area in which I can research and publish for decades to come, and I’m very appreciative of the skills I’ve developed while working with him. I would also like to thank my committee members, Dr. Stephen Miller, Dr. Nancy Joe Dyer, Dr. Armando Alonzo, and Dr. April Hatfield, for their instruction and support throughout the course of this research. Thanks also to Dr. José Villalobos and Dr. Richard Curry, who also offered moral support during my graduate studies at Texas A&M. I would also like to thank Drs. Lucy and Michel Harney for their support and friendship during the completion of this dissertation. This research project was made possible by grants from several generous entities. I would like to extend my gratitude to the Melbern G. Glasscock Center and the Office of Graduate Studies at Texas A&M for providing funding for travel to archives that was critical to the completion of this research. I would also like to thank the Pan American Roundtables of Texas and the Recovery Project of the University of Houston for providing funding for my research. Finally, thanks to my family for their support, love, patience, and understanding: Mere, Dad, and Sheila, I could not have finished this without your support. It’s finally over! vii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT .............................................................................................................. iii DEDICATION .......................................................................................................... v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...................................................................................... vi TABLE OF CONTENTS .......................................................................................... vii LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................... viii CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION ................................................................................ 1 II REVIEW OF LITERATURE ............................................................... 10 III HISTORICAL BACKGROUND ......................................................... 27 IV ANNOTATED TRANSLATION OF ESCANDÓN’S INFORME ..... 46 Escandón’s Informe to the Viceroy .............................................. 59 V AN ACCOUNT OF THE PRELIMINARY COLONIZATION OF NUEVO SANTANDER ....................................................................... 145 An Account of the Preliminary Colonization of Nuevo Santander, 1748-49 ........................................................................................... 153 VI DISCUSSION ...................................................................................... 219 VII CONCLUSION .................................................................................... 231 REFERENCES .......................................................................................................... 238 VITA ......................................................................................................................... 245 viii LIST OF FIGURES Page Figure 1 Map of the Seno Mexicano ................................................................ 58 Figure 2 Map of Nuevo Santander ................................................................... 152 1 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION In 1747 Colonel Don José de Escandón led an expedition into the unexplored region of the Seno Mexicano,1 the area of modern-day Northern Mexico and Southern Texas. According to Carlos E. Castañeda, “in three months a virgin area of 12,000 square miles, inhabited by apostates and barbarous Indians, who had resisted all previous efforts of the Spaniards to subdue them, had been thoroughly and completely explored, surveyed, and mapped.”2 In contrast to previous Spanish expeditions into unexplored areas, Escandón applied the tactics of a military campaign to the exploration plan, and ordered seven detachments to simultaneously converge over the area from different departure points. The plan outlined by Escandón had many advantages. It made it easier to explore and map the entire area from all directions all at once and it would take less time than if one party was to march and counter-march over the entire area.3 Colonel Escandón selected leaders for the detachments from each entry point and instructed them on their respective departure dates and exploration routes. In addition to instructing each captain on which route he was to follow, Escandón also ordered that they write a report detailing their activities, and meet him at the mouth of the Río Grande This dissertation follows the style of Southwestern Historical Quarterly. 1 The Seno Mexicano is the area between Tampico and Matagorda Bay. Donald E. Chipman, “Spanish Texas,” in Ron Tyler, Douglas E. Barnett, Roy R. Barkley, Penelope C. Anderson, and Mark F. Odintz (eds.), The New Handbook of Texas (6 vols.; Austin: Texas State Historical Association, 1996), VI, 17. 2 Carlos E. Castañeda, Our Catholic Heritage in Texas: 1519-1936, 7 volumes, (Austin: Von Boeckmann-Jones, 1936), II, 142. 3 Ibid., 141. 2 once they had completed their respective exploration.4 In January 1747, seven divisions with a total of 765 soldiers descended into the unexplored region; the expedition into the Seno Mexicano led by Escandón lasted until March 1747.5 With the exploration of the Seno Mexicano complete, Escandón faced the task of recommending settlements for the newly explored area.6 On October 26, 1747, he signed the report in which he narrated the expedition led under his command, provided detailed descriptions of the land, and proposed sites for settlements and missions in the newly charted region.7 Of the fourteen suggested settlements, three were to be located in the present State of Texas: one at Llano de Flores, a town with the same name as the nearby plain; one on the banks