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History of San Carlos Mission
San Carlos (Saint Charles). The second Franciscan mission founded in
California. Even before the founding of San Diego an expedition started north
under Portolá, in 1769, to explore the
country and find the port of Monterey, previously described by Vizcaino (1602),
where it was intended to establish the next mission . They reached the port, but
did not recognize it, and returned, after setting up a cross on the shore of the
bay. The following spring two expeditions started, one by land and one by sea.
Both expeditions arrived safely, and the port was this time recognized beyond a
doubt. The cross was found still standing, but surrounded and adorned with
arrows, sticks, feathers, fish, meat, and clams, placed there by the natives,
apparently as offerings. The bells were hung and the Mission of San Carlos
Borromeo de Monterey was formally founded June 3, 1770. Some huts were built and
a palisade erected, but for several days no natives appeared. Father Junípero
Serra soon became dissatisfied with the site of the mission, and in December,
after the necessary buildings had been constructed, it was removed to Carmelo
valley. The mission was hence forth known as San Carlos Borromeo del Carmelo,
sometimes in later days merely as Carmelo. The old site became the presidio of
Monterey. The native name of the new site, according to Taylor (Cal. Farmer,
Feb. 22,1860) was Eslenes. The number of converts gradually increased, 165 being
reported in 1772, and 614 in 1783. Serra made San Carlos his headquarters, and
here he died, Aug. 24, 1784, and was buried in the mission church. In 1785
Lasuen was chosen padre presidente, and made his residence chiefly at San
Carlos, Palou having temporarily taken charge after Serra's death. Monterey
being an important port, San Carlos was visited by a number of travelers,
including La Perouse (1786) and Vancouver (1793). The mission never had a large
number of neophytes; the highest, 927, was reached in 1794, after which there
was a gradual decline. In livestock and agriculture the mission was fairly
successful, the average crop for the decade ending 1800 being 3,700 bushels.
Cattle and horses in 1800 numbered 2,180, and sheep more than 4,000. There was
considerable increase during the next decade, but before 1820 the decline had
begun, though it was less marked for a time than at many other missions. In 1797
a new stone church, the ruins of which are still to be seen, was completed. The
number of neophytes was 758 in 1800, 513 in 1810, 381 in 1820, and about 150 in
1834. There was but little of the mission property left at the time of
secularization in the year last named, while by 1840 the ruined buildings were
all that remained. The mission church was entirely neglected until about 1880,
when it was restored and roofed, and was rededicated in Aug. 1884. The neophytes
of San Carlos belonged chiefly to the Costanoan and Esselenian linguistic
stocks. Representatives of most of the Esselen villages were doubtless included,
as well as of the Rumsen, Kalindaruk, and Sakhone divisions of the Costanoan,
some of the Chalones, with probably also some of the Mutsun. The following names
of villages are given by Taylor (Cal. Farmer, Apr. 20, 1860), most of them being
taken from the mission books: Achasta, Alcoz, Animpayamo, Aspasniagan,
Cakanaruk, Capanay (Kapanai), Carmentaruka, Chachat, Coyyo, Culul (Kulul),
Ecgeagam, Echilat, Eslanagan, Excellemaks, Fyules, Gilimis, Guavusta, Ichenta,
Jappayon, Lucayasta, Mustac, Nenmequi, Noptac, Nutnur, Nuthesum (Mutsun),
Pachhepes, Paisin, Pytoguis (Poitokwis), Santa Clara (Esselenes proper),
Sapponet, Sargentarukas, Soccorondo, Tebityilat, Tiubta, Triwta, Tucutnut (or
Santa Teresa), Tushguesta, Wachanaruka, Xaseum, Xumis, Yampas, Yanostas,
Ymunacam.
Additional Mission
Resources
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includes some historical materials that may imply negative stereotypes
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implied .
Handbook
of American Indians, 1906
Indian Missions of the
United StatesFree
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