Monterey County CA Archives History - Books .....Chapter VI From 1800 To Close Of Mission Era 1893
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Book Title: Memorial And Biographical History Of The Coast Counties Of Central California.

CHAPTER VI.
FROM 1800 TO CLOSE OF MISSION ERA.

JOSE J. ABRILLAGA became governor in 1800 and continued to fill the office till
1814, during which period comparatively few events occurred requiring mention
here. In 1804 the separation of the Californias was authorized by royal decree
to be known thereafter as Antigua (old) and Nueva (new) California.

  The population in 1810 of gente de rason (others than Indians) of the Monterey
jurisdiction amounted, according to Bancroft, to about 480 souls; or, including
Branciforte and Santa Cruz, 550, with a neopypte [sic] population of about 5,000.

  It is said that bears were so numerous and bold at this period that they would
kill cattle daily, in sight of the vagueros; that wolves would even attack
work-horses between Monterey and the mission; and that in 1805, as the records
showed, about 400 head of stock were killed in the neighborhood of the "king's
ranch" by wild beasts. The neophytes at San Antonio, in 1805, numbered nearly
1,300, and of Soledad, over 700. Governor Arrillaga died July 24, 1814, and was
succeeded by Jose Arguello, commandante of Santa Barbara, as governor ad
interim, or till the appointment of Pablo Vicente de Sola, who was the last
governor under Spanish rule.

  The year 1818 was long remembered as the year in which Monterey was attacked
by the pirates under Bonchard, a privateer from South America, with letters of
marque, who, with two armed vessels bombarded, captured, and held the town for a
short time, or three or four days; when, after setting fire to the presidio and
fort, and the houses of the governor and commandant and doing considerable other
damage he departed down the coast, where, at various points, he frightened the
people and did more or less damage. He did not obtain much booty in his
California raid.

  The estimated population of California as collated by Bancroft for the year
1820 of Spanish and mixed blood or of gente de razon, was 3,270 souls. The
number of persons not of Spanish or Indian blood was placed at thirteen; and of
neophytes, 20,500.

  In 1822, Governor Sola was elected to represent California in the Mexican
cortez or congress, and he was succeeded by Captain Luis Arguello, as governor.

  In 1823, Fathers Payeras and Senan, prefect and president respectively, died.
Both were able and pious prelates and their loss was greatly deplored. About
this time, Americans or English speaking persons began gradually to arrive;
amongst those who arrived this year, were Captain J. B. R. Cooper, who became a
resident of Monterey for so many years, and Daniel A. Hill and Thomas M.
Robbins, afterward prominent citizens of Santa Barbara county.

  On the 18th of August, 1824, a general colonization law was passed by the
Mexican Congress, which in after years had a very important bearing on the
material welfare of California. David Spence, another of the very early pioneers
of Monterey, came in 1824. California was visited this year by a Russian
scientific expedition, under Otto von Kotzebue, of the Imperial Navy, who, in
his book describing his voyage, speaks with enthusiasm and discrimination of
this then unknown land. In the following extract he uses the language, both of a
philosopher and a prophet: "It has hitherto been the fate of these regions, like
that of modest merit or humble virtue, to remain unnoticed, but posterity will
do them justice; towns and cities will hereafter nourish where all is now
desert; the waters over which scarcely a solitary boat is yet seen to glide,
will reflect the flags of all nations, and a happy and prosperous people,
receiving with thankfulness what prodigal Nature bestows for their use, will
disperse her treasures over every part of the world."

  The white population of the Monterey jurisdiction, including Santa Cruz and
Branciforte in 1830, is variously estimated at from 1,100 to 1,150, including
120 soldiers at the presidio and at the missions, etc., and about fifty
foreigners. A supplementary act to the colonization law of 1824, was passed by
the Mexican Congress, November 21, 1828. Land grants in California were made
under these laws, which are extant and accessible in English through
translations of H. W. Halleck. The Solis revolt of 1829, which disturbed the
peace of Monterey and other towns, was suppressed in January, 1830. During the
last days of December, 1826, Captain Beechey's expedition anchored in Monterey
bay for the purpose of obtaining supplies and spars, etc. After a cruise to
Bering sea, in search of Sir John Franklin, he returned to Monterey a year
later. The narrative of his voyage, published in London, contained much accurate
and valuable information about California.

  In March, 1827, the French ship, Le Heros, Duhaut-Cilly, commander, visited
Monterey. It also came again in August, the same year, and in May, 1828. Having
spent considerable time at Monterey and other points in California, and being an
acute observer, Duhaut-Cilly's account of what he saw here sixty-five years ago,
as published in his voyage around the world, is exceedingly interesting and
valuable; as also are the observations of Dr. Botta and Lieutenant Le Netrel who
accompanied him. December 17th, there was a celebration on the Russian vessels
in Monterey bay of Saint Nicholas' day, and a fandango in the town. In February,
1829, on the Boston ship, Brookline, arrived at Monterey, Alfred Robinson, so
well and favorably known to all early Californians, both native and foreign. He
married into one of the first families of Santa Barbara, that of Captain de la
Guerra y Noriega. His book, "Life in California," is a standard work. He is
still (1892) living in San Francisco.

  Among the first overland immigrants from the United States were Jedediah S.
Smith and party of fifteen men, on a trapping and exploring expedition, who
reached California in the month of December, 1826. This company was the advance
guard of the great caravans which came in after years, and which became so
important a factor in the building up, on this western coast, of several
American commonwealths. The movements of this party caused some apprehension on
the part of the authorities, and they were required to report at the capital,
which they did, after various wanderings, in October, 1827. Here Captain Juan B.
R. Cooper signed a bond, making himself responsible for the good behavior and
speedy departure of Smith and party for Oregon, whither they went, accompanied
by an escort of ten men as far as San Francisco, Solano, the escort being
furnished by Governor Echeandia.

  Manuel Victoria was appointed governor in 1830, but he did not arrive in
Monterey till January, 1831. He made himself very unpopular with the
Californians, and after less than a year's troubled rule, filled with petty
quarrels, he was compelled to leave the country, or at least to vacate his
office. Don Carlos Carrillo, who had been elected to the Mexican Congress, made
the administration acquainted with the condition of affairs in California,
urging the pressing need of an organic law, and of the establishment of courts
of justice, and of a reform in the administration of the finances of the
territory. He pointed out the injustice as well as the impolicy of promoting
Mexicans over native Californians of experience and proved capacity; and he
recommended the separation of the political from the military power. Being
himself a native Californian, he took a patriotic interest in the welfare of the
Province. His address to Congress was published, and was a fair presentation of
the claims of California on the central government. The great distance of
California from the Mexican capital, resulted often in its being poorly
governed, mainly, perhaps, because the state of affairs here was not well
understood.

  The territorial deputation at Los Angeles on the 11th of January, 1832,
elected Pio Pico, as gefe politico, or chief executive officer ad interim; but
as the gefe provisional, Echeandia, and the ayuntamiento of Los Angeles declined
to recognize him, he only served twenty days; and there was an interregnum till
the appointment of General Jose Figueroa, during which period one Zamorano, of
Monterey, and Echeandia, at San Diego, pretended each to exercise authority,
thus presenting the unseemly spectacle of a double-headed government. But the
people generally minded their own private affairs and paid very little attention
to these factional heroes.

  Governor Figueroa arrived at Monterey, January 14, 1833. He caused a brief
notice of his arrival to be printed at Monterey- which was the first printing
done in California-and circulated with an address to the people, which he
brought with him from Mexico. The type used in printing his notice of arrival he
also probably brought with him. They were afterward used by Walter Colton and
Dr. Semple in printing, in English and Spanish at Monterey, the first newspaper
in the Territory, called The Californian. Figueroa was a man of much tact and
considerable ability, and he soon succeeded in harmonizing all interests. In
December, Juan Bandini was elected deputy to Congress.

  On the first of May, 1834, the Territorial Assembly, or Diputacion Territoral,
as they called themselves, met at the house of Governor Figueroa, with that
officer as president, and all the members present except Pio Pico. This body had
many sessions during the year as there was much public business which required
attention.

  Some of the more important matters considered were the secularization, of the
missions, finance, the granting of public lands, and municipal governments.

  In October Jose Antonio Carrillo was elected member of Congress.

  A company of colonists, which had been recruited in Mexico, arrived this year,
on the two vessels, Natalia and Morelos, from San Blas. Some of these colonists
were destined for the southern part of the Territory; the balance arrived at
Monterey late in the year. Among the colonists who afterward became prominent in
Californian annals, were: Abrego, Covarrubias, the Coronels, Estraba, Olvera,
Ocampo, Prudon and others. It is said that the Natalia, which was finally driven
ashore in a storm at Monterey, was the same vessel in which Napoleon escaped
from the island of Elba in 1815.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Memorial and Biographical History of the Coast Counties of Central California.

Illustrated.

Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast from the
Earliest Period of its Discovery to the Present Time, together with Glimpses of
its Auspicious Future; Illustrations and Full-Page Portraits of some of its
Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of many of its Pioneers, and Prominent
Citizens of To-day.



HENRY D. BARROWS,
Editor of the Historical Department.

LUTHER A. INGERSOLL,
Editor of the Biographical Department.

"A people that take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will
never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote
descendants."—Macaulay.


CHICAGO: THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY.
1893.


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